The Cutting Edge

The official blog of Knife Depot

15 Worst Knife Pocket Clips

April 9, 2024 / / 31 Comments

pocket-clips

This post was first written in August 2016 and was updated in April 2024.

A pocket clip can make or break a knife.

Even though it’s easy to remove a pocket clip on most models (and there are some good reasons why you should remove it), many people won’t buy a knife with a poorly designed clip.

During our time selling and handling knives, we’ve come across some major disappointments in the pocket clip area. While we don’t think a knife is lost beyond redemption because of a bad clip (replacing a clip is also just as easy as removing it), it can be the low point on a great knife.

So we assembled a list of 10 of the worst pocket clips around. (We opted for knives still or recently in production because it’s too easy to pick on an old model like the Schrade Cliphanger.) All of these are a matter of opinion, so while you may hate some of these, others may love them. That’s just the way these things go.

15. WE Vision R

Sometimes when a knife designer tries to do something different from the norm, it can be hit or miss. The clip on the WE Vision R tries to shake things up to middling success. This is a clip that many people hate and a few people admire.

It essentially takes the classic clip but instead of putting it on the side, it’s on the top of the knife. Most people say it’s just too awkward to put in the pocket and take out.

This clip style isn’t brand new, of course. The late Jon Graham was one of the first pioneers of this type of clip, but those were just a little better.

14. CRKT Eros

Ken Onion is one of the most influential knife makers alive, having set an industry standard for assisted openers and folding knives in general. But he just can’t seem to make an outstanding pocket clip.

crkt-eros

The clip on Onion’s CRKT Eros is not his worst (that’s still to come), but it’s nothing to write home about. CRKT calls it “an extremely unique custom style carry clip” in its product description, but it looks very gangly and thin.

Along with the fact that it’s a one position clip—tip-down, right hand—some have complained it’s susceptible to bending. That’s not surprising considering how narrow it is.

13. Hogue EX-01

Hogue may be better known for its gun grips, but it makes some darn good knives. The Hogue EX-04 was one of our Badass Knives of the Week a while back. Despite its well-made knives, the clips are frequently a subject of derision among knife fans.

EX01

I’ve read several accounts of people saying they won’t buy a Hogue because of the clip. Many Hogue models feature a spoon-style clip that’s fairly large and almost feminine as Dan from Blade Reviews calls it.

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Best Push Daggers at Knife Depot

April 9, 2024 / / 3 Comments

best push daggers

The push dagger — also known as the fist knife, punch knife, or push knife — has a murky origin abroad. However, it is thought to have been related to the katara punching sword of India.

Regardless of who invented it, the push dagger gained popularity in the 1800s and was utilized during various wars due to its effective use in hand-to-hand combat.

While other knives, like folders and even most fixed blades, are considered useful tools, push daggers are widely deemed self-defense weapons. They were carried as defensive weapons because they are lightweight and easy to conceal. For that same reason, they are banned in certain localities.

Still, if you’re an avid knife collector and want a solid push dagger, here are the best push daggers for sale at Knife Depot.

Note: This post was first written way back in 2012, but we updated it with newer and better knives in March 2024.

Cold Steel Urban Edge

These days, Cold Steel is by far the best manufacturer of push knives. Not only do they make a few different models, but they all excel in their own way.

One of the most popular at Knife Depot is the Cold Steel Urban Edge.

This one is on the smaller side with a 2.5-inch blade and small Kray-Ex handle. We’ve had people use this push knife for EDC applications, especially because it has double the functionality with one serrated edge and one plain edge.

It is also extremely lightweight at under 2 ounces. It’s available with plain edges too.

Schrade MOE Push Dagger

This push dagger is larger than the Urban Edge with a 3.25-inch blade. There is a slight blood groove down the center to reduce the weight of the knife.

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Benchmade Freek – Knife of the Week

March 29, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Benchmade Freek

The original Benchmade Freek was a natural evolution of the beloved Griptilian. It had better scales, a better blade design, and better steel.

So, when Benchmade decided to give the Freek an upgrade, that awesome folder became one of the best EDC knives on the market and praised by everyone who used it.

The Super Freek is the culmination of EDC design from Benchmade. The knife features a 3.6-inch drop point blade made from M4 steel, an alloy celebrated for its toughness and edge retention.

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15 Best Wharncliffe Blade Knives

March 22, 2024 / / 35 Comments

For nearly two centuries, the Wharncliffe blade design has remained a staple of the knife community.

While the function has evolved from a whittling knife to more of a self-defense or EDC purpose, the Wharncliffe continues to be a useful tool.

A few weeks back, I wrote about the History of the Wharncliffe, and now I’m taking it to the next step with a look at the best production knives with Wharncliffe blades.

I’m capping the list at 20, although I will undoubtedly be missing a few essential additions, so let me know in the comments.

1. SOG Snarl

Let’s start small with this popular and versatile Wharncliffe fixed blade from SOG. Designed by Jason Brous of Brous Blades, the Snarl is one thick knife.

It has a 2.3-inch Wharncliffe blade and a skeletonized handle. The whole thing is made of steel and fits into an included sheath that you can clip to your boot or belt or wear around your neck.

2. Gerber Pledge

The Gerber Pledge is a compact folder with a price you won’t believe. For a little over $20, you can get this knife with a longer 3.7-inch Wharncliffe blade and urban blue handle made from GFN.

This EDC really extols the virtues of a Wharncliffe blade for everyday activities like opening boxes and envelopes.

3. KA-BAR TDI LDK

KA-BAR TDI LDK Small Wharncliffe Knife

The KA-BAR TDI Last Ditch Knife takes cues from Janich’s Ronin. This small fixed blade is made to be used in last ditch self-defense situation. The overall length is only 3.6 inches and it is meant to be put in its sheath in a boot or wallet. The backup knife is great at slashing and piercing.

4. Spyderco McBee

Spyderco went crazy the past few years making Wharncliffe versions out of almost every one of its folders. While they cut back on most of those designs, the McBee with its Wharncliffe-style blade is still among the best.

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15 Bright Green Knives

March 12, 2024 / / 7 Comments

best green knives

It’s an old tradition to wear something green on St. Patrick’s Day. Some people wear green shoelaces or a green hat, but if you’re the kind of knife nut who’s reading this blog, you’re probably going to carry green knives.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re looking at 15 great knives with green handles.

This article has been updated a few times since its first publication in 2014 to get rid of discontinued models and put some new ones.

Spyderco Pacific Salt 2, Green

We used to have the Dragonfly 2 in ZDP-189 in this spot, but that knife is no longer available. The Spyderco Pacific Salt 2 with modified drop point blade made from LC200N and bright green handle scales is the next best thing.

Kershaw Link, Olive

Olive is kind of a tamped down green color, so we decided to add it to this list. The Kershaw Link is one of the best US-made EDC folders, and Kershaw made it even better by making this version have premium 20CV steel with olive scales.

CobraTec Green Diablo

CobraTec has a number of excellent green knives, including the CobraTec Green Ryker. But the Green Diablo features a brighter green handle that complements the black-finished D2 blade.

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10 Best EDC Fixed Blade Knives

March 12, 2024 / / 11 Comments

Best EDC Fixed Blade Knives

This post was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2024 to include newer models and more knives.

We all know that folding knives make the best knives for EDC — they’re often lightweight, easily concealable, versatile and can be folded up into the pocket.

However, a small but growing number of people are ditching folders for fixed blades as their EDC knives. Why? A fixed blade can be more reliable, stronger, and a bevy of new designs means it can be just as compact and lightweight as a pocket knife.

If you’re thinking about starting to carry a fixed blade as an EDC in lieu of a folder, here are 10 of the best EDC fixed blade knives to start with.

CRKT Razel

Let’s kick things off with a knife that looks like a very functional fixed blade and that’s exactly what it is. The razel blade profile from the late Jon Graham has always been one focused on versatility. For example, the straight edge is great at slicing and opening up packages while the front of the blade excels at scraping.

The CRKT Razel is a great all-around EDC knife because it is unassuming, comfortable to use, and easy to carry with a pocket carry sheath.

When you add in the D2 steel, Micarta handle, and overall length of 6.75 inches, you get a

Cold Steel Urban Edge

It might seem crazy to put a push dagger on this list of best EDC fixed blades because it’s really only designed for one thing, but you’d be surprised at just how versatile the knife actually is.

This version of the Cold Steel Urban Edge has a 2.5-inch blade with one edge plain and the other serrated. This gives it an extra level of functionality when wielding around the house. Need to open a box? Use the plain edge. Need to cut some rope? Use the serrated edge.

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KA-BAR TDI Flipper – Knife of the Week

March 8, 2024 / / 0 Comments

KA-BAR TDI Flipper

KA-BAR and John Benner of TDI have teamed up to create an array of compelling fixed blade self-defense knives, but when they tried a flipper folder, it just didn’t click.

After a complete revamp of the original design, the new and improved TDI Flipper nails the functionality and aesthetics.

The new KA-BAR TDI Flipper forgoes the straight blade and handle of the original and opts for something curved to better match the defensive advantages of the fixed blades.

Its blade is 3 inches long with a spear point blade profile that reinforces the tip. The knife opens with an easily accessible flipper tab or an oversized thumb hole. Either option gives the user access to the blade in a pinch, even when wearing heavy duty gloves.

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How to Identify an Old Knife

March 1, 2024 / / 78 Comments

So, you picked up an awesome knife for $3 at a yard sale or your grandfather gave you his favorite blade and now you’re curious about what type of knife it is and what it’s worth.

Unfortunately, the simple task of determining a knife and its worth can be quite tricky.

But if you’re looking for a good place to start on your journey of identifying a knife, keep reading.

1. Find identifying marks or symbols

The first, and most obvious, place to start is with the knife itself.

Look for any sort of symbols, initials, or identifying marks. Certain symbols or scratches in the handle or steel of the blade are usually calling cards of certain knifemakers or brands. These are typically called maker’s marks and can range from symbols, scribbles, messy signatures, or logos. However, if there are no identifying marks, it’s very possible it’s a clone.

Sometimes a simple Google search on whatever is on the knife is enough to identify the brand or maker.

For example, let’s say you stumble upon an old slipjoint that looks like an antique with this marking:

A Google search on Graef & Schmidt will lead you to understand that it’s an old company from the early 20th century. Then, if you want an idea about how much it’s worth, take a look on eBay where they range from $20 to $350 depending on the model.

2. Get a reference book

How could a book be possibly better than the Internet? The Internet is new while most of the antique knives you’re searching for probably don’t have much information online.

There are plenty of reference books out there like Randall Knives: A Reference Book from 2007. But if you found a maker’s mark and can’t identify it, there is one book that rules over others: Goins Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings. It’s a big book of markings from history that will help any collector or enthusiast ID an old knife.

While the book appears to be out of print, the database might be available through Knife Magazine with a paid subscription. It’s unclear whether the online portion of the database search is available at the moment, so I recommend reaching out to Knife Magazine for more information.

3. Analyze construction and materials

If there aren’t any intentional identifiers on the blade, it’s still possible to narrow down the possibilities of where, when, and who it came from by simply looking at the qualities of the knife.

For example, if you have a knife with a specific type of lock, you can usually narrow the date it was manufactured with a little research. You could also narrow down where it was made by looking at its style and influence.

I’ve been asked to identify hundreds of knives throughout the years, and 90 percent of the time, the knives are made using cheap materials or by copying well-known designs or knife makers. If that’s the case, it’s very possible it comes from China or Pakistan and is worth very little monetarily.

If the construction is poor or things don’t quite fit together seamlessly, that can be another indication it’s just a simple Chinese-made knife.

4. Browse through eBay

Earlier, I suggested browsing eBay to find the value of a knife that you identified. However, it can be an option if you’re still looking to identify a knife.

For example, if you have a what looks like a stockman — which is a nonlocking folder typically with three blades — you can search something like vintage stockman with bone handle and you’ll see a list of potential matches.

5. Post your picture on websites

The Internet gives you access to billions of people, including many helpful knife enthusiasts. However, people don’t really want to be bombarded with questions asking “what knife is this and how much is it worth?” That’s why I only recommend going this route if you’re exhausted all other avenues and determined that it could be historically significant.

There are many websites, such as Blade Forums, where you can submit pictures of your knives and they’ll do their best to identify your knife. There are also a growing number of knife-related subreddits on Reddit like r/knifeclub, r/knives, r/bladesmith, and more. There’s now even a r/KnifeID subreddit.

Help identify mysterious knife
byu/superbeefwithcheese inknifeclub

7. Go to a knife expert

Finally, if you’re all out of ideas and no one can help you, it’s worth seeking out a knife expert or museum curator. You never know if your knife is so rare and valuable that not many people know about it.

Kershaw Launch 16 – Knife of the Week

February 28, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Kershaw Launch 16

When it comes to hard-use work autos, there are only a few worthy of consideration like the Gerber 06 Auto and Benchmade Auto Adamas.

Those older models finally get a modern competitor at a much lower price in the Kershaw Launch 16.

The Launch16 is a hard-use automatic knife with a 3.45-inch tanto blade with partial serrations. The blade uses M4 steel, which is one of the toughest alloys around. In fact, this knife is so good we named it one of the best automatic knives.

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15 Strange and Unique Blade Shapes

February 26, 2024 / / 7 Comments

From the infamous Shark Knife to the slew of amazing art knives by Paul Ehlers, we’ve covered an array of interesting knife designs on this blog.

One thing we haven’t really touched on are bizarre blade shades. Sure, various novelty knives like the Scorpion Knife qualify for this post, but we decided to bring you only real knives that are functional—or at least were meant to be functional.

This post was originally published way back in September 2013 (10 years ago!), so we decided to give it an update by replacing older less unique blades and adding in some newer models.

1. Microtech Jagdkommando

In the world of bizarre blade designs, the Microtech Jagdkommando is one of the kings.

Even though this knife is no longer made by Microtech, it’s still one of the most unique blades ever made. It is essentially three razor-sharp edges that spiral into a piercing point.

This knife was criticized by many for the fact that it has almost no functional use, except for hurting someone… and hurting them very badly. Still the blade design is novel and interesting to look at.

2. CRKT Razel

The Razel blade design by the late Jon Graham was originally on the list and remains a worthy addition.

This blade design is one of the newest blade profiles to come out since others like the drop point, tanto point, clip point, and spear point have been around for decades.

Unlike the Jagdkommando, the Razel is highly functional and downright useful. Anyone who’s owned the knife loves it and the chisel point makes it really versatile. It’s not something you would ever put on display though.

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