10 EDC Knives Under $25
Updated 8/10/2021 by Jake Broce
Jake picks 10 solid under $25 budget EDC knives. These knives are from a variety of brands, which are listed alphabetically below.
Note: prices may be subject to change. Check the product page for current pricing.
Note #2: These knives won't have many Cons - as they are generally the best in this category.
A.G. Russell Ultimate Pen Knife - Titanium
Price: $24.95
This knife is always on my keychain so that even if I forget my main pocket knife, I always have a backup one on me.
Pros
- Titanium handle making it strong but very lightweight
- Extremely small profile making it easily portable. Excellent keychain sized knife
- Sharp VG-10 Stainless Japanese steel - best steel quality in this price category
Cons
- The extremely small size limits its uses
Last year's pick: A.G. Russell Simple 3" Lockback. Great lightweight pocketknife with no pocket clip. I use it when I'm in gym shorts (as well as my desk knife and junk drawer knife).
Buck Nobleman
Price: $24.95
Solid little knife with a nice smooth metal handle. Great action on the blade and lock make it fun to fidget with, flicking out quickly with a little practice.
Pros
- Sturdy all metal construction
- Flicks open quickly - fairly fidgetable
- Hollow grind that comes to a nice thin edge makes it a very sharp knife
- Solid lockup with a frame lock
Cons
- Metal handle can be a little slick - doesn't bother me but it might others
- Tip-down non-reversible pocket clip - not good for lefties
Buck Slim Select
Price: $24.95
Thoughts - I really like the weight, feel, and thumbstud. Personally I prefer flatgrinds (this one is a sabre grind), but you can't abandon the iconic blade of the classic Buck 110.
Pros
- Strong blade with Buck's 420HC stainless steel
- Reversible deep pocket clip
- Lightweight knife with strong lock
- Larger size available, as well as the higher grade S30V steel available (higher grade steel goes above $25 cap)
- USA Made
Cons
- Can't easily close a lockback with one hand
Buck Trunk Knife
An interesting folding cleaver style knife with G-10 handle scales and steel liners. The blade is a 7Cr stainless steel at 55-56 Rc, which is a bit on the soft side, but a little maintenance or stropping should keep sharp. The flipper is too short for an easy flick, but with a little wrist and lubricate it pops right open. I've handled several and they do need a little lubricant right out of the box, but after that with some working in they operate smoothly.
Pros
- Interesting blade with hollow grind
- Deep tip up pocket clip with sunk in screws
- Sturdy construction with a good liner lock and steel liners
Cons
- Flipper is a little short / detent a little weak. Requires some wrist to flip open. The thumbstud is okay, but not amazing
- Clip is right hand only, not for lefties
CRKT Squid Stainless Steel with Holes
Price: $22.95
The Squid is one of the more recent knife designs that has taken the knife EDC community by storm, and there have been quite a few variations. This one has some holes machined into the handle to lighten it up a little. It's a great little EDC knife, not very imposing. For my larger hands it isn't easy to flick open quickly, but it does deploy smoothly. A slightly thicker then usual blade makes the Squid an excellent choice for those who want a smaller but very sturdy EDC knife.
Pros
- Small but very stout framelock folding knife
- Nice drop point blade with a strong tip
- Deep pocket clip
Cons
- A little heavy (which is the cost of feeling sturdy)
- Clip is not reversible
Kabar Dozier Folding Hunter
Price: $18.95 - $21.95
Easily one of the best budget-buys out there. I know business owners who gift these to employees every year. I know Hunters who use these on every hunt. And I know guys who use this as their main EDC work knife who always keep 2-3 as backups and come get a new one everytime he loses one. You know it's a great knife when the user is always buying the same model. Another great indication of a good knife is when it has a lot of variations (indicates it's very popular). I own the D2 version myself.
Pros
- Sturdy drop point blade of Japanese AUS-8 Stainless steel. Hollow sabre grind improves slicing
- Multiple colors, sizes, and blade shapes available. An upgraded D2 carbon steel version is now available (currently $32.95)
- Midlock which can be closed one-handed
- Clip and thumbstud are reversible
- Strong Tip
Cons
- Only one screw holding the clip in place
Kershaw Reverb
Price: $24.95
A unique, very lightweight knife great for hiking. It has no thumbstud to reduce snagging, and has a nice built in carabineer clip to easily clip to a backpack or belt loop. Definitely designed for lightweight duties, you won't be carving any walking sticks with this. Still - the Reverb should handle most normal hiking tasks for you.
Pros
- Super lightweight and thin
- Unique design with a carabineer clip
- Nice flat grind, with a little ridge to let you open the blade one-handed
- Deep pocket clip
Cons
- The framelock is a little thin, as is the entire knife itself. Light duty knife
- Pocket clip is not reversible for lefthanders
Kershaw Shuffle
Price: $21.95
The Kershaw Shuffle is another knife I find myself recommending a lot. It's short, sturdy, lightweight, and the prybar allows it to take some more abuse. Definitely made for that friend who can't stop prying with his blade tip, the Shuffle makes for a great gift for the guys who are hard on their knives. The short sturdy blade category usually comes to a choice between the Kershaw Shuffle and the CRKT Squid (mentioned above).
Pros
- Slim, short design, but fairly wide so it will help fill the hand
- Integrated flathead / prybar / bottle opener
- Unique looking design
- Hollow ground tanto style blade with interesting grind lines and highlighted with the blackwash finish
- Strong tip
- Reversible clip - tip down
Cons
- Honestly - nothing really comes to mind
Outdoor Edge Chasm
Price: $14.95 - $17.95
Pros
- Lightweight, very grippy rubberized handle
- A few different colors and sizes
- Hollow ground blade with 8Cr13MoV
Cons
- Closing lockbacks one-handed is difficult
- Clip is not reversible
Swiss Army Tinker
Price: $23.99
Super useful tool set, having some screwdrivers and Phillips on you is really handy.
Pros
- Lots of tools (Philips #2, Two Flatheads/bottle/can opener, Punch, tweezers, toothpick, main blade plus pen blade)
- Can go on your keychain
- Very pocket friendly. Even floating in the pocket its rounded shape makes it much less annoying as a floater than other knives are
- Very socially acceptable in almost any setting
Cons
- No lock or pocket clip
Updated 8/10/21 by Jake Broce.
Other Price Cateogory Buyer Guides:
For Budget EDC Knife Picks Under $50, check out this article
Premium Knives $100+ (not made yet)