Best Tactical Knife? It’s a Loaded Question

Being known for their gun grips, Hogue expanded into knives a good while back now and manufactures the bulk of their components in the USA. The EX-F01 is a solid tactical-focused option with a large 5.5-inch blade featuring their “Gun-Kote” black finish. The thick fixed blade has full-tang construction and is fitted with nicely contoured handles that deliver great ergonomics—to be expected from a brand thats in the grip business.

Sure, we could have gone with the big bad Military model and its 4-inch blade, but due to the fact that the Para 2 is a bit of a folding knife benchmark in the industry, this seemed like the better choice. Aside from a slightly smaller size (3.4-inch blade), the knife is designed with the same ethos in mind; the Military was built to answer the question “what folding knife would you send your child to war with”. Its blade is made of black DLC finished CPM-S30V stainless steel, with a flat grind and a plain cutting edge. The handle scales are textured G-10 with black hardware.

Back to the budget end of the spectrum, the many variants of the Boker Kalashnikov—including several blade shapes and finishes—tick all the right tactical boxes. This variant is an auto-opener, so you’ll have to check on those pesky local knife laws, but there’s also a manual version out there that fits the bill. Once again, grippy handles and a dark blade are present, and its deep-carry pocket clip is an added bonus for those wanting a more discreet carry option.

Back to the fixed blade American Made side of things, ESEE is a go to for camping, hunting, and other outdoor activities, but its build spec is perfectly aligned with the tactical knife scene. It comes in a fair crack cheaper than the Hogue listed above, and with a 3.88-inch blade length its big enough to get you our of any troubling scenario without being an oversized bulky mess. Its 1095 steel blade can take a beating without chipping, and is easy to sharpen, but it’s another one you can’t leave out in the elements for extended periods.

Benchmade’s knife lineup is primarily focused around EDC/daily use folding knives, but the Adamas is the one real outlier that’s best suited to this category. Its CPM-Cruwear blade has a Cerakote finish for improved overall durability, and its open scales are especially helpful in reducing weight and allowing for easy maintenance. Don’t let the photos fool you, with a 3.8-inch blade, this is one of the bigger, tougher folders of the pack.

Another American made behemoth of a folding knife, the Emerson Commander has one key trick up its sleeve for tactical use. As we noted above, rapid deployment is an important factor in the folding tactical knife category, and some states don’t like automatic knives. Note the little hook on the top of the Commander’s blade. The intent is to catch that on the inside of your pocket as you pull the knife out, which will deploy the knife on its own without the use of a spring or other assist mechanism. It’s a clever and effective trick, and one that avoids adding extra wear items to its construction. It was a Blade Show winner some years back, and a staple of the Emerson line. Opening aside, you’re looking at a 3.75-inch blade that has seen military/special forces duty around the world, including use by Navy SEALs, European Military strike teams, NATO Counter-Terrorism units, and more.

Now discontinued and soon to be a bit tricky to find, the Ontario Knife Company XM Strike Fighter was actually approved for use by the US Army, which is something that can’t be said for a lot of so-called tactical knives out there. Once again coming in at 3.75 inches long, this half serrated tanto blade blasts out through automatic deployment. At full retail price the $275 is a tough pill to swallow, but for a hair under $90 we’ll happily recommend this one.