Are you in the market for a brand new knife, but are struggling with which one to buy? If so, you're not alone, and in this article, I'm going to try and help you narrow down your choices based on your needs.
When shopping for a knife, there are ultimately two big questions that you must ask yourself. The first is this: What am I going to use the knife for?
In this question, you need to examine the actual daily duties you plan to accomplish with the knife. Will you be carrying it around to use for everyday tasks? Will you be hiking and feel like you need a knife for protection? Or do you maybe want a knife because you're taking your son or daughter on a camping trip?
The second question you must ask is this: How much am I willing to spend?
In this question, you must determine if you're looking to spend less than $50 for a blade, or if you're willing to open up your wallet more in hopes of getting a higher quality knife.
So let's first begin with question one: What will you ultimately do with your knife?
Here's my take on things. First, you need to figure out how often you plan to use your knife. And think about it on a weekly basis. For example, assuming you've already checked into your state's knife carry laws, you may determine that you're in the market for what's termed an €everyday carry knife.€ This means that you carry your knife around about as often as you carry your wallet.
Everyday carry, or EDC knives, are meant to be multi-purpose knives. They aren't going to help you if you're in the military that much, but if you're a regular everyday person who feels they would benefit from a smaller but likely more useful knife, this might be ideal.
Then, there are fixed blade knives. Fixed blade knives are bigger and, well, feature a fixed blade. That means that unlike a pocket knife, the blade on a fixed blade knife doesn't retract into the handle.
This means that they aren't quite so easily portable. But that also means they are more heavy duty. Because of that, they can take more abuse, can deal with the cold or the rain better, and you'll have much more control when cutting.
Next, I think it's best to determine what you need the knife for. Do you need it to cut vine from your home? Do you need it to cut thick pieces of rope? Do you need it to open cans? Do you want a knife that has the ability to break glass in an emergency situation?
For more heavy-duty tasks, I recommend a serrated edge on a blade, which can be found on a lot of fixed blade knives. Serrated blades aren't mandatory, but what's great about them is that they allow you to be more effective in cutting without having to exert as much energy or power on the handle.
Depending on the age of the knife user, camping trips may be most aided by a simple Swiss Army Knife. This is a great utility tool that often comes with a knife, scissors, nail clippers, and even a bottle opener all in one.
If you're going to be out hiking or in the woods, a Bear Grylls knife may come in handy. What's great about this knife by Gerber is that you not only get a trusty blade, but also a whistle if you need to call for help or get lost, as well as a knife sharpener to make sure your blade doesn't get dull.
And finally, in regards to price, I think it's important to be somewhat flexible. Remember, a knife you buy in 2014 can realistically last you at least a decade, so if you go too cheap, you actually may end up spending more in the long run because you'll have to spend cash to replace the original knife you purchased that was cheap but likely poorly constructed.
Hopefully this article helped you better determine what knife you need, as well as what you should strongly consider when making your purchase.
When shopping for a knife, there are ultimately two big questions that you must ask yourself. The first is this: What am I going to use the knife for?
In this question, you need to examine the actual daily duties you plan to accomplish with the knife. Will you be carrying it around to use for everyday tasks? Will you be hiking and feel like you need a knife for protection? Or do you maybe want a knife because you're taking your son or daughter on a camping trip?
The second question you must ask is this: How much am I willing to spend?
In this question, you must determine if you're looking to spend less than $50 for a blade, or if you're willing to open up your wallet more in hopes of getting a higher quality knife.
So let's first begin with question one: What will you ultimately do with your knife?
Here's my take on things. First, you need to figure out how often you plan to use your knife. And think about it on a weekly basis. For example, assuming you've already checked into your state's knife carry laws, you may determine that you're in the market for what's termed an €everyday carry knife.€ This means that you carry your knife around about as often as you carry your wallet.
Everyday carry, or EDC knives, are meant to be multi-purpose knives. They aren't going to help you if you're in the military that much, but if you're a regular everyday person who feels they would benefit from a smaller but likely more useful knife, this might be ideal.
Then, there are fixed blade knives. Fixed blade knives are bigger and, well, feature a fixed blade. That means that unlike a pocket knife, the blade on a fixed blade knife doesn't retract into the handle.
This means that they aren't quite so easily portable. But that also means they are more heavy duty. Because of that, they can take more abuse, can deal with the cold or the rain better, and you'll have much more control when cutting.
Next, I think it's best to determine what you need the knife for. Do you need it to cut vine from your home? Do you need it to cut thick pieces of rope? Do you need it to open cans? Do you want a knife that has the ability to break glass in an emergency situation?
For more heavy-duty tasks, I recommend a serrated edge on a blade, which can be found on a lot of fixed blade knives. Serrated blades aren't mandatory, but what's great about them is that they allow you to be more effective in cutting without having to exert as much energy or power on the handle.
Depending on the age of the knife user, camping trips may be most aided by a simple Swiss Army Knife. This is a great utility tool that often comes with a knife, scissors, nail clippers, and even a bottle opener all in one.
If you're going to be out hiking or in the woods, a Bear Grylls knife may come in handy. What's great about this knife by Gerber is that you not only get a trusty blade, but also a whistle if you need to call for help or get lost, as well as a knife sharpener to make sure your blade doesn't get dull.
And finally, in regards to price, I think it's important to be somewhat flexible. Remember, a knife you buy in 2014 can realistically last you at least a decade, so if you go too cheap, you actually may end up spending more in the long run because you'll have to spend cash to replace the original knife you purchased that was cheap but likely poorly constructed.
Hopefully this article helped you better determine what knife you need, as well as what you should strongly consider when making your purchase.
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