8 Best Pen Knives (Review) In 2021

Mention the Buck Knives 110 to any ‘knife guy’ and they’ll tell you it’s a stone-cold classic. It was originally introduced in the 1960s and the design hasn’t changed much at all since then. In fact, aside from a few upgrades in blade material, it’s practically the same knife. This new model features an ethically-sourced ebony hardwood handle, just like the original 110. They even have a partnership with Taylor Guitars to source the ebony.

Of course, when it comes to knives, the blade is where the money’s at. This one comes out of the factory razor-sharp, and it stays that way thanks to the 420HC stainless steel they’ve used. In terms of edge retention, you’re not going to find a better knife in this price range.

You don’t always want to show off the fact that you’re carrying a knife. Whether you’re carrying it to protect yourself in dangerous situations or just to open letters, the CRKT CEO EDC Folding Pocket Knife is one of the most subtle knives on the market. Just make sure, if you are going to carry it, that it’s legal to do so where you live.

The most impressive thing about this folding pocket knife is the way it’s disguised. The low-profile design and metal clip mean that you can put it in the pocket of your shirt and it will look just like a pen. It’s also lightweight enough, so your pocket won’t sag and give away the game. Of course, you’d expect this level of design prowess from an award-winning knifemaker like Richard Rogers.

The Old Timer 18OT Mighty Mite is designed to look and feel like a vintage pocket knife. From the unique saw cut handle to the crudely stamped letters on the blade, this knife looks 50 years old. Of course, that’s the whole point.

The first thing that struck us about this knife is the size – it’s absolutely tiny. With an overall length of 4.7-inches and a blade that barely measures 2-inch, this is truly a pocket knife. Go to the Amazon customer reviews and look at the pictures of people holding the knife to get an idea of the size. Of course, its diminutive size comes with its own set of benefits – you can easily carry this knife in your pocket, it’s great for precision cutting jobs, and it’s legal to carry in most states.

The CASE XX WR Pocket Knife might be tiny, but it’s still one of the most useful knives on this list. With two folding stainless-steel blades, it gives you more versatility in your cutting options. The larger clip blade is a sharp, multipurpose blade that’s often used for detailed work. It’s the sharper of the two blades and has a large cutting edge, so it’s the main attraction of this knife. The smaller pen blade is designed for simple jobs like cutting boxes open and opening envelopes.

It’s actually a similar size to the Old Timer pen knife we featured last, measuring just 2.625-inches when it’s folded. That means it’s great for detailed work and fitting in your pocket but it does make it pretty difficult to work with. If you have large hands, this knife is going to feel like a pair of nail clippers. We’d really only recommend it for those with dainty hands and a deft touch.

CRKT M16-01KZ EDC Folding Pocket Knife is pretty famous in the knifemaking world. Designed by Kit Carson, a retired Master Sergeant and high-ranking member of the Knifemaker’s Guild, it has a distinctive design that won it a place as one of the Top 10 Tactical Folders of the Decade. So, it’s got clout. But how does it function as a tactical EDC knife?

In short, it functions pretty damn well. The 8Cr14MoV stainless steel blade has a spear point blade and a razor-sharp edge. That makes it ideal for fine cutting and carving jobs. If you’re willing to spend more, they have a model with a partly-serrated edge, which is even more versatile.

If you’re looking for more from your penknife, the SOG Multitool EDC Pen Light is the only choice. A lot of pen knives can make the mistake of featuring too many tools. This one just has four – a straight-edge blade, bottle opener, medium-flat screwdriver, and an LED flashlight. With those four tools, you can complete countless tasks.

Seeing as it’s a penknife, we’ll talk about the blade first. At 2.5-inches, it’s not that long but it’s made from 5Cr15MoV stainless steel and it’s plenty sharp. It also has a slightly serrated edge on the back of the knife. They don’t mention this in the product description but you’ll notice it as soon as you unbox the knife.

If you’ve got money to spend on a folding knife, Spyderco is the company to buy from. We featured the Endura 4 in our list of the best Spyderco knives, but we thought it deserved a mention here. It’s going to cost you quite a bit more than the other pen knives on this list, which is why it’s our Premium Pick. It’s money well spent though because Spyderco is all about quality and craftsmanship.

The Endura is one of Spyderco’s most famous knives and it’s been around since 1990. The new version, the Endura 4, has a few updates that make it one of the best folding knives on the market. For example, the saber-grind blade is made from VG-10 steel, cutlery-grade steel produced in Japan.

Why have one blade when you could have two? The Cold-Steel ‘Lucky’ Dual-Blade Folding Pocket Knife is one of the coolest pen knives on this list. It’s definitely on the smaller side but makes up for it with two super-sharp blades.

The handle is covered in carbon-fiber scales which ride on stainless-steel riders. This reveals two blades. The main blade is a sharp clip blade that is capable of fine-detail cutting and everyday jobs like opening letters etc. Then, the second blade has a full-serrated edge, which is fantastic for cutting through porous materials. This dual-threat approach gives you twice the cutting power in a really small package. With both blades closed, it measures just over 3-inches. Plus, It comes with a velvet sleeve to protect your knife when it’s not being used. You may also like some of the best machetes from our list, so check them out.