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When it comes to personal safety, choosing from a list of the best self defense knives can be difficult.
You need something reliable that provides peace of mind and a sense of security while being durable and effective.
Among the various options available, self defense knives have gained popularity due to their practicality outdoors and effectiveness in CQC.
In this article, we will explore the best self defense knives for everyday carry (EDC) in 2023.
Whether you prefer a fixed or folding blade or need something efficient but on the cheaper side, we have you covered.
Our Top Picks
Picking the Best Self Defense Knife for EDC
When deciding which blade is best for you, you’ll want to consider these things:
How concealable is it?
Concealability is a crucial aspect of an everyday carry self-defense knife. Depending on your circumstances and local laws, you may require a knife that can be discreetly carried without drawing unnecessary attention.
Look for slim profiles, low-profile clips and designs that can be easily concealed on your person.
A well-concealed knife hidden from your aggressor will make them underestimate you and can give you the upper hand in a life threatening situation.
Folding or Fixed Blade?
One crucial decision when choosing one of the best self defense knives is whether to opt for a fixed or folding blade.
Fixed blade knives offer robustness and rapid deployment, making them ideal for high-stress, blink of an eye situations.
On the other hand, folding knives provide the advantage of compactness and ease of concealment.
Assess your specific needs, local laws and personal preferences to determine which style suits you best.
Blade Type
The material, length, shape and style are all important factors to consider when sorting through the best self defense knives to pick for your likely use-case.
Choose a blade with a versatile shape that allows for both slashing and stabbing motions, while also allowing ease of use for cutting everyday items.
Popular options include tanto, drop point and spear point blades.
Additionally, consider features like serrations or a partially serrated edge, which can enhance the knife’s cutting performance and versatility in self-defense scenarios.
How it feels to carry
The best self defense knives should be easy to carry and access when needed. Consider the size, weight and overall design of the knife.
Look for compact and lightweight options that can be comfortably carried in your pocket, on a belt or withdrawn from your EDC bug out bag quickly. A knife with a reliable clip or sheath for secure attachment will provide convenient and discreet carrying options.
Budget
When it comes to selecting from a list of the best self defense knives, price plays a significant role. Fortunately, there are options available to suit various budgets. It’s essential to find a balance between affordability and quality.
Look for the best self defense knives that offer excellent value for money, combining durability, functionality and performance. Remember, a self defense knife is an investment in your personal safety.
Legality
Before purchasing one of these self defense knives, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.
Different regions have varying restrictions regarding blade length, opening mechanisms and carry methods.
Make sure that the knife you choose complies with the legal requirements of your area to avoid any legal complications to avoid having it confiscated.
Budget Friendly: Smith & Wesson Border Guard
Features and Specifications
- 10 inch (25.4 cm) overall length with a blade length of 4.4 inches (11.2 cm) and a weight of 8.8 ounces
- Blade is made of reliable 7Cr17MoV Black Oxide High Carbon Stainless Steel with a black aluminum handle with Trac-Tec inserts
- Quick and easy access with the convenient pocket clip and ambidextrous thumb knobs making it ideal for everyday carry
- Blade will not slip with the security of the liner lock
- Glass Breaker And Seatbelt Cutter
This is truly one of the best self defense knives when you’re on a budget. It’s a masterfully crafted folder that has the durability of a fixed blade.
The blade is surprisingly sturdy for a budget knife like this and it has a thick spine. The grip has finger grooves, a huge surface area and a grip tape on the the backside. It’s a blade definitely made for right handed users, but works very well and can still be used ambidextrously.
This is one of the best self defense knives for EDC as well due to the attached glass breaker which is built firmly into the handle like most knives. Although for this price, this is typically not a feature you see and when you do see it, it’s not very well crafted like this one is.
About 30% of the length of the blade has saw-tooth serrations that stay surprisingly sharp even after extended use.
Smith & Wesson has certainly outdone themselves with this one. As far as budget friendly options go, we haven’t found anything better.
Best Fixed Blade: KA-BAR TDI/Hinderer Hell Fire
Features:
- Blade Length 3 and 9/16 Inch; Open Length 7 and 1/4 Inch
- Locking Hard Plastic Sheath
- Hollow Grind
- Thumb release retention mechanism built into the sheath
- Reversible black metal belt clip included
This knife has a recurve tanto blade featuring a Kamasu-Kissaki style tip. Additionally, the knife is comfortable to wear and ideal for concealed carry, making it an excellent for EDC.
It’s sturdy design feels great to hold in your hands and the design of the handle allows for easy, fast and accurate cuts at both arms length and from a shorter distance. It’s capable of thrusting, stabbing, slicing and twisting, in both the forward and reverse grip positions. This makes it one of the best self defense knives as far as fixed knives go.
The pommel converges into a rounded blunt point and can inflict precise and painful hits on your targets pressure points.
The sheath is perfectly designed and fits snug around the blade. The retention device on the sheath is easy to release and allows for easy reverse grip release as well. The black metal clip that comes included works perfectly whether you need it on your belt or boot.
Only the best self defense knives allow for such a rapid response like this and when you’re relying on speed, this becomes one of the most important things to consider.
Best Folding Blade: Gerber Gear 06 FAST
Features
- F.A.S.T. forward action spring technology
- G-10 handle for extra grip when wet
- Tanto shaped blade is designed for thrusting
- Pocket clip, blade length 3.75-Inch, serrated edge
- Over all length 8.75-Inch
As far as folding options go, this is by far the one of the best self defense knives you can get your hands on.
The blade was designed primarily for thrusting and quick stabs, however it also provides a surprisingly easy slicing experience with a deep cut-through, adding some versatility.
The handle of this folder is one of the most well designed imaginable, it allows for quick opening and the checkering allows for a tight grip even when wet and doesn’t come with the added skin irritation that most handles give you.
It uses Gerber’s proprietary forward action spring technology (F.A.S.T.) Using one hand, the blade is opened approximately ten degrees, allowing the spring to drive the blade quickly up the rest of the way into the open position. This allows for quick deployment in life threatening situations.
When we reviewed these, we lined them up against many others and took not only a look at personal experience but other users reviews and experience’s to determine which was the best overall fit currently available on the market in each category.
This is always what we base our recommendations on as well as whether these products have been time tested and if we use them or would use them.
Selecting one of the best self defense knives for EDC involves considering many factors. By carefully assessing these aspects and aligning them with your personal needs and preferences, you can choose a self defense knife that offers both functionality and peace of mind, without costing an arm and a leg.
