If you do not want to read the entire article and you would like to know which expensive pocket knife was my favorite, then I would recommend the Case Trapper Knife.
So you want to know to get your hands on knives that are on the higher end of the price tag? Maybe you are a knife collector or someone that wants a pocket knife which you give to your boy when he grows up. Sometimes it is a good idea to have a high-value pocket knife which will be passed down from generation to generation.
To think, you are the initiator of the process.
In this review, I have given you a total of five of the best and most expensive pocket knives that ordinary people can still afford. Forget about those cheap budget-friendly knives that will only last a year or two.
I am also going to provide you with a guide at the end, which will cover each feature in depth. Let’s start with a summary of the first three knives on the list.
Best Pocket Knife Summary
The Case Trapper Knife is going to be our top pick because we love simplicity. It has a beautiful deep orange handle that is made from an exotic orange mother of pearl. The KATSU knife is another good option for those that love Japanese style knives. The Victorinox Classic SD has a golden ingot inlaid into the handle and is also a Swiss army knife.
- Editors Rating: 7.5/10
- Metal Used: VG-10 Steel
Let’s start with the first product which is the Case Trapper Knife which is also our favorite.
#1 Case Trapper Knife (Top Pick)
Best for: The Case Trapper knife is one of the highest quality and most expensive trapper knives that you will find.
- Editors Rating: 10/10
- Metal Used: Tru-Sharp
Case is a knife making company located in the US who makes a large variety of knives. They range from folding to cutlery knives. As the name suggests, trapper knives were initially designed for individuals that are building small animal traps. This pocket knife also has two blades which include a clip and a spey blade. Tru-Sharp steel is also used to make the blades of this knife. This type of steel is even used to make surgical knives. The handle is also gorgeous and is made from an exotic orange mother of pearl. This material is made from seashells, which give it several layers of colors. This knife can be used for almost anything and is truly a knife which you must carry with you every day.
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#2 KATSU
Best for: If Japanese knives are your thing, then you will love this pocket knife from Katsu.
- Editors Rating: 7.5/10
- Metal Used: VG-10 Steel
This knife from Katsu has a uniquely shaped blade that is just under 4” in length. The blade is made from VG-10 steel and is a particular type of stainless steel. This steel is produced in Japan and is known for its ability to retain its sharpness after several uses. The blade is also foldable and makes use of a thumb notch to open and close. The thumb notch makes it easy to operate the knife with only one hand. Another component which that takes this knife to the next level is the ball bearing mechanism used to open and close the blade. The handle is a combination of Titanium and Carbon Fiber. This combination makes it lightweight and also resistant to rust. It also provides an excellent grip. This pocket knife also has a titanium belt clip which makes it possible to carry on your belt.
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#3 Victorinox Classic SD (Gold Ingot)
Best for: If you are into a small and compact Swiss army knife that has a 1g gold ingot inlaid, then the Victorinox Classic SD is for you.
- Editors Rating: 8.5/10
- Metal Used: Stainless Steel
One simple method to increase the value and price tag of a product is to inlay it with a precious metal such as gold. The gold ingot on this pocket knife is issued from the Union Bank of Switzerland. This swiss army knife is also small and compact and can be carried in your pocket with ease. On the one side of the knife, there is a 1.25″ blade and a nail file. On the opposite side of the knife, you will have a small scissor that can be used to cut paper. You will also receive a pair of tweezers and a toothpick. The construction of this knife is robust enough so that it will not break apart. At the end of the knife, you will also find a small keyring which you can attach to your keys.
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#4 Victorinox Swisschamp Xavt
Best for: If you want a swiss army knife that is also a jack of all trades and you do not mind the size, then the Victorinox Swisschamp Xavt is for you.
- Editors Rating: 9/10
- Metal Used: Stainless Steel
Some people are not satisfied with a simple swiss army knife, and they demand one that can do almost anything. The Victorinox Swisschamp Xavt has over 80 functions that you can use. It has a long list of tools installed which can also make it too bulky for some people. It has three types of knives, a saw, tweezers, toothpick, screwdrivers, pliers, bottle openers, small magnifying glass, scissors and also a built-in watch. It has stainless steel construction and is encased with ABS scales. This army knife is a whopping 65 mm wide and weighs 350 grams. If that was not all, this knife has a thermometer, a pressurized ballpoint pen and the list goes on.
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#5 Benchmade Barrage 580
Best for: The Benchmade Barrage 580 is ideal for those that want a good quality knife made to withstand the punishment from hard work.
- Editors Rating: 8/10
- Metal Used: CPM-S30V
There are two components which make the Benchmade Barrage 580 truly a good pocket knife. It is the handle and the blade. The blade is made from CPM-S30V stainless steel which helps it retain a sharp edge and gives it some anti-rust capabilities. The blade is a drop point type blade which has a plain edge. The handle is made from G10 material, which is a fiberglass composite. This material makes it sturdy and also lightweight. The AXIS assist makes opening this knife effortless. The knife has a belt clip which enables you to attach it to your belt.
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Expensive Pocket Knife Buying Guide
In our quest for searching for some of the most expensive pocket knives, we also had to consider whether the quality is also up to par. It is going to be a terrible idea to buy a costly pocket knife that will break on the first day. There are also other factors which will drive up the price tag of these knives.
Why are these knives so expensive?
In this section, I am going to go into more depth as to why the pocket knives selected are so expensive.
- Mother of pearl handles. Have you ever opened an oyster shell? If you have, then you might have noticed the multicolored layer of nacre which is deposited inside the shell. This nacre coating is a mixture of minerals that are being deposited by the oyster on the inside layer of the shell. When this material can be used to make a beautiful handle for knives. It gives the handle multiple colors with variations in depth and texture. If you want a knife which handles is made from mother of pearl, then I would recommend the Case Trapper Knife.
- Inlaid gold. Yes, you heard right. You can increase the price of a knife by adding some gold to it. Sometimes it is prevalent for expensive knives to contain gold in the form of a small ingot. The ingot will be inlaid into the handle to give it a more luxurious look. If you are into gold inlaid handles, then I would recommend the Victorinox Classic SD which has a 1g gold ingot inlaid.
- Multifunctional. It would be somewhat dull only to include knives which have one single blade. Why not add a knife that has a screwdriver, pliers and a bottle opener? Victorinox is a knife company based in Switzerland which specializes in Swiss Army Knives. These types of knives are more than just a knife, and the American soldiers coined the name after world war 2. If you want the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, then I would recommend the Victorinox Swisschamp Xavt which has over 80 functions.
The materials used to make the blades
It will be disappointing to buy such an expensive knife only for its blade to either break or bend. You also want your blade to retain an edge because you do not wish to sharpen it regularly. Below, I will cover some of the high-quality steel used to make the blades.
- Tru-Sharp Steel. This steel is unique to Case, which is one of the best companies that manufacturers pocket knives. Tru-Sharp is high Carbon steel, which also contains Chromium, Vanadium, Silicone, and Manganese. It is well known for this steel to be durable and to retain an edge for longer than ordinary steel. It also has some corrosion resistance properties.
- VG-10 Steel. Also named V-Kin-10 is one of the best cutlery grade stainless steel that can also be used for pocket knives. The name comes from V Gold 10, and the “gold” means quality. This steel contains Carbon, Chromium, Molybdenum, Vanadium, Cobalt, and Manganese. This steel is, and it will retain the edge for longer than most stainless steel type knives. It also has some rust resistant properties.
- CPM-S30V Steel. CPM-S30V steel is a premium grade steel that is also very expensive. Some experts also claim it to be the best steel for pocket knives. It contains Carbon, Chromium, Vanadium, and Molybdenum. It has an even distribution of vanadium carbides, which makes it very refined, which contributes to its toughness and sharpness. For CPM-S30V steel, I would recommend the Benchmade Barrage 580.
Other Knives That You Should Check
If some of these knives were too expensive for you, then you can always check out some of the other reviews that we have written. We have written more about handmade native American knives, backpacking knives, and OTF double action knives.
Expensive Pocket Knife Comparison
Product Name | Metal Used | Editors Rating |
1. Case Trapper Knife (Top Pick) | Tru-Sharp | 10/10 |
2. KATSU | VG-10 Steel | 7.5/10 |
3. Victorinox Classic SD (Gold Ingot) | Stainless Steel | 8.5/10 |
4. Victorinox Swisschamp Xavt | Stainless Steel | 9/10 |
5. Benchmade Barrage 580 | CPM-S30V | 8/10 |
Conclusion
So there you have it. See, that was not so hard. Each one of the knives listed above might make an excellent present for fathers day or great addition for any knife collector. If you are still not sure which knife to choose, then head over to the comparison table and buying guide above to learn more.
Which pocket knife was your favorite? Please leave a comment below and share with us your thoughts. If you love our reviews and would like to learn more about knives, then you can head over to this page.
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