Best Tactical Folding Knives in 2023

Tactical folding knives are designed to be more durable than their regular counterparts as they will be required to perform more tasks in less than favorable conditions that could include humidity, rain, and even mud. Moreover, they are designed with stainless steel blades that are coated in carbon, nitride, or black oxide for added strength and rust resistance.

The handles of tactical knives are also made to be ergonomic and comfortable for use over a long period of time. Plus, they are often made from anti-slip rubber or plastic so as to prevent the knife from slipping in humid or wet conditions.

The blades can greatly vary in length depending on what you need the knife for, for example, for chopping firewood or simply cutting food ingredients such as fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, the blade can be fully serrated or only have part of the blade with serration. Again, this mainly depends on the tasks you are planning on performing with the knife.

Maintaining Your Tactical Knife

Most individuals falsely believe that only water can rust or corrode stainless steel blades, however, that is not true because stainless steel can easily discolor when it comes in contact with acids for example from oranges, lemons, or even tomatoes. Luckily, a lot of manufacturers have now designed various knives that are resistant to the effects of such acids and as consequence do not rust or corrode

Also, do not forget about the blade length and always think about what task you are going to use the folding knife for the most. Do not forget to evaluate the thickness and toughness of the blade as some blades tend to bend and even break when they are used for harder tasks such as cutting thick branches of wood.

Lastly, think about the blade hardness as it is not the same as blade thickness. The hardness of the blade is determined by how long it can resist bending especially at the tip when force is applied. As well as about how tactical folding knives can be made using half tang or full tang blades with the latter being much more durable and long-lasting.

Top 6 Best Tactical Folding Knife Reviews in 2023

Smith & Wesson Assisted Folding Knife

Smith and Wesson’s knives are considered to be the most durable and long-lasting ones by outdoor enthusiasts for several reasons such as a sharp blade, durable construction, lifetime warranty, and sleek army design. Hence, their sleek knife designs have conquered the heart of many campers, hikers, and knife collectors.

It has a unique locking technology that makes opening and folding very easy plus its medium size blade makes the knife great for various different tasks at home as well as in the woods. It has a superb handle that is easy to hold, balanced however it is not anti-slip as it is made from aluminum with rubber.

BlizeTec Survival Tactical Folding Knife

Blize Tec tactical folding knife is made with a durable stainless steel blade that is coated with black-oxide for added toughness, resistance and edge retention. The handle is made from the anodized aluminum handle that has an ergonomic design thus it is comfortable to use even for long periods of time.

The blade has a serrated part that can be used whenever it is needed thus this makes this knife multi-functional. Customers have reported this knife to be great for hiking, trekking and camping needs as it can easily cut ropes, cardboard, and even food.

Kershaw Blur Tanto Serrated Pocket Knife

Kershaw Blur Black Oxide Coated knife is ergonomic and comfortable is made from strong and superior stainless steel that makes this knife one of the best on the market of American camping knives. However, the handle is also made out of stainless steel and does not have any plastic casing hence the Kershaw knife can be a little slippery during humid or rainy weather.

On the good side, it comes with a good locking system and pocket clip for easy use however it will have to be cleaned only using a damp cloth and kept in a dry space so as to avoid corrosion and rust.

Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife

A beautiful folding tactical knife manufactured by Spyderco, it easily stands out thanks to its carbon-coated stainless steel body and G-10 handle as well as a quick deployment mechanism. The blade is fairly sharp out of the box and requires only seldom sharpening rituals. However, like with other models, it will need to be carefully cleaned as it can rust and corrode.

Furthermore, it is very convenient to carry thanks to the pocket clips that can be used to attach the Spyderco knife on the sides or upwards. Also, the handle has been ergonomically designed and is very comfortable to use for cutting small firewood or other solid objects that are not hard to cut.

Zero Tolerance Tactical Folding Knife

A durable and sleek tactical folding knife made from tough and resistant nitride coated stainless steel that customers have reported makes the knife chip-free and has improved edge retention. The handle is made from carbon fiber and titanium coated stainless steel plus the design of the handle is ergonomic thus making holding this knife comfortable with little strain to your hands and wrists.

Customers who have bought this knife have reported the knife being very balanced and precise moreover it quickly opens and closes thus becoming a great survival knife. Furthermore, the overall design is really sleek and modern hence can become a great gift for your loved one who enjoys the outdoors.

Benchmade Mini Griptilian Knife

Benchmade 555 Mini best Tactical Folding Knife is made from an imported stainless steel knife with a handle is made out of glass-reinforced nylon material covered in anti-slip rubber mold for added comfort. The Benchmade knife comes with a separate soft pouch to store the blade when they are not in use plus they vary in different shapes thereby giving you lots of possible options of filleting fish.

What Is the Most Important Thing in Best Folding Tactical Knives?

Always remember, that the most important thing is how comfortable the tactical knife is because if it is not then you are very likely to have a hard time using it. Moreover, the knife has to be comfortable in a variety of settings including when it is humid and raining.

Plus, the tactical knife must feel comfortable while you perform different tasks such as cutting, chopping, and mincing. In other words, tactical knives are designed to be useful and comfortable whenever and wherever you use them. The handle must always feel ergonomic without any pinch points or sharp edges and corners.

Furthermore, remember that most tactical knives are foldable and this means that you must feel comfortable opening the knife forward as well as backward without risking hurting yourself. In addition to the handle material and its ergonomic design, it must also feel right in your palm. Avoid buying knives that feel too small or too big in your palm because they will definitely be hard to use and control.

How to Pick One of the Best Tactical Folding Knives

If you want to get a tactical folding knife, one of the questions on your mind is how to find the right one. Tactical knives are designed to be used for various activities, so it is imperative to select a tactical knife based on your exact needs. Here are some features to consider when buying the best tactical folding knives.

Size

Some people believe a tactical knife should be big, while others prefer to own a small-sized knife. The truth is, the size of the tactical knife you opt for depends on the tasks that have to be done. It would not be ideal to use a big tactical knife for a small task that requires a small knife. You should imbibe the act of selecting the right knife for the job, and it should sit comfortably in your hands.

Ergonomics

A tactical knife’s ergonomics is a crucial aspect you should always consider. The knife has to feel convenient and comfortable in your hands, and it must not present any form of stress before use. Besides, you should not feel any pain when you apply additional pressure.

Ideally, an ergonomic tactical folding knife should be like your hand’s extension, and it should come with a profound grip. Any knife you choose needs to feel natural when you hold and use it, so it is crucial to get the right one for you.

Material

Tactical knives come in various material varieties, and the reliable one you can use is steel. Steel is the most robust metal ever known, so it cannot break or become blunt within a short while. Some tactical folding knives’ producers usually coat steel-knives with PVD to last longer and remain in shape. The knife’s handle can be made with materials like rubber to be convenient for you to hold.

Conclusion

In conclusion, remember that a plain edge tactical knife is great for various push cuts plus such knives offer better knife control as well as more precise cuts (Source). Secondly, you can sharpen them easily and can even store them virtually anywhere as the blade edges will not go blunt. However, their main disadvantage is that with a plain edge you cannot slice objects that require saw-like motions.

Professionals, recommend using such knives for cutting ropes or small food that you can find while hiking and camping. Furthermore, you can use serrated knives to cut much tougher objects. However, serrated blades, while better at cutting hard materials, are much clumsier than plain blades thus they require more practice to master.

Also, there are folding tactical knives with partially serrated a blade. The main advantage of this kind of blade is a mixture of both edge types, which has overtaken the fully serrated edge in popularity. Most campers and hikers tend to use the tip of the knife for various tasks and it is usually at the tip that the blade tends to bend or break.