Knives

Folding Knives

Folding knives are the most popular choice for everyday carry because they pocket safely and open quickly with one hand. The best folding knives use a liner lock, frame lock, or axis lock to hold the blade open under hard use. Benchmade’s AXIS lock is among the most durable locking mechanisms available, and their folding lineup spans everything from slim gentleman’s knives to hard-use tactical folders. SOG, Zero Tolerance, and Gerber each offer strong folding lineups at various price points. Blade steel matters: look for S30V, 154CM, or D2 for a good balance of edge retention and ease of sharpening at everyday prices.

OTF (Out the Front) Knives

OTF knives deploy the blade straight out the front of the handle with a thumb slide, making them among the fastest-deploying knives available. Double-action OTFs (DA/OTF) both extend and retract with the same slide mechanism; single-action OTFs extend automatically but must be retracted manually. Microtech is the gold standard of OTF design, but quality OTFs are also available from Kershaw, Pro-Tech, AKC, and Heretic. OTF legality varies by state — check your local laws before purchasing. At Impact Guns, we only sell OTF knives where permitted.

Fixed Blade Knives

Fixed blade knives have no moving parts, making them stronger and more reliable than folders for heavy-duty tasks. KA-BAR’s 1095 Cro-Van steel fighting/utility knife has been a standard since World War II and remains one of the best values in fixed blades. Mora knives offer exceptional value for field use, with Scandinavian grinds that are easy to maintain. For hunting, Buck and Outdoor Edge make purpose-built skinners and field dressing knives. Fixed blades are carried openly in a sheath and are generally legal to carry in most states without restriction, though blade length laws vary.

Automatic Knives

Automatic knives (switchblades) open via a spring mechanism triggered by a button or switch. They’re legal to own in most states with some restrictions, and fully legal to carry in many. Case, SOG, Kershaw, and Benchmade all offer automatic variants of popular folders. The blade quality, lock strength, and deployment reliability on modern automatics is excellent — these are not the cheap switchblades of decades past. If you’re in a state where automatics are permitted, they offer the same fast deployment as OTF knives in a more traditional folding package.

Tactical and Self-Defense Knives

Tactical knives prioritize fast deployment, grip retention, and blade geometry suited for defensive use. A tanto or drop point blade with a textured G10 or FRN handle and a positive locking mechanism is the standard formula. Smith & Wesson’s Extreme Ops line offers capable tactical folders at accessible prices. Push daggers and neck knives fill a niche for extremely close-in defensive tools, though their legal status varies significantly by jurisdiction. If self-defense is the primary application, a strong folder with a clip for consistent carry position is generally the most practical choice.

Knife Brands We Carry

Our knife inventory includes Case (traditional slip-joint and modern folders), Benchmade (premium American-made folding and fixed blades), SOG (military-inspired folders and multi-tools), KA-BAR (American-made fixed blades), Gerber (utility and tactical folders), Boker (German-made quality at multiple price points), CRKT (innovative designs at value prices), Mora (Scandinavian field knives), Buck (American hunting and pocket knives), Outdoor Edge (hunting and field dressing knives), and more.

Related Pages

Browse our full gear and accessories section. See also hunting gear for field dressing and skinning knives suited for specific game.