The Christmas season is upon us, and what makes a better gift than a sharp blade, right? The hard part is trying to decide exactly which knife would be best for the gift recipient. There is an enormous array of choices out there. With that in mind, we did a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Our Tactical Knives Holiday Knife Gift Guide has something for everybody.
Give the Gift of a Good Knife from This Christmas Guide
A quick note about pricing. The prices shown were current at press time, but are subject to change without notice. For models that are available in different editions, such as handle materials, the price shown is for the base model.
Very First Knife – Swiss Army Toy
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Okay, this one is just fun. When we found out we were about to be grandparents, this was the first gift I bought for our granddaughter. While it’s rated for ages three and up, even toddlers could have fun carrying the Swiss Army Toy around.
MSRP: $16.00
First Real Knife – Mora Safe Pro
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Mora has long been a great source of high-quality, affordable knives. The Safe Pro is tailor-made for first-time knife users. It has a blunt tip to prevent accidental jabs and a guard to prevent fingers from sliding up to the blade. The carbon steel blade is easy to maintain. It comes with the standard Mora plastic sheath.
MSRP: $17.51
Large Fixed Blade – Work Tuff Gear Atayal
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Large knives certainly have their place. They are great for clearing brush, chopping branches, and such. On occasion, perhaps even defense against large animals, though hopefully your gift recipient won’t need to find that out for sure. The Atayal is a hefty piece of steel, running a bit more than 14 inches from end to end, with an 8.8-inch blade. It’s designed for rough and tumble use, not just sitting on a shelf to look cool. A durable Kydex sheath is included. Check out my full review.
MSRP: $159.00
Medium Fixed Blade – Bark River Knives Bravo 1
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The Bravo 1 has been one of the bestselling models for Bark River Knives since it debuted. It’s a no-frills belt knife that will handle just about anything you throw in its direction. It has a 4.25-inch blade and measures 9.065 inches total. It’s solid, dependable, and 100% made right here in the USA. The Bravo 1 comes with a leather sheath.
MSRP: $155.00
Pocket Carry Fixed Blade – Vehement Knives Foreman
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Many people like to EDC a fixed blade, and having one small enough to drop into a pocket is a definite bonus. The Foreman from Vehement Knives is a purpose-built EDC option that is easy to carry and a dream to use. It’s 7.3125 inches long, with a 3.187-inch CPM-154 steel blade. At just 3.5 ounces, it won’t weigh you down.
MSRP: $330.00
Assisted Open Folder – CRKT LCK+
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An assisted open knife bridges the gap between a manual folder and an automatic. Designer Matthew Lerch sees knives as functional art, and the LCK+ is a perfect example. With clean lines and an IKBS ball-bearing pivot, this knife is lightning-fast and fun to use. It has a flipper open and a liner lock, so it can be opened and closed with one hand.
MSRP: $50.00
Automatic Knife – Kershaw Knives Launch 15
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Kershaw’s Launch series of automatic knives has several great designs. The Launch 15 has a spearpoint blade. Its MagnaCut steel keeps a great edge and has a BlackWash finish. The push button is flush with the handle, so there’s very little chance of accidental opening. When you do open the knife, the blade snaps into position with force and locks into place. Consider this to be an adult version of a fidget spinner.
MSRP: $215.99
Swiss Army Knife – Huntsman
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The Swiss Army Knife is one of the most common knives on the planet. The Huntsman is a great model for those who spend a lot of time outdoors. In addition to the standard knife blade, it has a short wood saw that works pretty well. The tiny scissors are excellent for nipping stray threads on a shirt or cutting paracord to length.
MSRP: $52.00
Traditional Folding Knife – Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter
Few knives are more classic than the Buck 110. It’s been around since 1963 and is still going strong today. This is the kind of knife that you’ll use for years and then pass along to the next generation. The 420HC stainless steel takes a sharp edge and is fairly corrosion-resistant. This is a knife that’s designed for real-world use and abuse.
MSRP: $64.99
Multi-Tool – Leatherman Sidekick
A good quality multi-tool is always appreciated. It’s a toolbox that’s easy to carry in a pocket or on a belt. The Leatherman Sidekick is a great quality option. It has 14 tools on board, including two knife blades as well as spring-action pliers. A few different screwdrivers, as well as a ruler, can opener, and bottle opener are also available.
MSRP: $69.95
Budget Knife – Mora Companion
If you’re not looking to drop a lot of money, but you still want a good quality knife, the Mora Companion is the way to go. It’s durable and robust, as well as surprisingly comfortable. It’s available in a few different iterations, but the blaze orange will stand out if you set it down somewhere and lose track of it.
MSRP: $20.56
High-End Knife – Kopis Designs EDC Razor
If your budget allows for spending nearly five bills on a new knife, you could do far worse than this EDC Razor from Kopis Designs. They have a number of other custom knives on their site as well. The EDC Razor is what a classic straight razor might look like if it were converted into a fixed-blade knife. It’s sharp, it’s easy to use, and it looks amazing.
MSRP: $450.00
