The TOP 50 Greatest Pocket Knife Designs of All Time - According to Metal Complex - 2022

The TOP 50 greatest pocket knife designs (In my opinion).

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28. Strider SNG - NA

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14. ZT 0392 - NA

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***DISCLAIMER*** This channel's content is meant for educational purposes only, and encourages the proper/safe use, handling, and understanding of tools.

[naiboz]

Weird, my bank manager just kicked my door in and smashed my tv in the middle of this video, how did he even know? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[icytab]

Time Slots for Knives:

50. QSP Penguin - 4:04
49. CIVIVI Cogent - 4:16
48. CIVIVI Altus - 4:32
47. Benchmade Bugout - 4:47
46. Hogue Deka - 5:17
45. Benchmade 940 - 5:53
44. Benchmade Super Freek - 6:23
43. Benchmade Mini Crooked River - 7:01
42. Cold Steel AD-15 - 7:43
41. Cold Steel AD-10 - 8:51

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40. Spyderco PM2 - 9:16
39. Spyderco Manix 2 - 9:52
38. Microtech Ultratech - 10:25
37. TRM Shadow - 11:05
36. Protech SNG - 12:07
35. Protech Malibu - 12:43
34. Protech Rockeye - 13:16
33. UEDC F5.5 - 13:54
32. Cold Steel American Lawman - 14:24
31. Guardian Tactical Recon 35 - 15:19

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30. Ritter/Hogue RSK MK1 G2 - 16:20
29. ZT 0562 - 17:21
28. Strider SNG - 17:59
27. Spyderco Kapara - 19:02
26. Microtech Dirac Delta - 19:41
25. Les George VECP V3 - 20:45
24. TAD Dauntless - 22:09
23. Spyderco Para 3 - 23:10
22. Varga VBR - 23:59
21. Microtech Socom Elite - 24:35

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20. Spyderco Shaman - 25:23
19. CKF FIF20 - 26:33
18. CRK Umnumzaan - 27:29
17. CKF Rotten Evo - 28:23
16. Vero Isotope - 29:14
15. SBD Production Mini Tempest - 30:26
14. ZT 0392 - 31:56
13. Hinderer Eklipse - 32:51
12. Holt Specter - 33:56
11. Reate JACK 1 - 34:54

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10. Shirogorov Quantum - 35:51
9. Rockstead Higo II - 36:59
8. Koenig Arius - 38:38
7. Shirogorov F95 - 39:33
6. SBD Evo Typhoon - 40:37
5. CKF Rassenti Snafu 2.0 - 43:11
4. Herman Slim - 44:03
3. Hinderer XM-18 3.5" - 45:19
2. Demko AD-20 - 47:00
1. Shirogorov F3 NS - 49:54

[destro]

More than anything this list shows how just how great a time it is (current madnesses aside) to be in to knives. 🤘🏼🔥🔥🔥🤘🏼

[kozmo]

Really enjoyed this one

As someone who is still a newbie getting into knives, this kind of thing really helps me see what’s out there and also see what the heck people are talking about and why

Which is great grounds for developing my own opinions later on down the road

Thank you MC!

[danielbarbee]

Bench made Osborne axis in the original green. I am on my second. 1ST knife grew legs at a job. Bought my dad one. My brother has it now. The fact that anyone who carries one for a month, carries one for the rest of their live speaks volumes.

[josephascroft]

Really good video, loved the fact that you didn’t spent half an hour talking about each knife like a lot of people seem to do, would love you to do this kind of video about slip joint knives for us unfortunate people who live in the uk 🙏🏻👍

[nightkap]

Nice list. I can roll with you on putting the Hinderer XM-18 at #3. Shiro are top notch knives after all. BUT...no Sebenza on the list?? I mean, that's almost criminal. Most enthusiasts, notice I didn't say collectors...put Hinderer, Chris Reeve, Strider (no particular order) as the holy trinity of knives. I am one of those people. Sure, there are "nicer" knives. But those 3 encompass all there is to love about knives.
Just my humble $.02

[mastabas]

As someone just getting into knives, I carefully selected the AD-15 as my first non-budget knife. When I saw the Demko AD20 on your list, I didn't know it existed... I simply have to get it now.

[tormentedslayer]

I never noticed that the lines on the handle flow thru to the blade soo well on the Shirogorov Quantum... dang! Like where the swoop stops on the handle carries over to the grind on the blade... beautiful!!!

[GLOCKshter]

I guessed the top 3 correctly, but wasn't sure if you were gonna put the ad20 ahead of the F3 or not. I can not put the F3NS down. I've had it for 2 weeks now, and have to force myself to carry another knife every few days. It is so incredibly perfect. Great list!

[chrismcnair]

"You are incorrect. The Buck 110 in 420hc is the greatest knife of all time MC." -Randy

[HenryPipes]

I really liked and respected your list. Thank you MC for doing this. I haven't handled any of the knives in the top 20 so I couldn't comment either way, but I mostly agreed with 50-25. I have several on that list. Recently though my WE Beacon has taken my #1 spot even over my Kapara and TRM Atom. :)

[PhilipJoyceMusician]

Please forgive my ignorance.
I was looking at buying a pocket knife on Amazon, and afterwards I got this video suggestion here on YouTube. The algorithm at work.
I appreciate good design on anything so I understand paying for quality.
I guess you’re a collector, this is a hobby as much an anything, but can you explain to me what you use these knives for day to day, and also why you own so many.
Going by this video I am picturing knifes falling out of every pocket, bag, glove box, jacket and drawer in your life…
Please don’t take my comment as a negative, I’m just trying to understand and am curious.
I live in Ireland and EDC isn’t a thing at all here.
The closest anyone would come to carrying a knife with them would be a leatherman or similar multi tool . And even then only if they worked in a trade, carpentry, building etc…
Thanks for reading this and I appreciate any replies.

[chrishynes]

Before I even watch this I'm rooting for the replacement to my Delica.. the Spyderco PM3 lightweight is now my favorite EDC. Now time to watch... 😃

[matthamilton]

For a cheap knife I love the Pilar 3 in d2. Crkt may not be not be my favorite manufacturer, but for the price they hit it out of the park...

[RugerRedhawk]

1980-81 3 dot Buck 110 with the better 440C steel which was the last time they used it. I have some of the blades on this list and all of these "super duper" steel knives sit in a box collecting dust. The thicker, squared off bolster 3 dot 110 is the best version Buck ever made. It's also the masculine version and what the 110 should look like. It's the only blade you'll need. Reason being, easy to sharpen to a razor blade, no moving parts, no internal springs, no screws or a pocket clip that destroys pockets. Just an all metal handle and a very strong lock back with a spring bar. And I'll have to add (just for the hell of it) it has killed Grizzlies before. The best part, I just scored my third one for a little more than $40 in perfect condition. Runner up I would add the Gerber 06 Manual with S30V or the Benchmade Ritter Griptilian M390 with AWT aluminum handles and maybe the Adamas 275. I just don't see the point in purchasing knives that cost as much as guns.

[seanmahoney]

I love that you titled this "pocket knives" and not "EDC pocket knives" this list is fair and putting 50 knives on the table in any order is hard to do

[rociovillegasmartin]

Beyond amazing. I'm used to $250 (each and I use 4 of them) Japanese water stones and an $800 guided sharpening system. If you want the best edge...wet stones . ..but you're gonna spend time and money. The difference between a wet stone edge and this device is maybe 5-10 percent. No one will ever notice. However.. make sure you don't take off too much material from your knife!

[lakylaky]

I agree with a lot of your choices…the ranking is another thing but I also respect your overall feel about it…you know I owned better half of these knives but recently sold them all, except for Spyderco Kapara, Civivi Elementum and Spyderco Police…I also didnt sell even one Victorinox knife or Opinel knife…ive actually gone through the journey of finding the best knife for me and I came to realize i dont want my folding knife to be thick as hell in stock and TBE…for prying I have fixed blades, for sliciness I have Opinel…opinels are also just so much more customizable than most of the knives you mentioned…you get 0.007” TBE which is just a dream…i spent so much money on high end knives...man i regret it now cause the thrill of owning them was only temporary and soon it became an unhealthy addiction…Rocksteads cant even be used to nicely cut through an apple, I mean what do you actually pay 1500$ in such a knife…design, quality but utility not so much…i sold it all and took my girlfriend for a premium vacation instead…the best choice i ever made

[diablogt]

Been wanting an F3NS for a while now, could have bought one a few times in stock, but keep buying other limited hard to get knives.. Hope they don't stop stocking them soon so I have time to recover from recent purchases lol. Is it really better than the Arius? That's my favorite current knife I've handled.