The Cutting Edge

The official blog of Knife Depot

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10 Best OTF Knives

best OTF knives

When you need a knife that can open and close in a blink of an eye with a single hand, there is only one choice: an OTF knife.

An OTF, which stands for Out The Front, is a type of knife where the blade comes out of the front of the handle rather than the side.

These types of knives have become increasingly popular with tons of varied and compelling designs from the top brands like Kershaw, Boker, Benchmade, and more. We’ll know they’ve finally crossed the mainstream when we finally get an OTF version of the Buck 110!

Our team took on the unenviable task of narrowing down some of the best OTF knives you can currently buy. Before we get into the list, let’s take a quick look at the background of the OTF.

A Brief History of the Best OTF Knives

Although the OTF seems like a modern invention, the first OTF was supposedly patented in the late 19th century, but I couldn’t verify the information widely spread across the Internet.

Instead, some of the earliest OTF knives that were widely used date back to the World War II when paratroopers used OTF knives as emergency tools. Unlike modern OTF knives, these were gravity knives, meaning the user disengaged a lock and used gravity to slide the blade out.

The designs have gone through multiple evolutions like the Kershaw Ripcord, Smith & Wesson Power Glide, and even box cutters. More recently, we’ve settled on dual action automatic OTF knives that open and close with the push of a switch as the default OTF design.

Let’s just into the best OTF knives you can currently buy.

1. Benchmade Infidel

Let’s start with an obvious entry on this list of best OTF knives: the Infidel.

The Benchmade Infidel has been by far one of the top-selling OTF knives since it was introduced in 2006. If you collect knives, this is likely a prized center of that collection.

What made the Infidel such a big hit at the time (and even these days) is its robustness and utility. It caught the eye of military and law enforcement personnel because of its dual action design and general toughness.

Over 15 years later, the Infidel is still a top-seller, thanks to its 3.95-inch D2 steel dagger blade and aluminum handle.

2. Kershaw Livewire OTF

From the  oldest knife on this list, we go to the newest. In 2023, Kershaw released its very first automatic OTF knife to much fanfare.

Kershaw is well-known for its high-quality Launch series of automatic knives and the brand has been exploring manual OTF designs like the Kershaw Interstellar and Kershaw Kapsule. It only made sense for them to merge its knowledge of OTFs and automatics into something amazing.

The result is the Kershaw Livewire.

It has a pretty tried-and-true design that doesn’t break barriers. Its aluminum handle is comfortable and durable with welcomed texturing. Its 3.3-inch blade features a stonewashed finish.

The three main selling points of the knife are its use of MagnaCut super steel, its US-made reliable construction, and its competitive price tag for what it’s offering.

3. Boker Plus OTF

Boker itself makes some really great OTF knives like the unique Boker Plus USB OTF and Boker Kalashnikov OTF, but its collaboration with Hogue Knives is off the charts.

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Benchmade Bugout – Knife of the Week

Benchmade Bugout

When it comes to best everyday carry knives of all time, only a few knives can stake the claim, including the Spyderco Paramilitary 2, CIVIVI Elementum, and the Kershaw Leek.

The latest Knife of the Week has quickly gained a spot on that coveted list.

The Benchmade Bugout is a lightweight folder with a simple yet effective design that disappears in your pocket until you need it.

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CRKT Razel – Knife of the Week

CRKT Razel

Some people say fixed blades don’t make good everyday carry knives. Those people have clearly never seen the CRKT Razel.

The Razel boasts the late great Jon Graham’s innovative blade shape that blends together elements from the chisel and the straight razor to create something strong and utilitarian.

The Razel has a 2.97-inch blade that can cut, scrape, pry, and more. With its D2 steel, you know it’ll be tough as nails. The Razel blade shape has long been one of our most unique blade shapes.

Along with the unique blade shape, the knife has Micarta handle scales that feel great in the hand.

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Gerber FlatIron – Knife of the Week

Gerber FlatIron

Some people think folding cleavers are simply gimmicks, nothing more than a cash grab by Big Knife. Those people have clearly never had one for an EDC.

The Gerber FlatIron is a perfect example.

The original FlatIron was a Knife of the Week back in 2020 because of its versatile design. But this upgraded version is worthy of a second look.

First, let’s extol the virtues of the cleaver design. The cleaver has a strong point that won’t break even in hard use. It’s also versatile for slicing, chopping, and finer tasks. On top of everything, its blade shape is much less aggressive than others with similar attributes (looking at you tanto!).

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15 Bold Knives with Blue Handles

This post was originally published back in Jan 2016 but was updated in January 2024 to include newer models.

Not fond of all the black-handled knives out there? Well, we’ve got a series of posts for you.

We’re exploring some of the best knives in different handle colors. Knives with orange handles and knives with green handles are already in the bag, so we thought blue-handled knives were in order.

You can find other blue knives by searching at knife-depot.com, but hopefully some of these will inspire your own blue period.

Kershaw Blur

Let’s kick things off with an iconic EDC from Kershaw. The Blur is available in all types of colors and materials.

This version with navy blue scales and black Trac-Tec inserts is quite a looker.

Hogue Ballista I

The Ballista is a real beauty and one of the best EDC automatics to come out in the past five years (it’s not surprise we named it one of the best new knives of 2022).

This version has blue aluminum scales with a drop point blade, but the Hogue Ballista I available in a few different iterations

Spyderco Resilience

Spyderco went through and upgraded some of the knives on its Value Series of folders named after admirable traits. The Resilience is one of our favorites because it’s much longer with a 4.2-inch blade. It uses S35VN steel and a dark blue FRN handle.

Cold Steel Tuff Lite

Cold Steel is best known for its huge folders, but the Tuff Lite may very well be the best EDC Cold Steel has to offer. This small Wharncliffe-bladed folder uses Demko’s Tri-Ad locking mechanism. This version has an eye-catching blue handle.

KA-BAR Dozier Folding Hunter

The Dozier Folding Hunter has been a mainstay of KA-BAR, so it’s no surprise this folding hunting knife continues to receive praise and varied colors.

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13 Best Automatic Knives in 2024

Despite its legal gray areas, the automatic knife (sometimes called a switchblade) is one of the best types of knives on the market.

For those who don’t know, an automatic knife is a knife that can be opened with the push of a button or switch. For a more in depth look at the difference between a switchblade and an assisted-opening knife, check out this article.

We’ve been going through and carefully picking some of the best knives of each brand and category. So, it only made sense to do autos.

One caveat here: We are not including OTF knives in this list. While most out-the-front knives are technically automatics, they’re almost their own thing. We’ll have a separate list for the best OTFs coming soon.

Check out which autos made the list below.

1. Buck 110 Auto

The Buck 110 Folding Hunter is one of the most iconic folding knives ever made. Its only major downside is its inability to open quickly with one hand.

That’s what makes the automatic version of the Buck 110 so good.

With just the push of a button, the classic 3.75-inch clip-point blade bursts to life instantly. This version uses the same 420HC stainless steel that the 110 is known for and also keeps the lockback mechanism. For strength and dependability, you can’t go wrong with a lockback.

The handle is Crelicam genuine ebony with brass bolsters and pins.

Even after all these years, the Buck 110 remains an excellent choice for a knife and this auto version just makes it even better. You can opt for the premium Buck 110 Auto Elite if you prefer S30V steel and a G-10 handle. There’s even the Buck 112 Auto if you need a smaller knife.

2. Kershaw Launch 6

With the new Kershaw Launch 15 coming out in 2023, this list could easily have contained 10 different Launch knives because they are all simply excellent.

But we kind of arbitrarily picked the Kershaw Launch 6 for this spot. The Launch 6 is a full-sized auto with a 3.375-inch drop-point blade and an aluminum handle.

It has a cohesive all-black look that’s downright sexy.

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Boker Plus Slike – Knife of the Week

Boker Plus Slike

The OTF is a fan-favorite design because it’s so unique with a rich history. Unfortunately, most out-the-front designs are exclusively automatics, which means they’re illegal in many places.

However, there’s an increasing amount of manual OTF knives that skirt the definition of an automatic knife.

One of the best manual OTF knives is the Boker Plus Slike.

This manual OTF is as light as a feather at just 1.27 ounces. Despite its light weight, it features a 2.99-inch dagger blade made from D2 steel.

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Top 10 First Knives to Give to a Kid

Getting your first knife is a step into adulthood. You’re given the knife with the implicit agreement that you’re responsible and old enough to be trusted with a tool that’s often misused by those who are reckless, untrustworthy, and immature.

Whether you’re giving someone their first knife or receiving it, there are some knives that are more appropriate for the occasion than others.

I first wrote this post way back in April 2012, so I decided to take a fresher look at some of the best first knives to give someone. Not only do I have two kids now but I’ve also learned a lot more about knives in the ensuing years.

Keep in mind that the knife is dependent on the age and maturity of the person  (for example, you wouldn’t want to give a Smith & Wesson MAGIC assisted opening knife to an immature 7-year-old).

The knives range in prices, designs, and styles. Check them out. For more recommendations, check out our first knives for kids and teens collections page.

Let us know your first knife in the comments!

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Tinker

Swiss army knife classic

The Swiss Army Knife is the quintessential first knife for anyone. It was my first knife and probably yours. There are many reasons why you wouldn’t want to get an SAK for a first-timer but the opposite is true as well.

Since the Tinker is a bit smaller and still has a variety of tools, it could potentially come in handy more often and further empower the knife’s owner.

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Spyderco Ambitious

Spyderco makes an array of excellent knives that could work well for younger audiences. For example, there’s the Delica or Dragonfly (the latter of which you could get a wooden version as a trainer), but those tend to be a little more expensive. That’s why I argue the Spyderco Ambitious is the top choice from Spyderco.

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Spyderco UpTern – Knife of the Week

Spyderco UpTern

The first Spyderco was a revolutionary folder. It had a thumb hole for one-handed opening, a lockback mechanism for strength, and a durable stainless steel handle.

More than 40 years after that first Spyderco folder, Spyderco took many of the design cues from the original while adding quality-of-life improvements.

That resulted in a new yet instant classic called the Spyderco UpTern.

The UpTern actually has a unique backstory. It was inspired by a nonlocking model made specifically for Spyderco’s budget brand Byrd Knives in 2012 called the Tern. However, they upgraded almost everything and put in many of the classic Spyderco design elements.

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20 Knife Gift Ideas Under $100

This post was updated in 2023.

Our suggestions for gift ideas at certain price ranges continues with 20 knife gift ideas under $100.

This list only features knives in the $50 to $100 price range. If you’re interested in the $20 to $50 range, check out our 20 knife gift ideas under $50 post. For prices under that, check out our 20 knife gift ideas under $20.

These recommendations cover the full gamut of styles, designs, and functions, so if you can’t find something to your satisfaction, you’re trying too hard.

Check out way more knife gift ideas under $100 on our collections page.

1. CIVIVI Elementum

The first few iterations of this list featured the iconic Benchmade Mini Griptilian and then the fantastic Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight here. Unfortunately, rising prices have pushed these still great knives off the list. But the replacement may be a better overall knife and value.

The CIVIVI Elementum is one of the best everyday carry knives on the market. It is a simple design that countless people have fallen in love with the past few years. The great thing about the Elementum is that it comes in countless varieties, so you can get the Elementum that matches the personality of the recipient.

An even better aspect is that all of the CIVIVI Elementums fall in the $50 to $100 price range.

The one highlighted here is the handsome version with wood handles and a black blade.

2. CRKT Taco Viper

Despite its silly-sounding name, the CRKT Taco Viper is an amazing and underrated folder.

It has a great history because it’s made by veteran Antonio Rodriguez and gets its moniker from a nickname given to 82nd Airborne because they gave their leftover Taco Tuesday scraps to the snakes while serving in Afghanistan.

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