About Pocket Knives

Forgive my absence my dear readers.  I haven’t been able to post in so long, I was going through withdrawals.  The absence was my own fault – we’ve just been so busy.  No fear though, I’m back.  You can look forward to the weekly posts from now on.

So we’ve finally made it to my last post in the what can I get series.  It’s taken me forever to come up with what I think is the best pocket knife for over $200.  I came up with three really simple criteria – 1: is it reliable, 2: is it special, and 3: is it cool…the Boker Che pocket knife with Stainless steel handle answers all three with a resounding YES!

The stainless steel Boker Che pocket knife is reliable – that means it works when it is supposed to and will stand up to what you put it through.  The blade is made of N690BO, which is a special alloy containing cobalt.  No joke but we used mine to skin an antelope.  It’s an ambidextrous knife and it opens with both left and right hands by use of the thumb studs.  That ease of movements transitions us into the second questions – is it special?  YES!  The designers at Boker created a new mechanism called Plate Lock. Plate Lock also accesses with either hand and prevents accidental release of the locked blade. This blade flows into the redesigned, very ergonomic handle.  Boker replaced the normal aluminum handle plates with cutout stainless steel.  This improved the strength and balance of the pocket knife.  It’s also the reason for 3: is it cool…just look at it.  It’s stainless steel.  It’s got cutouts.  It’s got plate lock.  It’s strong.  It’s user friendly.  It’s just cool.

Check out the Boker stainless steel Che pocket knife.  It’s well worth the price tag.

Wow, I am overwhelmed with the responses I received to my previous post about the Case Hobo Pocket Knife.  Who knew so many people loved the idea of the Hobo or owned something similar themselves.  Please keep sharing, I really love it.

Now, on to why we’re here…the pocket knife I deem the best of the best for $151-$200.  If you’ve stuck with me up until this point, I think you need a hobby…lol, just kidding. I thank you.  I had a couple readers send me some suggestions for my list but if I don’t own it, I don’t consider it.  They have gone on my wish list though so stay tuned.  I was doing some spring cleaning last week and I came across a pocket knife I was really impressed with.  The Boker Infinity Pocket Knife with Ceramic blade is an intimidating piece of weaponry.  The blade is 3.38 inches long which brings the total knife lenght to just over eight inches.  It features one handed opening with liner lock so it’s not going anywhere.  If you’ve never used a ceramic blade knife, you really need to.  These suckers are SHARP and strong.  This particular knife is solid black so it’s perfect for concealment.  It’s the kind of pocket knife that I would want with me in the black streets of the ghetto on a dark night.  Not that I recommend that to anyone of course.  My small hands hold the Zytel handle, with it’s notched ramps and Kraton® rubber inset just great even when wet.  This is a favorite of my husband’s and my police officer dad.  It’s lightweight and can be carried in the pocket, by lanyard or pocket clip. 

On a side note, this knife reminds me of a ninja – black, silent, moves with ease…it’s pretty sweet!

You may as well start laughing now.  The pocket knife I’m featuring this time is a pocket knife, but it’s got just a little extra.  How many times have you been in need of a fork or spoon and just don’t have one?  How many times have you berated yourself because you forgot the utensils?  Sure, anyone can have a pocket knife, but how many people can say they also have a pocket spoon?  Well, with the Case Hobo Pocket Knife you can do just that!  Never again will you be late to dinner with this pocket knife in your pocket!  Never again will you have to drink your soup or use your fingers to eat… This pocket knife combo has got to be one of the best inventions ever! 

Case Hobo Pocket Knives are made of Tru-sharp surgical steel and contain a spoon, clip blade and fork.  The amber bone handle gives it that traditional Case knife look but only you will know the secret hidden along side the blade.  Personally, I think this pocket knife is fantastic.  It sure beats the boyscout version.  We all use them during camping trips.  Sometimes we have “Hobo night” and we warm up cans of beans over the fire and use our Hobo Pocket Knives.  The kids love it and honestly so do we.  Now you might be balking at the price *who wouldn’t if it was just a set of utensils* but the quality and usefulness outweighs the price.  At Pocket Knives Mall they give you 10% off your order if you sign up and that’s helpful if you want to save a buck or ten.  They don’t bombard you with a ton of stuff in your inbox either.

This fourth post left me wondering what I should feature as my next favorite pocket knife.  Between all of us, the assortment is…eclectic to say the least.  So I’ve been debating all week what I should feature and I finally decided on the Kershaw K.O. Blackout folding pocket knife with combo blade.  To be honest, I had thought I lost this pocket knife two seasons ago when it was “borrowed” by a friend during a hunt.  Somehow it ended back in our stuff – it kind of felt like Christmas.  I can never seem to justify buying a duplicate of one I lost but I can always find a reason to buy new…makes no sense I know.  But I digress.

The Kershaw Blackout pocket knife is one seriously sharp knife.  The steel is incredibly strong, being Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel.  Because of this, even though it was outside and withstood the rain, sleet, snow, hail and 100 degree days, it needed only minor cleaning. I didn’t even have to sharpen it.  Yay Sandvic! I chose the combo blade because I like having options.  You never know when you’re going to need a little oomph.  The 3 1/4 inch drop point blade is coated with coated with scratch-resistant Tungsten DLC.  The contoured handle is made of injection-molded polyimide for strength and stability.  This pocket knife, along with all the Ken Onion designed knifes in this line, feature Speedsafe technology, which allows for one handed opening.  The Kershaw Blackout Pocket knife has a removable pocket clip that is really strong.  It holds it where it’s put.  This is a pocket knife designed by a man for men but women can use it just as well too. The Speedsafe opening takes some practice to get used to but it’s well worth it.

For this third installment of my favorite pocket knives at different price-points, I wanted to showcase something useful as well as beautiful.  I’m a HUGE fan of Damascus steel, which is the reason I picked the Boker Earl Pocket Knife for this post.  I have about ten or so different pocket knives with Damascus steel blades.  For the most part, Damascus steel pocket knives are collectors items and but because of the price, you can still use this pocket knife without feeling guilty.  It weighs just over three ounces so it is perfect for the pocket.  The blade is 3 inches and the handle is 4.5 inches.  It fits very nicely in my hand.  The blade is Damascus steel (37 layers) and it looks really pretty.  The point of the blade is nicely pointed so it works well for puncturing.  The Boker Earl Pocket Knife features Liner Lock, which I personally love.  The handle features burl wood and stainless steel liners.  I love the look of the burl wood.  This pocket knife does require a little care but it’s minimal.

Welcome back readers for the second installment in my series on my favorite pocket knives at different prices. As always, I appreciate your comments and questions so keep them coming.

So I’ve thought long and hard about my favorites and I’m really excited to tell you about this one. My favorite pocket knife at the $26-$50 price range is the Buck Bones Pocket Knife.  This thing is just cool.  First, it looks intimidating as all heck.  The handle is a 4.5 inch stainless steel skeleton frame and the one I have is the tiger stripe camo.  The 420HC stainless steel ComboEdge blade is three inches long.  ComboEdge is just a fancy term for a blade that features both smooth and serrated cutting surfaces on a single blade.  This pocket knife features a 2-hand deployment groove and a handle with lightening holes and grip orientation points.  The Buck Bones Pocket Knife also features frame-lock so the blade won’t shut unless you want it to.  When I don’t carry this in my back pocket, I use the belt clip it comes with.  You can also wear it on a lanyard but I find it to be irritating on my neck, especially if I’m hiking.  This is my go-to pocket knife for camping and hiking.  I’ve used it for cutting ropes and small branches.  The blade is pretty easy to sharpen and it retains it’s edge well.

Sorry for the absence the past few weeks.  Life gets in the way sometimes.  LOL. 

After numerous e-mails and requests, I’ve decided to give you guys a list of my favorite pocket knives at different price points.  We’ll start with Under $25 and go up from there.

My personal favorite knive under $30 is, across the board, the Buck Bantam folding pocket knife with the Mossy Oak handle.  I love this pocket knife for a variety of reasons, besides the price.  First, it’s a folding pocket knife which I prefer because I can carry it in my pocket or purse or pack without having to worry about a sheath getting in the way.  The Buck Bantam has a hole at the end of the handle for a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck if that’s what you prefer. It’s really lightweight too.  The thermoplastic handle is a little longer than my ideal knife - it’s 3 3/4 inches long. but I can grip it easily and firmly. It has ridges along the top of the handle, which helps secure my grip even when I’m bloody.  The Bantam opens smoothly with just one hand.  The lock is in the middle of the handle, which I prefer to the lock at the top of the handle so I don’t accidentally close it when I need it open.   The stainless steel plain edge blade isn’t too long at 2 3/4 inches so it’s versatile.  I’ve used it for everything from gutting a deer to cutting an apple.  It does require a little care because it’s stainless steel so a good knife sharpener is a must.  I sharpen mine after every heavy duty use but I can go weeks without sharpening it.  I really love Mossy Oak camo and it matches my hunting gear so that’s why I recommend it.

So I was debating with myself over the subject of my first blog of the year.  Did I want to talk about the awesome knife I got for Christmas or should I focus on something else…after a week of wavering, I finally decided – Knife Steel.  

The blade of your knife should be your first consideration when you make your purchase.  No matter how cool a knife looks, if the steel is bad, the knife is bad.  The main component of steel is carbon and the carbon content dictates the strength, corrosion properties, and ease of sharpening. The strongest  pocket knife blade is made of Damascus Steel.   It is a hard steel, sharpens easily, retains it’s sharpness well, and it beautiful to boot.  If you can afford it, buy it.  Stainless Steel would be the next best.  Stainless steel offers the best bang for your buck.  It’s pretty strong, is relatively easy to sharpen, and remains sharp for a good period of time.  It does need to be cared for a bit or it can corrode, especially if it’s mistreated.  Most knife manufacturers use surgical grade stainless steel.  Buck Pocket Knives, Schrade Pocket Knives, and Kershaw Pocket Knives are just some of them.  Carbon Steel would be next, but the only real issue with carbon steel is that it corrodes easily.  Carbon Steel must be cared for, or you’ll be replacing your blades regularly. 

If you’re in doubt, stick with stainless.  Pick up a good sharpener, take care of your blade and it won’t let you down.

 I love giving gifts but if I was honest with myself, I love getting gifts just as much.  This year for Christmas my family gave me something that I really wanted – another knife.  And it isn’t just any knife, it’s the Boker Gentlemen’s Mother of Pearl pocket knife!  This thing is beautiful.  I’ve been admiring it for a while so I was so happy to find it in my stocking.

This Boker Gentlemen’s pocket knife has a 2 inch drop point Solingen stainless steel blade with beautiful mother-of-pearl handles.  It’s so stunning.  It’s small, closed length is just 2 1/2″. When opened to 4 1/2″, it still fits nicely in my hand.  I’m always pleased with Boker pocket knives but this one is now my favorite.  I love how the silver nickel bolsters coordinate so well with the steel and the mother-of-pearl.  The brass liners add just a bit of something else, as well as hold up to use over time.

Warranties are one of the things I consider because, as I’m sure you know, not all warranties are created equal.  Some companies will back their products with full refunds/replacements for any reason and others…well, Hell would freeze over nine times before they would replace a part.  That is why I like Pocket Knives Mall – they make it easy to find the warranties for the knives they sell.  Their site helped me figure out that my Buck pocket knife was eligible for a replacement blade since the tip broke off.  Of course, the pocket knife was twenty years old so it wasn’t a total surprise.  If you have a pocket knife that has fallen apart or broken, check out the pocket knife warranty page.  If you don’t find what you need, shoot the people at Pocket Knives Mall an e-mail – they can help you find the information you need.