In the search for rugged and dependable pocket knives, Kershaw is a name that will come up time and time again. Makers of pocket knives that often straddle the line between traditional designs and more modern profiles and components, Kershaw pocket knives are the perfect balance of form and function, widely respected for their sturdy construction and capability in application. Carrying a Kershaw pocket knife offers the bearer a multitude of benefits, ranging from no longer struggling to open boxes and packages to being able to carve spits for roasting food on a fire during a camping trip.

In between these two, you will find that being within easy reach of a pocket knife will solve so many little problems for you during the average day that soon you will be wondering how you ever got by without these universal tools in your pocket before. Now, every style of blade has benefits and drawbacks, and while one may certainly build a respectable collection of pocket knives, one similarly has to take a few considerations when deciding which knife is best suited to the tasks of everyday carry or the purposes associated with it.

When you shop for a Kershaw pocket knife, the first thing you need to figure out is what you intend to use the knife for. Three of the most commonly encountered purposes are for hunting, general utility, and everyday carry.

A pocket knife intended to be carried for the purposes of hunting should ideally be a backup, the side blade to a hip knife. Nonetheless, a pocket knife intended for hunting should possess the same qualities that render a fixed blade useful. It should have a very sturdy locking mechanism, such as a lockback, should have a strong spine, and have scales that are solid and preferably resist abrasion damage. The scales should also provide good traction when wet as this is bound to happen eventually whether as a result of environmental conditions or from fluids encountered cleaning game. While a clipped point can be useful for the tight quarters encountered cleaning birds and small game, for gutting and skinning a drop point is nearly essential. Excellent Kershaw pocket knife choices for hunting include the Blur S30V, Manifold Blackwash, and the Kershaw Thistle which have beneficial profiles for hunting applications and they have the added bonus of enabling the user to open easily with one hand.

For general utility, what you’re looking for in a Kershaw pocket knife may vary considerably, considering the terms of utility vary with the intended application. If you’re looking for a knife to carry on a boat, a short, stout blade will be useful for cutting through and separating lines as well as for prying. If you are carrying a knife for utility in a shop, you might need a thin point or blade for carving or punching holes, or you might find that you need a thick blade to use as a chisel in planing or shaping. You’ll definitely want a knife that is comfortable in the hand because as a utility knife you will probably spend long periods working with it and ergonomics become significant at that point. Otherwise, it is up to you to determine what obstacles you will encounter that you wish the blade to solve and to go from there. Good Kershaw knife choices for utility include the Showtime, Emerson, CQC-11K Emerson Wave for their ergonomic design and features and the Ember, which though small is durable and capable of multiple utilitarian tasks.

If you intend to add a Kershaw pocket knife to your repertoire for everyday carry, the terms are even more nebulous, as you will find that the chores you encounter are too broad to classify. This is where a knife will shine as an all-purpose tool. The only attributes you would want to avoid in a knife for everyday carry are those that are too narrowly specialized to a specific set of tasks. For example, you might find little advantage in carrying a folding filet knife for everyday carry. While a filet knife can still be employed to many ends, it will not be well suited to certain tasks. You’ll find that a short blade with a strong point, with strong scales. Lightness is something you might esteem highly, and you might also find that a blade that offers a combined serrated and straight edge will be well adaptable to tackle many challenges. Excellent choices for everyday carry include the Kershaw Leek, Duojet, and Reverb. Although diminutive, the Sinkevich pub pocket knife gets points for the thoughtful inclusion of a bottle opener.

Whether you’ve decided to add a Kershaw pocket knife to your collection for the purposes of hunting, utility, EDC or some other specialized task, the blades from Kershaw are well renowned for their quality and reliability and will serve you well. For the options listed herein and many others, you can visit WhiteMountainKnives.com. There you will find not only an excellent selection of Kershaw pocket knives but you will be impressed by the prices and best of all White Mountain Knives offers free shipping in the United States. Hit their website to check out these and other offerings from Kershaw today.