Folding Knive

Pocket Knife vs Folding Knife – What’s The Difference?

So you want to buy a knife but you are not sure if you want to buy a pocketknife or a folding knife.  What is the difference anyway – don’t they both fold??  Well, yes – that is true, but there are differences.  So, who cares – well, there are a reasons for knowing the difference – not the least of which is to ensure you are buying the type knife you really want when purchasing online.

Pocket Knife – According to Wikipedia, “a pocketknife is a folding knife with a blade that fits inside the handle and that is small enough to fit in a pocket.”  Most modern pocketknives are for light duty – and are a convenient tool for those many little tasks you might run into when other knives are not handy. Pocket knives have blades that are held in place – open or shut – by a spring mechanism, allowing the user to open and shut the blade easily.  Pocketknives come with single or multiple blades and some have additional tools and even forks and spoons – many options depending on your purpose.  One drawback to this type of pocketknife – since the blade does not lock open, it can be closed inadvertently – of course, if you use the knife properly, there is little danger of this happening.  But I must say, it has happened to me once or twice.

A Folding Knife, on the other hand, is usually a little bigger, stronger, and has some sort of locking mechanism to hold the blade open. Because of this added strength, they can handle heavier duty tasks.  But since they are bigger, they are normally carried in sheaths, not in the pocket.  This locking mechanism makes the folding knives a little safer because the lock prevents the blade from accidentally being closed.  These knives come in many styles and usually have only one blade.  My Buck folding hunter is my favorite all round knife – I have used it for camp duties, as well as field dressing all kinds of game from squirrels and ducks to wild boars and Alaskan Brown Bear.

Before you buy a knife, you should check local knife carry laws, especially if you want to carry it routinely.  Most pocketknives are legal to carry (except in places like courthouses, schools, etc).  Whether a knife is “legal” to carry is usually determined by blade length – from my limited research, knives with blades of less than 3 ½ – 4 inches are usually legal – but do check your local laws.

IN SUMMARY – A small personal knife is a valuable tool that has many uses – I actually carry two most of the time – no matter what purpose you have for a knife I know there is a knife just for that purpose – whether it is a small pocket knife or larger folding knife, the choice is virtually endless – enjoy the shopping – find the right knife for you –

About the Author

Larry Clark is President of Clark Unlimited, Inc, a Florida based family owned internet marketing firm which focuses on providing quality products and world-class service at highly competitive discount prices. He is the founder of the website www.PocketKnivesPro.com – providing a wide variety of pocketknives, folding and fixed blade knives, as well as multi-purpose tools and sharpening tools from major manufacturers such as Buck, Case, Gerber, Leatherman and Victorinox.

100% wood blade folding knife MADE by a wood knife

Work Sharp WSKTS Knife and Tool Sharpener $65.00 Work Sharp’s WSKTS knife and tool sharpener is specially designed to sharpen any number of knives and tools in your collection. Thanks to its flexible abrasive belts, the WSKTS sharpens knives with straight blades, serrated blades, and any other silhouette or sort of blade. Get quality-grade sharpening functionality in your own shop or job site with the WSKTS’s precision-sharpening gui…

DMT FSKF Diafold Serrated Knife Sharpener – Fine $17.50 Sharpening serrated knives is easy with a Diafold diamond serrated sharpener. And better still this foldablepanion also serves triple duty as a portable mini-steel gut hook sharpener and conical file.ATTRIBUTES Grit: Fine Material: Diamond Size: 4.25 in. Special Features: Great for serrated edges or use as mini steel Type: Paddle…

UNITED Knife Storage Case Large Holds Over 40 Knives $2.44 Holds over 40 knives of various sizes. Swing handle imitation leather exterior red felt-lined interior with elastic straps and zipper closure. Knives not included….

SE 6-1 Camping S. Steel Detachable Knife 4 Body $3.95 New camping utensil set. This sturdy tool is made of high quality stainless steel. It includes a sharp knife, fork, spoon, corkscrew and bottle opener. A great tool for weekend camping! The tool even separates, so you can use the knife and fork in different hands. It comes with its own storage bag. Folded length: 4 1/2″ Weight with bag: 5.3 oz…

Gerber 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife, Serrated Edge $79.99 From Gerber, the 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife is designed to help you endure in the toughest environments. It features an ergonomic grip for comfortable handling and a dependable stainless steel blade with a versatile serrated edge. Additionally, the knife and military-grade nylon sheath are packed with innovative survival tools, including a fire starter, a diamond blade sh…

Mtech ChainLink Tactical Folding Pocket Knife with Aluminum Handle $4.64 This designer collector’s knife features a metal fence design on the blade and a melt in your hand grip. The jet black blade is forged of 440 stainless steel and fits perfectly in you pocket or use the clip and have it at your side. Features: 5 inches closed 3.75 inches blade 8.75 inches overall 440 stainless steel blade; Metal fence graphic on blade; Perfectly cut grip to fit great in your hand….

Szco Supplies Angry Eagle Collector Series Knife $10.66 -COLLECTOR SERIES -4″ CLOSED -GOLD FINISH HANDLE -OAK COLOR WOODEN BOX…

GIFT BOX COLLECTION (MARTIAL ARTS) $3.95 4″ Closed - Silver Finish Handle…

Folding Butterfly Knife/Comb Novelty Item $1.14 Folding Butterfly Knife/Comb Novelty Item…

Alltrade 150003 Auto-Loading Squeeze Utility Knife $9.44 Alltrade 150003 Squeeze Knife ” Auto Loading Utility Knife Alltrade 150003 Squeeze Knife ” Auto Loading Utility Knife Features:; Utility knife; Auto loading squeeze handle; Release button retracts blade into housing; Stores replacement blades; Ergonomic cushion handle; Includes 6 heavy duty blades; Carded…