What is a pocket knife?

A pocket knife is simply a knife with a blade that folds out or “opens” from the handle, where it is housed when not in use. The idea being that it will easily fit in the pocket for everyday carry. Generally, a pocket knife is either assisted opening or manual opening.

What is an assisted opening knife?

These knives are opened by the user employing either the “flipper”, which is a lever on the back spine of the knife or a “thumb stud”, which is a small stud on the blade. This action starts the deployment of the blade and a mechanism like a spring or ball-bearing finishes opening the blade and then it locks into place.

What is a trapper pocket knife?

This is a style of manual opening pocket knife that has two blades, which fold out from the handle. Traditionally, there is a spey blade and a clip blade, each having a nail nick so that they can be deployed with just an upward pull on the blade.

What is an OTF knife?

When you see a knife listed as an OTF, it stands for “out-the-front” and means that it is a knife with a blade that extends straight from the handle. An OTF pocket knife can be opened with a manual slide, with assisted opening, with an automatic mechanism or by using gravity.

How do I choose a pocket knife?

A good, quality folding pocket knife should be a tool that you can take for granted because it will be able to perform whenever and wherever you need it. Choose one that will perform the specific tasks that come up for you in your everyday life. For example, if you’re in emergency services, a rescue knife with an integrated seatbelt cutter and glass breaker would be perfect for you.

Pocket Knives - Automatic Knives, Assisted Opening, Butterfly Knives, Pocket Razors, Tactical Knives

360 Results

Ridge Runner Assisted Opening Stag Antler Pocket Knife

$14.99

Italian stiletto knife with wooden handle and mirror-polished accents on a background of wood with whiskey, cards, and dominos.

Black nylon belt sheath with velcro closure.

Closed wood handle stilleto pocket knife with button trigger and mirror polished accents.

Automatic Italian Wood handle stilleto knife with mirror polished accents and double sided blade with brass liners.

Upclose view of mahogany colored wooden handle and mirror-polished end.

Automatic Italian Wooden Stiletto - Stainless Steel Blade, Wooden Handle Scales, Push Button Open, Swivel Lock

$59.99

Viper-Tec Ghost Series Blue Double Edge OTF Knife

$89.99

The Salvation Abalone Trapper Pocket Knife is shown with both blades extended and closed.

An image showing one of the blades and its decorations.

Christian Pocket Knife - Salvation Bible Verse Trapper

$19.99

TOP DEAL

Kissing Crane Genuine Pearl Trapper Pocket Knife

$22.98 ~~Price reduced from $36.99 to~~

Full image of the White Pearl Lever Lock Automatic Knife open and closed.

Angled image of the Lever Lock Automatic Knife open.

Details and features of the Automatic Knife.

White Pearl Lever Lock Auto Knife, 440C Steel Blade

$44.99

The Pakkawood Automatic Stiletto Knife in its fully deployed position

A detailed look at the pakkawood handle and the filework detail on the spine

The specs for the Pakkawood Automatic Stiletto Knife

The Pakkawood Automatic Stiletto displayed in hand

A detailed look at the automatic knife's handle with its fileworked spine

A view of the knife with its lever lock displayed

Pakkawood Stiletto Auto Knife

$39.99

Black Legion Covert Assisted Opening Pocket Knife

Black Legion Covert Assisted Opening Pocket Knife

$6.99 ~~Price reduced from $12.99 to~~

Kissing Crane Abalone Damascus Trapper Knife

$36.98 ~~Price reduced from $56.99 to~~

Timber Wolf Gentleman’s Abalone Pocket Knife

$23.98 ~~Price reduced from $29.99 to~~

The Kissing Crane Stained Glass Trapper has stained glass artwork on the handle.

The trapper pocket knife's handle is made of bone with 3D-printed full-color artwork.

The pocket knife has a stainless steel clip point blade that's razor-sharp.

The Kissing Crane Stained Glass Trapper has a spey blade that can be opened with a nail nick.

Kissing Crane Stained Glass Trapper Pocket Knife

$19.98 ~~Price reduced from $36.99 to~~

Dimensions of the knife opened and closed

Rampage Pocket Knife

$14.99

POCKET KNIVES FAQS

What is a pocket knife?
A pocket knife is simply a knife with a blade that folds out or “opens” from the handle, where it is housed when not in use. The idea being that it will easily fit in the pocket for everyday carry. Generally, a pocket knife is either assisted opening or manual opening.
What is an assisted opening knife?
These knives are opened by the user employing either the “flipper”, which is a lever on the back spine of the knife or a “thumb stud”, which is a small stud on the blade. This action starts the deployment of the blade and a mechanism like a spring or ball-bearing finishes opening the blade and then it locks into place.
What is a trapper pocket knife?
This is a style of manual opening pocket knife that has two blades, which fold out from the handle. Traditionally, there is a spey blade and a clip blade, each having a nail nick so that they can be deployed with just an upward pull on the blade.
What is an OTF knife?
When you see a knife listed as an OTF, it stands for “out-the-front” and means that it is a knife with a blade that extends straight from the handle. An OTF pocket knife can be opened with a manual slide, with assisted opening, with an automatic mechanism or by using gravity.
How do I choose a pocket knife?
A good, quality folding pocket knife should be a tool that you can take for granted because it will be able to perform whenever and wherever you need it. Choose one that will perform the specific tasks that come up for you in your everyday life. For example, if you’re in emergency services, a rescue knife with an integrated seatbelt cutter and glass breaker would be perfect for you.