Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
Everyone’s everyday carry could use a decent pocket knife but finding the right one can be a challenge. While you won’t find combat knives, fixed blades, or particularly large knives on this list, you will find a selection of understated pocket knives that can open a package, remove a splinter, or halve a sandwich with ease.
1) Opinel: N°7 Carbon Steel Pocket Knife with Beechwood Handle
Opinel has been producing high quality knives for well over a hundred years, and their Beechwood Handle Pocket Knives have seen a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. Each knife is made in France from beechwood and Sandvik 12C27, a steel/chromium composite that is specifically designed to make resilient knife blades.
Available for $14 from Need Supply.
2) Laguiole: Pocket Knife with Maple Burl Handle
If you are looking for a basic pocket knife then Laguiole’s Maple Burl Handle Pocket Knife might be a bit overkill, but if you want a knife with a bit of grandeur then it cannot be overlooked. Made from thick 12C27 steel and maple burl wood, this made knife is both functional and attractive. It is available with both handle and blade engraving to truly create a personalized knife.
Available for $232 from Laguiole Attitude.
3) Buck: 110 Folding Hunter’s Knife
When you think of a classic folding pocket knife, you’re thinking of the Buck 110. This finely tuned piece of cutlery is as classic as they come. The 110 was designed by Al Buck in 1963, and many of those first knives are still in use today. It’s still made the same way, in USA, and you can still pick it up for relatively little.
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Available for $50 from L.L. Bean.
4) Fällkniven: Pocket Knife with Mother of Pearl Handle
Fällkniven produces a wide range of attractive pocket knives, but their Mother of Pearl Handled Pocket Knife stands out with its own brand of modern elegance. All of their knives are made in Sweden out of high quality components, which include mother of pearl and laminated powder steel in this case. At this price-point you might not feel comfortable using this knife for all your everyday tasks, but the materials and construction will certainly hold-up to anything you can throw at them.
Available for ~$405 from Fallkniven.
5) Otter: Mercator with Copper Handle
Otter’s Copper Handled Mercator Knife is both classically simplistic and and standout piece. While there is nothing overly ornate about the design, the usage of copper for the handle sets this knife apart from its counterparts and adds a degree of uniqueness to each knife; since copper is such a soft metal it is likely to scratch during production, leaving every knife with its own personal finish.
Available for €59 from Otter.
Plus One – Poglia: Pocket Knife with Wood & Bone Handle
Poglia is probably the most well known name in artisan knives today, and it’s obvious why. Their blades are all made from reclaimed metal and are ground to leave a unique finish, and the actual designs are a bit non-traditional. This particular model is made with a bone/wood combination handle and extra-wide blade, a common element in their knife designs.
Available for $250 from Canoe Club.
