In some ways the Gerber Torch II (4.6" closed length) rivals much more expensive military folders, offering many of the same features like non-reflective coating, tanto blade, and assisted opening. The economy of the Torch II results from cost cutting in places that are not obvious, but which will show ...

In this gift set from Smith & Wesson, the well established manufacturer of police and military equipment, you get a good quality tactical folding clip knife and a tactical watch built for extreme conditions. This combination works well for anyone who spends time in rough places, whether work ...

The tactical version of the well known Blur by Ken Kershaw, this black anodized and non reflective combo edged tanto is also one of the most efficient alternatives to an automatic police knife.

Only 4.5" long closed, the aluminum based handle contains generous insert of Trac-Tec, for a non slip grip ...

With the Tacticos Corto, Boker of Solingen, Germany, brings a tactical design into the world where the rest of us live. Many modern special ops blades have features that limit their use in the private sector, but this practical military model will fit the needs of civilians as well as ...

The Amazon, a side opening automatic knife from Piranha Knives, shows a little of the company namesake's influence in the shape of the striking black on white handle. The slender fish shape and scale pattern give this knife a solid grip and a unique look.

The Amazon releases 3.45" of ...

At first it seems a little like a souvenir, reminding me a bit of the fake pistols that turn out to be cigarette lighters when you pull the trigger--but there's nothing fake about this tactical folder from Lone Wolf Knives. In fact, it makes good sense to build a ...

One of the best military quality folding knives available, the Microtech SOCOM Elite offers details others ignore. The 4" tanto style blade, ground with a wide but strong bevel, is forged from high carbon stainless steel chosen for its edge holding abilities rather than corrosion resistance alone. The ...

Nice to see that someone out there hasn't completely shifted over to stainless steel, and it doesn't surprise me to find that among the last to resist that impulse is Microtech, producer of high quality military blades. The D2 tool steel Microtech favors is corrosion resistant, needing a minimum of ...

Darrel Ralph designed this tactical switchblade for law enforcement and military use, so if you're a civilian don't expect to own one yourself (unless you qualify due to disability--switchblades are legal for one armed users to carry). There are other great Meyerco tactical knives available to the general public, though, so check ...

Designed by William Harsey, Jr., for the semi-custom makers at Lone Knives, the tactical folding clip T2 Ranger is a perfect size for a lightweight folding hunting knife. The 3.9" high carbon stainless steel blade, with a functional drop point design, is well designed for skinning game as well ...

Twenty years ago Bob Loveless designed the first of these classic tactical knives, never suspecting their popularity would extend even to the realms of computer gaming. This Stealth styled epoxy black dagger has been the backup weapon for such famous fantasy characters as Lara Croft of Tomb Raiders and Sam Fisher of ...

Designed by Colonel Rex Applegate and greatly influenced by the scientific fighting style of William Fairbairn, this sturdy dagger type folding clip knife adds modern convenience to a dependable and efficient classical fighting blade. The double edged stainless steel blade, 4.48" long, adapts for one handed opening with either hand. ...

This classic Ka-Bar military design has been only slightly modified from the original version, the mainstay fixed blade instrument of American military forces since WWII. The partially serrated blade makes rope cutting efficient and less dependent upon the sharpening skills of the user. That can be a bit of ...

Designed for law enforcement use and with obvious features of interest to military personnel as well, civilians may do well to think of this as a collector's item. This scaled down version of Ka-Bar's popular TDI "last resort" knife is small enough to be worn at the ankle. A holster ...

Special alloy CPM-S30V knife steel promises to give the 4" blade of Spyderco's tactical knife the edge holding capability of traditional high carbon alloy plus the corrosion resistance and low maintenance of high carbon stainless. Many quality stainless steels originally were designed for special purposes in aerospace or industrial applications and subsequently ...

A top quality and reliable folding clip knife, the Recon 1 with 4" tanto blade forged from high carbon stainless steel and coated with nonreflection and nearly frictionless black Teflon is more than enough knife for serious work. Light weight (5.6 ounces) and a folded length of only 5 1/3" ...

Tactical style but handyman quality makes the Gerber Torch 1 an interesting choice as a general purpose utility knife. The dropped point stainless steel tanto blade has a black matte finish for low reflectivity and a combo edge for fast, multiple purpose cutting. The Torch 1 is easy ...

Yikes. An easily concealed belt knife created by John Benner of the Tactical Defense Institute, this small pistol-grip weapon is intended for law enforcement use, as a "last option" knife. The downward style of the wide 2 5/8" stainless steel blade makes this knife very limited in ...

This classic fighting knife from Ka-Bar, first manufactured at the onset of WWII, has survived more than fifty years of industry changes unscathed. Look around you for other items with that longevity and you'll find only a few. Hammers, wrenches, and Ka-Bar knives head the list.

Ka-Bar makes several ...

Tanto blades look just plain dangerous, all angles and points and edges. They remind me a little bit of shark's teeth. It's a cultural thing, a remnant of old Japan in the blade style. An American fighting blade is nearly always a modern version of the Bowie ...

If you're a serious collector of fixed blade knives, certainly you've heard of the Gerber Mark II. First produced in 1966, the MK II was designed by retired Army Captain Bud Holzman, who used the pattern of Gladiator swords for his inspiration. And there could be no greater inspiration ...

Inspired by ancient chokuto swords and classic mohora-zukuri double edged tantos, with modern practicality in mind, this CRKT First Strike is unlike anything that Columbia River has ever made before. Custom knifemaker Steve Corkum, based in Littleton, Pennsylvania, has been designing knives in the Japanese tradition for well over ...

Cold Steel's Ti-Lite series of tactical folders will only lead to more important choices, like which 1950's gang you are going to join -- the Jets or the Sharks? These folders, with a little tweaking, oil, and practice will open just as fast as spring assisted or automatic fighting knives ...

Take a look at this Smith and Wesson Bullseye Extreme Ops knife. At only 3.22" long, the 440C Teflon coated stainless steel, combo edge, tanto point blade is not big and scary. Rather, it has a sleek and stealthy design, and a great quality. Perfect for ...

Everything you'd want from a tactical folder, plus a hilt! Columbia River has been around for fifteen years, manufacturing knives from space age materials and with a space age look. Gradually that avant garde outlook shifts around to what we we already knew, a tanto blade for superior ...

What I really love about Kershaw knives is their commitment to make great knives that look great too. Where so many companies are content with inside the box designs, Kershaw always seems to be pushing the boundaries of both function and aesthetic. They truly do offer products that provide ...

Competing in the military markets with a folding design is a tough challenge but Cold Steel intends to make its mark there with knives like the Recon 1. This spear point blade is just one of five options of blade shapes and cutting edge choices, all built to exacting standards. ...

The Pardu Presidio by Benchmade is very hard to come by. It's a collector's edition limited to only one hundred pieces. So if you're a Benchmade fan, you'll definitely want to take a good, long look at this automatic knife.

The blade measures 3.42 inches, and is made from 154CM stainless steel, ...

There's no way we could ever recommend this trench knife for everyday, functional use... unless you need something cheap for a Halloween costume or a stage production. If that's the case, it's a great deal.

You might even be able to tell just by looking at it, but the edges are a little askew and ...

Here's another quality, heavy-duty knife to consider if you're employed in the fields of emergency or military service: the Trident by SOG.

The 3.75-inch blade is made from hardened AUS 8 stainless steel, and coated in a black TiNi finish. Since it features a lengthy drop point and a tanto-style cut, you'll ...

The Cold Steel Urban Pal punch dagger is one of a number of new and questionable knife designs targeted for the urban self defense market. Its one and a half inch blade, even with the serrated edge, is not enough to be an effective visible threat. Legally it's ...

So, is this really the "next generation" of fighting knives? There's no doubt that it looks pretty intimidating. The next generation might be talking about how scary this one looks.

Ka-Bar's Next Generation Fighting Knife, hereby referred to as the NGFK, is designed as a heavy-duty, combat-friendly ...

The Daggert 2 is one heck of a military knife. Every little detail is thought out for maximum utility and durability. SOG really hit the jackpot!

First of all, let's take a peek at this rugged-looking blade. It's partially serrated, comes to a sharp spear point at the tip, ...

It can get pretty confusing and daunting to try and decide which of Benchmade's Mini Griptilian models would be best for you. There are so many options to choose from. You'll see plain edge, combo edge, tanto, drop point, green, black, stainless, etc., enough to give you a headache if you're not ...

The Delica lineup is closing in on an impressive 20-year history as one of the frontrunners in lightweight, one-handed pocketknives. It's one of Spyderco's best-selling knives, along with the Endura product line.

This is the fourth knife in the Delica refining process, and it's better than ever before. The most noticeable upgrade ...

If you're a serious user or avid collector of tactical knives, the name Ernest Emerson shouldn't be foreign to you. Emerson's venerable craftsmanship produces some of the edgiest knives around, so he's created quite a loyal following as a result. Given that many of his blades turn into collector's items, this ...

With all the quality knives that Benchmade is known for making, this one fits in just fine. Perhaps it's a bit boring, but the blade sure is not dull.

Benchmade, of course, has been pumping out high-quality manufactured knives for quite some time. They're one of the biggest names in the business and are ...

The Nimravus is another lightweight tanto-style knife manufactured by Benchmade. It's very popular and is also more expensive than some of their other knives. Let's take a look at why and whether it's worth it.

There are many variations on the Nimravus features. We'll link to a set of Nimravus knives below, so you can ...

The SOG Twitch series is a good product line to consider if you're a fan of precision and technology.

The knives in the series feature a few bells and whistles, so if you like things plain and simple, it might be best to steer clear of these for now. However, if you ...

If you own a set of high-end Japanese kitchen knives and have ever wondered to yourself "hey these work pretty well, a lot better than my pocketknife, so what gives..." you'll be pleased to hear that the folks at SOG Knives had the same thought running through their minds.

That's one of the ...

As far as heavy-duty knives go, Benchmade is one of the premier names in the market, and their Griptilian model is one of the most sought-after.

Let's get the basic specs out of the way first: The overall knife is a comfortable 8.03 inches long, with a 3.45 satin-finish blade. It measures 4.62 inches ...

It might not be the most technologically advanced knife on the market, but Benchmade's Lightweight Axis is a good model to keep in mind if you like your knives slim and light as a feather.

The blade features two plain edges that meet to a spear point, ideal for whenever you need quick ...

This Benchmade knife is designed by none other than Australia's Warren Osborne, who works alongside Mel Pardue in Benchmade's creativity department. He's world-renowned for making custom "gentleman's" knives that are among the best you'll ever find.

The Osborne knife has a reverse tanto blade, which might be a different feel vs. traditional knives, but its ...

There are quite a few versions of the Kershaw Cyclone flitting about on the market, including a plain edge, tanto blade and a mini-blade. The version with a ComboEdge, pictured at right, is just one example. We'll link to all the variations below.

The Cyclone's blade is made from Sandvik 13C26 stainless steel, ...

If you prefer a polished look to your knives, this Vapor II model by Kershaw is definitely one to keep in mind. It won't break the bank, and it's from Kershaw, so you won't have to wonder if it's a quality blade or not.

The Vapor II is made entirely from stainless ...

Spyderco has discontinued the full-sized Persian, but this Mini Persian is a nice replacement. The full-sized knife had a lot of fans, but was also considered a bit bulky.

The mini weighs in at 3.5 ounces, measures 6.8 inches when opened and 3.9 inches closed. That's a nice compact pocket-sized folder and may ...

At first glance, this one looks pretty straightforward. It measures a hair under five inches when closed, features a 3.625 inch stainless steel blade, and carries the Kershaw name we've come to admire.

But look closer... There're some interesting features here. First off, the blade is made of Sandvik 13C26 steel. This is ...

Ken Onion has created some great knives for Kershaw. Witness the Kershaw Leek, the Blur and the Shun Ken Onion Chef's Knife.

The Blackout was one of Ken's first designs for Kershaw. It was also one of the first to feature the SpeedSafe opening mechanism. This is an automatic opening mechanism ...

How is it that the best knife makers can make knives that have such simple lines, look somewhat non-descript, have a short feature list and yet perform so exceptionally well?

My guess is that they've decided that quality materials and efficient design produces great knives, and that adding a bunch of fancy features just ...

Spyderco seems to have an endless list of product models. The Endura line alone consists of dozens of variations.

The Endura 4 Wave is one of those varations, and you can be excused for confusing it with the Endura 2, 3, or 4 (without the "Wave").

This knife features a 3.75 inch blade made ...