Pocket knives are compact and straightforward but durable. They are effective enough to perform various task such as cutting ropes, opening boxes, or slicing around the campsite. It takes significant time and money to set up, but buying a quality pocket knife doesn’t require half of your salary allowance. That’s where we come in!
Nowadays, it is not easy to find the best pocket knife under 30$, though there are many options. We know the quality of a pocket knife, and these are the best pocket knives under 30$ that you can get in 2024.
Contents
If You Want a Quick List, Check Our Top 7 Suggestions Below
- Kershaw Shuffle II Folding Pocket Knife
- CRKT Squid Folding Pocket Knife
- Ontario Knife Company 8848 Rat I Folding Pocket Knife
- Kershaw 1556BW Cryo II Stainless Steel Pocket Knife
- Gerber 22-48444 Paraframe I Knife, Stainless Steel
- CRKT Drifter Everyday Carry EDC Folding Pocket Knife
- Kershaw Chill 3410 Folding Everyday Carry Pocket Knife
- Opinel 2540089 No.08 Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife
Best Pocket Knife Under 30 Reviews of 2023
1. Kershaw Shuffle II Folding Pocket Knife, Small, Lightweight Utility and Multi-Function Knife
We were not so interested in styling when they were first published. Still, on the other hand, the ergonomics designs are understandable and a cheap everyday carry that is 100% non-threatening, everything making it a great choice. If you are looking for the best pocket knife under $20 and want a high rating pocket knife, then Kershaw Shuffle and Kershaw Shuffle II is the top competitor.
The length is 3.25 inches when the blade is closed. This is a small knife of the pocket knife market. Most EDC knives are in the 3-inch blade section in the market, and the options are always excellent. So, obviously, 3.25 inches is not bad at all. With a 2.4 inch blade, the Kershaw Shuffle series is compelling for all EDC work.
This little blade can do everything as a 3-inch blade could do. Dual ambidextrous thumb studs are placed on both sides of the blade to ensure easy and fast manual opening. The 8Cr13MoV stainless steel tanto-style blade is exceptionally sharp and reliable. It also holds an edge. All kinds of EDC work – cut, pierce, stab, slice, dice, chop, scrap, and slash can be done by this blade.
The reversible pocket clip is amazing. It allows carrying the knife on both left and right sides. If you want a small knife that will open the gut or piece seatbelt in the gut in a car accident, it will do just fine. You can get a better knife with good steel made at US $200, which is sure to do the same thing. But that can’t lose it at $20 for a pocket knife of molly Chrome Steel.
- Lightweight.
- Reliable and sharp blade.
- Reversible pocket knife.
- Easy to open with a thumb.
- Spring-assisted manual click button.
2. CRKT Squid Folding Pocket Knife: Compact EDC Straight Edge Utility Knife with Stainless Steel Blade and Framelock Handle
Every CRKT folding knife ensures confidence in your hand during every use. CRKT brand knows what to do to design a pocket knife. They ensure proper sharpness and hand feeling in every EDC knife. CRKT squid folding knife is a common name in a social circle because of its feature and unbelievable price.
If you are looking for the best pocket knife under $15, very few options are available in the market. CRKT squid is one of them. It is a low-profile pocket knife whose handle and blade are made of stainless steel.
It is not a super large blade. The length of the blade is only 2.25″. Don’t be fooled with blade length. It can challenge you to complete larger cutting tasks. The edges are plain, and 8Cr13MoV stainless blade is a quality blade that comes in every pocket knife for under $20.
It is a slightly heavy knife, but the handle provides pretty much a grip. And the Black Stonewash color is just incredible. You will love this color. In addition, most of the knives, which cost less than $20, use plastic handles. But there is a metal handle used in this knife. Here is a thumbs up from us.
- Metal handle.
- Small and heavy-duty blade.
- Extremely affordable price.
- Weight balanced properly.
- Smooth and grippy stainless steel handle.
- Heavy compared to the size.
3. Ontario Knife Company 8848 Rat I Folding Knife – EDC Knife
With a total length of 8.62″ and 3.5″ long blade, this knife is available for under 30 dollars and provides a longer grip than some other folding models. It is a short knife that easily fits in your pocket. We want to mention that the Ontario RAT knife has a very traditional theatrical design.
Nothing particularly understandable about it. In our opinion, this makes the knife very, very frustrating when it comes to styling – and even a bit annoying. It is our personal opinion, but some may like the design. Simplicity and traditional thematic styling are not opposing sides. But we are looking for something more pleasing.
Design is not everything of a pocket knife. It is a super-strong knife and can perform a hunting-type heavy job. It includes high-performance blade AUS-8 stainless steel, and the textured nylon-6 handle is quite comfortable and grippy. The offset blade allows the slices to follow through while keeping the hands afar from the cutting ground.
This knife is complete with a 4-way position reversible pocket clip, and the lanyard hole provides a carry option with your belt. There are no shaking features here, just a stiff blade on a good handle that can go anywhere without disappointing you. If we keep the looks of this knife aside, it is the best budget folding knife.
Bush crafters will love this knife because it includes the razor-sharp blade, and the grinding makes it amazingly high-quality cages, feather sticks, traps, and more than that, you want it done. You can use it for six months without sharpening. It is available on Amazon and offline butcher shops.
- Lightweight knife
- Four-position reversible pocket knife.
- Easy to open using one hand.
- Super sharp blade.
- Reasonable price.
- Not for larger hands.
- Traditional design.
4. Kershaw Cryo II Pocket Knife (1556TI) 3.25 In. 8Cr13MoV Titanium Carbo-Nitride Coated Blade 410 Handle
We are always looking for a knife that started with a solid and compact design. No matter what the price is, we only want to get better. Finally, we are happy to find the best everyday carry pocket knife under $30 that can fulfill all your requirements. The Kershaw Cryo II is designed in collaboration with a custom knife maker, Rick Hinderer.
This folding knife features a frame lock with a Hinderer lock bar stabilizer. The blade is formed from 8Cr13MoV chrome steel. For us, the balance point is far from the handle. Therefore, the handle is completed with 410 stainless steel scales. Both are titanium-carbo-nitride coated.
The coating prevents corrosion and increases strength. The 2.75″ stainless steel blade is small but very tough but razor-sharp and fast! It has a great edge grip, which supports in a significant way when you may not sharpen the knife for a long period.
It comes with an excellent design and small but apparently personalized forms, and it is entirely a killer combination. The price is also perfect, and it is comfortable, safe, fast, and excellent for daily use. It is a perfect EDC knife for hiking, camping, cutting, fishing, hunting, self-defense, emergencies, etc.
- Small and razor-sharp blade.
- Amazing value for money.
- Easy to operate with gloves in hand.
- Durable blade material.
- Lock type handle and pocket clip.
- Not the quickest blade.
- Heavy.
5. Gerber 22-48444 Paraframe I Knife, Fine Edge, Stainless Steel
What does a person search in a pocket knife, basically? A sharp blade that is easy to open, a slim and minimal design, good grip, a clip for easy pocket access, and a one-handed opening. All of these features you will get in this knife. The entire Gerber Paraframe series offers the users a minimalist open frame design.
It is a lightweight knife that is easy to clean, open, and close. The overall length is 7.01″ that changed its length into 4.11″ when closed. It includes a 3.01″ long blade that is perfect for doing any kind of medium cutting task. You will feel confident when you cut with a 314-grade stainless steel blade.
When choosing the best pocket knife under 25$, we prefer to buy a serrated-edged knife. A serrated blade makes it easier to cut the rope, yarn, and plastic, providing a smooth edge advantage. We like it because it is a versatile knife with a simple design and a perfect size.
Gerber Paraframe is a different pocket knife because the frame lock handle delivers more safety and stability to the user. It also offers different blade variations, as far we know. It is a made-in-China product. But we consider this steel a contract breaker against an expensive knife, but carrying a cheap pocket knife every day performs well. It is an excellent option to expand your gear pack.
- easy to open one-handed.
- The clip allows one to carry it properly.
- Safe and secure frame lock handle.
- Inexpensive pocket knife.
- Strongly serrated edge.
- It dulls fast.
- Sharpening is not easy.
6. CRKT Drifter EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Everyday Carry, Gray Ti Nitride Blade, Thumb Stud Opening, Black G10 Handle
The CRKT drifter has been the core of the CRKT catalog for more than a few years now. We didn’t overthink about it based on its aesthetics; that’s why it took us so long to pick it up. Many people say that good things are not available at low prices. This line is now and imagination. If you are the one who thinks like them, we assure CRKT drifter knife will open your eyes.
It is a solid blade for daily use. It is specially made for New York people, where life is running like a train, fighting a giant mutated sewer rat in, and cutting mulberries as you walk. Drifter is different because of the steel liner, a forgotten collation to most budget folding pocket knives.
It is tough to ignore this knife for anyone who has better knowledge about a pocket knife. This cheap drifter from CRKT is great overall. You will love it when you will handle it, open and close it, lightly rub and cut some skin. It comes in two versions, the G-10 scale version and the stainless-steel version.
We vote for the G-10 handle version because it offers more premium features. G-10 version weighs only 2.4 ounces, where stainless steel handle version weighs around 3.2 ounces. Everyone likes ultra-carry weight, and we are not different from them. You will feel like there is nothing in your pocket.
Moreover, the G-10 scale tightens the handle and allows you to use the titanium blade for poking and cutting. The overall length of the CRTK drifter is 6.5″ and the blade length is 2.88″ when you open it quickly with the thumb stud. It’s small in size, but it feels comfortable and safe while holding it for medium hand.
Both version’s handles provide excellent grip, especially the G-10 version. It feels solid and has enough grip. The liners are embedded in steel and handles. Without any doubt, we can say this is the best budget EDC knife 2021.
- Combined razor-sharpness and triple-point serrated edges.
- Quality product.
- Great handle grip.
- Different lock type.
- Easy to open and close.
- Ultra-lightweight.
- Small for bigger hands.
- Very thick handle.
7. Kershaw Chill (3410), Folding Everyday Carry Pocket Knife with 3.1 In. High-Performance 8Cr13MoV Stainless Steel Blade
There are many Kershaw pocket knives in the market. The Kershaw Kite is currently one of the cheapest pocket knives produced by Kershaw. You will get more from it than you expect. The Kershaw Chill is designed by a famous knife maker, RJ Martin. It has a very smooth, minimal line that looks cool to the eye, with zero extras.
It’s a straight empty bone blade, no-frills added to it. In every way, it is the knife you are going to miss. In the knife fields, the price of a knife ranges from a single digit to about four digits; a full range of value is available. At a price less than 30, Kershaw Chill is an excellent knife. You get careful design and fantastic making.
It is not the most efficient knife. But the materials are enough for casual use. It has an overall length of 7 inches, and the blade length is 3.1 inches. It’s not too big and not too small, like watching a Kershaw kite.
It includes a razor-sharp blade, designed from 8CR13MOV stainless steel and corrosion-resistant. The coating creates a non-reflective finish. Comfortable hand feeling with the lightweight G-10 handle scale provides extra grip.
It is a stylish and slim blade which suitable for daily cutting work. But who are the daily and heavy users, noticed cheap blade steel, lack of auxiliary opening function, and a small diameter handle. The best part is it’s the best pocket knife for under 30 dollars.
- Well manufactured design.
- Razor-sharp stainless blade.
- Secure grip with G-10 safe handle.
- Slim profile.
- Inexpensive flipper.
- Not performs heavy-duty jobs well.
8. Opinel 2540089 No.08 Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife with Beechwood Handle
Opinel No.8 is the final pocket knife on our list. It is a stylish knife. It is difficult to find such an elegant knife under $30. It is the best budget large folding knife on our list. But we keep it at the last because Opinel does not have a brand value like Kershaw or CRTK.
Weighing only 1.6 ounces, Opinel No.8 is the lightest pocket knife with a 3.25″ carbon steel blade. it is 7.5″ long knife when opened. With strong carbon steel, it does not easily nick or break and can hold an edge for ages without becoming dull.
The user will love its overall appearance. The optimized design pushes up the user experience of camp kitchen and household items.
The Beechwood handles are very nicely contoured, with no visible flaws and a great ergonomic palm swell. The wooden handle is warm and pleasant to touch. This handle is our first favorite handle in my entire knife collection. This aggressive budget folding knife is badly recommendable for any user.
- The collar lock prevents accidental opening and closing.
- The lightest folding knife on the list.
- Comfortable and unique beech wood handle.
- Carbon steel blade.
- Sharp and durable.
- needs to operate with both hands.
- Regular maintenance is necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Best Pocket Knife?
Ans. It is tough to decide the best pocket knife. But as far we know, the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is known as a legendary pocket knife worldwide for multi-tasking.
Q: Who makes the best pocket knife?
Ans. Many brands like Victorinox, Kershaw, CRKT, and old brands like Opinel make the best pocket knife.
Final Words
We are at the end of our article. Here is a little tip for you. If you want to quickly find a pocket knife, skip the article, and come straight here, we suggest you buy CRTK Drifter Folding Pocket Knife. If design matters to you a lot, then Kershaw Chill Folding knife is for you.
And finally, for those who need a pocket knife under $20, or around $15, the last one option is for them. We are here to give suggestions. And our advice is, never rush when choosing the best pocket knife under 30$. You can also get more ideas about different knives by visiting our blog all about knife.
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