7 Best Fixed Blade Knives for You to Carry and Trust

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If you are looking for a new fixed blade knife, you might feel overwhelmed by the amount of different options out there on the market. There’s hundreds of great knives out there that would be great, but it’s hard to tell immediately which one is right for you. In this article, I have curated a list of some of the best fixed blade options across several of the most popular fixed blade knife categories. I have personally carried, used, and owned many of these knives on this list as well as tested and carried hundreds of other great fixed blades from my experience working in the knife industry over the last four years. The knives chosen are the best of each category according to my own personal opinion. I do believe that each knife on this list is a solid choice for anyone looking to buy a new fixed blade knife, and the list should give you a great place to start your search for the best fixed blade knife for you. 

Key Takeaways

• The Knafs Lulu Knife is designed by Ben Petersen to be versatile and suitable for a variety of tasks. The sculpted handle shape and soft micarta scales make the lulu feel very comfortable in hand. With the addition of CPM-Magnacut steel, the Lulu is a standout option for light bushcraft work.
• The Toor Knives Field 2.0 is a luxury knife crafted from high-end materials with extreme precision and attention to detail. The knife is equipped with CPM-154 steel, which is a well-respected material loved by custom knife makers. The knife is designed with beautiful lines and contours  and includes thin copper liners that not only enhance its appearance but also improve the balance of the knife.
• The MKM Mikro 1, designed by Jesper Voxnaes, is renowned for its huge functionality packed into a compact size. With its versatility in various cutting tasks, it proves to be a very capable knife. The sheath lacks adaptability and can be awkward to use.
• The Benchmade Raghorn is a great hunting knife, because of its comfortable handle design and high sharpness. The CPM-S30V steel is ideal for hunters who need their knife to stay sharp for longer, while also being easy to maintain in the field.
• The Reiff Knives F5 is a USA-made survival knife with a nearly indestructible build, making it ideal for handling any outdoor tasks with ease. This is a knife you can depend on for years to come.
• The ESEE Izula CPM-S35Vn is a fantastic option for anyone looking to EDC a fixed blade. The price to performance ratio is incredibly high here, making this knife a great value option as well.

Best Overall: KNAFS Lulu MagnaCut Fixed Blade Knife OD Green Micarta (3" Raw)

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PROS	CONS
USA-made Highly rust resistant steel Great ergonomics Customizable scales Good sheath	Very thin blade stock Could feel too small for larger hands More expensive than other options

Ben Petersen is a renowned public figure, knife designer, and founder of Knafs. Ben is well known for his Banter family of knife designs and the newer Lander series. Now with the recent release of the Lulu, Knafs looks to take a stab at the USA-made fixed blade market for the very first time. Let’s take a look at how it stacks up against the fierce competition as well as some of its strengths and weaknesses of the design as a whole.

When I first handled the Lulu, I was thoroughly impressed by a few things, specifically the handle design. At first glance, the Lulu isn’t the most flashy or stylish-looking knife I’ve ever seen. But for what it might lack in aesthetic appeal it makes up for greatly in comfortable ergonomics, versatility, and impressive build quality. The micarta handle is perfectly sculpted to fit effortlessly into the palm of your hand. When you pick up the Lulu, you can feel the time and effort Ben put into contouring the handle scales. There are very few knives out there from my experience that feel like they were designed first and foremost around ergonomics. If this is as important to you as it is for me, then the Lulu should be at the top of your wishlist if you’re shopping for a new fixed blade.

Ergonomics aren’t the only thing I love about the Lulu. I’ve handled and tested thousands of knives over the last 4 years of all kinds. And I’ve grown to love the performance, and durability a Scandi grind has to offer. Traditionally the Scandi grind has been reserved to bushcraft/survival knives for good reason. But I think people tend to overlook the usefulness of a Scandi grind for day-to-day cutting tasks. The Lulu features a 2.9” CPM-Magnacut blade with a scandi grind, which has a very small micro-bevel. This means that this knife will stay sharp for a long, long time, not just because of the blade steel but because of the grind itself. Even when the blade is “dull,” it still feels sharp. I’ll spare you the geometry lesson here; it’s something you need to truly experience for yourself, especially if you haven’t tested out a knife with a scandi grind before.

I chose the Lulu as the Overall Best Fixed Blade Knife for many reasons. Aside from the few drawbacks of the design like the thin blade stock and the overall size of the knife, which could be concerning for those with larger hands. I feel the benefits greatly outweigh the downsides, making this one of the best choices you can make if you’re looking for a new EDC or even a camp knife.

Best Budget: Petrified Fish Beluga Fixed Blade Knife Black G-10

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PROS	CONS
Attractive design Comfortable tandle Kydex sheath + thumb ramp Affordable price	Low- to mid-range steel Limited carry options due to the scout carry style sheath

Petrified Fish is a knife brand that started making huge waves in the industry in 2022. They are well known for their great designs and very attractive prices. One quick Google search will show you that they have built somewhat of a cult following online. Let’s dive in and see what all the hype is about surrounding the new Beluga fixed blade.

The Beluga was initially released as a folding pocket knife, and like many folding knives before it quickly found its way into the hands of many who wanted the same great design, but with the added durability you get from a fixed blade. The new fixed blade variant improves upon the potential weaknesses the original liner lock variant had, without significantly changing the design. You still get the same great ergonomics as before (maybe even better now) with the contoured G10 handle scales, but with zero moving parts. The drop point blade makes this a perfect companion for nearly any task you could imagine.

There are some downsides I’ve noticed with the Beluga that I think are important to keep in mind when shopping for a new fixed-blade knife. The biggest one for me is the sheath. I’m not a huge fan of scout carry sheaths, and when the sheath is set up for scout carry out of the box it honestly is a major drawback for me. However, this issue can be solved by switching the hardware out to a clip system that you prefer. I just would like to see more options out of the box. There is one thing I do love about this sheath, and that’s the integrated thumb-ramp; having this makes a huge difference in improving the ease of use and overall quality of life when carrying the Beluga. The blade steel is another drawback for me personally. The Beluga fixed blade ships with a Bohler N690 stainless steel blade.

Although it’s certainly not a bad steel choice, it’s just not going to perform as well as other steels. However, I do believe that the Bohler N690 steel is a great choice at this price point, easily beating out most of the competition in the budget category. I chose the Petrified Fish Beluga as the Best Budget Fixed blade because it perfectly balances price with performance. You’re getting way more knife than you are paying for here, and this would be a fantastic choice for you if you are a little more price-conscious.

Best Luxury: Toor Knives Field 2.0 Battleship Fixed Blade Knife Walnut/Copper (4.5" Gray)

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PROS	CONS
USA-made Incredible attention to detail Great build quality Attractive design High-end materials Beautiful leather sheath	More expensive than others on the list Heavy Mid-range steel

Luxury doesn’t always mean expensive. In my opinion, a luxury knife is expertly crafted from high-end materials, and machined and assembled with extreme precision and attention to detail. With the Toor Knives Field 2.0, you get all of that and some.

If you are a fan of a more traditional style of knife but still want all the latest and greatest features, then look no further than the Field 2.0. The blade and handle scales are precision milled with beautiful lines and contours throughout. The jimping on the spine of the knife and the wave texture on the scales add an amazing amount of grip and comfort when the knife is in your hand. Another more subtle feature that I love about this knife is the very thin copper liners that are nested between the walnut wood and steel handle of the knife. The copper not only adds some extra flair to the appearance of the knife but also enhances the balance by adding a little extra heft to balance out the weight of the blade, making the Field 2.0 feel incredible in hand.

There’s a lot to love about the Toor Knives Field 2.0, but there are a few things that you might consider before buying one for yourself. The first is the steel choice. You probably thought it was strange that I picked a knife for the luxury category equipped with CPM-154 steel. This could be a major downside for some, but for me, I quite enjoy the blend of toughness and wear resistance you get from CPM-154. No, it’s not the latest and greatest “super steel,” but it is still a very well-respected steel that custom knife makers love to work with, and because of this, many very expensive custom knives utilize this exact steel. Additionally, the thin copper liners make this knife feel great in hand, but they do add some extra, unnecessary weight to the knife that some might not want. So if you’re looking for an ultra-light knife with the latest super steel, then you might want to look somewhere else. But if you value expert USA craftsmanship and beautiful design, then the Toor Knives Field 2.0 could be the knife for you.

Best Small Fixed Blade Knife: MKM Voxnaes Mikro 1 Fixed Blade Knife Black G-10 (2" SW)

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PROS	CONS
Premium steel Jesper Voxnaes design Great ergonomics Small footprint Lightweight	Too small for large hands Sub-par leather sheath

If you are looking for an ultra-light fixed blade knife that you can carry anywhere with you as either a primary or secondary blade, then the MKM Mikro 1 should be at the top of your list.

The MKM Mikro 1 was designed by one of the most well-respected knife designers in the world, Jesper Voxnaes. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t either own or know of a Voxnaes-designed knife. He specializes in designing smaller-scale knives that pack a punch. The Mikro 1 is no different; it feels small in hand, but the way the knife is designed allows it to function well for a huge variety of cutting tasks. There’s a knife industry term, “little big knife,” that perfectly sums up how the Mikro 1 feels to me when I hold it in my hand.

Because small fixed blades can be for a pretty niche audience, they often come with some big downsides due to the nature of the design. The first is that it obviously is too small to be highly useful for outdoor/bushcraft duties, you’ll definitely want something a bit more robust. But if you are just looking for a knife to carry as a backup or replace a folder, then this is a great option. The other downside to this knife for me is the sheath. It’s not great, and I wish that it shipped with a Kydex option (like the one found on the Ghost Knives Banshee D2) because the included leather sheath doesn’t have much versatility, and the retention loop can be somewhat annoying to work with if you use it a lot. Overall, the MKM Mikro 1 is my top choice for the best small fixed blade knife.

Best Hunting Fixed Blade Knife:  Benchmade Raghorn Hunting Fixed Blade Knife OD Green G-10

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PROS	CONS
Comfortable handle design Very sharp Versatile Easy to resharpen	Thin blade stock Sheath Blade steel More expensive than other options

Benchmade has been an industry leader for knives of all kinds for decades, especially in the hunting category. They just flat-out know how to make a great hunting knife. The Raghorn is no exception. I feel like the Raghorn is the next evolutionary step towards hunting knife perfection. Let’s dive into it!

The Raghorn sports a 4” CPM-S30v blade with tons of jimping to enhance your grip and keep your hand from slipping during use. Plus the huge finger choil accommodates a wide range of grip styles, making game processing so much easier. The blade isn't too long, so it's not difficult to use it in tight spaces. And because of the steel choice (CPM-S30V), you can easily strop and resharpen the blade in the field without much effort. No, it’s not the greatest steel in the world, but it’s proven to be extremely effective for what the Raghorn was designed for. The G-10 handle scales are comfortable and smooth and have very few hot spots, which is very nice when you are doing a lot of cutting.

Overall, I chose the Benchmade Raghorn as the best fixed blade hunting knife for many reasons as stated above. However, there are some downsides to the design, as no knife is perfect for everyone. A few things to take into account if you are looking to buy a Raghorn. The first: It’s expensive… especially considering it’s made from CPM-S30V steel. Additionally, I don’t particularly like the sheath. The orange Kydex sheath you get with the knife is fine, but it doesn’t come with a clip of any kind, and the holes of the sheath don’t accommodate very many clip options. So attaching this knife to a belt can be quite frustrating sometimes if you don’t want to use the included belt loop slots.

All in all, the Raghorn is an incredible hunting fixed blade with a somewhat lackluster sheath. I do feel the pros outweigh the cons for this one, however, and I’d happily recommend this knife to anyone who needs a high-end hunting fixed blade.

Best Fixed Blade Survival Knife: Reiff Knives F5 Field Survival Knife Fixed Blade Knife Black G-10 (5" Acid SW)

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PROS	CONS
Indestructible build quality CPM-3V super steel Very comfortable handle Fantastic sheath options (leather or Kydex)	Heavy Not stainless steel

If you are looking for a USA-made survival knife that can handle anything you throw it at with ease, Reiff Knives does it better than anyone. The precision and craftsmanship that go into every aspect of their knives is top-tier, and you literally cannot go wrong with any of their models. The F4 and F6 survival knives came out a few years back and have taken the bushcraft community by storm.

But when choosing between the two models, you had to make some sacrifices. The F4 was perfect for most hard-use tasks and more comfortable to carry because of the lighter weight but wasn’t as good for hard-use chopping and wood splitting needs as the F6. The F6 was a true powerhouse of a knife with its 6” chunk of CPM-3V steel but was quite large and fairly heavy for a lot of people.

The all-new F5 perfectly blends the two models into a wonderful combination of comfort and raw cutting power. You get the best of both worlds with the F5 and improved versatility, which is a huge plus for me. I own both the F4 and F6, and often I find myself bringing both with me on campouts. Now with the release of the F5, I can see myself reaching for the F5 alone, allowing me to save some weight and not have to switch knives as often as I did before.

Another reason I think that Reiff Knives are simply the best hard-use outdoor knives on the market is the sheaths. You have the choice between a very nice handmade leather sheath or Kydex. The Kydex sheath is my preference here because it is far more durable and versatile than the leather sheath because of the rotating belt clip and waterproof features. But if you prefer a more traditional sheath, the leather sheath will not disappoint one bit.

Overall, I chose the Reiff Knives F5 as the best fixed-blade survival knife for so many reasons, but the most important is the CPM-3V blade steel and the freakishly comfortable handle scale design. I feel the build quality and material choice put the F5 way above any other knife in its class.

Best Everyday Carry Fixed Blade Knife:  ESEE Knives Izula S35VN Neck Knife w/ Sheath (2.75" Stonewash)

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PROS	CONS
Lightweight Small footprint Legendary ESEE warranty Great sheath Great entry level price CPM-S35VN	No handle scales

The people at ESEE make some legendary knives and over the years have firmly solidified themselves as one of the best knife makers in the world. They specialize in incredibly durable and robust fixed blades intended for hard use, survival, and bushcraft. But they also make some pretty incredible small knives designed for EDC. The Izula neck knife has been around for quite some time and has always been a favorite of mine in the EDC fixed blade category because of its small size and comfortable design. The new CPM-S35VN equipped variant takes the Izula over the top for me, as it’s a huge upgrade for me over the original 1095 steel variant.

The new steel now significantly boosts the corrosion resistance of the blade, as well as the edge retention. That makes this not only an upgrade, but almost a complete revival of the Izula model, bringing it in line to compete for the top spot in the modern EDC fixed blade category.

There are, however, some drawbacks to the S35Vn Izula variant that are worth considering before buying one for yourself. The first is steel toughness. CPM-S35VN is nowhere near as tough as the 1095 steel of the original. This can be a big downside for some, but I feel the huge increase in rust resistance and edge retention more than make up for it. And on top of this, ESEE has an incredible warranty policy. So if you happen to break your knife, they will replace it, no questions asked. The second big drawback for me with the Izula is the skeletonized design. Although it’s still very comfortable in hand, I still would prefer to have some handle scales installed from the box. You can buy these separately, or simply wrap the handle with paracord to make it more comfortable to hold.

Overall, I chose the CPM-S35VN ESEE Izula as the best everyday carry fixed blade because of the price-to-performance ratio is incredible and very difficult to beat, especially because its 100% USA-made.

How To Choose The Best Fixed Blade Knife

Weight 

Weight is one of the main concerns for many when choosing a fixed blade knife because often fixed blade knives weigh more than folding knives. This is either a good or a bad thing, depending on what you need for your knife. Extra weight could make the knife uncomfortable to carry for long periods of time or conversely add durability for hard use applications. It is important to understand what is important to you specifically when shopping for a new fixed blade knife.

Size 

Fixed blades are usually larger than folding knives – not always, but most of the time. This is because they serve a different purpose than folding knives. Most who prefer to carry a fixed blade like having a larger knife on them to handle a wider variety of tasks, so the improved versatility is a huge plus. For others, it just doesn't make sense to carry a large knife every single day, so a large fixed blade can be a more specialized tool for them. 

Blade Steel

Blade steel is important to consider when choosing a fixed blade knife. Usually, fixed blades are intended for harder use work environments so the blade steel is carefully chosen to suit the use case of the knife. Typically, you’ll find more high-carbon tool steels on fixed blades because of the increased toughness and durability.

Use Case

As with any tool, you need to fully understand what you are going to be using it for. Fixed blades can do everything a folding knife can do but with the added benefit of increased safety and utility. Are you looking for an EDC knife? Or maybe you're looking for a more heavy-duty wood splitter to take with you on weekend camping trips. Fixed blades cover the whole gamut of use-cases, so understanding what you need is crucial here. 

Sheath 

A fixed blade is only as good as the sheath that it’s in. If the sheath is not good, then you’ll never want to carry it. So making sure that you buy a fixed blade with a good sheath is imperative if you want to get the most out of your tool.

Why Trust Us

I have worked in the knife industry for the last four years straight in various roles. I’ve had the privilege of having access to the largest knife library in the world, allowing me to handle, test, and carry thousands of knives from a plethora of different makers. Because of this history, I’ve been able to experience these knives first-hand and see reviews, customer feedback, and comments online about the products, giving me a very in-depth knowledge of what I and others like and dislike about so many different knives. 

Final Thoughts

Although there are seemingly endless options these days for the best fixed blade knives, I curated my top list for several categories based on personal experience and preferences. Because of this, your opinion may vary as there are so many knives out there that you may prefer. However, I feel that these truly are some of the best options out there, and my suggestions would be a great place to start your search for the best fixed blade knives. As stated earlier, my top suggestion is the Knafs Lulu Fixed Blade because it is a perfect combination of utility and comfort. 

FAQs

Question:  Who Makes The Best Fixed Blade Knives?

Answer: Everyone’s opinion will vary on this topic, as there are so many great knife makers out there right now. But in my personal opinion, Reiff Knives makes the highest quality production fixed blades on the market. They specialize in robust, heirloom quality knives that can handle literally anything you could ever need a knife for. 

Question: What Is The Most Famous Fixed Blade Knife?

Answer: Probably the most famous/iconic fixed blade knife is the Ka-Bar Bowie USMC, because of the close ties with the United States military during WW2 and Vietnam. The Ka-Bar Bowie was the standard issue knife for soldiers during this time and has seen an extremely wide range of use all over the world. 

Question: What Should You Use Fixed Blade Knives For?

Answer: Fixed blades are best used for hard-use outdoor environments because of the more robust size and weight, allowing the knife to be used for a wider variety of tasks. They are often seen as more safe than a folding knife because there is no risk of the lock breaking and the blade closing on your fingers.