The Loadout Room
Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop

Top 5 Folding Carry Knives

February 21, 2015 by Scott Witner 8 Comments

As I have mentioned in a few of my articles, I always carry a blade. The knives I choose to carry are selected based upon certain criteria:

The handle needs to be long enough for a full-hand grip and ergonomic enough to feel somewhat comfortable in the hand. I prefer a handle that feels good in both the standard grip and reverse-hand grip. If the handle is long enough, the end of it could be used as a blunt striking device. My preferred handle material is G10, but I’m not against FRN—fiber-reinforced nylon—or aluminum as long as the manufacturer has done a good job in their manufacturing process.

The blade steel I prefer is 154CM. It’s a proven steel used by manufacturers who demand strength and longevity from their knives. The other two types I have used and approve of are VG10 and AUS8, both Japanese steels. VG10 is considered a premium steel, while the AUS8 is more of a budget steel. AUS8 is a very common steel used by knife manufacturers, and as long as their heat-treating process is good to go, it’s one tough steel that’s easy to maintain and sharpen.

Manufacturers I tend to go for have had a reputable relationship with military SOF units, law enforcement agencies, and are USA-designed and built. That kind of narrows down the options available. For me, I personally go for Emerson Knives on first pass. The next company I usually look to is SOG Knives. Most recently, there is a company by the name of Rat Worx USA that makes a knife called the MRX. The MRX is considered a hard-use auto knife, and they have proven that through their testing process.

A Blade - Have One - Always
A blade: have one. Always. (Image courtesy of kyledefoor.tumblr.com)

Now that we have my criteria defined, let’s take a look at the blades I own, have used, and recommend. All of these knives come in a mini version as well, but I personally prefer the full-size option.

  • Emerson Commander – This is my go-to folder for outdoor activities. After all, it was developed for the Army SERE program and was later refined, becoming a favorite among West Coast SEAL Teams.
  • Emerson CQC-7 – The “7,” as it’s known by the Emerson community, is my favorite everyday carry knife. The design and profile of this knife make it ideal for EDC use.
  • Emerson CQC-8 – This is another favorite of mine for outdoor use. The profile of the blade makes it ideal for camp-type tasks and processing small game. The CQC8 was designed for and used by the British SAS.
  • SOG Vulcan – The SOG Vulcan is a good alternative to the Emerson Commander. The blade profiles are very similar and both boast premium steels. If you want a knife with similar ergonomics and blade profile to the Emerson Commander without the high cost, then this is your knife.
  • Rat Worx MRX – As I said previously, this is by far the toughest auto knife on the market. Just check out the videos on their website. They put this knife through the ringer and it keeps coming back for more. I don’t usually go for automatics or anything with springs due to the failure points, but Rat Worx brings a whole new level of tough auto knives to the table with the MRX.

Most of this has been a collection of my personal preferences and my experiences with these knives. My suggestion to you is to find a good knife from a reputable manufacturer and actually use it. Get to know its strengths and weaknesses. Know how to sharpen and maintain the knife. This doesn’t need to be some super expensive, custom-made blade. If you’re just starting out, I would strongly suggest taking a look at SOG knives. Both the SOG Vulcan and SOG Trident are excellent knives. Remember this: The best knife to have is the one you have on you at the time it’s needed.

Share This

Filed Under: Knives & Tools Tagged With: 154CM steel, Emerson, folding, knives, pocket knife, Rat Worx, SOG knives

About the Author

Avatar

Scott Witner is the Editor of The Loadout Room and handles product sourcing for both Crate Club and Cuna Dog. He is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines and was attached to the 24th MEU(SOC) for a 6 month deployment to the Mediterranean. He has completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, mountain warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center and attended the South Korean Mountain Warfare school in Pohang.

See All Scott Witner Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

What’s Hot

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review
Featured

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review

My current non-firearm everyday carry
EDC

My current non-firearm everyday carry

Firearms

Covert Operations Case - Keep Your SMG Discreet

AR Build Kits under $300
Firearms Technology

Peak AR: Davidson Defense AR Build Kits under $300

Gear Reviews

KA-BAR LDK - Slash, Stab, and Escape

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

In Case You Missed It

Firearms

Covert Operations Case – Keep Your SMG Discreet

February 26, 2021 Leave a Comment

Gear Reviews

KA-BAR LDK – Slash, Stab, and Escape

February 22, 2021 Leave a Comment

Firearms

The Flash 5 From Tactaload – Best Shotgun Stock

February 12, 2021 Leave a Comment

Firearms

The Romeo5XDR – Budget Blasting Red Dot

February 1, 2021 Leave a Comment

Get it on Google Play

© Copyright 2021 Crate Club Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers