Top 10 Best Boot Knives
for December 2023

The Kershaw Secret Agent is an affordable, lightweight, and highly concealable self-defense tool. It is small enough to throw in your purse or pocket, but has enough power and toughness to be used as a full-sized knife. The handle is reinforced with synthetic rubber, which gives it a grippy texture. The blade is 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, which Kershaw says is heat treated for performance, hardness and durability. The blade is single edged, which gives it more cutting power than double edged knives. The blade is 4.4 inches long, with an overall length of 7.3 inches. The blade is 0.9 inches thick, with a thickness of 0.3 inches at the tip. The blade is flat, with a grind of 15 degrees. The handle has a length of 4.1 inches, and a width of 1.6 inches. The handle has a weight of 0.3 pounds, and a handle thickness of 0.5 inches. The handle has a black oxide coating, which Kershaw says makes the blade more corrosion and rust resistant. The handle is textured, with a nonreflective black finish. The handle has a finger groove, a thumb groove, and a deep knife pocket. The knife is 3 ounces, and comes in a black molded sheath with a zippered closure, and a loop for attaching a lanyard. The sheath has a belt loop, a shoulder harness, and a carrying strap. The knife comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

The Robert E. Lee boot knife from SZCO Supplies is an affordable, high-quality boot knife. The blade is made from high-quality stainless steel, which feels solid and is very sharp. The blade is 8 inches long, and the knife weighs just 3.5 ounces. The handle is plastic/zinc alloy and is a comfortable size and shape. The knife is light enough to fit into a pocket, but sturdy enough to cut most trimming jobs. The blade is sharp enough to slice rope, and the blade is long enough that the knife can be used for a variety of jobs, including cutting tents and tarps. The scabbard is well-made and comfortable to wear, and the blade locks in place with a screw. The clip is sturdy enough to attach to a belt, backpack or pant pocket, but the clip could be a bit sturdier. The Robert E. Lee boot knife is an affordable, high-quality boot knife.

This knife has a classic blade shape that provides proven utility, and it's a strong visual. It's well built, and the blade's edge remains sharp after extensive use. The handle is resin infused fiber, which we found is lighter than traditional wood handles, and it's comfortable to hold. The sheath is heavy duty, and the boot clip makes it easy to attach to your belt. The sheath doubles as a knife handle, allowing you to carry the knife and sheath as a pair. The sheath's belt loop is big enough to easily accommodate belts of all sizes. Overall, these are excellent construction, and this knife is strong enough to hold its own against knives that cost twice as much.

The Rothco Raider II Boot Knife is just the sort of knife any outdoorsman or survivalist should own. It's extremely well-made, and it's sharp enough to do some real damage. The blade is hardened steel, and it's 3.5 inches long. The handle is made of aluminum, and it folds down to just over 2 inches, so you can stash it in your boot or in your pack without adding too much weight. The Raider II is small enough to fit in a pocket, but it's big enough to grip firmly and wield with authority. The blade locks in place, and the blade folds in half to reduce the size of the knife. The blade lock is long enough that the blade doesn't fall out easily, but it's short enough that it's easy enough to jab at someone and shove them incapacitating pain. The Raider II is a decent survival knife, but it's too small for any serious survival situation. It's better-suited to emergencies, or situations where you need to cut through leather, plastic, fabric, or rope. The Raider II's 0.9-pound weight is a plus, but it's too heavy for backpacking or hiking.

The SOG Small Fixed Blade Knife is an outstanding value for a neck knife or small fixed blade knife. It's sharp and compact enough to easily fit in a pocket or on a keychain, but its 2.3-ounce weight also makes it easy to use. The knife's 4-inch blade is long enough for most tasks, and the blade is carefully machined for smooth edges. The handle is made of textured G10, which grips well, and the blade's full tang is long enough that you can leave the blade open without risking damage to the handle. The knife's sheath is also well made, with a sturdy belt clip and swiveling belt loop, and the knife comes with a rubber-coated nylon sheath. The SOG Small Fixed Blade Knife is also reasonably tough, although the G10 handle has a slight orange peel pattern, so it's less durable than an all-metal knife. If you tend to drop your knives, however, the textured G10 handle should make it more difficult for dirt to scratch the blade.

This Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B 9in High Carbon S.S. Fixed Blade Knife with 4.7in Dual Edge Blade and TPE Handle for Outdoor, Tactical, Survival and EDC, Multi is a no-frills, fixed-blade knife that takes no prisoners. Its 4.7-inch blade is big enough for widespread cutting tasks, including cutting through rope and string. The blade is constructed from reliable 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel and the black rubber wrapped handle is firmly attached to the blade. The knife comes with a belt or boot sheath, allowing you to easily carry it either on your hips or in boot or pocket. The knife comes with a had no finger guard, but the gunky rubber handle provides plenty of grip for steady cuts. The knife is lightweight and easy to carry, but the blade has a somewhat dull edge when first purchased. The knife is built to last, though, and sharpens up quickly with fine-grit sandpaper. The Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B 9in High Carbon S.S. Fixed Blade Knife with 4.7in Dual Edge Blade and TPE Handle for Outdoor, Tactical, Survival and EDC, Multi is a reliable and sturdy knife for everyday carry.

The MTech USA Fixed Blade Knife is a well-designed, well-made knife that is ideal for everyday carry, camping, hiking, backpacking, hunting & fishing, the outdoors, military & tactical needs, DIY activities, survival, self-defense, and emergencies. It offers consistent razor-sharp cutting performance and high durability. The knife's fine edge blade is coated with a satin finish and is sharp enough to easily cut through most materials, including rope, cord, wood, and cardboard. The handle is made of wood, and the bottom of the handle has a stainless steel bolster. The handle is attached to the blade with a stainless steel pin, and the handle is contoured to fit comfortably in your hand. The knife comes with a nylon sheath, and the knife fits inside the sheath securely. The MTech USA Fixed Blade Knife is easy to open and use; it locks securely in place when open, and the blade locks securely in place when closed. The MTech USA Fixed Blade Knife has a well-balanced weight, making it comfortable to hold and to use. The blade and handle are sized appropriately; the knife is large enough to provide good cutting performance, but not so large that it is unwieldy. The MTech USA Fixed Blade Knife is well-designed and well-made, making it ideal for everyday carry, camping, hiking, backpacking, hunting & fishing, the outdoors, military & tactical needs, DIY activities, survival, self-defense, and emergencies.

The Smith & Wesson SWF606 is a stylish, compact knife that handles a variety of tasks. Its slim, double-edge blade is made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, which is strong, durable and rust-resistant. The blade is sharp, and the edge is 4.4 inches long, which means it's long enough to do most jobs, such as cutting rope or opening packages, but short enough to stay out of the way. The TPE handle is durable, comfortable, and slip-resistant, and comes with a pocket clip so the knife can be attached to a belt or bag.