The Best Tactical Knives [Tested]

The knife world is full of options, especially when talking about tactical knives.

So, what is a tactical knife, and what makes one worthy of your time? We cut through the clutter to help you choose the best blade for your needs.

Whether you're embarking on your first tactical gear purchase or you're an experienced enthusiast looking to enhance your collection, our curated guide simplifies the selection process.

Disclaimer: Each state has its own laws regarding knives, so be sure to check the laws in your area. Not all knives are legal in all areas.

How We Tested the Best Tactical Knives

Every product featured in this article is based on our Pew Pew Tactical team’s experience. Our staff comes from a wide range of backgrounds, including the military, law enforcement, and everyday carry. Many of these knives listed below are our personal everyday carry and has been tested for thousands of hours.

There's no official definition of a "tactical knife," so we're using three criteria and a value proposition.

• Aggressive Grip Material: You might have to depend on this knife in wet or cold environments…with or without gloves. So, we put an aggressive grip material and pattern on the list.
• Speedy One-Handed Opening: You won’t always have two hands ready to open a tactical knife.
• Purpose-Built Blades: Is it going to be for self-defense, offense, or clandestine use? We’re looking at purposeful blades made of great steel that fulfill their goal.
• Bang-For-The-Buck: We’re looking at a wide range of prices, so there’s something for every budget that will perform and last.

Best Tactical Knives

1. Benchmade Claymore - Best Overall Tactical Knife

Best Overall Tactical Knife

Benchmade Claymore

$234at BladeHQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$234at BladeHQ

Sportsmans Warehouse (See Price)

The Benchmade Claymore delivers a rugged, out-the-side automatic knife for the toughest missions in life.

Unlike other automatic knives, this is a blade that's not sensitive to rough and tumble use. While most automatic knives might be best used for self-defense tasks, this is a working man's or woman's knife.

Benchmade used CPM-D2 steel -- D2 doesn't hold back. You can work it to the nub, but it'll take you a decade or two. It won't bend, chip, or break easily.

The Claymore earns its name as a beefy knife with its 3.6-inch blade. Users can pick between a serrated or straight blade. I'm partial to a straight blade, personally but to each their own.

It’s not the easiest to sharpen, but the blade keeps its edge for a long period of time.

Hit the button and watch your fingers as it flies out the side and locks in place. A safety keeps it from opening in your pocket, and it allows the blade to keep locked in place.

2. Kershaw Emerson CQC-7 - Best Folding Tactical Knife

Best Folding Tactical Knife

Kershaw Emerson CQC-7

$49at Blade HQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$49at Blade HQ

Amazon (See Price)

I like the Kershaw Emerson CQC-7 because it is an inexpensive production knife based on a time-tested Ernest Emerson Design.

The hollow ground clip point blade is perfect for self-defense as well as EDC tasks. Its thumb disk on the spine of the blade acts as an easy opener for normal uses.

The wave on the back of the blade, known as the Emerson Wave, was designed specifically for Navy Seals in self-defense situations.

When pulled correctly from your pocket, the wave will catch on the side of the pocket and pull the knife open and lock in a matter of seconds, leaving one hand free while still deploying your blade.

Even if you never use it in self-defense, it is a great way to impress your buddies.

3. Boker Plus Strike Automatic - Best Auto Open Knife

Best Auto Open Knife

Boker Plus Strike Automatic

$55at Blade HQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$55at Blade HQ

The Boker Strike is an incredibly well-built, solid automatic knife for the price.

It comes with an aluminum textured handle and burly drop point blade with plain or partially serrated edge options.  

The Strike is big enough to use with a gloved hand yet compact enough that it doesn’t take up all of your pocket.

With the built-in slide lock safety, you’ll never have to worry about a misfire in a pocket or in hand. The Strike walks a pretty perfect line between reliable, usable, and affordable.

4. Cold Steel Recon 1 - Best Rugged Tactical Knife

Most Rugged Knife

Cold Steel Recon 1

$106at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$106at Amazon

OpticsPlanet (See Price)

Scheels (See Price)

The Recon 1 is an overbuilt workhorse.

Outfitted with Cold Steel’s Tri-Ad Lock, you can trust this folder will perform under any stress you can throw at it.

The Recon 1 comes in a few different blade patterns, but my personal favorite is the tanto, especially for tactical applications.

With all of its strong qualities, this Cold Steel is not lacking in refinement -- premium steel, grippy G-10 handle scales, and fully ambidextrous design make the Recon 1 a pretty sweet package for the money.

We also loved it in our Best EDC Knives article.

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5. Spyderco Yojimbo 2 - Best Self-Defense Tactical Knife

Best Self-Defense Knife

Spyderco Yojimbo 2

$184at BladeHQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$184at BladeHQ

Amazon (See Price)

Sportsman's Guide (See Price)

The Yojimbo 2 is a serious self-defense knife designed and perfected by close-quarter combat expert Michael Janich.

The unique Wharncliffe blade shape is designed to ensure maximum surface contact in any situation. The iconic hole in the blade (also known as the "Spydie Hole") makes for fast one-handed opening and manipulation.

The Yojimbo 2 pairs amazing handle ergonomics with grippy G-10 scales to ensure a secure purchase regardless of how you are holding the knife.

While purpose-built for self-defense, the Yojimbo 2 is the perfect size for EDC which allows you to keep it close at hand all the time.

6. Classic Ka-Bar - Best Multi-Use Tactical Knife

Best Multi-Use Tactical Knife

KA-BAR

$89at BladeHQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$89at BladeHQ

Amazon (See Price)

Sportsmans Warehouse (See Price)

The Ka-Bar isn't the most modern knife on the market, but it remains one of the most versatile knives on the market.

What do you need a tactical knife for? Fighting and self-defense? Camping? Hiking, hunting, all the other tasks you could ever face in this big mean world?

Well, the Ka-Bar can handle it. This tool has proven itself throughout several wars, including World War II, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror.

The Ka-Bar’s 7-inch blade features a small section of serration that allows you to rip and tear into thicker materials.

The blade sports a big belly allowing for deep cuts and solid slices. You can skin game, sharpen stakes, and cut deep without a ton of effort.

Its handle is wrapped in leather for a sure grip, and the clip-point blade makes it fairly versatile.

The classic Ka-Bar has stuck around for decades for a reason, and it's still a solid, multi-use tactical knife.

What do you think of the KA-BAR? Rate it below!

7. Best Fixed Blade - Gerber StrongArm - Best Fixed Blade Tactical Knife

Best Fixed Blade

Gerber StrongArm

$99at BladeHQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$99at BladeHQ

Sportsmans Warehouse (See Price)

Amazon (See Price)

You don't need to spend a fortune to get a good, solid tactical knife.

I own two Gerber StrongArm knives and only own two because it was a BOGO deal. I've never needed to even use the second because the first one I've opened has taken a beating without complaint.

The Gerber StrongArm is a simple but affordable fixed-blade tactical knife that features a 420HC, 4.8-inch blade that's also a full tang blade. At the end of the handle sits a lanyard loop and a glass or skull-breaking pommel, depending on your needs.

Its sheath can be oriented vertically or horizontally or even on a MOLLE platform. Plenty of options make the Strongarm easy to carry, regardless of how you're planning to carry it.

This knife uses a rubberized diamond coating that's plenty comfortable but also provides a solid grip when in use.

It features a ceramic coating on the blade for better durability, and it's fairly capable of resisting the world. Hell, mine has been used as a knife, shovel, pry bar, and more, and it just keeps on keeping on.

8. SOG Pentagon FX - Best Dagger Tactical Knife

Best Dagger Blade

SOG Pentagon FX

$189at BladeHQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$189at BladeHQ

SOG (See Price)

Amazon (See Price)

Daggers have always been an awesome option for the tactical knife. The dual edges make it easy to cut one way or another and to change direction quite quickly.

SOG’s Pentagon FX utilizes a dual-sided dagger blade with a modern design from tip to hilt. S35VN steel is used for a durable blade that is absurdly sharp.

A dagger doesn't offer the same versatility as other knives, but it's one heckuva knife for self-defense and fighting.

That blade is a full tang design with a set of G10 grips. G1 is a heated and compressed fiberglass-derived material that is strong and also super grippy by nature. It clings to your hand and doesn't slip from your grip.

If you need to reduce the size, the grips can be removed for a thinner, more concealable knife.

The Benchmade Pentagon FX shows what a dagger should be in 2022 and stays sharp, ready, and eternally useful. Just don't cut yourself…

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9. Cold Steel Safe Maker 1 - Best Backup Tactical Knife

Best Backup Blade

Cold Steel Safe Maker 1

$44at BladeHQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$44at BladeHQ

The Cold Steel Safe Maker 1 is a self-defense push dagger through and through.

Many LEOs carry one behind their magazine holsters on their duty belt.

If someone were to go for the officer's gun, the officer could put a control hand over their gun and pull the push dagger with their other hand to neutralize the threat.

Short of full-on self-defense, the push dagger does not have much use. A lot of people will carry push daggers as backup blades. As you know, one is none two is one.

10. Benchmade Claymore OTF - Best Out the Front Tactical Knife

Benchmade Claymore OTF

$360at BladeHQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$360at BladeHQ

The Claymore was such a solid offering from Benchmade, they streamlined it into an out the front version. This double-edged knife still comes in D2 tool steel so it's sharp and will hold edges a long time.

To activate the knife, you simply push the button away from you with your thumb. The retract the blade, you pull the button back toward yourself.

Pressures required to open or close the knife are a good balance between being too hard and too soft. This one won't go off in your pocket and give you a bad surprise.

The blade is 3.89" long and .116" thick. Including the handle, the Claymore OTF has an overall length of 8.9" in a slim profile. Pocket clips are deep carry and an improvement over the original Claymore.

The Claymore OTF is a fast knife that's sharp and ready to go in a hurry, but be sure to check local laws in your area before you put that kind of cheddar down!

How to Choose the Best Tactical Knives

Choosing the best tactical knife depends on your intended purpose of the knife. Are you looking for a general purpose tactical knife or something for self-defense? Tactical knives come in various forms, each suited for specific tasks.

To better help you choose one, let's take a look at the different types of tactical knives and the different purposes it can be used for:

• Automatic knives: deploy at the press of a button, offer quick access in urgent situations.
• Pocket knives: compact, foldable, and ideal for everyday carry.
• Fixed-blade knives: sturdy, reliable, and suitable for outdoor activities.
• Assisted knives: feature a mechanism that helps to open the blade quickly, blending manual control with ease of use.
• Carry knives: designed for easy and discreet carry, ensuring readiness without drawing attention. Understanding these types helps in selecting the right knife for your needs.

After understanding the different types of knives, here are some other factors to consider when shopping for one:

• Material: High-end steel is what you want for quality knives. Popular blade materials include stainless steel (440C, VG-10, or S30V) and high-carbon steel (D2 or CPM-S35VN). High quality steel will prevent corrosion and stay sharper longer.
• Size & Weight: If this is an EDC, size matters (no pun intended). Choose something that fits your needs and make sure to check your local regulations about the legal size you can carry.
• Ease of use: Whether it's an automatic knife or manual, make sure it's easy to manuveur. Also, be sure to check with your local regulations to make sure this is something you are allowed to carry.
• Safety: Make sure the knife has a reliable locking mechanism to keep the blade secured.
• Brand Recognition: It's always a good idea to go with a reputable brand that also offers warranty for a peace of mind.
• Budget: The last limiting factor is of course your budget. While high-end knives may offer great material and craftsmanship, there are some great budget picks. We've highlighted a few that is both great in terms of quality and won't break the bank.

Why Carry a Tactical Knife?

When looking for a tactical knife, you want to consider a few things.

First, what will you primarily be using the knife for?

Second, what tactical conditions will the knife need to perform under, and finally, how does it fit in your hand? Just like anything in life, the coolest, most expensive gear does you no good if it doesn’t fit you and your needs.

But why carry one? It boils down to preparedness and/or occupation. LEO, first responders, and the military understand the importance of a good duty-built knife.

Tactical knives still have an important place for those who are not on the front lines daily. A good tactical knife can be the difference between escaping a car crash, defending yourself, and helping others in distress, or not.

Obviously, you don’t want to bring a knife to a gunfight, but as a last line of defense, it could make the difference when it counts.  

So, while there are many great knives in the world, not all are built to perform under strenuous situations. The last thing you want is for your knife to fail when trying to perform some critical task.

What About Serrated Knives?

Normally this would boil down to preference, but with a tactical knife, it boils down to use.

If you are going to be cutting through the webbing or rough material, or won’t be near a sharpener for a long time, then a serrated or partially serrated edge is for you.

But if you want a good slicer and self-defense knife, then the plain edge will be your jam. You want the right tool for the job.

Final Thoughts

While tactical everything is all the rage, these knives stand out as truly "tactical" options that can cover you for most situations you'll encounter.

Now that you’re a pro on what the best tactical knives are, which one are you going to get? Did we forget the one you think should have made it? Check out our favorites in Best EDC Knives.

Latest Updates

• June 4, 2024: Added Benchmade Claymore OTF.
• April 10, 2024: Added details on how to choose the best tactical knives. Moved various sections around and condensed a few titles.