The Best Tactical Fixed Blade Knives

When life hands you lemons, you might as well have a badass and practical blade to slice them up! Are you catching our drift? Perfect for those moments when you need a knife that says, "I'm here to cut, but also, let's have some fun with it." Whether you're gearing up for the zombie apocalypse, a deployment overseas, or just need a great fixed blade knife to open your favorite MRE, these knives are the James Bonds of the blade world – practical, stylish, and always ready for action.

Toor Knives specializes in tactical fixed blade knives, with multiple deployments from our staff, and knowledge from industry experts, the tactical world is in our DNA. Below we go over our best tactical fixed blade knives and share some insight where you can better understand what makes a great tactical knife...and also a good MRE opener.

BEST OVERALL: Serpent

BEST FOR BUDGET: Jank Shank

BEST FOR COMBAT: Darter

AXE/BREACHING: F13 Tommy

BEST FOLDING KNIFE: XT1

Considerations when choosing the best tactical fixed blade knives.

1. Size Matters (Sometimes): Consider the size of the knife based on your intended use. A compact blade might be perfect for everyday carry, while a larger one could be your go-to for multi-use. Just remember, you're picking a knife, not a pet, so choose a size that fits your needs.
2. Material: Check out the blade material. Stainless steel is like the reliable friend who never lets you down, while high-carbon steel is that edgy buddy who might require a bit more maintenance but brings a lot of character to the table. Choose the material that aligns with your personality – or, you know, your cutting needs.
3. Grip It and Rip It: The handle should feel like a handshake – comfortable and secure. Whether you prefer a textured grip for that extra oomph or a sleek design for a touch of class, make sure it feels right in your hand. You wouldn't want your knife slipping away just when you need it most.
4. Sheaths: Don't forget about the sheath – it's like the knife's wardrobe. A good sheath keeps your blade safe and accessible. Whether you opt for a tactical Kydex sheath (our recommendation for tactical fixed blades) or a classic leather one, make sure it complements your style and application.
5. Purposeful Pointers: Consider the blade's point. A tanto point for piercing, a drop point for versatility. Think about your typical cutting tasks and choose a point that suits your slicing style.
6. Maintenance: Are you a sharpening pro or a blade novice? Some blades require more maintenance than others. If you're not into spending hours honing your knife skills, opt for a blade that holds its edge well, so you can spend more time being a cutting-edge expert and less time fumbling with a sharpening tool.

Best Overall: Serpent

For those seeking a compact and efficient blade that won't hog precious space in your gear or your belt line, the Serpent is the knife you've been waiting for. With its slimline FlexTech sheath, it minimizes the footprint in your loadout, ensuring you're always ready for action. The Serpent boasts a user-friendly 1.125" ring for quick, hassle-free draws, whether you're gloved up or not.

What sets this blade apart is its Tanto grind, featuring two razor-sharp straight edges. At a thickness of 0.1875", it strikes the perfect balance between being a reliable prying tool and a versatile slicer, making it an invaluable asset for any mission.

The Serpent's handle is where form meets function. Our signature Diamondback textured grip ensures a secure hold, even in wet conditions, without compromising on comfort. Its sleek contours provide maximum concealment against the body, ensuring a low profile when you need it most.

Crafted from CPM3V steel with a durable Black Oxide finish, the Serpent is built to withstand the harshest elements, with minimal risk of corrosion. You can choose between a textured G10 or Ebony handle, tailored to your preferences and mission requirements.

Every Serpent is proudly made in the USA, embodying the quality and craftsmanship you can rely on. It comes complete with a FlexTech KYDEX® sheath, offering easy retention adjustability and multiple friction offsets to eliminate any blade rattle. When you carry the Serpent, you're equipped with a tool that's as dependable as it is versatile.

Best for Budget: Jank Shank

The Jank Shank frame is designed to perfectly complement the latest textured scale while retaining its 0.1875" steel width. This advancement, while adding a bit of weight compared to the previous skeletonized version (from 2.4 oz to 3.6 oz), is a game-changer for those who demand peak performance in challenging situations. The new patterned scales offer an enhanced grip, making the Jank Shank your go-to EDC knife for self defense and many other use cases..

This American-made marvel is not just any knife; it's an improved masterpiece crafted for versatility and durability. Whether you're in the great outdoors or facing urban challenges, the Enhanced Jank Shank is up to the task.

Every Enhanced Jank Shank comes with a low-profile FlexTech KYDEX® sheath, expertly designed to accommodate any of our five mounts. It's the perfect companion for your adventures, ensuring you have a reliable tool by your side, no matter where your journey takes you.

Best for Combat: Darter

This remarkable creation is the result of combining Travis Haley at Haley Strategic Partners' wealth of tactical expertise with Toor's exceptional bladesmithing skills. The Darter boasts a distinctive feature – reverse serrations along the spine. These serrations provide a sharp and effective means of utilizing the back of the blade in combat and self defense situations, all while sidestepping the limitations of a double-edged design.

Crafted from the robust CPM S35VN steel and heat-treated to a hardness of approximately 60 Rockwell, the Darter is more than capable of handling a wide range of tasks. The latest iteration of this knife comes equipped with a Black G10 handle and striking Red liners, featuring a texture reminiscent of the Darter Dragonfly's wing pattern. This not only adds a unique touch but also ensures a reliable grip, even in wet conditions.

Thanks to its midsize design, the Darter can be easily secured to your gear without consuming too much space. Each blade includes a Black Toor Knives FlexTech KYDEX® sheath with a retention adjustability screw and friction offset, minimizing any blade rattle within the sheath. The package also includes mounting hardware and an UltiClip Slim 3.3 mount. To complete the Darter package, a laser-cut loop is included, thoughtfully designed to securely integrate your sheath with your gear.

In addition to these features, the Darter boasts a retention lanyard hole, thumb jimping along the spine and butt end of the blade, stainless steel torx handle screws, and a sleek Black KG Gunkote spray finish. Not to be forgotten, both companies' logos are laser-engraved onto the blade. Each Darter is uniquely marked with an individual serial number, making it a genuine piece of history from this iconic partnership.

These knives are not just tools for warriors; they are also works of art and highly sought-after collectibles.

Best Axe/Breaching Tool: F13 Tommy

The F13 Tommy, a strategic axe that pays homage to the legendary "Filthy Thirteen" from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Drawing inspiration from traditional Native American Tomahawks, this axe has undergone a modern tactical makeover to meet the requirements of contemporary operations. The 90-degree point at the axe head sets the stage for an outstanding breaching tool, and the extended spike at the rear end offers a generous striking surface and finger clearance. With a handle length of 7.0", the F13 Tommy facilitates a robust two-handed grip, providing enhanced swinging power. The robust G10 handles boast a geometric texture that ensures a secure hold even in interesting conditions.

For performance, the F13 Tommy is coated with a corrosion-resistant Black Oxide finish. This protective coating not only boosts durability but also lends it a sleek and tactical appearance. The axe comes with a precision molded KYDEX® sheath and retention cord for convenient storage and quick access. Compact in size, measuring 9.0" in total length and weighing only 1.1 lbs, the F13 Tommy offers exceptional portability, making it a pragmatic addition to your gear. Whether it's mounted to your jump rig like the valiant Filthy 13 or securely stowed away, you can rely on its steadfastness in any situation.

This purpose-built tactical axe is designed to withstand the challenges of demanding missions, ensuring steadfast performance when it's needed most. Embrace the legacy of the Filthy Thirteen, a great tactical tool to add to your arsenal.

Best Folding Knife: XT1

The XT1 is a full-size frame lock folding knife designed to meet the demands of tactical and self defense scenarios. To achieve this, both the blade and handle had to break away from conventional standards in the market. They needed to be larger and more robust, especially to handle heavy-duty tasks like chopping and prying.

To address these challenges, the team incorporated a hardened steel lockbar insert with an overtravel stop in the XT1. This innovative feature minimizes wear and tear on the blade lock interface, ensuring the longevity of the lock and providing a significantly larger surface area for engagement. The result is a sturdy lockup that minimizes any unwanted blade movement.

The handle of the XT1 has additional mass to accommodate a titanium billet milled clip, which sits in a precisely machined recess. This not only enhances the knife's durability but also ensures the secure retention of the pocket clip.

Furthermore, a full titanium backspacer has been integrated to enhance the overall rigidity of the frame body screws while reducing the stress on traditional threaded standoffs. The Titanium backspacer includes a generously sized loop with jimping, making it perfect for attaching safety cords and lanyards.

However, the standout feature of the XT1 is its full-size 0.157" (5/32) thick recurve blade. The bevel is approximately 1.0" tall and is meticulously hand-ground to its final dimensions by our skilled Toor Knives Grinders. The initial edge is intentionally left slightly thicker before sharpening, resulting in a more substantial final edge. This design not only extends the edge's lifespan but also makes it more user-friendly for field sharpening.

The XT1 is adorned with all-titanium hardware, an individual serial number, and a steel type engraving on each blade, highlighting its exclusivity in every limited batch we produce.

What makes the XT1 truly special is that it is proudly handcrafted by the Toor Knives team right here in San Diego, CA.