Similar to the traditional Finnish Pukko, Moraknivs blades still feature the same silhouette as they did when the brand was first formed. Blade length, the brand name, the cost of the knife verse what you are actually paying for and the comfort of the knife all need . Case Tested XX 6394 Cigar Stockman Greenbone Handles - $1,200. Yes, not only is it a versatile and easy-to-use blade, but it is also exceedingly simple to take apart, fix, and get back into working condition meaning it has a generational lifespan and can be passed down like a family heirloom. Sale price $27.99 $27.99 Regular price $53.13 $53.13 You Save $25.14. $1,650.00. Continue with Recommended Cookies. No one "needs" a $500 pocket knife. Although the 8OT featured earlier on the list is one of Old Timer's most distinct models, the Old Timer Sharpfinger has had one of the biggest impacts on the knife world by introducing a unique style that has since been mimicked by many other manufacturers. Damascus Steel: Is My Knife Real or Fake. History is on the knife's side as well. The 4170BK Auto Fact draws inspiration from Italian stiletto knives and traditional switchblades. This was the most successful tool the Marine Corps has ever issued. Made by German cutlery-makers Nesmuk, the Jahrhundert Messer is claimed to be the most expensive kitchen knife in the world we found something even more ridiculously expensive. With nothing more than a handle, a blade, a simple bail attachment, and a pivot, the douk-douk will go down in history as one of the most significant and iconic folding knives ever. The 6-inch 420HC stainless steel blade makes the knife a sort of smaller Bowie knife while the phenolic handle with guard gives it a classic feel. As its name implies, the USMC Utility was designed to be a multipurpose knife that could be used in combat or general utility. Check Latest Price. 9. $650.00. If you are, youve probably spent quite a bit of money over the years. Best Ultralight: Gerber Zilch. There are currently five Sebenza models, including two classic versions, two regular versions, and the Sebenza 25. DPx Gear certifies its Urban pocket knife for life, no questions asked as well as the next life the knife has when you pass it down to the next person who will appreciate it. While a handful of the knifemaking brands on this list can trace their roots back a century, older companies do not have a monopoly on iconic pocket knives. Lock Type: Slipjoint. First designed in 1989, the CQC-6 was one of the first knives to truly establish a functional tactical folder and was hugely popular in knife circles. They can be the centerpieces of our collections; the ones that we hope will continue to gain in value over time. #23 Victorinox Cadet 18/404. Usually, the artwork is representative of the spirits from which the blade derives its name, but it is also easy to find modern examples with alternative art or even no art at all if a more spartan design is your preference. Its also just the right size and weight (a handle that swaps metal for durable carbon fiber helps here) that you know you have it on you without feeling weighed down by sagging pockets. Total Length: 8.06 Handle: Anodized Aluminum Laguiole Knife. Defining what it means to be 'iconic' is no easy task because the word has several definitions. 514.25. All rights reserved. Find all your new favorites at Oliver Cabell today. The rarer a vintage pocket knife is, the more valuable it generally is. Of course, one of the best features on the knife is Ken Onion's Speed-Safe assisted opening system, which uses a revolutionary torsion bar to allow quick and reliable deployment with one finger. If there are two brands most responsible for making pocket knives what they are today, they are Victorinox and Opinel. Lock Type: AXIS Lock. In any case, this knife has remained virtually unchanged for nearly 100 years. This is one of the most expensive and sharpest Case Knives and has been made out of durable Honyaki Steel. While a knife doesnt necessarily have to have a unique story in order to become iconic, it certainly doesnt hurt. Total Length: 7.87 Benchmade Knives wanted to make Ernest Emerson's custom folder available to the masses, so Emerson created the CQC-7. Over the course of that time, thousands of variations and styles have been paraded out to the masses. While its certainly a bit of a stretch to say that any fixed blade fits into the category of pocket knives, the significance of Morakniv is too great to ignore. [Complete Guide]. But the Chris Reeve Sebenza is by far one of the best knives on our website. And the variety of the tech built into them in regards to their materials, design, and construction has increased tenfold. The 40-year-old Mark II is one of the top-selling knives with a style similar to the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife of WWII. But another Peter Rassenti integral frame lock knife took the mantle: the Spyderco . This is a very personal question and it's impossible for me to divine whether an expensive knife like this is worth it to you. All rights reserved. These knives have stood the test of time (yes, even the more modern ones), theyre recognizable, theyre reliable, and people keep turning to them time and time again. In 1960, the 8OT was only the second Old Timer ever produced (the 2OT was the first but is no longer in production). Part of the reason why the Buck 110 is so easily recognizable is that it's been one of the most mimicked knives ever made. Lock Type: Lockback. The Microtech Ultratech is its benchmark OTF knife, and it comes with an excellent build and beautiful appearance. Total Length: 8.03 You can ensure that happens by treating them with respect and giving them a bit of love and care. A Brief History Of Pocket Knives. This model is perfect for on-the-go needs. This French knife has a patented locking ring that's completely unique to the Opinel and is made even more famous by the fact that it's startlingly inexpensive. Later, sometime in the 1600s, these folding blades would see their first evolution into slipjoint knives non-locking blades that were a bit easier to use and more secure than the friction folders that came before them. Designed to stand up to hard daily use, the 0562 is crafted from some of the finest materials available, with a framelocking titanium handle thats adorned in a carbon fiber handle scale and fitted with a tip-up deep carry pocket clip. We are located in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Copyright 2023 StansTips.com. That's probably because this seemingly-modern invention a folding blade one can carry around in their pocket actually dates back thousands of years into . Another absolutely legendary model thats also widely viewed as one of the greatest EDC knives of all time, Benchmades 940 Osborne is a perfectly balanced and highly-calculated folder that affords a remarkable amount of utility and an equally-impressive degree of durability and top-shelf craftsmanship. The last thing you want to do is buy an antique knife that is unsafe to use, so be sure to ask questions before purchasing one of these items. Handle: Stainless Steel & Beechwood The 10 Most Valuable Case Knives. Although pocket knives were initially intended to be carried in a pocket, they quickly changed to be used in any situation where a small, compact blade wouldn't fit into the lock or on the handle. Collectible Folding Knives; Collectibles; Knives, Swords & Blades; By no means did Case invent the pocket knife, but it can be argued that Case (along with the Trapper) helped make pocket knives a thing. Joseph Opinel began making a working man's knife in the 1890 that quickly won over locals. While it may not be possible to find knives that are thousands of years old (unless you are an archaeologist or ancient wreck diver! Its capable of 31 functions, whether you need to saw some wood, cut wire, or open a bottle of wine, among any number of other things. Introduced in 1999, this relatively new knife has had a big impact on the knife world with a new take on what an affordable tactical knife for everyday carry could be. 1. The success of the knife has led to numerous versions of the Military, including the smaller Para Military. With no hyperbole, we think its safe to say that the Chris Reeve Sebenza may very well be the most significant modern everyday carry knife in existence. As a knifemaking brand, Spyderco does a lot of things exceptionally well. Nesmuk Jahrhundert Messer. The flipper opener makes it easy to pop out when you need it while the lockbar keeps your fingers safe. 3. You can even detect several aging or deteriorating signs on the material surface. The Case brand dates back to the four Case brothers who started handmaking knives in upstate New York in 1889. Upgrade Your Entire Footwear Collection With Oliver Cabell, Everything You Need To Know Before Buying a Vintage Motorcycle, Classic 90s Airport Style To Have You Looking (and Feeling) Your Best While Flying, This Company Sells Remotely Fitted, Custom-Tailored Suits For as Low as $500, Waterfords Organic Irish Whiskey Shares More About How Its Made Than You Ever Thought To Know, The 7 Best Spring Jackets Perfect For Layering, The One Pair of Sunglasses That Work For Just About Every Guy, Video Games That Are as Fun to Watch as They Are to Play, If You Enjoy The Last of Us Then You Need To Play This Other Post-Apocalypse Game, Oversized Pants are In. In fact, they still make most of their knives in their Bradford, PA headquarters. One of the main reasons the KA-BAR knife is so well known is because it was issued to troops, meaning millions of men owned and depended on the knife. This particular pocket knife has a connection to that outdoorsman history: the jackknife style design is reflective of the ones used by traders and trappers that used to roam Hudson Bay. Most Innovative Knife Award at the 2004 Blade Show. Check on Amazon. Visit KnifeNews tomorrow to find out which model is #15 on our list of the Top 25 Pocket Knives that are Indispensable. Total Length: 5.625. The Large Espada from Cold Steel falls into the latter category so much so that the company lovingly calls it a pocket sword. The recognizable knife has a 7-inch blade made of 1095 Cro-Van steel along with a comfortable leather handle. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Add to Cart. Unequivocally seen as the Holy Grail of everyday carry knives, Chris Reeves Sebenza 31 is a unique, ultra-top-shelf EDC knife that combines heirloom quality with modern aesthetics and performance. However, when it became illegal for folks to carry swords in public, they had to apply their expertise elsewhere. Quality! He finally succeeded with the original Leatherman tool (now retired), but continually improved upon the design until the Wave. This is the knife of choice for those looking for versatility. The most expensive pocket knives list starts with some thousand dollars and reaches up to 2.1 million. Pocket knives have a long history dating back to about 500 BCE. Featuring a 3.75" single-edged clip blade and a sleek 4.75" wood handle, this knife is a great addition to any new knife collection, not only for its historic connections but also its performance capabilities. Lock Type: Framelock. Age: The use of folding pocket knives can be traced all the way back to Syrian Damascus in the 1500s. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. (see below! Total Length: 8.40 Devoid of the aforementioned pocket knife's bells and whistles, the Buck 110 is a modest yet effective folding knife. Blade: CTS 204P. Handle: Stainless Steel, ABS, & Cellidor We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Free shipping for many products! The knives on this list will undeniably show traits of an icon in the knife world. Minimalistic retention of the knives' edge sharpness should get priority in terms of quality. Needle Point - Just as the name suggests, a needle point blade comes to a small, sharp point. Best for: If Japanese knives are your thing, then you will love this pocket knife from Katsu.. In fact, this is the most widely customizable knife that Benchmade has to offer. Also, if film offers any indication of notoriety and influence, the Mark II has been awarded tons of screen time in numerous movies, from Alien to The Road Warrior. . In fact, the knife was first introduced in 1963, when it forever revolutionized the world of hunting knives (and knives in general). Handle: Titanium William Henry's exclusive collection of folding knives elevates the archetype of all human instruments to a superb personality statement. Today, the base model is a minimalist and, frankly, gorgeously simple cutting took which is renowned and revered around the world for its reliability (especially in regards to the ever-sturdy proprietary Reeve Integral Lock) and extreme ease of maintenance. Spyderco has never been one to shy away from innovation, even at the expense of sexiness (see: Spyderco Dodo), and the knife world is better off for it. Lancet Ouroboros. Not enough? As the name implies, these knives are typically longer than a pocket knife around five inches or so and are great for slicing, chopping, and opening cans, bottles, and other foods that dont have blades. And we have to think it was their pioneering spirit and exposure to some of the more rough-and-tumble frontier crowd that transformed Case into what theyve become today. CRKT Tuna Folding Knife SMKW Custom Tuna Fish. Check Price. When it comes to sturdy construction and meticulous craftsmanship, you'll be hard pressed to find a more dedicated brand than Benchmade.Even though the Benchmade Infidel is something of a newcomer to the OTF community, making its first appearance in 2006, it quickly stood out as one of the best. Youll also find supple brown dress boots, black or navy driving loafers and all the other colors under the sun. The original Leek features a perfectly sized 3-inch bead-blasted blade made of Sandvik 14C28N steel. Keep Your Cool In the Clutch with the Air Jordan 6 Cool Grey, Nordas 001 Trail Running Shoe Is a Sustainable Performance Booster, 10 Best Minimalist EDC Essentials [VIDEO], Cannondale Debuts Innovative LAB71 Division with Its Lightest Road Bike Yet, Epiphone Revives Gibsons Futuristic Explorer and Flying V Guitars from 1958, Oakley Just Released Its First-Ever Collection of Running Glasses, 10 Carbon Fiber Everyday Carry Essentials, Nordas High Performance 001 Trail Runner is Built From Dyneema & Cordura, Independently published in Los Angeles, CA, 2023 HICONSUMPTION LLC. 7" Overall Length - Very Sharp, Dragon Pocket Folding Knife. Along with setting the standard for tactical folders, the CQC-7 also popularized Emerson's patented Wave opening device. Paul a 6488 Case Congress recently sold for $14,000. To make our decisions more transparent, we are laying out the guidelines for why one knife made the list and another did not. The Fallkniven F1 is a deceptively simple knife with a 3.8-inch drop point blade made of laminated VG-10 steel and a durable Thermorun handle that provides a reliable grip. Their pocket knives are built for action, with outstanding steel, rugged construction, and an edge that isn't content to lay down arms come hell or high water. The Shah Jahan Dagger - $3.3 Million. The Old Timer brand by Schrade is truly a knife institution, and the Old Timer 8OT Senior Stockman is the most popular Old Timer out there. It was a simple enough concept equipping a folding knife with two blades, a clip point for general-purpose cutting and a spey blade that was useful in gutting but it catapulted Case from a small local brand into a massive, well-respected manufacturer. ). A modern everyday carry knife in every sense of the term, this pocketable blade features tactical toughness in a format that can slip discreetly away. 8 Pricey Pocket Knives Worth the Investment Boker Mother of Pearl. Founded by Joseph Opinel in Savoie, France, Opinel is a renowned knifemaker with operations that date back more than 130 years to 1890. Add to Cart. The Kiku XR LTE can take up to 1,500 pounds of force and reliably locks when needed. And it certainly doesnt hurt that their offerings are recognizable with even the briefest of glances. And though it doesnt have all the tools of a Swiss Army knife, the titanium handle does have a glass breaker and wire stripper in the thumb grip. The term pocket knife is a fairly ubiquitous one around the world. Best Choice: Benchmade Mini Griptilian Pocket & Folding Knife. FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $99* & 60-DAY RETURNS, In some form or another, knives have been around for millions of years. And, a 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee with EVERY knife! Of course, this knife was not ever intended to be used for combat, but rather as a simple utility tool. We know it seems counter-intuitive to suggest that a knife with so many different appearances and constructions could be considered iconic. Best for Camping: The Swiss Army Knife Champ. A GUN IN THE HAND IS BETTER THAN A COP ON THE PHONE. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Engineered from the ground up as a high-performance auto folder intended for hard, everyday use and self-defense applications, the SOG-TAC AU is crafted around a textured aluminum handle that incorporates the brands XR lock into its opening mechanism, allowing its stubby 3.43 tanto blade which is composed of a cryogenically heat-treated, tool-grade D2 steel to be deployed with one finger at the touch of a button. Pocket knives have been around for decades and they have helped with things like cutting rope and opening a package to whittling or removing a splinter. Used by Roman soldiers who were far from home, the earliest examples of folding knives (friction folders consisting of a blade, a handle, and a simple pivot at their meeting point) were not made for war, but rather simple utility looking and functioning a bit like the Swiss Army Knives we know and love today.