This can be remedied by filing down the areas that come in the most contact with your clothing. Crafted with care from CPM 3V steel with a plain Scandi edge, this blade feels like a natural extension of your arm and hand. The owner of this website does not guarantee offers on this site, and all offers should be viewed as recommendations only. Blade Style: Clip-Point with Sawback Spine The PM2 features a Compression Lock System along with the Spydie Hole. This handle will last a long time and endure any sort of beating. Blade Style: Clip-Point Edge retention is almost always dependent on the type of materials used in the construction of the blade and like most of the attributes regarding blades, typically comes at a tradeoff with other attributes, including sharpening difficulty. All in all, this is an easily-deployable personal protection tool as well as a great alternative to a Karambit. In fact, using a fixed-blade knife with the incorrect type of tang for your intended use could result in the tang separating from the handle – something you definitely do not want to happen, but as long as you pick the right tool for the job, you will likely be better off going with a fixed blade. Theusmarines.com is reader-supported. Not all of the knives in this line are automatic, but Protech has added automatics to the TR5 line. This blade is durable and rugged, withstanding corrosion while holding onto its straight-edge sharpness. Blade Length: 6.00 Inches MTech USA Xtreme Series MX-8054 11-inch Fixed Blade Tactical Knife. Partial Tang: Other than the full tang, the other major category of knife tang is the partial tang. The SK-5 steel version is an absolutely incredible deal and the best value overall. Blade Steel: Hand-forged Damascus steel constructed of D2 carbon steel​ This blade not only serves great in the wilderness but is also great for first responders and law enforcement uses. For those who want the extra details, it’s made of: This is premium-grade steel for a knife. However, the knife itself has stood the test of time and continues to be made by several manufacturers across the world, from high-end craftsmen to cheap knock-offs that fall apart after a couple of uses. The deep pocket clip removes the fear of accidentally sliding out of your pocket as you’re walking. This compact fixed blade is built with a full-flat ground blade and an ergonomic G-10 handle. Overall, this is a full-tang blade that you can truly trust with your life and of course, it’s also backed by Benchmade’s LifeSharp Service and warranty. Blade Thickness: 0.164” (4.17mm) Any knife user has experienced “chipping,” where a small piece of the knife’s blade will break off during use. The Nimravus 141 is a field-tested blade and regardless of what version you choose, you will not be disappointed. It has an ergonomic handle with high-friction rubber grip. The blade is .13″ thin with a stonewash finish, meaning you won’t have to worry about any coatings wearing off with use. Blade Length: 7″ Total Length: 9.50 Inches This will be your woodcarving knife that you’ll always feel proud of it. Blade Finish: Powder Coating It features a comfortable grip for forward or reverse holding. Cutting Edge: 5.75” The land itself is either dry and scrubby, or dank and marshy. Pay homage to Italian mob bosses with and a by-gone era of strength coupled with style with this elegant yet powerful knife. In my opinion, this is the best fixed blade knife for survival applications you can find at around the $200 price point. Fallkniven A1 and A1 Pro (Premium Pick), 20. At something like sixty bucks, these are awesome knives to have around as a backup or just to spice things up a bit. Sheath: 360 degree molded sheath with clip. You get a drop-point 1095 Cro-Van steel blade with a 20-degree edge angle at 5.5″ for less than a hundred bucks. So whether it’s a Bowie, Tanto-style, Karambit, Combat, or Survival knife, there is a fixed-blade knife out there for whatever purpose you may need one. 1095 is by no means my favorite steel and it’s probably not yours either but it’s also relatively cheap and still gets the job done for most people. Blade Steel: USA made 1095 carbon steel Weight: 5.4 oz. With combinations as simple as a flat black with a black-coated blade, or as showy as a red skull handle with a skull inlay and a Damascus blade, or a rose gold blade with a flat black handle, there is Pro-Tech blade for anyone who wants one (and is willing to dish out the cash). Blade Composition: Laminated CoS My Review: Folding knives are great for their portability but of course lack total strength and have moving parts, meaning they aren’t anywhere near reliable as a fixed blade but then fixed blades are often large and uncomfortable to carry all the time. The Nimravus is an ultra-modern fixed blade knife made from 154CM steel. The blade style is a drop point blade, meaning that the blade slopes on the spine, going from the handle to the tip. There is no concern of any coatings wearing off with this natural steel look to match the steel finish of the aluminum handle. Personally, I think you can’t go wrong with this offering from KA-Bar, in terms of overall functionality as well as price, which comes in at just over $50.00. Now, any Marine should know the KA-Bar original combat knife inside and out, and since I happen to fit that description, this shorter version already felt very familiar as soon as I laid eyes on it. Gear. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, hiking, running, shooting guns, and reviewing gear. Single-edged blades are designed for a “slashing” type of motion when cutting, which means that they are still excellent for defense, but are all-around more utilitarian than double-edged blades, as they can take care of thick brush when clearing a path (think machete), can cut better at a diagonal angle, and can perform many different tasks in ways that double-edged designs simply are not designed for. Clip-Point: These are pretty similar to a drop-point but it seems as though they’ve gone on a diet and lost a few grams in the upper spine section. The materials that compose the blade and grip greatly factor into the knife’s longevity and efficiency: a knife with a bad blade won’t get you far, and one with a bad grip won’t be comfortable to use for long periods. Overall Length: 9.1″ (232mm). The grip features very deep and distinct finger grooves for forward or reverse grips. It’s lightweight, durable, and sturdy. Just like corrosion resistance, in many cases, excellent wear resistance generally comes at a tradeoff. The Fallkniven A1 Pro is constructed of laminated CoS steel which has garnered a lot of attention as of recent for its incredible longevity and resistance to corrosion. They are geared towards portability, concealability, and utility. Because of its low level of chromium, it’s more prone to rust if it isn’t being cared for properly. The original had a manual deployment. Hands down, this is one of my favorite fixed blade knives from one of my favorite knife companies, and to top it off ESEE knives are made in the USA. This is especially advantageous for military or law enforcement personnel who may need to penetrate thick clothing or low-level body armor. Going to be taking this knife with you on many adventures that will lead to saltwater exposure? Yeah, the belt clip sucks though, so maybe grab something else for that if belt carry is important to you. Overall Length: 6.90 Inches For instance, if stainless steel is exposed to hydrochloric acid, it will immediately rust and as anyone that lives near the coast can tell you, saltwater is murderous when it comes to blades. This knife screams of Italian inspiration, like its parent knife, The Godfather. The handle is comfortable, not too bulky or heavy, with a leaf-shaped blade safely nestled in. The full tang AUS-8 blade is coated with black Titanium Nitride to protect the blade from the elements, and while this knife isn’t made with a super steel like some of the more expensive knives on this list, AUS-8 is a well-rounded steel and you get a capable knife at an affordable price. You can also press the Compression Lock and swing the blade open that way. Spear-points are usually the go-to design for double-edged blades. The toughness of any material indicates how well it can hold up to chipping, breakage, or cracking under impact. Considering the price point of $75-$100, this is a great quality knife. Caution: the black coating may wear off after consistent heavy-duty work, but that will not affect this great knife’s performance. Grind: Flat However, don’t expect it to fell trees or saw through any thick brush. The knife is equipped with a rubberized grip with a diamond coat texture that feels excellent in the hand and doesn’t slip even when soaking wet. Edge: Plain (Single) The glass fibers within the G-10 are what makes this material so resilient – it’s water-resistant and very durable. Overall Length: 10″ Verified owners of this knife have given rave reviews as to the strength of its build, the high-carbon SK5 steel composition of the blade, and its simple-yet-sleek design. It has the best quality materials and an ergonomically-designed handle. This is a scale used to measure hardness called the Rockwell hardness scale. With the Instinct Boot Knife, SOG switches up the game quite a bit by offering a well-designed, full-tang EDC boot knife that you will enjoy each time you deploy. One of our favorite Hawkbill blades is the KA-BAR Law Enforcement or like half the knives Spyderco offers like the Spyderco Byrd. This full tang stonewash blade is the right weapon for everyday usage. Many kitchen knives have push tangs, and if you’ve ever had the tang separate from the handle, you know exactly what one looks like. It is best known for supplying military knives. Blade Steel: H-1 There are lots of great brands out there. Happy? Here is a good video review on the SRK, I recommend skipping to 4:05 in the video. While the new 940 is true to its original design, the new model features push-button automatic deployment. A tanto blade is perfect for stabbing and piercing incredibly hard materials such as wood or metal. A full tang means the blade extends all the way into the handle. Perhaps the fixed blade EDC knife that is recommended the most by professionals in any hard-working, serious cutting profession, this is a 1095 steel workhorse that is more tactical knife than standard EDC. Although this knife doesn’t have an automatic deployment, it features a quick, butter-smooth, one-handed deployment that runs on the KVT ball-bearing pivot. First, let’s discuss the StrongArm. Push tangs are considered a type of partial tang, but generally, knives labeled as “partial tang” will have slightly longer tangs than push tangs but have handles constructed in almost identical manners. We’ll be honest, Spyderco knives won’t win any awards on flashiness or bling aesthetic. First and foremost, fixed blade knives are meant to survive in the wild. Finding the best fixed blade knife is frequently at the top of the list when building your survival kit for good reason. However, each offers unique features that will suit every user differently. My Review: This is one of the most unique knives I have ever had the pleasure of reviewing. Weight: 5.60 oz. 4 – Well-Balanced. That beautiful Swedish styling with laminated CoS cobalt steel really sets this knife apart and yeah, they’re among the priciest knives on the list but they sure are worth it if you need an all-around all-star edge holding masterpiece of a blade. This material gives the knife that nice substantial, weighty feeling without actually weighing the knife down. Boker has outfitted this knife with an excellent sheath, one of the best I’ve seen included with a knife in this price range. CPM S30V is considered premium grade stainless steel because of its high durability, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. Total Length: 8.06 Inches SOG Commitment: “Take care of your knives and we’ll take care of you; we’re committed to making sure they do.” This means that SOG will closely consider any and all repair/replacement requests for the life of the knife, so long as it was not damaged or destroyed due to carelessness. Almost all pocket knives are folding knives. Updated: October 10, 2019. The blade is made of CPM-S30V (58-60 HRC), which is a powder-made, hardened, corrosion-resistant stainless steel. At a total length of 11.85″, this is a substantial and sizable knife. This grip won’t snag on any fabric or clothing. However, you can sharpen it to very fine levels, and this type of steel can withstand a lot of wear and tear in all sorts of weather. Blade Length: 7.00 Inches These are excellent knives to use when cutting away from you as the curvature of the blade allows for a very smooth movement forward. Blade Length: 4.3″ (109 mm). Read on to find out our picks for these best tactical knives so you can find the best one for you! Overall Length: 10.125″ (257.18 mm) Clip-points are especially nice when doing precise and small movements such as widdling or carving. Sheath Material: Nylon with glass fiber and MOLLE-compatible loop. Even if you’ve amassed an arsenal of sharp pointy objects over the years, you’ll need a solid blade that can do it all. The U.S. military is home to the best and brightest. So, to make sure that they are not hassled by restrictive laws on blade lengths, many people have decided to equip themselves with blades of a shorter length as their go-to blade. If you’re buying the Nimravus to use for camping or survival purposes, you’d probably be better off going with the drop point version linked above. It is small enough to carry in your pocket or around your neck so it is always super accessible when you need it the most. Reliable fixed blade knife made in the USA. Total Weight: 7.60 Ounces Intended Uses: Combat, Survival, Hunting, Tactical, Camping, General Utility. This knife sharpens to its original edge with ease. When it comes to getting the job done there are four main factors that determine steel quality. While the brothers made several different designs of the blade pattern that eventually became today’s Bowie, the origin of the knife itself is surrounded in myth and conflicting stories, and as such, has become an odd part of American mythology. Blade Style: Drop Point It can be and do anything you want it to. The strength of your grip won’t matter here, as the grooves will stop your hand from slipping. Blade Style: Clip Point The handle has a nice grip to it, but it can be a bit abrasive. Built for military use, the Gerber LMF II is designed for heavy-duty bushcrafting and survival tasks. By Tim MacWelch, and John B. Any fixed blade knife with a partial tang or no tang at all can typically be tossed. As we’ve mentioned before, S35VN is a little more difficult to re-sharpen than other types of steel, but with a knife this durable, it’s well worth the extra work. Steel nerds will probably give preference to the CPM-3V version. For those who have a bit more to spend on an EDC knife and want something that will last a long time and keep up with ever-changing styles, The 940 Auto is the perfect knife. It holds an edge unlike anything I’ve ever had before, and unlike other really hard blades, it has decent corrosion resistance as well. With a phosphate treated steel blade, your knife will stand up to corrosion while staying ready to use in-between sharpenings. If it’s very hot and humid, you run the risk of your hand slipping and getting cut since the edges are so smooth and rounded. It’s tougher, harder, more resistant to corrosion, and has better resistance to breakage and edge chipping. The questions to ask are: Will it be durable enough to protect you without fail, every time? The Zero Tolerance 0450 is incredibly easy to use. If I was in the market for a relatively cheap but decently built small and concealable fixed blade and I had to choose between this and the Gerber Ghoststrike, even though the Ghoststrike does look pretty cool and is a bit cheaper, I’d choose the Izula-II hands down. Blade Steel: 154CM Stainless Steel My Review: I know ESEE doesn’t participate at the top echelons of knife building and of course, the Izula-II coming in with 1095 steel is no exception to that, but man I still get so excited when I get a new ESEE knife. Handle Composition: Anodized Aluminum Despite its ultimate toughness and incredible edge retention, even when abused, this knife will corrode faster than a 90’s Chevy, so make sure you keep it dry and well-lubed up! The blade itself is composed of 12C27 stainless steel, which is an alloy unique to Sweden, and the knife has actually won awards for its design and strength. This knife comes in 31 grip color and blade combinations from a basic flat black to an American Flag grip with a Damascus blade (which obviously falls under the pricier end of this style). This knife is actually a compact version modeled after its award-winning predecessor, the 0454 folder. 2 MTech USA Xtreme MX-8054 Fixed Blade Tactical Knife – Best Tactical Fixed Blade Knife. The Izula-II on paper is actually pretty disappointing but its performance is anything but! 1 KA-BAR Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife – Best Military Fixed Blade Knife. 3 Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife – Best Fixed Blade Knife for Outdoors. The manufacturer introduced this version as a way to make the original KA-Bar USMC design more compact – while retaining all of its original quality – so that it could be used by a wider audience as well as for a wider variety of uses, such as camping and general utility. This section is for those of you who want to learn more about fixed blade knives before reading reviews. The basic black model is 7.6″ long, with a blade of 3.25″ (however, the cutting edge is only 2.87″). That means if you somehow manage to break it, ESEE will repair or replace it with no questions asked, even without a receipt. Snow. Blade Length: 5/16″ The SK-5 variant is cheap enough that you can simply abuse it and replace it when needed. MTech USA Xtreme MX-8054 Series Fixed Blade Tactical Knife Designed to be your new best friend while hiking, camping, or in an outdoor survival situation, the MTech Tactical Knife is a heavy-duty knife that can be used for many applications. You can hack, slash, stab, thrust, and do just about anything from chop up firewood to utilize these knives in combat. Overall Length: 10.5″ And now, time for some fixed blade knife reviews! Sheath Material: Zytel. The blade is crafted from 1095 Cro-Van high-carbon steel, which again is my preference in blade material. Coming in at 6.5 inches, this is one of those knives that I suggest you check against your local knife laws before you buy it, because if you can’t legally carry it, what’s the point in buying it? Blade Length: 6.50″ Overall, if you’re looking for the best fixed blade knife under 50 dollars, this should be a top contender. The Ontario Knife Company (OKC) has been operating since 1889. Make sure to check your local guidelines about what sized blade is legal to carry where you live. Blade Length: 4.52 Inches Sheath Material: Polymer. This blade is slightly on the thicker side at .13″, but the sharpness of the CPMS35VN steel keeps this knife fine and precise. The Godson is a smaller version of The Godfather, but with the same American craftsmanship. Fixed Blade Knives $ 37.93. With a blade length under 5 inches, it will meet almost all legal requirements for blade length, meaning that you should be able to carry it with you anywhere you go, and with its near-universal application, this truly makes this knife the best choice for an EDC blade. As always, spending tons of money can get you the best of both worlds in terms of both anti-corrosion properties and blade performance, but if you’re on a budget, you might need to choose whether anti-corrosive properties are worth the tradeoff for your specific planned activities and usage. The handle itself is made from Micarta canvas, and the knife itself is meant to stand up to the toughest jobs and abuse that you can throw at it. The Scandi edge blade consists of high-density carbon steel that is literally built to be abused as much as possible. The Spyderco Nightstick is the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice for Best New Tactical Fixed Blade 2020! The RAK will take some getting used to as it is a rather large and thick 6” blade with a somewhat small handle, however, if you like blade heavy knives that seemingly guide themselves through whatever you’re slicing, this knife is a great companion to have along with you. However, an S30V will have better edge retention and won’t dull as quickly. Do this, and it will last a lifetime. While its price tag is the highest we have reviewed here, coming in at $275, once it is in your hand, you will fall in love. This knife comes with a fairly nice MOLLE compatible nylon sheath that, if you aren’t a stickler on sheaths, is probably just fine to use. More Survivalist. Some of the Protech TR5 knives have a Damascus blade, which we discussed previously is a supreme steel blade, which also comes at a higher cost. It’s easy to use and inclusive for the much-neglected left-handed community. Karambit: The Karambit is a type of fixed-blade knife that many people call a “claw knife,” due to its obvious claw-like appearance. The tang is the part of the knife that you usually don’t see, but it’s also one of the most important considerations when choosing a knife. Handle Material: Grey Micarta Scale Coming out of this guide, you should have a good idea of what to look for, what attributes are important, what features are worth paying for, and how to acquire a great fixed blade knife at a ridiculous price! We feel these are the most important criteria when scoring the utility of a knife. Blade Style: Clip Point This version has a strong coil spring action to quickly deploy your knife, and a strong lockup, so you don’t have to worry about unintentional deployment. With a 4-inch blade, it is the perfect length to comply with blade length restrictions, so you should have no problem carrying it. Blade Style: Drop Point A downside to consider: since this handle is made of a metal, it will get cold in the winter months, so consider if you’ll be doing a lot of outside work in a colder climate. Blade Length: 4.6″ (116.84 mm) However, the more I familiarized myself with it, the more I began to appreciate its design. With the only branding on it being a small emblem on the blade, this is a stylish knife that isn’t ostentatious or flashy. The full tang S30V blade can take a good bit of abuse and is perfect for bushcraft, camping, survival applications. The different variations of the Bowie are what make it so important as a fixed-blade weapon, as so many other long-blade knives have taken inspiration from the Bowie pattern. The drop point is more … Blade Style: Drop Point Overall Length: 6.75 Inches Basically, if you click on a product link on this site and buy that product we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I loved the simple yet elegant pattern and design of the blade and handle, and I particularly love the attention to detail, such as the sharpened spine made for the perfect strike of a firestarter. All in all, it’s hard to recommend this knife for any specific purpose other than just having a really sweet looking fixed blade. Grivory balanced grip with a total package length of 10.5”, MOLLE compatible ABS plastic lockable sheath included, Your choice of handmade Birch bark handle or rubberized handle, Steel crossguard protector and a handmade real leather sheath included.