A good EDC knife often can cost a decent amount of money, but it is well worth it in the long run. Since it will be well-built, it will last a long time. In this case, I am the individual who does all the necessary research so that you can get the best out of the best knife. Here I have reviewed some of the high-end folding knives under $300 that you can buy online.
What Are the Best Pocket Knives Under $300?
- Zero Tolerance Sinkevich Pocket Knife 0452CF
- Benchmade 940-1 Osborne Manual Opening EDC Knife
- Benchmade Crooked River Hunting Folding Knife
- Cold Steel Espada Series Extra Large Folding Knife
- Zero Tolerance Hinderer Slicer Pocket Knife
- Spyderco Spydiechef Premium Chef EDC Knife
Review of the 6 Best Folding Knives Under $300
1. Zero Tolerance Sinkevich Pocket Knife 0452CF
The Zero Tolerance Sinkevich EDC Knife is an ideal gift for military personnel, law enforcement officers, first responders, business professionals, hunters, and wilderness or survival experts. It features a high-quality S35VN stainless steel blade, which is up to five times harder than standard stainless steel.
Blade: The non-reflective dual-finished (satin and stonewashed) blade offers excellent edge retention and resistance to chipping. With a 0.156″ thick, upward-pointed blade, it’s well-suited for tasks such as stabbing, slicing, piercing, and push cutting.
Handle: The knife’s durability is matched by its handle, which is crafted from carbon fiber on the front and titanium on the back. These premium materials contribute to a sturdy handle and support a reliable frame lock mechanism.
Opening: One of the standout features is the KVT ball-bearing system, which allows for smooth and quick blade deployment without the need for an assisted mechanism.
Pocket Clip: Weighing just 4.6 oz, this best tactical assisted opening knife offers convenient carry options with a reversible tip-up or tip-down pocket clip.
Pros
- The blade is made of super quality steel
- Out of the box, the blade was scalpel sharp
- Dual-finished blade
- One-handed deployment
- US-made tactical folding pocket knife
- Lanyard hole for convenience
Cons
- Hard to re-sharpen
- As an EDC, 9.27″ is very large in size
2. Benchmade 940-1 Osborne Manual Opening EDC Knife
The Benchmade 940-1 Osborne is an upgraded version of the standard 940 series. With an open length of 7.87″ and a closed length of 4.47″, it’s an ideal tool for backpackers, hikers, survivalists, campers, law enforcement officers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Blade: It features a 3.40″ long, 0.115″ thick reverse tanto blade crafted from high-end CPM-S90V stainless steel (HRC 58–60). The satin-finished blade offers exceptional edge retention and excellent corrosion resistance. Its versatile edge delivers outstanding performance for both piercing and slicing tasks.
Handle: The handle is made from ultralight black carbon fiber scales with inset steel liners, providing a comfortable and secure grip. It’s also highly durable, moisture-resistant, and stable under extreme temperatures. A textured surface ensures a slip-resistant hold.
Mechanism: This manual-opening pocket knife includes a well-engineered, fully ambidextrous AXIS lock, allowing for smooth one-handed opening and closing.
Pocket Clip: The Benchmade 940-1 Osborne also features a reversible deep-carry pocket clip, designed for both right- and left-handed users with a tip-up carry position only.
Check out its reverse tanto serrated pocket knife version: Benchmade – 940-1 Serrated
Pros
- A featherweight (2.44 oz) pocket knife
- CPM-S90V super-steel blade
- Has a lifetime warranty
- Benchmade Lifesharp service
- Knife made in the United States
Cons
- Difficult to re-sharpen
3. Benchmade Crooked River Hunting Folding Knife
If you need a full-size folding knife for camping, hiking, bushcraft, or big game hunting then the Benchmade – Crooked River EDC Knife is a great option. It features a 4″ long clip point blade that is plain edged and manufactured from
American-made CPM-S30V high-end steel (HRC: 58-60) with a scratch-resistant satin finish. The steel is regarded as the “best knife steel available” by Buck Knives, as it is not only superior in terms of edge retention but also resists corrosion.
The handle is made of stabilized wood and has an anodized aluminum bolster with stainless steel liners. The handle also has an orange color G-10 backspacer, shining aluminum pivot ring, and a reversible black finish pocket clip; however, it’s not a deep carry one.
This pocket knife under $300 is designed with Benchmade’s popular axis locking system. The locking mechanism is very smooth that helps to open, disengage, and close the blade with one hand. The 5.41 ounces folding knife has a 9.30″ length when it is fully open.
Pros
- One-handed deployment
- Premium CPM-S30V steel blade
- Includes a lanyard hole
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Proudly made in the USA
Cons
- 9.30″ long, very large size
4. Cold Steel Espada Series Extra Large Folding Knife
If you need a large, muscular, sharp, and high-quality folding knife then Cold Steel Espada is that. The clip point blade of this knife is constructed with American-made premium S35VN alloy steel (58-61 HRC). The steel is vacuum heat treated in preparation for construction. The blade has a satin finish that resists rust.
The plain edge blade and shining coating make it super lubricant, which makes this blade durable as well as helps to penetrate tough materials without creating any scratches on the blade. This huge 7.5″ blade will help you to cut anything far longer and deeper than the regular-size blade.
The 9.25″ curved handle comes with polished glossy black G-10 scales which have ergonomic finger grooves for a firm hold and a sub-hilt for a forward or reverse grip. The mirror-polished 7075 aluminum bolsters are attached to the handle scales.
Cold Steel Espada features a thumb plate for easy opening and a Tri-Ad locking mechanism. This folding knife under $300 also has a stainless steel strong pocket clip for easy mobility.
Pros
- Highest-quality heat-treated steel
- Super-fine cutting edge
- Solid grip for finger grooves
- Single-handed blade deployment
- Limited manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- Non-reversible pocket clip
- Weight 16 oz, closed length 9.25″ and overall length 16.75″
- Extremely large size folding knife
5. Zero Tolerance Hinderer Slicer Pocket Knife
If you are looking for the best EDC knife under $300 then Zero Tolerance Hinderer will suit you perfectly. Its open length is 8.25″, weight is 5.5oz, and becomes only 4.8″ when it is closed. Its durable CPM-20CV stainless steel (59–61 HRC) blade comes razor-sharp and all above holds a very nice edge for a long time.
The knife also features a state-of-the-art stonewashed and satin-finished blade that increases the resistance from scratch and corrosion. This plain edge blade comes with a drop point shape which may seem quite different and updated than an ordinary clip point shape.
The 3.5″ flat-ground blade has a thickness is only 0.16″ which ensures perfect slicing, skinning, and cutting active materials such as thick plastic or rubber or boxes so quickly. I’m also quite impressed by the craftsmanship of the handle; the manufacturer uses a black carbon fiber front scale and stonewashed titanium back.
This USA-made pocket knife comes with an ambidextrous KVT Ball-Bearing opening system which provides the easy one-handed opening capability. As the manufacturer attaches a reversible, tip-up carry pocket clip for both left/right-handed positions. All these charismatics have made it one of the best Zero Tolerance EDC knives for self-defense, survival tools, or tactical use.
Pros
- Ultra-premium stainless steel blade
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Titanium frame lock mechanism
- All-purpose EDC knife
Cons
- A 5.5 oz folding knife seems bulky to me
6. Spyderco Spydiechef Premium Chef EDC Knife
Spyderco Spydiechef is another best high-end EDC knives under $300 that comes with an innovative design and top-notch components. Ultra-corrosion-resistant LC200N steel blade has a full flat grind, a satin finish, and a length of 3.32″.
The Sheepsfoot shaped blade is 0.11″ thick and consists of a plain edge – which allows nonstop cutting advantage in any extreme condition. A 0.47″ round hole on the blade is in the right position to put your thumb on and open the blade with one hand.
The handle is made of lightweight titanium scales and an open-backed handle structure makes it easy to clean. Spyderco Spydiechef features a Reeve Integral Lock (R.I.L.) mechanism.
With an overall length of 7.78″ and a folded length of 4.46″, this pocket knife weighs only 3.8 oz and feels seamlessly lightweight for everyday carry. With the tip-up accessibility and ambidextrous reversible wire clip, I can carry it on both hands.
Pros
- Innovative craftsmanship for extreme user
- NASA uses such type of blade alloy
- Open-backed design for easy cleaning
- Solid handle material
- Limited lifetime warranty by the manufacturer
- A lined lanyard hole
Cons
- Made in Taiwan
- Yeah, I found nothing.
Final Verdict
If you want a knife that fits your style then without thinking twice, you can go with any of my recommended EDC knives. So, wear your pocket knife with pride because our knife says a lot about who we are and what we have done.