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Tactical folders are hands down one of the best if not the best tools anyone can carry around with them at all times. A good knife can be used in almost any situation, from opening packages to skinning an animal for dinner. A folding knife is one of the few tools everyone should have on them at any given time.

Today there are an untold number of tactical folders on the market, however, so how do you choose which is the best one for you and your needs?

I have put together a list of some of the most premier knives from some of the most premier companies around today. Separated by cost, there is a knife for everyone and every need.

BEST TACTICAL FOLDERS

After scouring knife companies far and wide I bring you these knives as the BEST TACTICAL EDC Folders.

UNDER $50

Kershaw Al Mar AM 5

CIVIVI Mini Praxis

KUBEY FLASH FLIPPER

KERSHAW FAULTLINE

COLD STEEL CRAWFORD 1

CRKT SHENANIGAN

CQC-8K

KERSHAW FLITCH

UNDER $100

BlackFox Huggin Flipper

CRKT Pilar III

BOKER PLUS KALS-74

CRKT BT FIGHTER

UNDER $200

COLD STEEL RECON 1

SOG SEAL XR

CRKT FORESIGHT

SOG KIKU

HOGUE SIG SAUER K320 NITRON

SOG PENTAGON XR – BLACKOUT

FOX 599

SPARTAN BLADES RONIN SHOTO

ZERO TOLERANCE 0350

OVER $200

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 

ZERO TOLERANCE 0223

BENCHMADE 980SBK TURRET

BENCHMADE 275GY-1 ADAMAS

COMBATIVE EDGE M1X

GERBER 06 AUTO

HOGUE X5

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR KNIFE

CONSIDER EXPECTED TASKS AND ENVIRONMENT

The most important thing when picking your knife is knowing the task, you’ll be using it for and the environment you’ll be using it in.

In life, it is always important, whether in construction or war, to have the right tool for the job. So before your purchase, go over in your head your intended tasks and jobs you’ll be using the knife for.

The second most important thing as I said, is the environment you’ll be using the knife in.

If you’re working around salt water, for example on a boat you’re going to want a knife with a higher chromium content, so the knife has greater rust resistance. If you’re working in extreme cold or heat, you want a knife that can handle the extreme temperatures.

These MUST be your first considerations when purchasing any knife!

BLADE STYLE

Blade style is the most preference-based factor on the list.

Clip point, drop point, recurve, tanto, and others all make for great tactical blades and one isn’t necessarily better than another.

Although your expected tasks may have some say on the style of blade you choose, as you may want more cutting edge or less of a tip, if so a tanto blade probably wouldn’t be your first choice.

At the same time if you want the most stabby blade you can get, then perhaps a tanto blade would be your first choice. Even after considering your tasks though, you may still have a blade style you prefer more.

BLADE STEEL

Going back to your initial consideration of your expected tasks and the environment you’ll be operating in will help you determine the type of blade steel you’ll want.

If you’re expecting to be very abusive to your blade then having cheaper more common steel that can take a beating like 1095 steel is more along the lines of what you’ll want.

Operating around seawater, working on the coast, or out in the ocean you’re going to want a steel that handles salt well and has a high rust resistance like CPM MagnaCut.

If cutting, slicing, and stabbing in any climate is your thing then a great overall steel such as CPM S35VN, S45VN, or M390 will be what you want.

If you are unsure of what steel is ideal for you, take a look at my article “The ULTIMATE Guide to Blade Steel“. It’s a very useful tool, which will enable you to learn anything and everything you need to know about blade steel.

HANDLE DESIGN

Handle design is very important when it comes to tactical knives. A tactical knife by nature is meant to be used in high-stress combat situations but is just as handy in outdoor survival situations.

It’s because you’re using these knives in situations where your adrenaline might be pumping, maybe your fine motor skills are slightly inhibited, or perhaps you’re more focused on your overall task more than simply holding onto your knife, that your knife handle design matters so much.

That knife needs to stay in your hand!

For these reasons, a tactical knife can’t have a smooth un-contoured handle. This would be ineffective in the situations mentioned above.

The handle of a tactical knife must have solid pronounced finger groves to have the absolute best grip. A handle with three to four-finger choils is ideal, some good examples are the Boker Plus knives.

More commonly however is the handle design that has a singular groove for the index finger with a solid and pronounced flipper acting as a finger stop. The majority of other knives on this list are good examples of this style of handle.

HANDLE MATERIAL

For some people, knives are just a fun possibly decorative item, so the handle material itself doesn’t matter all that much, at least not how functional it is.

But for those of us who view our knives as essential tools, possibly life-defending and life-saving tools the handle material matters greatly.

Why does it matter so much you ask? The last thing you want while in a possible tactical or life-saving situation is to lose control of your knife due to a poor handle.

Some materials are very slippery when they get wet, some are very slippery even when they’re not wet. You want a material that will offer you the maximum amount of grippyness in every possible situation you might find yourself in.

For this reason, materials such as bone, ivory, pearl, wood, and smooth metals do not make good handles for tactical knives.

The Absolute best materials for tactical knives are polymer, micarta, G10, and lighter metals like aluminum AS LONG AS THEY’RE TEXTURED!

That being said the best out of these materials is hands down your more rubbery polymers, followed by Micarta and G10.

For a more in-depth look at handle materials check out my article “The Best Knife Handle Materials: A Complete Guide“

LOCKING MECHANISM

Outside of personal preference, the main aspect to consider when choosing the type of locking mechanism is again the environment and intended task. Will you be wearing thick gloves, light gloves, or no gloves?

Some locking mechanisms will be easier to operate with gloves on like a back lock or liner lock. My SOG EDC has an XR and I find it hard to operate when I’m outside in the winter.

Will you be operating in potentially extremely dusting or sandy locations, perhaps then bush button locks aren’t the best and a more mechanical lock like a liner lock would suit the environment better.

Maybe you’re operating in mainly first-world urban environments, then a push button style lock which can be easily operated with one might be more advantageous.

Know your task, know your environment and you’ll be able to pick the knife with the vest locking mechanism for you.

OPENER STYLE

Thumb stud, thumb hole, flipper, and push button are the main opening styles you’ll see on tactical knives.

I can’t stress enough as I’ve been saying throughout, consider your…..task and environment when choosing the opener style you want.

Thumb studs, thumb holes, and push buttons are great almost everywhere unless you have gloves on. Even some heavy-duty tactical gloves might be too thick to operate these styles. However, a flipper style won’t be affected by gloves.

Thumb studs and thumb hole openers can be opened more inconspicuously, giving you a greater element of surprise in a possible high-threat situation.

FINAL THOUGHTS

An EDC pocket knife is hands down one of the most useful and important tools anyone can carry around. From opening a bag of skittles, to cutting a seat belt off someone to save their life, to perhaps saving your own life if you happen to find yourself in a more sinister situation. Whatever the case may be, a folding knife will almost assuredly come in handy at one time or another.

As important as it is to have a good folder on you, it’s just as important to have the right kind of folder. Many knives are pretty, but not practical. Tactical folders shine in the area of real world practicality. They’re tough, functional, durable, and a good tactical blade will never let you down.

There’s enough variety on the market that regardless of your budget, you’ll find the knife for you.

So no matter who you are, where you live, or what your day to day looks like you need a good tactical folder. No one knows when a disaster will strike, but the people who get through them are those who plan ahead. Plan ahead now, get good folder, be prepared.

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