15 Best Tactical Knives – 2022 Top Product Reviews

Knives are a very important part of rural as well as urban life. In rural life, the standard knives are chef’s knives used for cooking, but knives are used for self-defense purposes in urban life. Many times in an emergency, you might need the tactical knife whether you are stuck in the bushes or you have to face a goon. 

There are many tactical knives in the market, but none are not the best, and we aimed to find the best ones for our people. So, our team started their research, and they went through all the tactical knives, consulted all experts, and then chose these 15 knives. The best knife is the Cold Steel SRK because it is specially made for combat and self-defense. 

If you want to buy this knife, then you can buy it on Amazon. The people might be confused about what the tactical knife is, so let’s find out what the tactical knife is?

What is a tactical knife?

We can say that the tactical knife is the revolutionary term for fighting or combat knives. These knives are specially designed for self-defense, but if we go back in history, these kinds of fixed blade knives were used in the military in hand-to-hand fighting. The term tactical knife was introduced in the mid-1990s. 

Nowadays, the people who travel a lot or love adventures use these tactical knives so, in case they get stuck in the bushes or have to cut some ropes, they can use them. There are also some areas in which people carry this tactical knife for self-defense, but in our view, the blade is a bit old method for self-defense. 

Why should a person carry a tactical knife?

As we said before, these tactical knives are combat knives, and they are designed for self-defense and some hard tasks. There are many benefits of carrying a knife with you. Of course, you can’t fight a goon with a gun, but at least you can do some harm to him, especially if you know how to handle these combat knives. 

If you are camping, some animals can attack you, then this tactical knife would be your only source of help, and there are many other benefits as well, and that is why there are some states in which carrying the tactical knife is legal.

Would you need a serrated tactical knife or not a serrated tactical knife?

Whether you need a serrated knife depends on the job you want to do with your tactical knife. If you are going camping and don’t have the sharpener for a long time, you would need a serrated or half-serrated knife. 

But if you need the tactical knife purely for self-defense purposes, then the plain edge would work great for you. So, this is how your needs decide if you want serrated knives or not. 

Best tactical knife brands

Many knife brands are making tactical knives. Some of the best tactical knife brands include:

• Gerber
• Browning
• Ka-Bar
• Morakniv
• Cold Steel
• Spyderco
• Kershaw
• Benchmade
• Protech
• SOG
• Many more.

Best tactical knives – Quick Overview

There are thousands of tactical knives available on the market; Some of the best tactical knives are as follows.

1. Cold Steel SRK
2. Gerber StrongArm
3. Gerber Ghoststrike
4. KA-BAR TDI
5. KA-BAR BKR7-BRK
6. Morakniv Craftline Basic 511
7. Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S
8. ALBATROSS
9. Grand Way WK 0207
10. Snake Eye Tactical Karambit Style Folding Pocket Knife
11. Tac Force GStore
12. Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B
13. Tactical Spring Assisted Knife TF-705BK
14. MTech USA
15. Kershaw Cinder

Image	Product & Features	Ratings	Price
Top-Pick	Cold Steel SRK   This tactical knife comes Razor-sharp It is an affordable option too. It is made of very durable and rugged material.	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
Easy to Carry	Gerber Ghoststrike   It is a very lightweight knife so you can carry it very easily. It comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. The overall look of the knife is premium and Beautiful	9	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
Premium-Pick	KA-BAR TDI   It is a super-sharp knife. It comes with a Rockwell hardness of 57-59 HRC Easy to carry	8	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
Easy to Sharpen	KA-BAR BKR7-BRK   3.12-inch drop point blade Light-weight Beautiful	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
Best for Safe use	Morakniv Craftline Basic 511   This knife has a TPE rubber handle which is very comfortable It includes a finger guard for more safety Limited Lifetime Warranty	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
Best EDC knife	Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S   7.0-inch clip point fixed blade Light-weight Tough and durable	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
Best Budget Option	Grand Way WK 0207   It is a very beautiful and functional knife. The knife is made of 440 c that is why it is very sharp. The knife is very durable.	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
Lightweight knife	MTech USA   It is a very lightweight knife that you can carry very easily. The shape of the blade is amazing The design of the knife is very great.	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
	Gerber StrongArm   It comes with a very comfortable handle Great size knife suitable for everyone. It is made of 420HC steel that is why it is very durable and tough.	10	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
	ALBATROSS   It looks beautiful The size of the knife is perfect. It comes with a LED light which is waterproof	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
	Snake Eye Tactical Karambit Style Folding Pocket Knife   This knife is very sharp. The stainless steel handle gives you a firm grip and strength. It opens fast and effortlessly.	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
	Tac Force GStore   It has a very beautiful vintage design. It has finger indents for a secure grip Perfect for a gift	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
	Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B   It is a very sturdy knife. Easy and effortless to use Light-weight so you can use it smoothly.	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
	Tactical Spring Assisted Knife TF-705BK   This knife is very sharp. It can be opened with one hand safely because of the line lock. The design of the knife is very beautiful	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay
	Kershaw Cinder   This knife has a very durable handle. Cheap and beautiful knife It is very easy to carry.	7	Check Price on AmazonCheck Price on eBay

 Let’s start with an in-depth review of the best tactical knives.

1. Cold Steel SRK – Tough and Durable

There are many big knives in the list of the Cold Steel, but when it comes to the tactical knives, the SRK is the best option available. You might know that this military knife was designed and used by the armed forces, so you can’t question the durability and toughness of this knife. This knife is one of the most suitable options for self-defense use. 

This Cold Steel SRK knife is made of SK- Steel, one of the toughest Japanese high carbon steel in the market. Its toughness is around Rc 65, which means it is not like any other standard knives that you carry for your safety. 

The biggest problem with the tactical knives is that their handles are not very comfortable, and when you are using them, they might injure your hand, and there are chances that the knife might slip from your hand.
But the handle of this knife is made of the Kray-Ex handle, which is harder rubber but gives you a very comfortable and firm grip to use the knife effectively. 

It also comes with a sheath that protects it from dirt and makes it easy to carry by attaching it with your belt. 

Specifications

2. Gerber StrongArm – Retain sharpness for long time

This is again one of the best military-grade knives made for combat purposes. The look and design of this knife are very similar to the uniform of the US military. The blade is made of 420HC steel, which is known for its hardness in the industry. This steel gives you the perfect hardness and toughness that you need for tactical knives. 

This knife has a serrated edge, and a full tang blade that means if you are in any kind of trouble stuck in the bushes or some goons are following you, this knife is enough to get you out of that situation. This knife has a very good coyote brown handle that provides you with a very firm grip while using it. 

There is a very common problem with these knives: they become dull very early, and you have to sharpen them repeatedly, but this knife’s blade comes with the ceramic coating, which means it is razor-sharp and retains its sharpness for a long time. If you are going on a long adventurous trip, then this could be your great companion.

Specifications

Read More: What is 154cm Steel

3. Gerber Ghoststrike – Easy to Carry

It is not a very big and bulky knife like some other in the market, but you can say that it has ten out of 10 points in the looks. This knife has a 3.12-inch drop point blade, and the overall length of the knife is 6.75 inches. This knife comes with a black ceramic coating which means the least amount of reflection and corrosion. 

This knife comes with a very comfortable rubber handle which gives you a very strong grip even though the handle is a bit small, but still, you can hold it firmly when you are using it. The blade is made of 420 HC steel which is very hard steel used in scissors and tactical knives. The black ceramic coating retains the sharpness of the blade for a long time.

Some people feel it easy to carry the knife horizontally while others love to carry it vertically, but not all the sheaths give you this flexibility, but this knife has a modular sheath system which means you can wear it horizontally or vertically on your belt, which makes the life of many people easy.  

One other thing that I like about this knife is that it comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so this is also a very attractive feature of this knife.

Specifications

4. KA-BAR TDI – Legal to Carry in most US States

It is one of the mainstream brands known for its combat knives, and US Marines and other armed forces also used their knives so, you can imagine the quality of this knife. This is also a very great knife when it comes to tactical knives. It has a 2.32-inch drop point blade and an overall length of 5 inches which means carrying this knife is legal in most US states. 

This knife is made of AUS-8A stainless steel, which is very good for rust resistance, and it is very easy to sharpen so, you don’t have to spend a long time sharpening this knife. The hardness of this steel on the Rockwell hardness is 57-59 HRC which means it is pretty hard and suitable for the tactical knife. 

Most campers and people who want a knife for self-defense complain that knives are too big, which they hate to carry with them, but their problem is solved with this very small and efficient knife now they can carry this knife very easily and in many ways. So, this knife is for people who are tired of carrying big knives. 

Specifications

Also Read: Best Knife Sets Under $200

5. KA-BAR BKR7-BRK – Easy to Sharpen

Kabar is killing it with its tactical knives. This is another very great knife that is suitable for adventurers and for people who are looking for a knife for self-defense. This knife is very lightweight and tough, which means it is a perfect tactical knife. 

This knife is made of the 1095 Cro-Van Carbon Steel, which is another type of high carbon steel, but with some other elements like Vanadium, molybdenum, nitrogen, and chromium this is why it holds an edge, quite tough, and you can very easily sharpen it. On the Rockwell hardness, the hardness of this blade measures around 56 to 58 HRC, which means it is pretty hard.

The handle of the knife is made of Nylon which is known for its comfort-ability so, this is a great feature that is not present in most tactical knives, and while using it, you can hurt yourself, but the nylon handle gives you a firm grip that does not slip with your hands even if your hands are wet. 

Specifications

6. Morakniv Craftline Basic 511 – Best for Safe use

This is one of the best-selling knives of this brand, and this brand has a good reputation in the combat and tactical knives industry. The blade of this knife is made of high carbon steel, which is the most common in tactical knives because of its hardness, sharpness, and wear resistance.

The brand put a lot of research into the handle’s making andy came up with an ergonomic handle that gives you a very comfortable grip even when you are using it for a long time. The handle is made of the TPE rubber handle, which gives a firm grip and prevents slipping. 

The main concern with these knives is the size because you can’t carry big knives with you even when you are camping. Most people like me hate big knives, so this brand came up with this medium-sized knife which is neither big nor small, so it’s a perfect option for everyone. 

If you want a more in-depth review of the knife, read our full review.

Specifications

7. Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S – Best tactical Folding Knife – Best EDC knife

This knife is made of the 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel, which is very famous in budget knives. This steel has a great amount of chromium which makes this blade best for corrosion resistance. There are thumb studs in the handle, which helps you open the knife very easily, and you don’t fear that it would slip from your hand. 

The handle of this knife is made of aluminum which is not very common in all other tactical knives. This handle increases the strength of the blade. The handle has some finger placements that means it gives you a very strong grip while using it. 

It is one of the best folding knives in the market so, all the people who are tired of carrying the big bulky knives by tying with your belts now they can rest because they can fold this knife and put it in your pocket and take it wherever you are going with you. This is also a very good option for campers, adventurers, and also for self-defense enthusiasts. 

If you want a more in-depth review of the knife, read our full review.

Specifications

8. ALBATROSS – Best for Outdoor activities

This is another folding knife for the use of your daily life. You can do all the small tasks with this knife, and it fits into your palm or pocket very easily, which is why most people go with this knife. The blade is made of stainless steel, which has a black coating giving it a very good combat look. This knife is very sharp and durable, suitable for your daily tasks. 

This knife has an aluminum handle that gives you a very strong grip; though it might not be comfortable compared to the rubber handles, it is still good. The grip of the aluminum is very strong, and it gives strength to the whole knife. 

Some features that I like most about this knife are its waterproof LED light and its magnesium stick which can be very helpful for you when you are in some kind of problem. This knife is perfect for all the small tasks like opening cans, bottles, cutting small sticks, belts, which makes it a good companion of your daily life.  

Specifications

Check This: Best Chef Knife Under $100

9. Grand Way WK 0207 – Best Budget Option

The first thing which makes this knife stand out from its competitors is its look. The black-painted blade with wooden color handles looks very premium when you see this knife first. The blade is made of 440 c High carbon steel, which is very hard, sharp, and durable. 

The knife handle is made of metal which is quite interesting, and according to our testing team, this handle is quite comfortable and gives you a firm grip, and no doubt it looks stunning. It also has a liner lock which makes the knife very safe for everyone. Thumb stud, which makes it very easy to open it confidently with your one hand. 

Some people can’t find a suitable knife for camping, hunting, fishing, and hiking, so; we would recommend this knife because it is ideal for all these things if you have some loved one who loves these or any kind of outdoor activities, you can gift it to them. 

Specifications

10. Snake Eye Tactical Karambit Style Folding Pocket Knife – Unique design

It is one of the best everyday knives in the market that you can use in your daily life. The brand Snake Eye Tactical is famous for its tactical knives. The curved look of the blade is unique, which is not very seen in the market. The blade is very tough and sharp because it is made of stainless steel.

If you are fond of outdoor activities, you must have this knife because it is very useful for opening boxes, carving, and cutting because of its curved blade.  The thing that we think is not good in this knife is its stainless steel handle which is suitable for the sturdy grip and power but comforts wise it was not a good option. 

This is a small-sized tactical knife that comes with the clip, which would help you carry it with you by tying it with your belt, and it looks like a big-sized keychain than the knife on your belt. The knife size is 4.75 inches when it is closed, which is perfect for the EDC knife. 

Specifications

11. Tac Force GStore – Vintage Design knife

It is one of the best wholesale knife brands in the United States, and they are not very old. They started their business in 1992, but they are now at the top in tactical knives because of their quality. The most interesting thing is their designs and styles of the blades that attract everybody towards these knives.

Our team tested this knife, and they loved this not only because of the color and style but because it has a very sharp and sturdy blade that can be very useful for you in your daily life. This knife is specially designed for self-defense enthusiasts. The design of the handle is very good; it has finger placements which makes the grip very firm. 

There are many people that might have security issues with the tactical knives, but this knife has a liner lock to lock the blade at its place and a thumb stud for safely opening it, so you don’t have to worry about the safety features. 

Specifications

12. Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B – Good for Self-defense

Many self-defense enthusiasts recommend this knife for self-defense, and they awarded this knife for being the best knife you can find in the market for self-defense. It is made of high-carbon stainless steel so, it would be tough and sharp, and you can easily defend yourself with it. 

There is a very comfortable rubber handle that makes your grip very strong while using this knife and not only this; it has a handguard that protects your hands from injuries. If you want to take it somewhere with you, then you have the option that you put it in the sheath and attach it with your belt. 

Sometimes you can’t trust a brand, or you are double-minded so, if you are stuck about your decision, then this feature might give you a clear thought to make your decision. There is a limited lifetime warranty that comes with this knife so, if shortly there is some problem with the knife, you can claim your warranty. 

If you want a more in-depth review of the product, read our full review.

Specifications

13. Tactical Spring Assisted Knife TF-705BK – Police Tactical Knife with Glass Breaker

It is another best tactical knife in the market, and this time it is from the TAC For, the leading wholesale brand in the USA. The blade of this knife is made of the 3Cr13, which is great steel used in the knives. It is very sharp and hard, and its measurement on the Rockwell hardness meter is 54 HRC which is quite good. 

You can open this knife very comfortably with one hand because of the line lock that locks the blade at its position. An aluminum handle of this knife gives power to this knife and gives you a very comfortable, firm grip. This is an excellent folding knife for the person who is into outdoor activities. 

The feature of this knife, which I like the most and not very common in some other kinds of knives, is that this knife has a bottle opener and glass breaker at the end of this knife which is an excellent feature for an emergency.

If you want a more in-depth review of the product, read our full review.

Specifications

14. MTech USA – Lightweight knife

It is a very old brand that started in 1982, and since then, they have been making the best tactical knives in the market, and this model that we are going to review is the best self-defense tactical knife for hunters and campers. The knife’s blade is made of stainless steel, making it very hard and sharp like all other knives on the list. 

It is a folding knife so, you can open it safely and confidently with one hand means that it has a sock liner. This knife also has an aluminum handle which gives power to the blade. There is a thumb placement which makes the grip firm. 

The main problem with these kinds of knives is how you would carry these knives. It comes with the sheath and clip with which you can tie it with your belt and take it wherever you want to go. It also has the feature of a glass breaker and seat cutter, which can be utilized at the time of emergency. 

If you want a more in-depth review of the product, read our full review.

Specifications

15. Kershaw Cinder – Good for EDC

It is another very good pocket knife that you can use to cut the boxes, open the cans, bottles, and duct tapes, and use this knife for self-defense purposes. This knife’s blade is made of Low-end Chinese Martensitic stainless steel, which is very sharp, hard, and corrosion-resistant.

The features that we love about the knife are the line locker and the thumb stud. The thumb stud helps you open the blade with one hand comfortably, and on the other hand, the line locker locks it at its position so it does not injure you. 

Some knives are hard on your pocket, but this one is the budget option so everyone can afford it. It is a very small-sized knife so, it looks like a keychain which is another good thing about this knife. The brand offers a limited lifetime warranty on this knife so, buy and enjoy.

Specifications

Read More: Japanese Kitchen Knife Sets

Product Technical Details

Types of knife

There are two very common types of tactical knives in the market. 

• Fixed blade knives
• Folding knives

Fixed Blade knives

The knives in which the blade and the handle are a single piece are called the fixed blade knives, and these knives are usually big compared to the folding knives, so that is why the people find it hard to carry these knives with themselves. These knives tend to be more strong and sharper as compared to the other types of knives. 

Folding knives

These are the second type of knives. These knives are in two parts, and the knife’s blade folds back in the handle, reducing its space, and the size of the knife becomes small. The people who love camping and hiking used to take these knives with them for small tasks because they are very easy to carry. 

Buying Guide – How to choose the best tactical knife?

Like every other person, you are here to know the points or qualities that made the tactical knife best, so you can also find the best tactical knife for yourself. Many big brands charge you a lot and then deliver you the garbage quality knife that is not even useful for you, so we will list down some important points that make the knife the best. 

Local Laws for tactical knives in the USA

It is the first thing you should consider before you buy the best tactical knives and read the local laws of your state. It would give you a very clear picture of which kind and size of knife are legal in your state and which is not? So, you can more clearly choose the best option for yourself. If you don’t know about the local laws and are in the USA, you must visit American Knife and Tool Institute’s website. It will tell you and everything about the restrictions and laws of knives in the USA. 

Use of Tactical knife

It is also a very important question that you have to ask yourself about what you want to do with your knife. If you intend to do some things like skinning or that take more power, you should go for the fixed blade tactical knife because they tend to be stronger and simpler. 

But if you intend to use it to cut the ropes, small sticks, and belts, then you can go for the folding knife. The folding knife is very easy to carry, and they are suitable for these kinds of small tasks. Some people want to cut big wooden sticks and do some other work, and they buy the knife, so they should buy a small ax because the knife would not help them. 

Budget

You should know the answer to this question before you visit the market. It does not matter if you are going in the local or online market because determining a specific budget on the knife gives you clarity of mind. In the market, you would find a knife that costs around $300, but that is not your budget even if that is in your wallet. 

If you are looking for an excellent tactical knife and have a budget of $80 to $100, you would get the best one for yourself. 

Material/Steel

The most important thing about the tactical knife is that you should always consider it while buying a tactical knife. There are two types of steel for tactical knives.

• High carbon Steel 
• Stainless Steel 

High carbon steel used to be harder, while stainless steel is not harder with modern technology. The hardness of the stainless steel is equal to the high carbon steel, and it is also not very prone to rust, so you have the winner here. There are four very important things that you should look at when you are selecting the tactical knife.

• How hard is the steel?
• Is the steel tough enough?
• Steel is corrosion resistant or not?
• How easily can you sharpen the steel?

This is the simple method to go for the best steel for the tactical knife. 

These are some points that would help you to buy the best tactical knife for yourself. 

Best Tactical Knives – FAQs

Best Combat Knives

Many different brands are known for making Combat knives. There are different types of Combat knives available in the market. However, some of the best Combat and Fighting Knives in the World includes:

• Benchmade Infidel 133
• Ka-Bar 1211 to 1214
• Ontario Knives Co. SP2
• United Cutlery Marine Force Recon Sawback Bowie Knife
• Benchmade Infidel 133
• CRKT Rakkasan
• CRKT M16-10S
• Ka-Bar Becker BK9 Combat Bowie
• Gerber Mark II
• Zero Tolerance Combat Folder
• Fox 479 G10 Emerson Wave Karambit
• And many more.

Conclusion

A tactical knife is specifically designed for self-defense, emergency, or any other survival situation. Tactical knives can be used for many other purposes and activities like camping, fishing, hunting, survival, or other everyday needs tasks, so buying a tactical knife may be a good choice for you.

Tactical knives come in different designs, materials, and blade types. All the knives that we have reviewed are strong, durable, and sharp. We have listed 15-best tactical knives in this article, and I’m pretty sure at least one of the tactical knives will fit your budget or needs.

If you have selected the best tactical knife for your needs, make sure you buy from our link because that would help us earn a very little commission, and you don’t have to pay any extra money. 

Thank you for buying.