The 12 Best Wood-Handled Pocket Knives

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These days, carrying a pocket knife comes with some caveats, like remembering to leave it at home when you’re attending sporting events or concerts or heading off to the airport. 

However, these portable blades are no less useful than they were before the days of the TSA. Adding a wood-handled beauty to your EDC essentials is sure to come in handy, whether you’re cutting paracord or slicing up a snack. 

Here are a few of the best options for guys in need of an everyday blade that’s a cut above ordinary. 

The James Brand The Pike

The James Brand The Pike

The tagline for The Pike? Not your grandfather’s pocket knife. That doesn’t mean it lacks snappy style or functionality, though. 

The combination stainless steel and rosewood frame is rich, yet sleek, but the real treasure hides inside these lovely scales. The Pike features a 2.3-inch blade (creating 5.7-inch open length) with an aggressive, Wharncliffe shape, a slip joint lock, and the option for ambidextrous use. You can also opt for a trippy, Damascus blade, if that’s more your speed. 

Case Knives Black Sycamore Wood Smooth Copperhead

Case Knives Black Sycamore Wood Smooth Copperhead

For practical purposes, a clip blade style is among the most versatile, thanks to a rounded cutting edge, a sharp, pointed tip for piercing, and a thick back so you can apply some pressure without splitting your thumb on the spine. 

The 3.05-inch stainless blade is ideal for nearly any small-scale cutting need and the non-locking slip joint makes for quick and easy opening and closing. You’ll also like the unique and eye-catching black sycamore scales, featuring undulating patterns in black and brown. 

Titan International Walnut & Torched Bone Damascus Pocket Knife

Titan International Walnut & Torched Bone Damascus Pocket Knife

The knife a man carries says something about his personality and purpose. What will this Titan blade say about its bearer? Let’s start with the polished handle in rich walnut, bisected by a piece of bone that has, yes, been torched, resulting in a rusty char. It’s impressive, to say the least. 

Then there’s the 3.5-inch clip blade in twisted Damascus steel, with whorls that look like a mesmerizing, topographical map. The lockback closure offers safe handling. All in all, this knife speaks to a certain amount of wisdom, maturity, and well-developed style. 

Benchmade 15085-2 Mini Crooked River Knife

Benchmade 15085-2 Mini Crooked River Knife

This simple EDC knife is aptly described as “brown”—after all, do you really need to know what kind of wood houses your knife blade? It’s wood…‘nuff said. 

Instead, place your focus squarely on the straight edge, stainless steel, 3.4-inch clip blade, along with the handy features every user will appreciate. There’s the manual AXIS lock folding mechanism, one-handed opening, and reversible tip-up black oxide split arrow pocket clip, all perfectly crafted for convenience. 

There’s also an anodized aluminum pivot ring in orange (along with the backspacer) to add a bit of personality. 

The James Brand The Duval

The James Brand Duval Knife

This cleaver-like blade (a modified sheepsfoot style) in rosewood and stainless steel is a beauty to behold. It’s blunt and offers an alternative to the pointed tip of most pocket knives. 

Not every consumer is looking for the same blade, and styles like this have been trending in the EDC community for the past few years. 

Unlike some pocket knives, this one is useful for chopping chores, making it a handy addition to many a camping trip. The Duval is a front-flipper with a frame lock, so you’re less likely to accidentally get stabby or slice yourself during use. It’s also designed for ambidextrous use. 

SOG Knives Twitch II Knife

SOG Knives Twitch II Knife

The company that was built to recreate a special ops combat knife knows a thing or two about creating blades that get the job done, so to speak. This wicked-looking, drop-point sharpie is no exception. 

Although the blade itself is only 2.65 inches, it’s packed with the power of stainless steel and a straight-edge design that’s ideal for slicing, not to mention a tip designed for spearing. 

The kick on the back makes for quick and easy open with either hand and the lockback mechanism keeps your blade firmly extended during use. The rosewood handle lends traditional appeal, open or closed. 

WESN The Henry

WESN The Henry

The deep, rich grain of cherry wood sets expectations for this gorgeous, streamlined pocket knife, featuring a classic, drop point blade in high-quality, Sandvik 14c28n stainless steel. The 2.35-inch blade is perfect for slicing or paring, and the classic slip-joint mechanism is easy to open. It stays open during use and closes without hassle (no lock to fuss with). 

Named for a beloved grandfather (or morfar, in Swedish), this knife is an embodiment of the value of roots and classic design. It’s one to keep for life

Santa Fe Stoneworks Damascus Collection Spalted Beech Knife

Santa Fe Stoneworks Damascus Collection Spalted Beech Knife

Looking at this blade is sort of like looking at a shark (and not just because of the coral stripes on the spalted beech handle that are reminiscent of a diving flag). 

The whole design is long, lean, and dangerous, from the pointed tip of the three-inch leaf shape blade in Sanmai Damascus steel to the pointed pommel that mimics the open blade. 

If you want a knife with a hint of the exotic, this beauty featuring responsibly harvested beech from Denmark is just the ticket. 

Helle Norway Kletten Kebony

Helle Norway Kletten Kebony

First impression: This squat knife looks to be a real workhorse, rather than a nimble beauty. The robust construction and curved handle shape are sure to offer a solid grip, and the drop point blade, just a skosh over two inches, is nonetheless formidable, thanks to triple-laminated Helle stainless steel with a classic Scandinavian grind. 

The kebony scales speak to Helle’s commitment to sustainable production, and the fitting Kletten name comes from the rugged hills near Helle’s Holmedal factory in Norway. 

Case Knives Case x WOODCHUCK USA Lockback

Case Knives Case x WOODCHUCK USA Lockback

In design, form follows function. When it comes to pocket knives, the form often seems like an afterthought, if there’s any added beauty to the design at all. 

Not so with this lockback style, which features a 2.2-inch, stainless steel drop point blade, along with stainless steel scales inlaid with wood that have been laser engraved to feature a range of attractive patterns (triangle, line artwork, giraffe, camo, or U.S. flag). 

The partnership with Woodchuck, USA, also means a tree is planted for every product sold. 

Barebones Single Blade Folding Pocket Knife

Barebones Single Blade Folding Pocket Knife

It’s hard to imagine a more traditional look for a pocket knife than this utilitarian model. It starts with a four-inch drop-point blade in 50CrMoV15 German-grade stainless steel and moves right along to the boxy, rectangular handle, featuring unnamed wood and brass accents (pins, bolster, and pommel).

A simple lockback design rounds out the roster of features. It’s a basic knife meant for cutting, slicing, scraping, and other at-home or in-the-field uses. If you’re looking for function and classic design, you really can’t go wrong with this one. 

Opinel No. 8 Pocket Knife 

Opinel No. 8 Pocket Knife 

If you prefer a rounded handle, as opposed to a more rectangular design, Opinel offers a comfortable grip in richly-grained oak. 

Where does the black come in? That would be the three-inch, corrosion-resistant blade with matte black coating. In short, this French-made pocket knife looks pretty cool. Functionally speaking, you’re sure to appreciate the turning lock mechanism that holds the blade firm, open or closed. 

Niwaki Moku Folding Knife

Niwaki Moku Folding Knife

As pocket knives go, this one is a bit weirder than the average bear. The blade shape is something like a Wharncliffe, but with an angled, beveled blade that seems like it would offer extra leverage when drawing the blade toward the body while cutting. 

The plywood handle also seems like a strange, if cost-effective choice. With that being said, there’s no arguing with the ultra-sharp, Aogami Blue Paper steel of the blade, which can snicker-snack through everything from paper to paracord and more.

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