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Searching for your first pocket knife is certainly an exciting time. I think everyone will remember what their very first “real” pocket knife was. Personally, mine was the Benchmade Mini Barrage. I still have it 10 years later. There are hundreds of valid, high-quality options on the market right now that would be fantastic for anyone as their first knife. But how do you decide which knife is the right one for you? I compiled this list of knives that I really like. This list reflects my personal experience in handling thousands of different knives during the past four years. Any knife on this list is a great starting point for anyone who is looking to buy a solid EDC companion.
Key Takeaways
- The Best Overall First Pocket Knife is the QSP Penguin.
- The Best Budget First Pocket Knife is the Kershaw Mixtape.
- The Best First Pocket Knige for a Kid is the Knafs Lander.
- The Most Fun First Pocket Knife is the CIVIVI Elementum.
- The Best USA-Made First Pocket Knife is the BUCK 110 Slim.
Top Picks
- Best Overall Budget EDC Knife: QSP Penguin Liner Lock Knife
- Best First Pocket Knife on a Budget: Kershaw Mixtape Liner Lock
- Best First Pocket Knife for a Kid: Knafs Lander 1 EDC Liner Lock Knife
- Most Fun First Pocket Knife: CIVIVI Elementum Utility Button Lock Knife
- Best USA-made Pocket Knife for First-time Buyers on a Budget: BUCK 110 Slim Select Lockback Knife
Best Overall Budget EDC Knife: QSP Penguin Liner Lock Knife
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The QSP Penguin has been touted by many as one of the greatest EDC knives for the money. For $38, you will get an extremely well made, highly capable, and modern everyday carry knife shipped directly to your door, waiting to start shredding through some boxes. The QSP feels very comfortable in hand, and a big reason that this would be great as a first knife is the crazy selection of different colors. This will naturally appeal to a lot more people: sometimes black and gray are just boring. The Sheepsfoot blade is a favorite of many because the straight edge and blunt tip make the blade extremely effective for general utility use, and it is safe to use around other people, particularly children.
Best First Pocket Knife on a Budget: Kershaw Mixtape Liner Lock
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The Kershaw Mixtape is a diamond in the rough. Because it performs so well, it almost feels illegal to sell it for $14.99. The Mixtape has a lot of features for being on the bottom end of the budget category of knives, like: a nice smooth action, a very attractive visual design, and sturdy, grippy GFN scales. The pocket clip is pretty decent and will be able to handle a lot. The Mixtape features a not-so-common thumb disk opener. This adds to the visual style but isn’t as good as a thumb stud, in my opinion. The Mixtape is decently lightweight but definitely not the lightest knife ever; but when it’s your first knife, it honestly doesn’t matter too much, right? The blade steel is 8Cr13MoV, which is pretty good for the price, but compared to other knives on this list, it is definitely one of the lower performers in edge retention.
Best First Pocket Knife for a Kid: Knafs Lander 1 EDC Liner Lock Knife
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The Knafs Lander 1 is my top choice for kids looking for their first pocket knife. The Knafs Lander just has something to it that is fantastic for beginners. Everything about the Lander 1 was intended to be utilitarian, capable, and overall very safe to use. An interesting but valid way to think of the Lander 1 is as the minivan of knives. It's practical, won’t go too fast, and will be able to haul some lumber on the weekends. The D2 steel is fantastic for first-timers because it will hold its edge pretty well, which is good if you don’t know how to sharpen a blade quite yet. D2 is actually very easy to resharpen and can be stropped very quickly for fast blade touch-up – a trait that I think is too often overlooked when it comes to knife steels. Another cool feature of the Lander 1 is the open source scale design, perfect for those teenagers who have a 3D printing hobby. Just download the file, and design your very own knife scales, which can be swapped without completely taking the knife apart. Overall, the Lander 1 is a great choice for anyone, especially young people.
Most Fun First Pocket Knife: CIVIVI Elementum Utility Button Lock Knife
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There are basically endless reviews on the CIVIVI Elementum, so naturally CIVIVI took in all the feedback and decided to make it even better. They shrunk the size, added an exciting new button lock mechanism, and swapped out the blade for a replaceable razor utility knife system. A few years ago, a replaceable blade would not have interested me much. But lately, I’ve found that it is so nice to just take out your dull blade and toss it into the trash. That is so much more convenient than pulling out the sharpener and struggling to get the same edge the knife had from the factory.
Best USA-made Pocket Knife for First-time Buyers on a Budget: BUCK 110 Slim Select Lockback Knife
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If you are looking for a USA-made knife as your very first pocket knife, the Buck 110 Slim is a fantastic option for you. Buck is famous for a reason: they make really great knives for really good prices, and they’ve done it for decades. The Buck 110 is probably one of the best knives out there if you are on a budget and looking for something made here in the USA. It covers all the bases: great ergonomics, great build quality, and a fantastic price. If you are a fan of the famous BUCK 110 hunter, this knife is the same thing but slimmed down, and now it has a pocket clip and thumb stud. I exclusively carried the BUCK 110 Slim for a week or two a few years back, and I really enjoyed it. It’s simple, but it does everything I need a good pocket knife for. The one thing that I found I didn't like was the blade steel. It comes with 420 stainless steel, which is honestly not great at all. But it will cut stuff when you need it to. It can be hard to find budget-priced knives made in the USA. But Buck worked their magic on the 110 Slim Select. I highly recommend this knife to anyone looking for a solid first-time knife on a budget.
How To Choose The Best First Pocket Knife
Choosing the best knife for you as your first comes down to a few things, namely personal preference and your lifestyle. If you are looking for a knife for hard-use cutting tasks on the job site, then a good heavy-duty knife with higher end steel is the best option for you. If you are looking for a knife that can open boxes and nothing more than that, then I'd use a smaller pocket knife for a lower price. Once you have a good idea of your intended use for your knife, there are so many good budget EDC knives out there right now and any knife on this list will work great for you.
Why Trust Us
I’ve had the opportunity to work behind the scenes for many EDC knife brands and distributors during the past four years. I’ve carried, tested, handled, and purchased many knives from basically every brand on the market. I have extensive experience in EDC pocket knives especially, since that is what I carry mainly on a day-to-day basis. I’ve distilled my personal experience and preferences into a solid list of many great budget EDC knives that I would trust day in and day out. I will never recommend any knife that I haven't either personally carried or have some form of hands on experience with.
Final Thoughts
My personal preferences may vary from yours, but I do believe that this list is a great starting point for anyone looking to buy their first EDC knife. The important thing to remember is that buying a great EDC knife can be confusing but it really doesn't need to be. Just find a knife that fits in your budget range and appeals to you and your lifestyle and try it out. It really is hard to buy a bad knife in today’s market. There are so many good options out there, from so many great knife makers.
FAQ’s
Question: What is the best age for a first pocket knife?
Answer: Personally, I got my very first pocket knife when I turned 8 years old. But for some, this may be too young. So it completely depends on your comfort level when handing a knife to your child.
Question: What is the best first pocket knife for Boy Scouts?
Answer: A Swiss Army knife is probably one of the most common knives that Boy Scouts will use.
