Tool Logic SL Pro 2 Tactical Knife
Pro: Easy to carry and conceal
Con: Small
Multi-Tool Mimic: Tactical knives, much like tactical flashlights, typically only have one primary purpose with a few so-called “tactical” accessories added on. Knives are meant to cut or skin or shear. They don’t really do much else. Even with that restriction, SL Pro has tried to create something that is more knife than tool, but more than just a good blade with a few extras. This comes with an integrated signal whistle that you’ll want on hand if you find yourself at sea or buried under ice and snow. There’s a full survival firestarter on board that uses real flint and steel to create sparks, meaning it works better than just a flame lighter. At last, there is a small LED flashlight built in that illuminates small areas nicely. With a total weight of 1.6 ounces, there isn’t a reason to leave this at home whether you’re backpacking or just headed to the office. [Purchase: $37]

Cold Steel Recon 1 Tactical Knife
Pro: Great traction
Con: Known to shred your pockets

Bang For Your Buck: Our neighbors to the north (based in Ventura, California) at Cold Steel keep their name popping on our radar with a pocket knife that’s ready to tackle any task. Outfitted with a clip-point stainless steel (Japanese Aus 8A stainless steel) blade that has been vacuum heat treated and sub-zero quenched for optimum performance. Not to mention the fact that Cold Steel has also finished the 4-inch blade off with black Teflon that resists everything from rust and glare to light reflections during tactical operations. All of that while also ensuring the blade maintains consistent lubrication during cuts. The Recon 1 is easy to transport, weighing in at just 5.3 ounces, and features a nonslip grip G10 scaled handle working in conjunction with the brand’s Tri Ad locking system to promote super grip in the field. A stainless steel pocket/belt clip makes it as easy to take anywhere, and the reasonable price (along with the small size) makes it a hard choice to pass up. [Purchase: $45]


 
Kershaw Blur Glassbreaker Knife
Pro: Built-in carbide glass breaker
Con: Poorly designed opening stud
Everyday Carry: The good folks at Kershaw have been blessing us with some of the best knives on the market since 1974. We personally own several Kershaw’s, and our current EDC pocket knife is also made from the Kai-owned company. While it’s true not all of the brand’s current offerings are built here in the states, the Blur is made in the USA (which is music to our ears). It’s sporting a Sandvik-crafted, partially serrated recurve blade that’s ready to slice and dice, but it’s also been equipped built-in glassbreaker. The carbide constructed breaker is attached to the end of the anodized aluminum handle, which coupled with the Trac-Tec grip tape inserts provides rock solid grip under operation. To help ensure one-handed opening, the Blur features a SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism that works like a charm. The blade measures in at 3 3/8 inches, and the knife weighs just 4 ounces, making it the perfect choice for your everyday carry arsenal. Plus that lifetime warranty tells us all we need to know about the quality of Kershaw. [Purchase: $66]

SOG E37SN-CP Seal Pup Elite

Pro: Highly corrosion resistant
Con: Blade coating is easily scratched
Water Warrior: It takes true grit to be a Navy Seal, and anything that they carry or endorse has to stand up to the most rigorous, most vicious, most intense tests of endurance that the sadists in the U.S. Military can think up. The Seal Pup Elite has met every challenge placed before it and proven itself to be a valuable tactical knife made for anyone’s hip. The Black TiNi blade doesn’t have a serrated edge like many tactical knives, but it still can cut through ropes and twine of any variety cleanly without much sawing. The ridged jimping along the entire back let you keep control of the knife whether cutting or cleaning a kill, allowing it to act more like a razor or surgical instrument if you need to field dress a wound or dig a bullet out of a comrade. Made from honest AUS-8 steel the blade comes in at just under 5 inches while the glass-reinforced nylon handle makes up the rest. Part of the Seal testing process was a two week immersion in salt water, proving that the Seal Pup wouldn’t corrode into uselessness, so this can even be used as a dive knife if you need it to. [Purchase: $71]

Spyderco Assist Black Blade

Pro: Difficult to cause accidental injury
Con: Nearly useless for combat
Search and Rescue: Ordinarily, Spyderco makes knives that are meant to be used in a fight to the death. They specialize in combat blades and self-defense knives rather than pieces that are made for utility, so this definitely breaks from the pack. First off, it has a blunt end that won’t stab anyone without a lot of effort. Great for EMTs, Firefighters, submarine commandos, or anyone who needs to work in tight places without doing damage to people or things. The serrated edge is ideal for hacking through rope with a quickness because you can put the rope between handle and blade, using the wavy backside to grip it and saw through fast. It’s nearly 8-and-a-half inches when opened, but closes down to about half that. It has a patented Cobra Hood that helps guide your finger to the metal cap used for deployment so there is no fumbling, just a smooth open every time. Add in an alert whistle and glass breaker, and you’ve got a knife made to save lives rather than take them. [Purchase: $92]

Benchmade 810SBK Osborne Contego

Pro: Exceptional sharpness retention
Con: Look at the price
Pure and Simple: Benchmade has built their exceptional brand in part by making folding pocket knives of all shapes and sizes. While the Contego can only marginally be called a true tactical knife, it is certainly capable of living up to numerous challenges. It has the patented AXIS lock that can withstand 800 lbs. of pressure without snapping or failing. On the pommel is a carbide tip breaker that goes through glass like…well like a brick goes through glass. Like most Benchmade products, the blade is the real star of the show with a hardness rating of 62-64HRC it’s full CPM-M4 steel that doesn’t chip, dull, or nick and holds an edge for ages whether cutting through hides, saplings, wires, or bones. The textured G-10 handle with easy switch deployment for extra speed is just icing on a very sharp cake. Relatively affordable for a Benchmade, though that still means selling one of your children to afford it. [Purchase: $179] source