8 Best Fixed Blade Knife: A Knife for Every Occasion!

A reliable fixed blade knife is a versatile tool that can serve you well in different situations. Whether it’s for survival, outdoor adventures, self-defense, or any other task, a quality fixed blade knife is up to the challenge. In this article, we’ll explore the top 8 fixed blade knife available on the market, each tailored to meet a variety of needs. So, let’s get started and discover the perfect knife for you!

Why a Fixed Blade?

Fixed blade knives offer you the most rugged option available. They are much stronger than a folding blade of any type. Fixed blade knives are stronger but also faster and simpler to deploy. Pull it from the sheath, and it’s ready to get to work. A folder has to be drawn from the pocket, then opened. 

Their strength and speed make them a better choice for various tasks. For general outdoor work, while you camp, hike, or hunt, a fixed blade tends to be more versatile and easier to use. If you are looking for a bushcraft or survival knife, then a fixed blade is the way to go. If you need to baton wood, cut through dense material, make feather sticks, and do similar tasks, the fixed blade is the way to go. 

For self-defense, the fixed blade offers a faster and stronger option. Using a knife for self-defense is fairly rare for everyday people, but it bears mentioning. This may be a concern for those in professional law enforcement and military forces. Although to be completely fair, this tends to be rare even in those professions.

How I Chose the Best Fixed Blade Knife

As a former Marine, I’ve had my fair share of experience with weapons, including knives. Drawing from that background, I’ve compiled a list of the best fixed blade knives that have stood the test of time. However, I didn’t rely solely on my own preferences—I sought advice from industry experts to ensure a well-rounded selection.

I understand that choosing a fixed blade knife is a personal decision, so I’ve organized the list based on their best uses to cater to everyone’s preferences. Additionally, I’ve included a buyer’s guide to help you navigate through the options and find the perfect match for your needs. So, let’s dive in and find the fixed blade knife that’s just right for you.

Authors Best Fixed Blade Knives

Let’s talk about what best means. In the knife world, it’s tough. They are blade smiths that produce some fantastic, high-tier knives, but they are extremely expensive and sold in limited numbers. Arguably, some of these would be considered the best, but can most people obtain them? Due to their price and lack of availability, it’s unlikely you could ever get your hands on one. 

When I went for the best, I targeted specific niches of fixed blade knives and chose common, affordable, and easy-to-obtain knives that are still excellent knives. So please keep that in mind. 

Click the headings to jump to the review section for each red dot or just scroll through the entire article.

Our Best Fixed Blade Knives

Best on a Budget SOG SEAL Pup		Clip Point Partial Serration Nylon Sheath	Buy on Amazon
Best for Bushcraft Mora Garberg		Clip Point Scandi Grind MultiMount Sheath	Buy on Amazon
Best for Self-Defense Shivworks Clinch Pick		Clip Point Concealable Sheath Heavy Belly	Check Price
Best for Survival ESEE 4		Clip Point Numerous Steel Options G10 Grip Panels	Buy on Amazon
Best for Duty Use Benchmade SOCP		Dagger Point Retention Grip Designed For Self Defense	Buy on Amazon
Best for Police Use KA-BAR TDI		Drop Point Unusual But Effective Grip Hollow Grind	Buy on Amazon
Most Versatile Gerber Strongarm		Basic Fixed Blade Design Awesome Grip Texture Excellent Blade Design	Buy on Amazon
Just Because Cold Steel Wild West Bowie Knife		Iconic Bowie Knife Profile Clip Point	Buy on Amazon

Best Fixed Blade Knife Specs

Here Are The Best Fixed Blade Knives

Our favorite fixed blade knives are:

1. SOG SEAL Pup
2. Mora Garberg
3. Shivworks Clinch Pick
4. ESEE 4
5. Benchmade SOCP
6. KA-BAR TDI
7. Gerber StrongArm
8. Cold Steel Wild West Bowie

Reviews For The Best Fixed Blade Knife

Lets walk through each of our favorite fixed blade knives and explain why we like it.

SOG SEAL Pup Review

The SOG SEAL Pup, complete with its nylon sheath, is an absolute steal. Retailing at around 50 dollars, it is an outstanding option for a variety of tasks. This knife is a favorite for the E-1 through E-3 crowd, who really can’t afford anything else, and guess what? It works! The AUS-8 blade gets plenty sharp, and it stays sharp. For mid-tier knife steel, it’s tough to beat. 

The 4.75-inch blade isn’t too big and is capable of most work. A small portion of serration sits at the bottom of the knife to make it a more versatile cutter. The general blade shapes include a traditional clip point with a nice belly for deep cuts and an effective cutting edge. Together, these features form capable blades for duty, survival, and outdoor tasks.

They make the handle from GRN. This is a hard polymer material that features an aggressive grip texture to keep the knife stuck to your hand regardless of the conditions. The knife handle features slight finger grooves and a finger guard at the top to keep your hand protected and safe from the blade during rough work. 

The SEAL Pup isn’t a premium-grade knife, but for most users, it’s more than enough. It’s versatile, and at this price point, we get a simple sheath system that’s effective, although some might find it lacking in mounting options. For less than a hundred bucks, this is about as good as it gets. 

SOG SEAL Pup Pros and Cons

Morakniv Garberg Review

Morakniv is a heavily respected brand that comes from the nation of Sweden. They designed these simple knives for work, specifically bushcraft work. The Garberg is Morakniv’s response to the demand for a fixed blade, full tang knife. The blades come in both carbon steel and stainless steel configurations. Regardless of which model you choose, the Garberg uses premium blade metals for sharp, tough, and corrosion-resistant blades. 

The Morakniv Garberg uses a Scandi (or Scandinavian) grind, which is what sells it as a bushcraft knife. Many people think the grind geometry is perfect for working with wood and is handy for a wide variety of tasks. The blade tip ends in a versatile clip point and delivers a nice deep belly for cutting. They designed the back of the blade with a  squared spine, that makes it easy to baton wood and stroke flint fire starters. The blade can work with wood, clean game, and do nearly whatever in the woods task you might need to perform. 

They make the handle from a simple polymer with a round geometry. A round design prevents corners and helps prevent hotspots as the user works and really increases the comfort of the knife for heavy use. A downside is the lack of an aggressive texture, which can make it slip when your hands are wet. 

Another downside is the Sacandi grind is great when cutting and easy to sharpen, but it does take time to sharpen. Morakniv also includes a versatile multi-mount sheath system for mounting your knife anywhere you need it to be. 

Mora Garberg Pros and Cons

Shivworks Clinch Pick Review

In some cases, bigger is better for self-defense. However, for concealed carry, a long sword just won’t do. The Shivworks Clinch Pick was created with the goal of concealing it and giving you self-defense capabilities. Craig Douglas, the premier self-defense knife instructor, designed the blade and his experience shows through. Much like a gun, the best way to defend yourself is with excellent tools and good training. 

The Cling Pick offers a Sandvik 12C27 steel blade. These Swedish steel can get very sharp, which is nice if you have to fight someone. Also, just as important, the steel provides excellent corrosion resistance. This ensures that sweat from the body won’t build up a layer of rust when carried concealed. The steel provides good edge retention and a strong design. 

The Clinch Pick features G10 handles that provide an aggressive grip that locks the knife in place. You can establish a good grip for slashes, stabs, and beyond. The teardrop shape makes the knife easy to retain without the need for a massive grip. It’s rugged and easy to hang onto, which can be important in a fight. 

The Clinch Pick comes with a polymer sheath design for tight to the body and concealed carry. The retention is passive, and I can quickly and easily draw the knife when necessary. This knife can accomplish some basic EDC tasks, but it’s best used for concealed carry and self-defense. It’s not an incredibly versatile knife, but it excels in its niche. 

Shivworks Clinch Pick Pros and Cons

ESEE 4 Review

The ESEE 4 from ESEE Knives is designed specifically for survival and outdoor use. The guys at ESEE knives are the same guys behind Randall’s Adventure and Training. These guys know their stuff, and the ESEE 4 reflects that. It’s a simple, rugged, and sharp blade designed to be easy to use, versatile, and long-lasting. The knife is of moderate size and provides a great blade on the belt, the pack, or anywhere else. 

The ESEE 4 comes in either 1095 or 440C steels. 1095 is a classic knife steel that’s one of the best for field knives. It has a tough blade, holds a good edge, offers corrosion resistance, and is easy to sharpen and field serviceable. The 440C offers great edge retention and a tough design with excellent corrosion resistance, and the only real downside is how hard it is to sharpen. 

The ESEE 4 offers a 4.5-inch blade, and the overall length is 9 inches. The ESEE 4 series of knives are rugged and dependable. A carbon finish on the blade keeps the knife safe and protected. ESEE uses G10 to create very aggressive and capable handles for a non-slip grip. ESEE offers a number of sheath options, including hard polymer sheath and crafted leather sheath. The knives are fairly affordable as well. 

There are very few downsides, and the ESEE 4 is that it can be a little heavy. If you can get past that, you’ll have a very rugged and capable knife. 

ESEE 4 Pros and Cons

Benchmade SOCP Review

The Benchmade SOCP is a unique and somewhat niche blade. They designed this dagger-like knife to fit inside your plate carrier or body armor. When attacked by an opponent, the SOCP is designed to be drawn and used to create space and fend off an extremely close quarter threat. That created space allows you to engage with your main firearm. The SOCP can also be used to fend off a threat who is attempting to take your firearm. 

The SOCP offers a short blade that can be driven into a threat with ease and allows for deep and decisive cuts and thrusts when necessary. A dual-edged thin blade made from 440C makes the knife an excellent fighting tool, and as a whole, it is a rugged knife designed for a very specific purpose. The thin handle and retention ring allows the user to make a seamless transition to a firearm without dropping the knife. 

You can wear the SOCP on armor without much difficulty due to its small and thin size. The SOCP comes with a thin, minimalist sheath, and you can mount the sheath to your carrier, belt, or elsewhere. This includes IWB for concealed carry, although the knife is rather large and somewhat difficult to conceal comfortably. It’s also a rugged everyday carry (EDC) knife, but it doesn’t have much use outside its self-defense role. 

Benchmade SOCP Pros and Cons

KA-BAR TDI Review

The KA-BAR TDI is designed for police officers, duty belts, and weapon retention, while the SOCP might dominate for plate carrier use. The oddly shaped handle makes the knife easy and efficient to thrust, slash, and protect yourself with. While it’s designed for police use, it’s also a capable defensive concealed carry knife that’s budget-friendly. John Brenner of the Tactical Defensive Institute designed the knife as a last-ditch defensive weapon. 

The KA-BAR TDI is shaped somewhat like a gun. This shape makes it easy to stab with a punching motion. It’s simple, effective, and fairly easy to use in a pinch. They make the blade from AUS 8A steel, and it’s both rugged and extremely sharp. Someone can effectively use it with ease as a weapon and, overall, is not terrible for EDC purposes. The blade is 2.313 inches long and wide at 1.25 inches. 

They make the grip from a polymer called Zytel and is long enough to fill the hand. It’s easy to draw from the polymer sheath. The big metal clip secures it well over your belt and makes it easy to conceal. It’s also easy to attach to a duty belt and doesn’t take up much room. While unconventional in design, it’s a rugged and strong option for bladed self-defense and weapon retention. 

KA-BAR TDI Pros and Cons

Gerber Strongarm Review

If you want a simple but versatile knife that’s not expensive but suitable for duty, bushcraft, survival, and more, then the StrongArm is the knife for you. The Gerber StrongArm features a fairly moderate-sized blade a hair under five inches long. It leads to an interesting handle design, and it’s paired with a modular sheath system for multiple mounting options. 

The blade is as simple as it gets. It’s a 420 steel that’s rugged with excellent corrosion resistance. It’s tough and durable, and it’s very easy to sharpen and can be sharpened to an excellent edge. The major downside is that it might lose the edge fairly quickly. The blade shape of this knife is a drop point design with a moderate belly and a nice squared-off spine. 

The StrongArm features a rubber-coated handle that’s a diamond pattern for a sure grip. The grip retention is excellent and also very comfortable. They built a hand guard and pommel guard to keep your hand safe and on the knife. The pommel features a glass or skull-breaking hard point with a lanyard for increased retention.

It’s a solid little knife. It might not excel in any particular field, but it’s effective for a number of tasks and provides a handy knife for a wide variety of tasks. The multi-mount sheath allows you to wear it on MOLLE, on your belt, or even horizontally. The StrongArm is a solid option for anyone who needs a good knife and doesn’t want to break the bank.

Gerber Strongarm Pros and Cons

Cold Steel Wild West Bowie Knife Review

Knives like guns can have models that just fall into the fun category. The Cold Steel Wild West Bowie knife certainly falls into the just-for-fun category. It’s a huge knife, absolutely massive, patterned on Jim Bowie’s legendary design. The Bowie knife features a massive wide blade that’s incredibly heavy and sharpened to a fine edge. The Cold Steel Wild West Bowie is designed specifically to be a rugged and dependable knife. 

The blade on this knife is massive, spanning 10.75 inches and lending the knife a weighty feel at 23.1 ounces. It’s quite impressive in size. Fashioned from 1090 carbon steel, it may not be the hardest steel, but it sharpens easily and maintains a reliable edge. While it’s not the best at resisting corrosion, it suits the purpose well for a knife of this magnitude without inflating the price. Just picture it: opting for a steel like S30V would drive the cost through the roof.

A big handle made from wood manages the enormous blade. It’s huge and hand-filling. It’s tough and comfy for chopping and striking. The knife has a huge hand guard and a pommel stop. It’s simple but designed for the harsh tasks of a bowie knife. This thing is part axe, part knife, and all attitude. 

While the Wild West Bowie might be ridiculous, it’s fairly fun to chop through weeds and dealing with household chores. 

Cold Steel Wild West Bowie Knife Pros and Cons

Best Fixed Blade Knife – Buyers Guide

Let’s talk about fixed blade knives in depth. I mean, really dive into these things and discuss what you should know about fixed blades. I chose these knives based on these qualities and factors. 

Factors To Consider When Buying a Fixed Blade Knife

There are a few factors I think fixed blade knives have to have. These are the core needs; everything else could be considered secondary. Obviously, that doesn’t mean other considerations are not important. However, here are the core considerations.

Purpose: Before you start shopping, identify what exactly you need from the knife and how you want to use it. You need to understand the knife’s purpose and let that guide your selection. A KA-BAR makes a great fighting knife, but good luck carrying that daily. A mini dagger is a solid little knife, but if you are in the woods, it might not be the best choice when it’s time to skin game, cut brush, and baton wood.  So, focus on the task you need to accomplish with a fixed blade knife and keep that on your mind as you begin shopping.

Full Tang: A full tang means the blade and handle are one piece of steel. Sure, the handle might have a degree of material wrapped around it, but the handle and blade are one piece of steel. One piece of steel makes the knife incredibly durable. Anything less might fall apart. 

A Good Sheath: A sheath is your knife’s holster. It protects the blade and allows you to carry the knife easily in a variety of environments. The knife should fit the sheath well and should offer some form of retention. You don’t want a loose, sloppy sheath that doesn’t keep the knife in place. Also, examine how you want to carry the nice and see if the sheath allows for that method of carry. 

Good Steel: You also want a good steel. There are a variety of premium-grade steels that are always excellent, but mid-tier steels can also check the box rather well without breaking the bank. Depending on how you use the knife, you might prioritize different factors. A good survival knife should be tough, a knife being used for fishing should be corrosion resistant, etc. There are great steels out there, but they all have strengths and weaknesses. Tailor your steel choice for your use case.

Conclusion

We’ve got a world full of great fixed blade knives, offering so many options to pick from. My goal with this guide was to help you sort through these choices and narrow down what works best for you.

Just remember, the best fixed blade knife isn’t always the fanciest or the most popular one—it’s the one that suits your needs and preferences the best. Whether you’re someone who loves the outdoors, a law enforcement officer, or just someone who wants a reliable knife, there’s one out there for you.

So, take your time, consider your options, and make an informed decision. After all, a good knife is an investment—one that, with proper care, can serve you well for many years to come.

Best Fixed Blade Knife – FAQs

How do you determine the appropriate blade length for a fixed blade knife?

The appropriate blade length for a fixed blade knife depends on your intended use and personal preference. Generally, shorter blades are more suitable for precision tasks and everyday carry (EDC), while longer blades are better suited for heavy-duty tasks like chopping and bushcraft. Consider factors such as ergonomics, portability, and legal restrictions when selecting a blade length.

How should I store a fixed blade knife when not in use?

To prolong the life of a fixed blade knife, store it in a dry and well-ventilated location away from moisture and extreme temperatures. Ideally, use a protective sheath or blade cover to prevent damage to the blade and handle. Avoid storing knives in direct sunlight or damp environments, as prolonged exposure can lead to corrosion and deterioration.

Are fixed blade knives legal to carry?

Laws regarding the carrying of fixed blade knives vary depending on your location and local regulations. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the laws in your area regarding knife possession, concealed carry, and blade length restrictions to avoid any legal issues.

Can fixed blade knives be customized or modified?

You can customize fixed blade knives to fit your style and needs. Simple changes like choosing different handle materials or blade finishes, adding custom engravings, or tweaking the sheath design can make your knife feel unique. Many folks enjoy giving their fixed blade knives a personal touch, making them stand out as one-of-a-kind tools or collector’s items. Just remember, while it’s fun to customize, make sure any changes you make don’t compromise the knife’s safety or how well it works for you.