The Best American Made Folding Knives
A good knife is an essential outdoors tool. What’s the best pocket knife right now? Well, that depends on your performance needs, budget, and personal preference. That’s why I made this guide: to help you find the best folding knife made in the USA to suit your needs.
Growing up in the Rockies, I’ve carried a pocket knife while hunting, horsepacking, and backpacking since I was little boy. I’m now a bit of a knife nut. I’ve gone from affordable and easy to sharpen carbon steels like 1095 or stainless 420HC to the so called “super steels” with higher edge retention like S30V, S35VN, S90V, 3V, and Magnacut. I’ve learned that blade geometry, heat treatment, and ultimately your personal preference in blade design are all around more important factors than the steel composition. None of these steels suck regardless of what the armchair warriors claim.
Fortunately for us nuts, there are thousands of excellent knives made in the USA. Each person has their own particular preferences… my personal criteria for an everyday carry “EDC” folding knife include having a non-serrated blade (much easier to sharpen) around 3 or 4 inches long, a comfortable handle, weighing less than 4.5 oz, easy one-handed opening and closing (except for traditional knives), a strong lock, and a good quality blade steel with a great heat treatment. High end materials like titanium, carbon fiber, and premium steels are icing on the cake. I’ve included both the best high end and affordable production knives to suit a range of budgets.
Misinformation is prevalent on the internet concerning blade steels. If you want to cut through marketing BS and the subjective bias of forums, then the ONLY resource I trust to learn about steels that is supported by data (not anecdote) is KnifeSteelNerds.com, which is run by a PhD steel metallurgist and fellow knife nut from Pittsburgh, Larrin Thomas. Don’t allow anyone to persuade you that this or that blade steel sucks, all steels are a compromise between edge retention, toughness, and rust resistance… unless it’s the common cheap imported knife with a poor heat treatment, those really do suck. Rather than collect a bunch of cheap knives, I prefer to save my money for the best American-made knife I can afford, one that I will truly be proud to own and use for decades.
Why Trust Me?
I know how hard it is to find honest recommendations and to narrow down American-made gear. This is why I started American Gear Guide. I take my recommendations seriously and only recommend the best of the best. Here are a few reasons to trust me.
- I make independent recommendations based on personal experience (not paid to endorse a product).
- I’ve hunted, fished, gathered, and gardened since childhood. I fill my freezer with meat via bow, rifle, and rod.
- As an avid outdoorsman that reviews gear for a living, I also actually own and use all American-made gear.
- My background includes 10 yrs working with the Forest Service as a Wildland Firefighter, Ranger, Wildlife Crew-leader, and Forest Ecologist. I certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). I’ve backpacked extensively throughout the USA and 45 countries including in the Middle East, Central & South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. See About page for more.
- I attend industry trade shows like Hunting Expos & Outdoor Retailer to stay informed on the latest innovative equipment.
- This guide receives regular updates with the newest gear.
- Continuous learning & self improvement are encouraged, so I welcome your criticism. If you think I missed anything then please leave some helpful suggestions.
Best Folding Knives at a Glance
- Zero Tolerance 0452CF: Editor’s Choice Best Knife
- Kershaw Bel Air: Best Buy Knife
- Benchmade Bugout 535: Best Ultralight Knife
- Kershaw Leek: Best Spring Assisted Knife
- Case Copperlock: Best Traditional Knife
- Buck 112 Slim: Best Budget Beater Knife
Top Recommended Pocket Knives 2024
A more in depth look at my favorite knives and what makes them my top recommendations.
Editor's Choice Best Folding Knife
Zero Tolerance 0452CF
My favorite knife of all time and the one I carry most, the 0452CF has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. It may be a little big for some people but it’s just right for me. I love the sleek Sinkevich design, premium materials, and precision craftsmanship. I’ve field dressed elk and mule deer with it, carried it most days for a couple years and even lightly batoned wood with it in a wet pinch on multiple occasions (I don’t actually recommend batoning with folding blades, you WILL eventually break it). Though it boasts a relatively large 4.1″ blade made of excellent CPM-S35VN steel, it still weighs a comfortable 4.4 oz. It’s slim design and deep carry pocket clip make it feel like carrying a smaller knife. The blade detent, ball bearing pivot, frame lock, and flipper combine perfectly for a fast, silky smooth flipping action. The secret of it’s great size to weight ratio are the handle materials, with carbon fiber on one side and titanium on the other. It might be a bit pricey but I doubt you can find a better premium knife costing twice as much, including Sebenzas in my opinion.
Last price range observed: ~$270
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
Best Buy Folding Knife
Kershaw Bel Air
The Bel Air is a lightweight EDC knife with an “Axis” style lock that represents Kershaw’s answer to the popular Benchmade Bugout and Hogue Deka. It earns our Best Buy Award for representing the best value of materials, design, fit, and finish. The Bel Air sports rigid cerakoted aluminum handle scales and the blade is 3″ of premium Magnacut steel supported on silky smooth ball bearings. The knife weighs 2.9 oz which is light but not as ultralight as the Bugout or Deka. Note, the deep carry clip of the Bel Air is even deeper than usual. As far as Magnacut, I own a few knives with this steel and can recommend it, though I think you’ll only notice the difference in extreme corrosion resistance if the blade is wet for extended periods. I personally carried a Deka with Magnacut steel on a packraft river expedition where the knife was continuously wet on my PFD for 5 days; I didn’t find a speck of rust. This steel, which is known for an excellent blend of edge retention, toughness, and high rust resistance, is ideal for wet and salty coastal environments.
Last price range observed: ~$149
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
Best Ultralight Knife
Benchmade Bugout 535
The Bugout has become a best-seller for Benchmade. Why? Because it’s unbelievably lightweight at 1.8 oz, yet it sports a great 3.24 inch S30V blade, Grivory (plastic) with steel liner handle scales, a deep carry clip, & Benchmade’s smooth Axis lock. This has been a winning combo now replicated by other companies. It’s certainly become one of my new favorite ultralight EDC knives. You can customize your Bugout with a wide variety of aftermarket accessories like micarta or titanium handle scales. I personally own the pricier carbon fiber 535-3 version with an S90V blade. A smaller version, the Mini Bugout 533, is also available.
Last observed price range: ~$153 +
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon
Hogue Deka
The Hogue Deka is another ultralight (2.1 oz) favorite knife of mine. The Deka can be found with a superb 3.25″ Magnacut blade in either a wharncliffe or clip point style to suit your uses. Since I love hunting, I prefer the upswept belly of the clip point for skinning game. Like the Bugout and Bel Air, the Deka shares an “Axis” type lock and opens and closes easily with one hand. The Deka can be found with polymer or micarta scales and could also be upgraded with aluminum scales from GOAT. This is the knife that tends to accompany me in constantly wet environments like rafting and fishing. Last observed price range: ~$140 +
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon
Best Spring Assisted Knife
Kershaw Leek
For those who love a spring assisted knife for a fast auto-like action, the Kershaw Leek is the stand out choice. The Leek is a longtime classic that helped start the spring assist craze. With it’s slim yet solid and handy size it almost disappears in the pocket. The Leek has an excellent razor sharp 3″ Sandvik 14C28N blade and weighs only 2.5 oz. Some newer models sport a handsome reverse tanto blade.
Last price range observed: ~$56
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon
Best Traditional Knife
Case Copperlock
Yes, this one’s a little different than the ultra-modern knives on this list, but it too is a favorite of mine. The Navy Blue Bone Copperlock is an exceptionally classy yet capable traditional knife. Long ago I inherited my Grandfather’s Case knife, and I expect to pass my Case Copperlock down when it comes time. The Copperlock has a 3.25″ easy to sharpen polished stainless blade, polished bolsters, a lock back, and beautiful blue bone scales. This work of art only weighs 2.8 oz. I’ve given the copperlock as gifts for friends who could use a solid knife but don’t necessarily want fast opening knives. They’ve loved it just as I do.
Last price observed: ~$74 +
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
Best Budget Knife
Buck 112 Slim
The Buck 112 Slim is a simple and practical lockback knife for a great price. The original Buck 112 and 110 are absolute classics, I inherited my Dad’s original 110 and love it, but many people wanted slimmer and lighter knives. The Slim versions deliver that.
The 112 comes with an EDC friendly 3″ 420 HC blade, comfortable nylon handles, and a good deep carry pocket clip. Nobody does 420 HC steel better than Buck, which comes extremely sharp, holds a decent edge, and sharpens easily back to shaving. You can find the 112 slim with various handle colors, materials, and blade steels for a premium. The 110 model is more or less a larger version of the 112 .
Last price range observed: ~$29 – 100 (depending on model)
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
Spyderco Manix 2 S110V
If you prize a vault like grip and incredible edge retention, this is the knife for you. The ergonomic design, non-slip G-10, and extensive jimping make this an incredibly grippy knife. I like Spyderco’s ball bearing lock and the 3.37″ S110V blade holds a sharp toothy edge like a champ. The S110V Manix 2 weighs 4.1 oz.
Last price range observed: $132-235 (depending on model)
Manix 2 with S110V Steel
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Manix 2 with S30V Steel and G-10 Handle (less expensive)
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Manix 2 Lightweight with BD-1 Steel (least expensive)
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ZT Sinkevich 0450CF & 0450
The little brother to the 0452CF, the ZT 0450CF shares the same excellent materials and design but weighs a scant 2.45 oz with a capable 3.25″ blade of CPM-S35VN. The handle scales on the 0450CF are carbon fiber on one side and titanium on the other, while both scales on the 0450 model are titanium. Two green back spacers on the 0450CF and red back spacers on the 0450 add a subtle and classy accent of color.
Last price range observed: ~$200 (depending on model)
ZT 0450CF
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
ZT 0450 (less expensive)
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
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Benchmade Osborne 940-1 Carbon Fiber
The Osborne 940 is a classic for a reason. I love the original 940 with its slender aluminum handles, an axis lock, and a 3.5″ reverse tanto S30V blade. The 940-1 takes things to the next level with carbon fiber scales and premium S90V steel. The 940-1 weighs only 2.44 oz. Note, the aluminum and G10 handle versions cost significantly less but all are top end knives.
Last price range observed: ~$216 – 315 (depending on model)
Osborne 940-1
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
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Osborne 940 with S30V Blade & Aluminum Handle
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Spyderco Paramilitary 2
The Paramilitary 2 offers fantastic ergos with G-10 handle scales and a premium 3.44″ S110V steel blade. The innovative compression lock allows for quick and easy one handed opening and closing. The Paramilitary 2 weighs 3.75 oz. Spyderco also offers the smaller and less expensive Para 3 with a 2.58″ S45VN blade. Like the Manix, the Paramilitary is extremely grippy, even when wet.
Last price range observed: ~$170 – 253 (depending on model)
Paramilitary 2 with S110V Steel
More Info/Current Pricing from Amazon.com
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
Paramilitary 2 with S30V Steel
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More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
Kershaw Link
Kershaw’s popular Link has recently been updated with premium CPM 20CV blade steel. The Link has a fast opening spring assisted blade. With CPM 20CV, the Link’s 3.25″ blade has some of the highest edge retention available while being highly corrosion resistant. The downside is more effort sharpening.
Last price range observed: ~$115
More Info/Current Pricing from BladeHQ.com
Some of my other knives pulling field duty for Forest Service work: ZT 0450 (top right), and Case Copperlock (bottom).
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