The best Kershaw knives for military use

If you made a wish list of features you want on a tactical knife, you’d probably want things like high-quality steel, a sharp point for piercing, great protection against the elements, and automatic opening. The military-focused Launch 6 checks all those boxes and then some to earn the top spot on this list.

The Launch 6 has been in production for years. In many ways, it hits the sweet spot as a generalist knife that can do just about everything you’ll need in a military environment. The 3.75-inch blade is large enough to do some serious work, whether in the field or as a hand-to-hand weapon, but the folded length easily fits into a hip pocket and the clip can be moved from side to side. You don’t have the luxury of babying your gear, and this knife’s aluminum handle and CPM 154 blade with Cerakote can withstand weeks of abuse between cleanings.

The Launch 6 is the only automatic knife on this list. This style of opening mechanism is lightning fast and only requires one hand, which is a big advantage in the field. Still, it’s not for everyone. There are places you won’t be able to take this knife. Another consideration is the CPM 154 steel used in the blade, which is notoriously difficult to sharpen. The tradeoff is excellent edge retention, and you can always send the knife back to Kershaw for professional sharpening when you have some downtime.

This is a great knife for someone who spends a lot of time in the field. It can survive adverse weather, endure hard use, and make everyday tasks easier. It’s expensive but, if you find yourself sleeping on the ground more than the bed in your barracks room, it’s well worth the price.

Despite what your recruiter may have told you, enlisting in the military isn’t exactly a great way to make a ton of money. If the time between paychecks seems to be getting longer and longer, you can still get a quality knife that doesn’t break the bank. In fact, it can even save you money because you won’t need to replace it prematurely. Allow me to introduce the Kershaw Fatback.

Getting the Fatback to such an accessible price is all about picking your battles. For the blade, Kershaw turned to budget-friendly 8Cr13MoV instead of the upscale CPM 154. Rather than a protective layer of Cerakote, the Fatback gets a black oxide finish. Instead of letting a button deploy the blade, you’ll have to manipulate a flipper tab. Kershaw has pulled all this off well because the resulting knife doesn’t feel like a cost-cutting exercise at all. The plain-edge, drop-point blade is more than capable. The SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism is delightfully crisp. The pocket clip isn’t just reversible from side to side, it can also position the knife tip-up or tip-down in your pocket.

Anyone on a tight budget should have the Fatback at or near the top of the list. It’s a huge value for money and is small enough to carry every day, so you’ll get plenty of use out of it. Would I want to use it as a fighting knife overseas? Hell, no. But I’d happily slay MRE packaging and Amazon boxes any day of the week. Considering that this affordable knife is backed by Kershaw’s warranty and can be mailed off for professional sharpening whenever you want, it’s a clear winner over the vast majority of knives in its price range.

The Kershaw Clash takes a lot of the things people like about the Fatback and cranks up the volume to make a more field-worthy tactical knife. If you want one affordable knife to do everything, a blacked-out Clash with a partially serrated blade is a solid choice.

Like Kershaw’s other entry-level knives, the Clash uses budget-friendly 8Cr13MoV steel and glass-filled nylon to keep production costs down. It’s also manufactured in China, although design, prototype, and quality control are still handled in Oregon. When I did a hands-on review of the Clash a while back, one thing that stuck with me is the incredibly strong action from the SpeedSafe opening mechanism. It snaps the blade into place with more force than any other knife I can remember. Serrated blades are a matter of personal preference, but this one does open up your options and makes the Clash a versatile piece of gear.

The handle is a little chunky for everyday use and it takes up a lot of room in the pocket of jeans or board shorts, but it’s fine for baggy cammie trousers. When you consider how well this knife performs in a wide range of situations and how affordable it is, it starts to look like an awesome field companion. Drag it through the mud, cut 550 cord, and clean it whenever you get around to it. The Clash is proof that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a quality tactical knife.

I swear that some people are convinced that life in the military is a nonstop montage of Black Hawk Down and Lone Survivor. Yes, we all like our tactical gear, but sometimes it’s nice to have just a little bit of chill. Maybe you’re looking for a knife to carry out in town, or maybe you don’t want to feel like a Rambo wannabe every time you need to open an envelope in the S-1 shop. If you need a classic, understated pocket knife that can hold its own, the Kershaw Federalist is an awesome choice.

The first thing you need to know is that the Federalist is the only truly manual knife on this list. It isn’t automatic and it isn’t spring-assisted; the only thing moving the blade into position will be your own fingers. The nail nick is a time-honored approach, but it does require both hands and — of course — a fingernail to deploy this blade. Unlike other pocket knives in this genre, the Federalist uses modern touches where it can. That means you get premium CPM 154 steel and weatherproof Micarta handle scales.

This is a great option for an EDC or more formal events, but I recommend leaving it in the barracks when you go to the field. The lack of a locking mechanism is the biggest hindrance to heavy use, so let this knife stick to what it’s best at. It’ll be a great addition to your collection and a high-quality tool when you need a blade that doesn’t scream, “Thank me for my service.”

So, you need a solid EDC but the Clash is too tactical and the Federalist is too genteel. It sounds like you need a true go-anywhere, do-anything knife that can ride on your plate carrier all week and jump into the pocket of your civvies for the weekend. What you need is the Kershaw Cryo II BlackWash.

Everything about this knife screams durability. From the BlackWash finish to the stainless steel handle, it’s like a metal album you can stab things with. At the same time, it only costs about $50, so there’s no pressure to be precious with it. At that price, you’ll still get the satisfying SpeedSafe assisted opening, a confidence-inspiring frame lock, and a pocket clip that can be mounted in four different positions to carry the knife tip-up or tip-down on either side. That edgy BlackWash finish is for more than looks, too. A Kershaw spokesperson confirmed that it’s one of the best finishes for minimizing signs of wear and tear. I suspect that it’ll look even better as you break it in.

One thing you should consider is the lack of texture on the handle scales. It won’t be a problem most of the time but, if things get messy (like they often do in the field), something like the Clash might be a better alternative. Aside from that, this is a solid, reliable EDC knife that you can truly count on every day of the week — with just a slight bias toward casual use. Think of it as a compromise between the Clash and the Federalist.

Folding knives are great because you can carry one just about anywhere and stay within the bounds of polite society. In combat, however, an old-fashioned fixed blade is every bit as relevant as it was hundreds of years ago. The Kershaw Secret Agent is a refreshing departure from the usual bushcraft and Bowie knives that we turn to so often, and it might be just what you’re looking for in a military knife.

To understand what the Secret Agent is, let’s start with what it’s not — and that’s a bushcraft knife. You aren’t going to baton firewood, craft wooden tools, or light fires with this blade; it’s an unashamed, raw combat knife. The skinny, spear-point blade is made for piercing rather than hacking or slicing. It’s built for the coldest realities of combat; ones that deserve your attention if you’re going to join the American freedom team for a road game.

You’ll notice that the price is appealingly low, and that’s a function of cost-effective materials like 8Cr13MoV steel and a rubber handle. It’s also a benefit of not needing a complicated opening mechanism. Buy this knife, lash the sheath to your plate carrier, and choose something else to take off base. I hope you never have to use it, but it’s a good blade to reach for if you do.