The 13 Best Carbon Fiber EDC Knives

Technically speaking, carbon fiber dates back to 1879, when Thomas Edison created it out of cotton and bamboo slivers to produce lightbulb filament. However, it wouldn’t be refined into the strong, lightweight, non-metallic performance material we know and love today until much later, in the late ’50s and ’60s.

Since then, carbon fiber has become a mainstay of numerous engineering-heavy industries, including aerospace, automotive and the military — largely because of its unique combination of strength and versatility, as well as how lightweight it is. It’s also made its way into our pockets in the form of everyday carry gear (for the same reasons, too). And while you can find it in watches, wallets and other tools, one of the best applications might just be in EDC knives. And you’ll find 13 of our favorite carbon fiber everyday carry knives right here.

QSP Penguin

Blade HQ

A budget darling of the knife forums, QSP’s penguin represents one of the best cost-to-value ratios of any folding blade on the market today. And the fact that you can get one with a shredded carbon fiber handle for under $40 is pretty jaw-dropping. If your budget is seriously restricted but you still desperately want a carbon fiber EDC knife, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Esee Zancudo

Esee is certainly best known for making fixed-blade knives for outdoor usage. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t also adept at crafting folders fit for EDC, as exemplified by the Zancudo. From its unique silhouette to its interesting combination of carbon fiber and G10 in the handle, this is certainly one of the more interesting knives in Esee’s lineup — and it’s surprisingly affordable, to boot.

Ontario RAT Model 1

Though it has seemingly faded into the background in recent years, OKC’s RAT folder ranks among the best budget-friendly, hard-working folding knives ever made. This version elevates the typically tactical blade into something a little more refined, courtesy of its handsome handle and upgraded steel. And while more expensive than its brethren, its MSRP still falls under $100, even without a discount.

Vosteed Mini Nightshade

Vosteed

Utilizing a unique silhouette that sneakily offers a cutting edge longer than one might expect from such a compact knife, Vosteed’s Mini Nightshade masterfully avoids one of the biggest pitfalls of compact EDC knives. And while it is quite popular (and, therefore, prone to selling out), it benefits from having seven different varieties to choose from.

SOG Ultra XR

There’s certainly something to be said for ultra-thin pocket knives, and SOG’s Ultra XR says more than most. Built like a high-end folder but a good deal more compact than anything else around, this knife would probably be little more than an oddity if it wasn’t so marvelously built. It’s not for everyone, but if you want your carry as sleek as possible, it’s hard to beat.

Kizer Sheepdog C01C

Spyderco Smock

Spyderco’s most defining design feature — the signature leaf blade shape — is also one of the brand’s most divisive. If you’ve been keen on the brand’s reputation and quality but haven’t been able to get over that stylistic hump, the Smock might be the knife for you, as it doesn’t quite look like a Spyderco but it does still boast the same quality and design prowess.

Buck Knives 500 Duke Legacy Collection

Buck’s Folding 110 Hunter is one of the most iconic pocket knives of all time. While this is not that knife, it is very similarly styled and heavily upgraded. For knife collectors and those who like old-school style with modern sensibilities, there are few knives that come close to being as gorgeous and solidly-built as this one.

Benchmade 940-1 Osborne

There are really only a handful of relatively modern EDC knives that could be considered heirloom-quality, and Benchmade’s Osborne 940 is one of them — in any configuration, mind you. This one benefits from some weight-saving, courtesy of its carbon fiber handle. Otherwise, it’s just as iconic and well-built as its brethren.

Terrain 365 STS-ATB

While Terrain 365 is not a household name by any stretch, it should be in the lexicon of every everyday carry and outdoor enthusiast, as it makes some of the toughest, most impressive folding knives around. A lot of that is courtesy of the brand’s signature Terravantium blade steel, which is impervious to corrosion, but that’s just one part of the picture. Everything this brand makes is exquisite and hard-working.

Böker Plus Collection 2024

Boker

Les George is nothing short of legendary in the world of everyday carry and knife design. And while many of his knives are much more budget-friendly, it’s pretty cool to see what happens when the reigns are taken off. This is a high-end collector’s knife, but it’s also one that is tough and well-built enough to be used daily. The only real downside (besides its admittedly exorbitant price) is that it’s limited to just 500 examples.

Chris Reeve Knives Mnandi

Blade HQ

“Mnandi” is actually a Zulu word, which translates to “very nice.” It’s fair to say that name is a bit of an understatement, as this knife is nothing short of exceptional. This version is especially unique, as it swaps the wood onlays for carbon fiber. It’s also exclusively available through Blade HQ — meaning you can’t get it anywhere else, even through CRK.

Benchmade Gold Class Full Immunity

Benchmade

A relatively new offering from Benchmade, the Full Immunity capitalizes on the size and format of a couple of other recent releases (Bugout and Bailout) and capitalizes on them with a more aggressive Wharncliffe blade. This version ups the ante even further with absurdly high-end materials, including Damasteel and carbon fiber. The price is eye-watering, but then again so is the beauty of this knife.

What is carbon fiber, exactly?

As mentioned, carbon fiber was first discovered as far back as 1879 (by Thomas Edison) but would not be refined into the construction material we know and love today until much later, in the ’50s and ’60s. It has also been consistently revisited and reimagined — meaning the versions we see today are even stronger, more versatile and even more unique in a number of ways from older versions.

But what makes this construction material so special? For starters, it’s non-metallic and actually organic — meaning it won’t set off metal detectors and has no magnetic properties. And it’s largely manufactured similarly to fabrics, the fibers being spun into yarn. That yarn is then woven, pressed, heated, oxidized and/or put through a number of different processes to further refine it, which helps increase its inherent properties.

When applied to everyday carry knives, there are a few different versions you’ll see. Woven carbon fiber — which usually gives it a grid-like pattern, but can also look kind of like houndstooth or other fabric patterns — is the most common (and oldest) presentation of the material in knifemaking. Shredded carbon fiber is exactly what it sounds like: carbon fiber is ripped to pieces and arranged without a repeating pattern before being suspended in resin (giving it more multilateral strength). And forged carbon fiber is the newest, strongest (and most expensive) version of the material — essentially a step beyond shredded, but based on the same overall concept.

Why should you care about carbon fiber in an EDC knife?

For starters, carbon fiber is around five times stronger than steel and twice as stiff. It’s also about five times lighter. These two factors alone are reason enough to be interested in it as an EDC knifemaking material. But it also benefits from a unique appearance in any of its constituent forms.

The downside? It tends to be pretty damn expensive compared to some other knifemaking materials. While the cost has dropped in recent years (largely due to ongoing improvements in the manufacturing processes), it can still cost quite a bit, comparatively speaking. Still, if you can afford it, there are few materials quite as interesting and unique as carbon fiber.

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