Choosing Your First Pocket Knife: A No-BS Guide
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Meta Description: Buying your first pocket knife? Here’s what actually matters—steel, size, lock type, and how to avoid overspending on features you won’t use.
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Buying your first pocket knife can be overwhelming. There are thousands of options across every price point, each with different steels, locks, handles, and features.
Here’s what actually matters when you’re starting out.
Start With Purpose
Before looking at knives, answer this:
What will you actually use it for?
For most people, the answer is “general utility and everyday carry.” That means you need something reliable, legal to carry, and good enough to handle normal cutting tasks.
You don’t need a $300 knife for that.
Blade Length
Recommendation: 2.5″ – 3.5″ blade
This range is:
Avoid: Giant blades for your first knife. They’re harder to carry, legally questionable in many areas, and overkill for 99% of tasks.
Steel: What Actually Matters
Steel type affects how well the blade holds an edge and how easy it is to sharpen.
Budget-Friendly (and Perfectly Fine)
Mid-Range (Worth It If Budget Allows)
High-End (Probably Overkill for First Knife)
Bottom line: For a first knife, 8Cr13MoV or VG-10 is more than sufficient. Don’t overpay for steel you can’t appreciate yet.
Lock Type
The lock keeps the blade open so it doesn’t close on your fingers.
Common Types
Liner Lock — Most common. Metal liner clicks into place behind blade. Released by pushing liner sideways.
Frame Lock — Similar to liner lock but with metal frame instead. Very strong.
Back Lock — Spring-loaded lock on the spine. Common on traditional knives.
Axis Lock — Benchmade design. Very smooth operation, ambidextrous.
For beginners: Liner lock or frame lock. Simple, proven, widely available.
Handle Material
This is where marketing gets ridiculous. You don’t need titanium handles.
Good materials:
Skip: Aluminum (slippery), titanium (expensive), plastic (cheap feel).
Opening Mechanism
How you open the blade matters for one-handed operation.
Thumb stud — Small stud on the blade you push with your thumb.
Thumb hole — Larger hole in blade for thumb.
Flipper — Tab that extends when closed; push to deploy blade.
All work fine. Try different styles if possible. Some people strongly prefer one over another.
Assisted opening — Spring helps deploy the blade. Fast but adds complexity and potential failure points. Not necessary for beginners.
Price Ranges
Under $30
Decent knives exist here. They won’t hold an edge forever, but they work. Good for learning if pocket knives are even for you.
Expect: Basic steel, simple construction, gets the job done.
$30 – $75
Sweet spot for first knives. Better steel, better build quality, should last years with care.
Expect: VG-10 or equivalent steel, solid lock, good ergonomics.
$75 – $150
Premium territory. Excellent materials, refined construction, enthusiast quality.
Expect: S30V or better steel, premium handles, lifetime investment.
$150+
Collector and enthusiast territory. Diminishing returns for practical use; you’re paying for materials, fit/finish, and brand.
Recommendation: Start in the $30-75 range. Upgrade later if you become an enthusiast.
Legal Considerations
Check your local laws. Carrying laws vary by:
In Australia, laws vary by state. Reasonable excuse requirements apply. Know the rules before you carry.
Our Recommendation
If this is your first knife and you want something reliable without overthinking it:
That formula gives you a knife that’ll work for years and teach you what you actually like (or don’t) in a blade.
What’s in Our Shop
We stock folders that hit this sweet spot—quality construction, decent steel, no tactical nonsense.
*Need help choosing? Contact us.*