If you want to buy a pocket knife, it's important to choose a model that will accompany you during your outdoor adventures. Here's how to ideally choose your pocket knives.
Why choose a pocket knife or EDC knife?
You may be wondering why you might need to carry a pocket knife with you. First, it's interesting to know that in the past, a boy became a man thanks to the knife he carried. Indeed, all men needed a knife, a sign of courage and maturity.
Let's return to our basic subject, a pocket knife will always be useful, whether you're at home or on the move. Indeed, if you're doing DIY at home, it's useful to have a pocket knife, which will save you from systematically searching for something to cut with.
A pocket knife is particularly useful when you go out by car. In case of an accident, you can quickly cut your seatbelt. This makes it an ideal accessory for emergency situations where you need to act fast to save lives. Indeed, there are many examples of road accidents where victims were able to be extracted and saved thanks to a knife. Moreover, in a situation where every second counts, it's not always possible to wait for the arrival of firefighters or police. In a less urgent situation, a knife can be used to remove a bandage or a splinter that's bothering you.
If you're camping, a pocket knife will be very useful for setting up, cooking, cutting small branches, opening cans, etc.
Moreover, in the middle of nature, wild animals are never too far away. Even if it's exceptional, you may find yourself face to face with a wild boar or a bear and you'll need to be able to react quickly to defend yourself. Indeed, let's remember where the Ka-Bar brand gets its name from... Finally, don't forget that a pocket knife always allows you to defend yourself against any aggression at home or outside.
As you browse through the many pocket knife models on our site, you'll probably notice that there's a wide variety. What better way to make it an accessory to enhance your style? While the uninitiated might find this strange, carrying a beautiful pocket knife can be comparable to wearing a nice watch. A gentleman's knife for a gentleman of your caliber will only increase your charisma, especially when you go outdoors.
What are the criteria for buying a pocket knife?
It's essential to pay attention to certain criteria before buying a pocket knife. First of all, it's imperative that you consider the weight of your pocket knife. It usually doesn't weigh more than 50 grams.
If your pocket knife is too heavy, it tends to deform your pocket, which means you won't want to put it in there. Consequently, it will prove useless. A pocket knife should be light and handy.
Price is also an important criterion that should be taken into account. Indeed, it's not a good idea if you invest too much money in buying your pocket knife. Why? Simply because you won't dare to use it as you should. You'll be afraid of damaging it or having it stolen.
Obviously, if your pocket knife is cheap to buy, you must accept the risks of neglecting quality. It could then be damaged quickly, or you could even injure yourself. Therefore, you should choose a pocket knife that's worth it, a model that costs about €50.
The third criterion you should pay attention to and which is of great importance is the blade material. You have the choice between carbon or stainless steel blades. The first blade is easy to sharpen, but very sensitive to oxidation. The carbon blade is therefore perfect for use with wood. However, contact with water should be avoided.
Moreover, the Opinel is very representative of the carbon blade. Secondly, the stainless steel blade is difficult to sharpen, but it doesn't rust. However, its price is higher, but if you want to be able to use it for cooking, it's perfect. The Leatherman knife is then representative of the stainless steel blade.
When we talk about pocket knives, it doesn't mean the blade should be too small, quite the contrary. Indeed, if the blade is too small, then the pocket knife won't be usable. However, if you choose a blade that's too large, the pocket knife won't really be one anymore, as it will become too big. Therefore, we recommend choosing a blade of about 7 cm in size for easy use.
Locking system
As you may know, some pocket knives have a locking system. Generally, pocket knives include a locking mechanism that blocks the blade when it's open. This lock will therefore prevent the blade from folding during use, thus possibly providing additional safety to the user.
Consequently, fingers cannot be trapped between the blade and the handle of the pocket knife. If you think this point is important to you, then choose a pocket knife with this locking system. Obviously, if you intend to use your everyday knife for some odds and ends, this locking system is not important.
However, for intensive uses like hunting, you should get a pocket knife with a locking system. We will later write an article explaining the different systems including the Liner Lock, Frame Lock, Axis Lock, Back Lock, etc.
Multi-purpose knife
The multifunctional knife or versatile knife is considered a true pocket knife. It's a knife that allows you to have different tools at your disposal, (5 to 20), which will be very useful in various situations. In one product, you can have a bottle opener, a corkscrew, a knife, a saw, scissors, an awl, etc.
No need to ask anyone for help, always have everything with you wherever you are. Finally, the Leatherman Wave + knife is also perfect if you want to have a versatile survival knife at your disposal.
A knife with multiple blades
If you certainly don't need to buy a multifunctional plier, but want a knife just for the blades, we recommend buying a knife with multiple blades. This one consists of two to three different blades. So, if you need a small blade, you get one. If a large blade is more useful to you, you'll have one too. Thus, you can tackle different tasks without any problem thanks to this multi-blade pocket knife, including cutting leather even if it's very thick, as it's made with high-quality steel.
Opt for reliable knife brands
Sometimes, it can be interesting to choose sub-brands, due to attractive prices. However, we recommend choosing a pocket knife from a major brand. You won't doubt its reliability, and also its quality. A sub-brand often designs its products from discounts to be able to offer such low prices. Discover several brands and sub-brands of quality knives, including Spyderco, Benchmade, Boker and Cold Steel.
After a few uses, you'll quickly notice that the blade tends to degrade. In this case, opt for an electric sharpener or a sharpening stone like the DC4 from Fällkniven to reshape the blade according to your preference.
Find your ideal knife on Kodiak Store
Because choosing your knife is important for outdoor survival, you must study the blade length according to your needs. The most important thing is to always opt for a model that fits well in your hand for easy handling. In this sense, a fixed blade knife is perfect for hunting in the woods. For your daily needs, opt for a short-bladed knife suitable for the pocket or a versatile EDC knife for easy use. Currently, you will find several models of folding knives in stock on Kodiak Store that offer you a real alternative to classic models. Thanks to their lightness, reduced format and security system, they are very practical models for going hunting or hiking.
In conclusion, we recommend taking your time to choose your pocket knife. Remember that quality benefits you more than price. However, it's totally unnecessary to break the bank for your pocket knife. Find the right balance for your pocket knife by considering the necessary purchase criteria and you'll be satisfied with your choice. From then on, your pocket knife will become your best ally, and it will be difficult for you to part with it.