Purchasing Your First Fixed Blade Knife

All of us have moments in life that we remember like they just happened yesterday.  For some it is their first kiss, going to college, getting married, purchasing a home; this list could go on forever.  For me one of these days is the day I was able to purchase my own fixed blade knife otherwise known as a “survival knife”.  I was beyond excited.  I had waited a long time, done a lot of research and finally decided upon the knife I would come to carry on my hip for years to come.

I purchased it online and when it arrived at my doorstep I was as ecstatic as a young child on Christmas morning.  I wear is as casually as a pair of underwear only removing it from my hip on occasions that a knife is not allowed.  I won’t share the brand or exact fixed blade knife I choose because I truly believe you decide for yourself when choosing fixed blade knives and in no way do I want to influence your decision.   I will however give you a more in depth look at choosing a knife that is right for you and exactly why I believe, especially given society today, that a knife is a staple for everyone to carry; whether it is a pocket knife, fixed blade or liner lock.

Survival knives such as the Cold Steel Tai Pan Double Edged Dagger Knife are not only beautiful to carry and treasure but also incredibly useful.  You can use the knife in a variety of ways: cutting, slicing, self-defense, first aid, food preparations, assist in building shelter and to help as a tool in prying and screwing.  I know everyone is currently thinking of some random movie scene where the good guys life is saved with the use of the great knife tool, right?

When considering your knife purchases always consider its practicality. For some people a pocket knife or liner lock knife make more sense as their jobs don’t entail a knife to be worn on their hip.  For other like myself my career makes it a necessity.  Pocket knives are easily concealed and are simple to use.  This is a popular option for almost everyone.  I make my daughter and wife carry one when they leave the house.  Sometimes it assists them in opening a box or removing a tag but there in case something occurred that it might become a tool in saving them from a bad situation.

The things I considered when choosing my fixed blade knife were basic considerations such as the blades size, I like to be at around 5- 6 inches, it was full tang, one continuous piece of metal, it had a single-edged blade with a flat ground spine and a sharp point tip along with a solid pommel.

The decorations that have almost no bearing on the function of the knife include items such as if the blade is carbon steel or stainless steel, the material of the handle, the finish, millings, whether to have a serrated or non-serrated blade as well as the designer or brand name of the knife.  Knife enthusiasts argue that Cold Steel, Boker, Case and Smith and Wesson are amongst the top brand names amongst knife makers and who am I to argue with that!

Choosing A Pocket Knife That is Right For You

There is no doubt that choosing a pocket knife comes down to personal preference.  Women and men alike need to have a pocket knife handy at all times.  It is a multipurpose tool. Pocket knives come in handy because they are compact and can easily be stored as the name applies in a pocket or purse.  Whether you need it to open a package, slice a string, peel and apple or sharpen a pencil a pocket knife proves its purpose over and over again.

I often get asked how someone would go about choosing the perfect pocket knife.  Most pocket knife owners are not looking at the knife for collectability but instead for ease of use and longevity.  If this is what you are looking for I guarantee you won’t find it at the local five and dime or corner mart.  You can find quality options online and fairly inexpensive.  Most distributors of specialty knives offer free shipping and their products are backed not only by their individual warranty but also the manufacturers.

A quality, folding pocket knife is not difficult to find.  There are many top knife companies that offer widely different characteristics in pocket knives.  Some things to consider are if you are looking for something simple, tactical or something traditional.  If the knife is to be carried in ones pocket it is preferable to have a knife that folds.  Other things to consider are the thickness of the blade, the length of the blade, the way the knife locks as well as the material the handle and blade are made out of.  Here are some top brands to look into when considering a pocket knife:

1)      Boker Tree Brand Knives

Boker is a German based knife supplier and is known throughout the specialty knife community for manufacturing high quality blades at all different price levels.  They are popular among knife enthusiastic for their tactical, sport, pocket and collectors knives.

2)      Smith and Wesson Knives

Smith & Wesson is widely known for their production of handguns along with their presence in the law enforcement community.  S & W knives are made of the same attributes as their line of handguns and rifles.  They also offer a variety of pocket knives in varied price ranges.  You can’t go wrong with a Smith and Wesson pocket knife.

3)      W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery

Case is a popular American manufacturer of premium, hand-crafted pocket knives. They offer an intense selection to choose from in regards to the metal and handle materials on their pocket knives.  You can find anything from Carbon Fiber to Mother of Pearl.   Blade variety as well is varied amongst the pocket knives that hold the Case brand name; whether looking for a pocket knife with a gut hook and saw blade or hoof pick and clip blade.

You can find a pocket knife for everyday use from any of the three brands mentioned or from thousands of other manufactures such as: Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, Swiss Army and Victorinox.  There is a knife for every user, the goal is to identify the uses you have for a pocket knife and to find one that represents you and that will meet your needs.