The 10 Best Must Have Knives (2023 reviews)
We consider a must have knife to be a worthy investment in the long run.
We are here to help you choose the right one for your needs from all the best available products in market today.
Our review process:
Our Top Picks:
Best Overall: Buy: cold Steel Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For real men: Buy: CJRB Cutlery Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For lifetime: Buy: Higo No Kami Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For money: Buy: Rovertac Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For tackling everyday tasks: Buy: Nedfoss Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For striking Ferrocerium Rods: Buy: Esee Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For slicing tiny Grape tomatoes: Buy: Shun Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest budget Knife: Buy: Kershaw Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For those: Buy: case Xx Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest For Size: Buy: Weknife Must Have Knife READ REVIEWBest Overall: cold Steel Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon Cold Steel line of knife come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. It is perfect as go-to kitchen knives. A precision-guided sharpening system is employed which delivers a beautiful, wicked-sharp edge. It fits the hand so well. The steel is incredibly cool. It will reliably chop and cut and penetrate whatever you need it to, whenever you need it to. The overall aesthetic and balance is about as good as it gets for tactical knives. The blade is the perfect length and built very solid.Why We Like This:
- Very comfortable, really well made and it's a tank
- Modern steel, ancient design, unsurpassed reliability
- A slightly thick and heavy most excellent weapon
- Tippy top quality, these blades are incredible
Best For real men: CJRB Cutlery Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon The cjrb cutlery must have knife is capable of outshining several other knife featured in this list in overall features for the price point. The copper scales do have concentric rings from the machining that are almost not noticeable when looking but can be felt. The steel holds an edge like a razor and the blade shape is impressive. The carbon fiber scales alternatingly reflect light when you view the knife at different angles. The blade is really fat, the carbon fiber handle gives a nice grip, and the ball bearing and trigger ensures smooth opening to lock every time. It is a great tool, very well made, holds an edge nicely, smooth open and close. The size is as small as a pen, so it’s perfect putting it into the pocket.Why We Like This:
- Great feeling fit and finish on this beefy tool
- Great sharp knife that easily flicks out with one finger
- Grip is comfortable and textured for a tight grip
- Well made, looks great, and holds a razor edge
Best For lifetime: Higo No Kami Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon The higo no kami must have knife should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. This knife has no safeties or locks so stiff is good, stiff is great. It is great for collection or desktop use rather than a pocket knife. The blade is made of folded Japanese steel and is quite sharp. It's definitely a carbon steel blade, razor sharp, and you can tell its hand made and signed. There is an extension of the tang that is quite helpful when opening the knife. The blade is three layers, the center is hard steel, and the outsides are soft. There is no lock back on this blade, so be warned. There is a thumb tab for extra security. It's a friction folder, meaning there is no locking mechanism other than the friction of the blade in the handle.Why We Like This:
- Very high quality blade, it takes a wicked edge
- Stays sharp and sharpens up very nicely
- One of the new comers and featured product
Best For money: Rovertac Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon The rovertac must have knife is suitable and reliable and fits well with your regular usage. The 9-in-1 screwdrivers are incredibly versatile and come in handy for fixing various things around the house, camping, while hiking. The Multi-tool has a 3" knife blade, pliers which are very sturdy, can opener, bottle opener and a phillips screwdriver which also is the driver set for the 9 pieces attachment drives. The liner lock mechanism ensures the blade stays securely in place when in use, providing an added level of safety. The knife blade and presumably all the other tools are constructed of high quality steel with a very durable black finish. The pliers/wire stripper is also an interesting design as the handle fully folds into the knife when not in use making for a lower profile than others. The addition of multiple driver attachments add a lot of versatility and usefulness. It is well-constructed, easy to use, and comes with everything you need to get the job done quickly and efficiently.Why We Like This:
- Fits nice in the hand and tools flip out securely
- Offers several different bits that fit in pouch with tool
- Stand out feature is definitely the bits/screw driver
Best For tackling everyday tasks: Nedfoss Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon The nedfoss must have knife is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily purpose. It's a solid knife that's sharp like a scalpel and easy to sharpen. It feels heavy and well made and the knife is very sharp. It does achieve scalpel's sharpness and can be an excellent substitute for a shaving blade. It can be stored in a car or backpack or worn around the waist to be available for the camper at any emergency. It comes with a pin to securely lock the blade, as a secondary. It’s very well balanced and fits the hand nicely.Why We Like This:
- Pretty, sturdy, and can be used for anything
- Designed nicely enough to do any knife job job easily
- Size and quality makes this the ultimate pocket knife
- Opening and closing it is easy even single handed
Best For striking Ferrocerium Rods: Esee Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon Next on the list, we've got yet another knife that manages to win our hearts. It's the esee must have knife and it's widely considered as knife that has the most suitable features. It's a great camp and hunting knife with a really nice and thick leather sheath. The sheath is a beautifully crafted leather that is rugged and swallows the knife leaving about 2" of grip exposed. The handle is toothy enough to not slip, and it's surprisingly comfortable to hold. The utilitarian profile is a really cool contrast to the distressed finish and modern scales. It's strong, durable, thick and comes absolutely razor sharp. It comes with a really nice leather sheath.Why We Like This:
- Weight is good and feels comfortable in hand
- Performs bushcraft and camp chores with ease
- A stone wash with high tech rust added on top
- Excellent materials along with excellent construction
Best For slicing tiny Grape tomatoes: Shun Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon Compared with other knife in this category, the shun must have knife has a convenient design. This cooking knife features an unusually wide blade with a rounded tip perfect for spreading mayo. It is perfect for preparing almost everything that goes into a sandwich. It is designed to provide exceptionally agile handling. It comes with its unusual wide blade, rounded tip and low-frequency serrations, the 6-inch shun premier ultimate utility knife is an amazingly versatile tool. It is handcrafted by highly skilled artisans to produce blades of unparalleled quality and beauty. It is very sharp despite the wavy serrated edge. The carving knife is great for meat. The handle is smaller and lighter weight than on the full sized knives, which is ideal for a utility knife.Why We Like This:
- Cuts through bread tomatoes and citrus like butter, and it looks good doing it
- Great knife perfect for daily use
- New and hot release
Best budget Knife: Kershaw Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon The kershaw must have knife gives the top-tier knife a run for their money by offering flagship specs at a much cheaper price. It has meant that every kershaw knife must be of the highest quality. It has revamped the outright with an all-black, stealthy look. It’s a small knife which is easy to keep in your pocket or slide on your belt. It provides a solid grip and weight in hand. The assisted opening is a great feature. It is great for slicing cuts and a full range of cutting tasks. It’s also a good quality knife. The release to close the blade is VERY stiff.Why We Like This:
- Light enough to carry daily and the belt clip is a nice touch
- Very well made, sturdy and easy to flip open
- Great looking knife and very sharp
- All steel, quick opening, frame lock
Best For those: case Xx Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon The case xx must have knife might be a relatively new release, but it's still nothing short of impressive this year. This versatile pocket knife is a great everyday carry and suitable for outdoor use or hunting. It is made from a wide range of genuine materials like cattle bone, stag antler, buffalo horn, mother-of-pearl, exotic woods and stones. It offers extraordinary blade strength and corrosion resistance. The joint is solid with no wiggle or wobble. It will take a good edge and stay sharp a long time. It is perfect for everyday tasks such as opening mail, boxes, and other small chores around the house-like cutting tape off a hockey stick. With this knife the scales are far from equally sized. It features of this honing oil.Why We Like This:
- Cm blades with synthetic or bone handles to choose from
- Outstanding pocket knife, beautiful handles sturdy and tight
- Great knife very versatile and very sharp
Best For Size: Weknife Must Have Knife
Buy on Amazon If you often find yourself confused about appropriate and satisfactory knife, weknife must have knife is your solution. Extensive use - - - If you are looking for a gift for people who like outdoor activities, the multifunctional folding knife is an ideal choice. It is a great knife for size, a robust gentleman's knife. It's not slippery, but extremely smooth and ergonomic. It is recommended to keep clean and dry before storing it and use oil to the moving parts regularly. It's a pleasure to use and it's quite handsome. It's a must-have tool for indoor operation and a compact helper for outdoor activities. It's easy to deploy - - - - a sturdy constructure and caged ceramic ball bearing pivot help deploy smoothly and secured in place so you can flip it with confidence and enjoy fast and furious. It's a great little blade.Why We Like This:
- Style, fit, & finish are tip-top
- Good brand reputation