Despite the general consensus within the survival knife community being in favor of fixed blades for practical purposes, people are still searching to find the best folding survival knife 2020. They are slowly ascending higher up on the list recently. This is partly due to newer innovations and improvements to designs to make them more sturdy, and partly because of the practicality of their portability advantage that they boast of.
Whatever the reasons for their new found popularity may be, folding knives have seen an influx in the market. And with so many new options to possibly choose from, even seasoned veterans might find themselves stumped on how to decide on the best pocket partner. A good starting point would be to back-track a little and take note of the other equipment or tools in your survival kit to figure out what you want your Ideal folding survival knife to be able to do. They can be trusty complimentary pieces along with your standard fixed blade survival knives, and they can hold their own in situations that may require them to.
Our Top 3 Picks
Benchmade Mini
Multi-Purpose, Heavy Duty
Kershaw Ken Onion
strongest blade with full tang
CRKT Fossil
Ideal for Portability
While you’re busy pondering over the age-old question of what you’re expecting from your survival knife, we’ll look over our list of the top 12 for the year of 2020.
12 Best Folding Survival Knives of 2020
| Best Folding Survival Knives | Blade Size | Ratings | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw Blur Top Rated Folding Knife | 3.4 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| CRKT FOSSIL Best Budget Folding Knife | 4 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| BenchMade 556 EDC Made in USA Knife | 3 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| CRKT M-16 Special Forces Everyday Carry | 4 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| CRKT M-21 Quality & Affortable Folding Knife | 4 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| Kizer Cutlery Begleiter Top Cutting Market Features | 3.58 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| Buck Knives CSAR-T Good Tactical Folding Knife | 3.5 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| SOG Aegis Best Mid-Range Folding Knife | 3.5 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Smooth opening and closing mechanism | 3.4 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| Case Amber Bone Best in Sharpness | 3 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| Cold Steel EDC Good Folding Knife for the Price | 4 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
| Adamus 275 Sharp and Impressive Edge | 3.82 Inch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Check Price |
1. Kershaw Blur (1670BLK) Everyday Carry Pocket knife
The Kershaw Blur Black has made waves in the survivalist community, even within the staunchest of fixed blade enthusiasts. This is mostly due to the undeniable high manufacturing quality of the survival knife. The anodized aluminum handle is durable and comfortable to use, with a one-handed blade deployment mechanism making the knife convenient and easy to use. The blade comes in at 3.4 inches is much smaller than most blades in the market and serves as a perfect utility knife for precision-based cuts, with stainless steel built and tungsten DLC black coating making the entire knife incredibly resilient and strong. The company also backs it up with a limited lifetime warranty which is obviously considered a major plus point.
Pros:
Lightweight- Lifetime warranty
- Very portable
- Excellent Grip
- Fast opening
- Very durable and tough
Cons:
Curvature makes sharpening slightly challenging- Slightly expensive
2. CRKT Fossil Folding Pocket Knife
The fossil, designed by knife innovator and enthusiast Flavio Ikoma uses an IKBS ball bearing pivot system and an opening flipper for optimally speedy transition, with a frame lock for good measure. The 4-inch blade is ideal for use as a utility knife and for tasks that require the utmost precision.
With a uniquely prehistoric touch, the fossil holds up every bit to its own name. The designer intended for a great artistic flair to the piece and the knife delivers, with stainless steel multi-colored handles and stunning shape. Perhaps the aesthetic of it can also be considered its biggest downfall, critics have stated that the pocket clip protrudes a tad bit too much and in doing so easily gets caught in things with the blade doubling back because of it. Additionally, although the IKBS system is revolutionary, it is notoriously considered to be incredibly difficult to maintain and manage.
Pros:
- Sturdy frame lock
- Great grip
- Visually stunning
- Smooth and easy opening
- Fast opening
- Very durable and tough
Cons:
- Doesn’t hold its edge well
- IKBS difficult to maintain
- Handle slightly heavy
- Awkwardly designed pocket clip
3. Benchmade – Mini Griptilian 556 EDC *Made in USA*
Unfortunately easily overlooked, this blade is the best folding survival knife of 2020 when it comes to value for money. Built to perform, the 3-inch blade has first-rate edge retention and corrosion resistance. The drop point tip and small size add to its precision and strength. Its textured handle is built with glass-filled nylon allowing a great deal of durability. Additionally, the blade is constructed out of a high carbon stainless steel particularly built for great edge retention so you don’t have to sharpen it too much
But perhaps the best feature of the Benchmade is it’s incredibly light design, the knife turns out to be ideal as every day carry because of this.
Pros:
- Easy blade deployment
- Good edge retention
- Low maintenance
- Corrosion-resistant blade
- Good handle grip
- Very light and convenient to use
Cons:
- Little Expensive
- large and awkward non-discrete clip placement
4. CRKT M16-14SFG EDC *Special Forces Everyday Carry*
The special forces G10 models have certain unique features as designed and requested by military specialists. Of these, the dual grind tanto blades offering maximum strength and the true hilt lend it immense power and stability. The knife is built for stealthiness, with the blade and hardware all being non-reflective black. The folding blade particularly receives a black titanium nitride coating to aid in corrosion resistance.
The Top Folding Survival knives in this series are also equipped with a liner safety, with adds a pin between the locking liner and frame to act as an extra layer of security to ensure the blade doesn’t disengage during usage. The series only offers the very best of the best, top of the line models designed especially for special forces use, so procuring them for your personal usage is most likely your best bet.
Pros:
- Comfortable to use and hold
- Holds an incredibly sharp edge
- Blade lock ensures you safely disengage every time
- Strong dual grind blades
- Corrosion-resistant coating of black titanium nitride keeps it rust-free
- Great price point
Cons:
- Serrations tend to fold or nick quickly
- Slightly small
- Crossguard too large
5. CRKT M21-14SFG EDC Pocket Knife
This special forces folding survival knife designed by knifemaker Kit Carson offers a series of features requested by military specialists such a high carbon stainless steel blade with Veff Serrations making it ideal for cutting fibrous materials like rope, and a black titanium nitride coating for corrosion resistance making it almost impossible for it to rust. The blade is also close to 4 inches in length allowing for great versatility.
The InterFram build with stainless steel liners and G10 scales claims to give lightweight, unparalleled grip to the handle, making it comfortable to carry and easy to use.
Pros:
- Comfortable to use and hold
- Holds an incredibly sharp edge
- Blade lock ensures you safely disengage every time
- Strong dual grind blades
- Corrosion-resistant coating of black titanium nitride keeps it rust-free
- Great price point
Cons:
- Serrations tend to fold or nick quickly
- Slightly small
- Cross guard too large
6. Kizer Cutlery Begleiter
The Begleiter is the Best Folding Survival Knife currently if we want top cutting market features such as a VG10 blade with a drop point shape and titanium coating offering corrosion resistance and incredible strength, as well as a G10 handle practically impervious to any moisture or liquid and stable in any climate change to prevent cracking or breakage. The blade length is a comfortable 3.58 inches with the complete length totally near 8 inches which makes for a convenient and portable pocket knife. The blade also has bronze washers to allow for a smooth opening and great rapid one-handed deployment, the liner lock locks it into its place effectively protecting the user from any sudden unfolding.
The most noticeable feature of the knife though is how stylish it can be, there are a variety of interesting colors to choose from featuring even the unconventional cobalt blue. This makes it highly customizable and optimizes the user experience.
Pros:
- Highly customizable
- Non corrosion coating
- Indestructible handle
- Comfortable and sturdy grip
- Great edge retention
- Great value for the price
- Easy to sharpen
- Lightweight and portable
Cons:
- Prone to assembling defects
- Too sleek for some
7. Buck Knives TOPS/Buck CSAR-T Tactical Folding Knife
The buck knives are known to be razor-sharp and corrosion-resistant. With a 3 and a half inch tanto blade made of 154CM steel, the blade provides great edge retention and is perfect for heavy-duty usage. The knife contains special features such as a notch for wire bending and a thumb stud for a smooth one-hand open, there’s even a hex tool incorporated into the handle of the knife to increase the versatility of function.
The G10 handle offers great grip with a natural feeling finger groove pattern for added comfort, this is especially helpful when using the knife for long arduous tasks.
Pros:
- Lifetime warranty
- Comfortable handle design provides great grip
- Ambidextrous pocket clip
- Very tough and robust
- Bulky yet light
Cons:
- Nil
8. SOG Folding Pocket Knife Aegis EDC Tactical Knife
The SOG pocket knives are partially serrated, 3.5 inch AUS 8 stainless steel tanto knives made for a whole host of survival tasks like hunting, camping and rescue. The GRN handle offers a great grip and is nearly indestructible by the elements. The hard-cased black titanium nitride coating is scratch and peel resistant, allowing for a durable and sleep finish to an already stylish knife.
The closing and opening mechanisms are critically acclaimed as some of the fastest, with a single hand-operated piston lock.
Pros:
- Great, tight clip
- Amazing edge retention
- Sturdy serration
- Smooth assisted opening
- Lightweight and dependable
Cons:
- Pocket clip prone to bending and difficult to readjust
9. Spyderco Paramilitary 2 plain blade silver
Spyderco’s best known for its innovative and game-changing pivot system allowing for great easy while opening or closing your blade, and with a G10 slip-resistant handle, you have all the workings of a great utility knife. The handle is narrow at the end to improve the ergonomics of the knife and comes with a 4-way clip that’s practically impossible to unintentionally wrestle free. The blade is also incredibly light yet sharp and durable, the thickness making it perfect for survival tasks and lending it a fair share of versatility.
Pros:
- Great edge retention
- Affordable
- Perfect grip
- Smooth opening and closing mechanism
Cons:
- Prone to faulty manufacturing resulting in weak tip or edge
- Sharp thumb grip
10. Case Amber Bone CV Trapperlock
The trapperlock known for its smooth one-hand opening performance is a durable folding survival knife that features a peach seed jigged amber bone handle. The clip blade they use is great for a multi-purpose endeavor and works well as a versatile survival knife. The knife looks stunning with a crescent tip that makes the blade thinner and provides a sharp point for detail-oriented work. The blade itself is manufactured out of chrome vanadium steel, lending it great edge retention and allowing for easy sharpening.
Pros:
- Smooth opening and closing
- Durable blade
- Visually stunning
- Great precision tip
- Edge retention
- Easy sharpening
Cons:
- Manufacturing defects can lead to poor assemblage and tight screws
11. Cold Steel EDC *Recon*
The cold steel recon is a strong and reliable pocket knife with a super durable DLC coated steel blade. The coating allows for long-wearing use and is resistant to scratches. An ambidextrous pocket and belt clip holds it down in place with a great stealthy carry. There are finger grooves and scales on the handle for extra-strong grip ergonomic comfort.
The folding and opening mechanisms are very sturdy, ensuring that it does not close up on your fingers during use. In addition to this, the blade is great for heavy-duty usage and most survival purposes as well as a great EDC knife.
Pros:
- Great price
- Durable
- Scratch-resistant
- Ambidextrous
- Good grip
- Great closing and opening mechanisms
Cons:
- Pocket shredder
- No jimping
12. Benchmade – Adamas 275 Knife
The D2 stainless steel blade holds an exceptionally sharp and impressive edge for a long amount of time. It also comes with a G10 handle that’s great for a wide variety of climates and moisture that makes it great for survival situations and tactical usage.
An ambidextrous and strong AXIS lock allows for easy opening and closing, and a reversible pocket clip and cordura sheath you have the utmost comfortability when carrying it around with you. The drop point blade design makes it versatile, and perhaps the cherry on top of the cake is its lifetime warranty that covers all repair or sharpening required when purchased from an authorized dealer.
Pros:
- Great lock up
- Good jimping
- Edge retention is solid
- Cuts like butter
- No chipping on the edge
Cons:
- Bulky and too huge for some
How to choose a Right Folding Knife?
Remember how we started this Folding Survival Knife Guide off by asking you to really self reflect and ponder upon what functional expectations you have of your ideal folding survival knife? The first step towards selecting the best tool for you personally to add to your survival kit is to understand its limitations and its strengths. As long as you manage your expectations adequately and know what you’re looking for, selecting a folding survival knife shouldn’t be very difficult.
The ideal standards:
Look for a blade size below 4 inches and above 3, the standard rule is the larger the better unless it starts to pose problems for portability. The blade thickness you should browse for should be above an eighth of an inch, anything below this is prone to snap and anything above although stronger would also be heavier to carry and use, as well as not suited for tasks requiring precise cuts.
A wide blade with a flat ground made of a durable enough high carbon stainless steel should be best to weather through most wear and tear, a standard edge is optional but preferred, even combo edges are good because they retain their sharpness for a decent amount of time and are easy enough to sharpen.
Pay close attention to the blades locking system, you want to avoid any possible mishaps with the blade disengaging during use so look for something with a robust locking system in place. And lastly, ensure that the handle is resilient, can withstand water and climate changes as well as offer a good grip.
Folding survival knife guide:
Here we’ll go over some of the points that critics usually look for and widely consider features of the best folding survival knives of 2020. We will follow this up with a more comprehensive and explanatory guide below.
Length: The primary reason for selecting a folding knife above a fixed blade survival knife is its convenience as every day carry. They’re generally less obtrusive and more practical to carry around folded in the pocket of your pants and use in the case of an unexpected emergency. For this reason, above all else, your key concern has to be its size. Blades ranging in on three-four inches are usually the goldilocks spot for folding knives. Anything smaller tends to sacrifice on versatility in survival purposes and anything larger can be difficult to carry and sometimes even illegal in some states. The rule here you should follow is to go for as big a blade as possible that you can still carry around comfortably.
Thickness: Thinner blades are better suited for certain tasks that require more control during slicing and dicing, they also make for lighter knives that are easier to carry and hold especially if you are petite. Thicker blades, on the other hand, tend to be more versatile when it comes to survival uses and are generally much stronger because they can handle greater force and pressure. A good compromise here would be somewhere around an eighth of an inch, anything below this should be avoided for survival use because it could be prone to snapping especially as a folding blade.
Width: Wider blades are stronger and offer more coverage for functions like slicing, you get a more stable and sturdy curve as well as a longer cutting edge for the same blade length. There are two dominant types here:
Flat ground: The sides of the blade are straight right down to the very edge and make a V shape. This variety is much stronger than the latter which tends to produce a rather thin or sharp edge. Generally better suited for survival blades because of their strength.
Hollow ground: The sides of the blade curve inwards towards the edge producing a thinner and sharper edge great for precision-based slicing and cutting but not as well suited for the more demanding tasks expected of a survival knife.
Blade design: As with most survival knives, the blade design is an incredibly important feature to take note of, particularly so in the case of a folding survival blade. This is to make up for inherent weaknesses that the folding design faces by selecting one that counterbalances these effectively. Typically stronger points are better than sharp ones, so it’s best to browse for one that has a thick wide point such as a drop point or a short clip or spear point as a close second. Try to avoid false back edges because these can be more fragile and prone to breakage when used.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that serrated or textured edges are popular, try not to rely on these too much however unless the origin is very high quality because it’s not too optimal for most survival tasks. It’s better to bank on standard or straight edges more because these are easier to sharpen or readjust.
A compromise between the two is usually met in the form of a combo blade which consists half of the standard edge and half serrations close to the handle.
Grip: You want a sturdy grip that’s thin, and well rounded. Comfort and sturdiness are key here and you should be looking for grips that are at least fairly non-slip or have finger grooves built into them. The most popular here are G10 handles or ones that come with stainless steel liners that confer durability.
Folding Knife Mechanisms
Slightly different from your average fixed blade knives, the folding blade variety has a few extra knife mechanisms you should become acquainted with if you want to reap the most benefits out of your new tool.
Folding lock mechanisms
Having a robust locking mechanism is a necessity for a folding survival knife in 2020. This is to prevent you from hurting yourself in case the blade disengages on its own. The two most common mechanisms here are liner and Lockback (spinelock). The former is a spring-loaded leaf, this snaps into place when you open your blade to prevent it from closing. To close this you need to press the lock to the side and out of the way, which makes it a reliable lock mechanism but more of a pain to handle each time you want to close your blade.
The Lockback has a hook towards the mainspring which snaps into a cutout when you open your blade. To close this you need to press down on the mainspring and lift the hook out of the notch for the blade to close. These locks can be a mixed bag depending on who the manufacturer is but are usually adequately strong.
You want to look for a mechanism that is ambidextrous and easily operated using one hand.
Opening methodologies
There are three common opening mechanisms for folding survival knives. These are: manual, assisted and automatic.
Automatic knives are the least user-friendly on average, the blade is held in place using a catch that needs to be let loose allowing the blade to spring back into action. The mechanism is prone to wear and tear and is less reliable or durable than others. Additionally, the catch can also be released in your pocket and cause a safety concern.
Manual opening ones are usually the most reliable and are completely opened by the user, however, they can be tough and draining to open each time.
A good compromise is the assisted opening mechanism, this requires the manual opening to be started which then prompts a spring tension to be applied and open the blade the rest of the way. They’re almost as safe as manual opening locks and more reliable and durable than automatic knives as well.
Locks also come with thumb studs or holes to help with manual opening. They’re both reliable and work well enough. Just make sure to practice with whatever system you decide to purchase so you can really get the hang of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we will look at some of the most asked questions about the Best Folding Survival Knives.
1. Which is the best folding survival knife for self-defense?
The Kershaw Blur Black has slowly become one of our all-time favorites, especially when it comes to self-defense. The one handles the deployment mechanism is impressive and the blade is durable and resistant. The slight curvature is great for stabbing and the tip is incredibly sharp and well suited for self-defense. It’s also great for its price and comes with a lifetime warranty.
2. Which is the best folding pocket knife?
The Begleiter survival knife is what we consider one of the best starter knives to get. It has great features like a corrosion-resistant titanium coating, a G10 handle that can handle any climate or environment and an ideal blade length of 3.6 inches. It’s easy to sharpen, maintain and has a trusty locking system. It’s also really customizable and comes in a variety of colors and styles.
3. Can you use folding knife as a survival knife?
Although you would be better off using a fixed blade knife because it offers way more versatility and is better suited as a survival knife, folding knives are a great alternative especially in emergency situations. Since they’re a lot more portable and pose less of a legal problem in most areas, they tend to be your best bet as EDC knives and can be used for a range of functions. A few of them are also widely considered in the same league as their fixed blade counterparts because of the expertise involved in the manufacturing process.
4. How to close a folding survival knife?
As mentioned previously, there is a range of locking mechanisms for folding knives, these dictate how your knives close. For a liner lock, for example, you need to hold the knife by the handle with the sharp edge facing upwards, and then move the lock to the side so it disengages from the pivot. The liner lock will release at this point and you need to hold and push the blade slowly while holding the handle from the sides to avoid injury. Release the mechanism when guiding the blade to close at this point.
5. How to make a folding survival knife open easier?
Look for folding knives that have assisted opening mechanisms to help from the get-go. If your knife experiences slight staggering after usage, this is a sign of improper maintenance (possibly rust), you can easily remedy this by regularly oiling it using a slight amount of motor oil after washing. You could also loosen up the screw slightly in the case that your knife is not rusty.
6. How to change blade in a folding survival knife?
Most manufacturers offer to change blades or do readjustments for you, but if you want to learn to do this yourself it’s not very difficult. Locate the screw and loosen it entirely, then remove the blade from the body of the knife, change the blade and then set the two halves of the knife together again and align them with the screw.
So that’s all about the best Folding Survival Knife reviews of 2020. We tried various knives and brought the Top Knives best in every aspect. You can choose different ones too in the market after our folding knife guide so you choose the one that best fits your needs.
