Knife Reviews & Information on Knives

Most police officers carry – and all should – some form of knife. Knives are exceptionally useful in our day-to-day duties. Frankly, everyone should carry one regardless of your involvement in law enforcement work.

On this page, you will find a variety of knife reviews and informational articles about different knives. Hopefully one of these will help you make a decision on what to purchase. Like firearms, all knives are not built the same, and you have to find the one that works for your needs. Let us know if there is anything you’d like for us to check out.

Reviews

• Benchmade HK Soldat Knife – An impressive folding knife with a lunger lock, this blade throws away some of the common thinking about knife design and takes a new approach to typical problems.
• Benchmade HK Axis – Manufactured for Heckler &Koch by Benchmade, these folding knives offer a high degree of quality while still offering a reasonable – not cheap – price.
• Blackhawk Crucible FTX2 – This knife review is about a fixed blade knife from tactical gear maker Blackhawk. While the company is better known for its nylon gear, it also makes some very good blades.
• Browning Pandemonium Knife – This fixed blade knife is part of the Browning Black Label line of tactical knives. But, Aaron discovers why you want the folding version for your duty needs.
• CRKT Acquisition – This is a line of knives that can be had in either fixed or folding blade variants. Aaron takes a look at both versions and comes away with some insightful thoughts about them.
• CRKT Civet – Looking for a top-quality neck knife that won’t break the bank? Check out the Civet. Aaron takes a look at this new knife and brings up some interesting points about the use of a neck knife in police work.
• CRKT Foresight – Aaron reviews the latest Ken Onion designed knife from Columbia River Knife & Tool company. This folder has a great look, and its performance is spectacular.
• CRKT Fossil Compact – This may be one of the best folding knives – at this price – that we have reviewed. It is small enough for EDC but large enough for patrol use. It has a super smooth opening mechanism and the exceptional Veff serrations. What’s not to like?
• CRKT Homefront – Part of the Forged by War program, the CRKT Homefront is a great EDC knife that was designed by Ken Onion. One of the unique features of this knife is the ability to disassemble it – without tools – to clean it. Drop it in the mud, and this is a huge benefit.
• CRKT Hootenanny – If it wasn’t made by Ken Onion, we’d question the sanity of this knife’s designer. But with Onion being the creative behind the knife, we were pretty sure it was a good blade before we even took a look at it. We were right. But, does it make sense for police officer daily carry?
• CRKT Minimalist – This is your first look at the new CRKT Minimalist knife system. Aaron spends time with the drop point version and talks about the other blade options. If you are looking for a good quality neck knife, it is hard to beat this $25 wonder.
• CRKT OC3 – For a top-tier fixed blade knife, this one is very reasonably priced. Read our write up.
• CRKT Pangolin – A fixed blade knife, the Pangolin is small enough to conceal but large enough to be effective. It is a full belly knife with a drop point. Bonus points for the good looks and reasonable price.
• CRKT Rakkasan – Drawing inspiration from his military roots, knife designer Austin McGlaun developed this knife to serve soldiers in the field. That strength and durability is equally welcome in a sporting and police duty knife.
• CRKT SIWI – Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) designs and manufactures good quality blades for the money. While some aficionados will point out details that make the knives subjectively inferior to others, the reality is they deliver a lot of bang for an affordable price. In this article, Aaron looks at the SIWI fixed blade knife.
• CRKT Tighe Tac Two – Another great folder, this knife won the “Best Buy of the Year” award at the Blade Show. Aaron gives you a complete rundown of this knife and why it might be the best EDC knife for the money on the market today.
• CRKT Triumph – This is a look at the folding version of the Triumph knife. It has been discontinued, but the information will remain available for anyone who might be interested in seeing the history of this knife.
• Emerson Commander Limited Edition FrogLube Knife – Emerson Knives produced a limited run of FrogLube branded folding knives in 2015. The knives were based on the Commander design which previously won the Best Overall Knife of the Year award at the 2015 Blade Show.
• Gerber Empower Series of Auto Knives – Aaron examines the Empower line of automatic opening knives from Gerber. Although these knives are outlawed in some jurisdictions, most areas recognize the individual right to bear arms including these knives. There are several in the line and you might want to check these out.
• Gerber Gator Premium – Gerber upgraded its long-lasting Gator line of knives with two premium models: a drop point fixed blade and a clip point folder. We look at the two new additions to the company’s catalog.
• Gerber StrongArm – Gerber makes some great blades at a middle price range. This fixed blade knife is a great example of the company’s quality and value. Aaron takes a first look at this blade and offers his opinions on its best uses.
• Gerber US-Assist S30V – Aaron reviews this assisted opening knife that literally has balls of steel. These stainless steel balls give the opening mechanism a smooth feel. But the knife is so much more than just its balls.
• Hogue X5 – The X5 is a large but lightweight folding knife suitable for heavy-duty use. It has many great features and performs well. However, it does seem a touch pricey when compared to some alternatives. However, it does have two important aspects that are not reproduced on other knives.
• Ka-Bar TDI – Is this the best knife for police officers? Another fixed blade knife, these are a bit unusual as they are made specifically with law enforcement officers in mind. The sheath is made to attach to your inner belt while the handle is curved for a comfortable cross-draw grip. They do, however, have a potential downside that Randall discusses in his review of them.
• Kershaw Duojet – A folding knife, the Duojet uses a flipper-style opening method that proved to be effective in use. It makes a good daily carry knife at a very reasonable price.
• Kershaw Eris Knife – Another introduction at the SHOT Show, the Eris is a straightforward folding design with great performance for the money. While it may not be a top tier design with the best metals, it is a perfectly useable tool for those of us on a budget.
• Kershaw Faultline – In this review, Aaron takes a look at the Faultline folding knife from Kershaw. Kershaw is another brand that offers good performance for the money. This knife has some great features and proved to be a very good EDC-type knife. However, there is one thing Aaron did not recommend it for.
• Kershaw Reverb – A small folder, this inexpensive knife has a place in most people’s EDC. An integral carabiner ensures it is easy to carry with you.
• LA Police Gear Infantry Knife – This is a fixed blade knife that is very similar to the Gerber LMF II Infantry knife. But how does it stack up against that knife? Can the budget alternative hold its own?
• Leatherman MUT – More of a multi-tool than a traditional knife, it has been specifically designed for cops, soldiers and citizens that are shooters. It is worth reading this review before you spend a dime on it.
• Leatherman’s Z-Rex – More of a multi-tool than a standard knife, the Z-Rex is a mission specific tool that police officers will find very useful.
• Ontario Knife Company XM-1S – OKC delivers quality blades including this one. It is on the approved list of knives for the United States armed forces. An update to the original XM-1, Aaron takes a look at the features of the XM-1S.
• Pro-Strider SnG Auto Knife – A collaborative effort from ProTech and Strider, the Pro-Strider SnG Automatic knives are an auto-opening version of the standard folding SnG. Aaron has the rundown on what you can expect from this new blade.
• ProTech TR-5 Tactical Response – When seeking a duty knife for police work, $100 will often buy you a lot of quality. Ever wonder what $350 might buy you? Aaron takes a look at the assisted opening Tactical Response TR-5 folder from ProTech.
• Ruger Knives – An Edgy Partnership with CRKT – CRKT designed and is making a variety of knives for Sturm, Ruger & Co. Take a look at the latest models here.
• RUKO Tactical Survival Knife (161B) – More of a survival knife than a police knife, the RUKO Tactical is a fixed blade knife that was introduced at the 2015 SHOT Show. Aaron gives you his unvarnished view of the blade.
• SOG BladeLight Knives – Ever try cutting, gutting or skinning anything in the dark? Even with a flashlight, it is a huge pain due to shadows and the lack of a third arm. SOG may have a solution for you in the BladeLight line. Everything from Tactical to Fillet, these knives offer a wide range of options.
• SOG Sideswipe – The Sideswipe and Sideswipe Mini are under the microscope in this review. Aaron gives them a good looking over and lets you know the real deal on these. Are they worth your time and money?
• SOG Terminus – This new folder can make for a great duty/uniform carry knife. Aaron takes a look at this blade and gives you the real story.
• Spartan Blades Nyx Combat Knife – This knife may be completely impracticable with little law enforcement mission, but it is an impressive piece of craftsmanship.
• Spyderco Yojimbo 2 – A Michael Janich designed folder, this self-defense knife is amazing. We review the knife and have a personal interview with Janich about the knife at the SHOT Show.
• Steel Will Censor Knives – Developed as part of its Urban Series of blades, the Steel Will Censor line is a unique set of knives that may have a place in your law enforcement load out.
• Strike Industries Hydra Blade – The mythical hydra is said to have multiple heads, and if you cut one off another grows in its place. The Hydra Blade is an interesting knife as it is clearly a folding knife, but has multiple additional tools built-in. This is not a multi-tool, though it offers some of the same functions. Aaron takes a look at what this knife may offer the average citizen and officer.

Training & Other Considerations

Randall of ThinBlueFlorida put together a series of articles on the use of knives in police work. Randall is a veteran police lieutenant with an urban agency. He has extensive experience in patrol, homicide investigations, SWAT and K-9. Additionally, he is a knifemaker. I’d be hard-pressed to find a more authoritative voice on police knives.

• Police Knives: Carrying and Training – In this first of four articles, Randall approaches the fundamentals of carrying an edged weapon as a police officer. Randall also approaches special issues like the police boot knife and considers what might be the best knife for police officers.
• Police Knives: The Folding Knife – Randall takes a look at the most popular kind of knife carried by law enforcement officers: the folder.
• Police Knives: Neck Knives – Considered a last-ditch self-defense tool by many, the neck knife is a valid tool to carry on duty. Randall looks at the practicality of these knives and how they fit into department policies.
• TDI Knife Review – Designed as a special purpose knife for law enforcement, Randall gives a full review of the TDI knife made by Ka-Bar. These knives have been particularly popular with police officers, but there is a potentially fatal flaw in the design that you need to know about and train for. Randall gives it to your straight.

Don’t forget that knives are more than just defensive tools. Many knives have secondary purposes that may be more useful than for combat.

For example, take a look at our article Glass Breaking Tools for Police. In that article, we talk about the circumstances in which officers may need to force open a window and the best tools to help accomplish his. Many of the best glass breakers are also knives.