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

343 Results

Black folding knife with button lock and clip

Close-up of black knife blade and button lock

Diagram of mini auto drop point blue knife

Close-up of knife handle and locking mechanism

Mini Auto Drop Point Knife

$18.99

Viper-Tec Vortex Balisong Butterfly Knife

$29.99

Benchmade CLA Knife

$273.00

COMING SOON

Pocket knife with 'General Lee' design and orange handle

Open pocket knife with 'General Lee' engraving on blades

Diagram of 'General Lee Trapper' knife with measurements

Close-up of 'General Lee' engraved blades on pocket knife

Hand holding a 'General Lee' themed pocket knife

Closed pocket knife with orange handle and '01' design

General Lee Trapper Pocket Knife

$37.99

Full image of the Benchmade Black Grivory Mini Claymore OTF Knife opened and closed.

Angled image of the Black Grivory Mini Claymore OTF opened.

Angled image of the Grivory Mini Claymore OTF Knife closed.

Close up image of the Mini Claymore OTF Knife handle.

Benchmade Black Grivory Mini Claymore OTF Knife

$317.99

USMC Scorching Sands Assisted Opening Hawkbill Pocket Knife - G10 Handle - Officially Licensed

USMC Scorching Sands Assisted Opening Hawkbill Pocket Knife

$19.99

Avalanche Novelty Compound Bow Shafts 10pcs

$17.99

The Kissing Crane M1911 Pistol Trapper has two laser-etched stainless steel blades.

The trapper knife has a wooden handle with M1911 Pistol themed artwork.

The Kissing Crane M1911 Pistol Trapper has a razor-sharp clip point blade with laser-etching.

The pocket knife has a spey blade with a nail nick and laser-etched artwork.

Kissing Crane M1911 Pistol Trapper Pocket Knife

$57.99

Bear India Stag Bone Butterfly Damascus Blade

Stag Bone Damascus Butterfly

$123.99

Black Ronin Bushido Pocket Knife

$29.99

Folding knife with redwood handle and black blade

Knife with redwood handle on wooden surface

Diagram of Timber Wolf pocket knife with dimensions

Hand holding a knife with a redwood handle

Folded knife with redwood handle and pocket clip

Hardwood Open Assisted Pocket Knife

$24.99

Full image of Damascus Automatic OTF Knife open and closed.

Close up image of the Damascus Automatic OTF Knife blade.

Details and features of Automatic OTF Knife.

Close up image of OTF Knife held in hand.

Close up angled image of Blue Automatic OTF Knife handle and glass breaker.

OTF Damascus Dagger

$49.99

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.