10 Compact Knives Perfect For Summer Everyday Carry
The coming of summer means the coming of a lot of other important things. More linen clothing, the Stanley Cup, and outdoor grilling come to mind. And yes, we all generally love everyday carry that’s easy to pocket. Since you’re often wearing less on your person when temperatures rise though, this factor is even more important around and after solstice time. The 10 compact knives rounded up here are perfect for your minimally-pocketed summer shorts or your single-pocket camp collar shirt.
If you’re making a fire on the beach or serving up an apple during a camping trip, you want to be as handy as you are the rest of the year. And just because they’re small, doesn’t mean they’re limited. From ergonomics to specific blade qualities, all priorities are represented.
The James Brand Redstone Knife
James Brand clearly understands the importance of easy grip when it comes to pocket knives. The Redstone Knife is equipped with a clever islanded finger-rest design that achieves an excellent ratio of energy exerted to job finished, making you look a touch stronger than you might be.
By placing your finger in between the two separate threaded inserts on the handle (this is what I mean by “islanded”), it’s secured in place, providing slip resistance, superior grip, and swiftness. Of course, this nimble action is combined with strength, since the 12C27 stainless steel blade willfully holds on to its edge.
Price: $99
Gerber Fastball Knife
At first sight of the Gerber Fastball Knife, you might be immediately attracted to its sharp contours and its slick, subtly dimensional aircraft-grade handle. Upon testing though, you’ll notice she isn’t all looks. One thing that makes the Fastball special, and wildly versatile, is the brand’s patented deployment technology. (see our hands-on review here)
The stainless steel ball-bearing system features a liner lock that keeps the blade in place, while the pocket clip lets you bring the tip up, down, and into a left-hand-friendly position as well. You’re looking at smooth, and most importantly, safe deployment of that trusty Wharncliffe blade.
Price: $130
WESN Henry Knife
Sometimes, there’s just nothing better than a classic slipjoint. The heritage-inspired WESN Henry knife flaunts a Scandinavian minimalism to it, including a simple, smooth-edged silhouette, that can slip easily into any pocket. The handle’s Grade 5 titanium scales give you a level of fatigue resistance, making the hardest jobs less taxing than usual, and providing the whole knife with a strong yet light construction.
Plus, that easy, workhorse Sandvik blade is hard enough for stubborn wood and is also corrosion resistant. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense, almost nonchalant piece of EDC, the Henry Knife is your guy.
Price: $135
Chris Reeve Small Inkosi
A pocket knife from the future, or right out of Wayne Enterprises, the Chris Reeve Small Inkosi is built like a master Swiss watch movement. Each small part contributes to its complex composition that, ironically, gives it easy and dependably decisive action.
The ceramic ball prevents the lock from wearing the blade, which not only keeps the blade solid but ensures it continues to lock safely and surely. The blade itself is flexible like a hollow grind but moves through a variety of properties like a flat grind. And just because a knife is small doesn’t mean it can’t be highly ergonomic. The handle shape and weight provides a level of surprising user-friendliness.
Price: $425
The James Brand Elko Knife
The Elko Knife from James Brand is a full-on toolbox that’s been shrunken for convenience, without compromising its usefulness and efficiency. Along with its small but athletic stainless steel blade comes a handy keyring that can also be used as a pry bar, in case you come across any willful tent stakes at the end of a camping trip. You can even use it as a scraper, screwdriver, and, possibly the function most likely to make you the hero of a day out, a bottle opener.
Price: $75
Benchmade Mini Bugout
Benchade’s Mini Bugout is a pocket knife forged from chemistry and designed with a utilitarian yet handsome military aesthetic. The blade is made from martensite stainless steel, which means it’s been infused with carbon and a crystalline composition, resulting in high performance and low maintenance. If that wasn’t enough, you can have it cerakote-coated, further leveling up its olympic strength.
The entire knife has a classy onyx-hued, yet speckled matte surface. Between that and the grippy, variegated exterior of the handle, it’s a commanding-looking piece of gear despite its small stature.
Price: $180
SOG Stout FLK Pocket Knife
The Stout FLK Pocket Knife is made by the knife anthropologists over at Studies and Observations Group, whose mission is to pay tribute to the special ops unit that created a special knife used in the jungles of Vietnam. Unsurprisingly, this spec-forward blade, which takes the concept of hand-held to the next level, is both time-honored and innovative in design.
The D2 steel blade is a high-carbon material with outrageously high wear resistance. It’s been cryogenically heat-treated to SOG’s specifications, which means even higher edge retention and even higher durability, all perfectly balanced into its brawny body.
Price: $60
Gerber Paraframe Mini Knife
Gerber’s Paraframe Mini Knife is easy to use, easy to clean, and with its stylish and sleek open-frame design, has a downright alien quality about it. It almost looks like a futuristic skeleton. Impressive looks aside, it’s as uncomplicated and effective as you want a pocket knife to be. That very skeletal architecture makes for a lightweight experience, while the frame lock is simple yet effective. On top of all of that, Gerber offers a lifetime warranty.
Price: $10+
Buck The 55 Knife
Straight from a gentleman’s safari headquarters, The 55 Knife from Buck is as competent as it is elegant. The exquisite ebony scales on the classic handle, authentic and hand-finished by craftsmen, are accented by brass bolsters. Its Teddy Roosevelt-esque look is timeless and definitely worthy of any Explorer’s Club.
Meanwhile, the hand-sharpened clip-point blade brandishes sharp and well-contoured lines. It can handle both large strokes and detailed whittling, making this instant heirloom useful in your pocket and impressive in a display case.
Price: $70
Spyderco Bug
The Spyderco Bug definitely wins the award for most dynamic configuration outfitted into a small package. It gives you every basic thing you need from a practical, straightforward pocket knife. Shaped almost like a ninja dagger, but with finger bows on the handle, the drop point blade allows you to start from any edge.
Whether you’re cutting rope or fruit, start wherever and go in any direction you like. Moreover, this budget blade showcases high wear and hardness. Spyderco boasts that the Bug is “barely longer than your pinkie,” making it perfectly inconspicuous, which always gets EDC a few extra points.
Price: $21+
Disclosure: Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a small referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Learn more here.
