Best Lockback Tactical Knives of 2026
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Lockback tactical knives are essential tools for outdoor enthusiasts and tactical professionals alike. These knives are designed with a locking mechanism that secures the blade in place during use, ensuring safety and precision. With a variety of blade styles and materials, lockback tactical knives offer versatility and durability for any cutting task. Whether for hunting, camping, or self-defense, these knives are built to withstand the toughest conditions and provide reliable performance. With their sleek design and rugged construction, lockback tactical knives are a must-have for any serious adventurer or tactical operator.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
#TOP 1
9.9
#TOP 2
9.8
#TOP 3
9.6
Top 10 Lockback Tactical Knives
Smith & Wesson SWA24S 7.1in Folding Knife
The Smith & Wesson SWA24S 7.1in Folding Knife is a reliable and dependable EDC knife. It features a 7Cr17Mov Black Oxide High Carbon Stainless Steel blade and an aluminum handle, making it lightweight and durable. It has a convenient pocket clip, finger flipper, and ambidextrous thumb knobs for easy access. The knife also features jimping and serrations for added security. Customers have praised its sharp blade, sturdy build, and great value for the price.
Kershaw Appa Folding Tactical Pocket Knife
The Kershaw Appa is a lightweight and nimble folding tactical pocket knife that won't disappoint from a performance standpoint, but also won't break the bank. It features a black 2.75 inch reverse tanto blade with a razor sharp cutting edge, several cut outs in the handle to keep it light but strong, and SpeedSafe Assisted Opening for easy, quick, one handed opening with the flipper. The blade is held in place when opened with a liner lock. The knife measures 6.5 inches when opened and 3.6 inches closed, and weighs just under 2 ounces.
Smith & Wesson Benji Folding Keychain Knife
The Smith & Wesson Benji Folding Keychain Knife is a reliable and durable option for everyday carry. With a 1.75 inch modified tanto blade made of 8Cr13MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel and a black G-10 handle, this knife is built to last. The Ultra-Glide technology, dual function money clip/pocket clip, and finger flipper make it easy to access and use. The frame lock ensures that the blade stays securely in place. Plus, it includes a bottle opener and is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Smith & Wesson SWFR2S Folding Knife
The Smith & Wesson SWFR2S Folding Knife is a reliable and durable option for outdoor, tactical, survival, and everyday carry use. With an overall length of 8 inches and a blade length of 3.3 inches, this knife is made of 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Black Oxide Stainless Steel and features a black, textured and grooved aluminum handle. The knife also includes a glass breaker and seatbelt cutter, making it a great tool to have in emergency situations. The convenient pocket clip and ambidextrous thumb knobs provide quick and easy access, while the liner lock ensures the blade stays secure. This product is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty from Smith & Wesson.
GOOD WORKER Spring Assisted Karambit Knife
The GOOD WORKER Tactical Karambit Knife is a compact, functional, and stylish pocket knife that is perfect for various outdoor activities. Its razor-sharp 440C stainless steel blade provides high durability and cutting performance, making it suitable for camping, hiking, hunting, and self-defense. The handle ring design allows for convenient forward and reverse grip, ensuring ease of use in any situation. With its sturdy construction and precision craftsmanship, this versatile knife is your ultimate tool for everyday carry or outdoor adventures. Its lightweight and compact design make it easy to carry in a purse or backpack, making it a great gift idea for any man in your life.
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Folding Knife
The Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA25 Folding Knife is a reliable tool for outdoor, tactical, survival, and everyday carry use. With a blade length of 3.3 inches and a weight of 3.2 ounces, this knife is made with 7Cr17MoV Black Oxide High Carbon Stainless Steel and features an aluminum handle for durability. The liner lock ensures a secure grip, while the ambidextrous thumb knobs and pocket clip provide easy access and multiple carrying options. This folding knife also comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Smith & Wesson SWMP4LS Tactical Folding Knife
The Smith & Wesson SWMP4LS tactical folding knife is a reliable and dependable tool for outdoor tactical survival and EDC. It features a durable 4034 black oxide high carbon stainless steel blade, a black aluminum handle with rubber inlay, and a convenient pocket clip. It also has a liner lock and safety lock for added security, and a glass breaker and seatbelt cutter for emergency situations. Customers praise its toughness, safety, and usefulness, making it an ideal choice for everyday carry.
Smith & Wesson M&P Special Ops Knife
The Smith & Wesson M&P Special Ops Knife is a reliable and durable tool for outdoor, tactical, survival, and everyday carry use. With a 4-inch Tanto blade made of 9Cr18MoV Stainless Steel and a black G10 handle with spine jimping and lanyard hole, this knife is both functional and secure. It also features a liner lock for added safety and a convenient tip-up pocket clip, finger flipper, and spring assisted opening for quick and easy access. Additionally, this knife is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Smith & Wesson SW995 Karambit Knife
The Smith & Wesson SW995 Karambit Knife is an 8.5-inch tactical knife with a 3.75-inch clip point blade made of 8Cr13MoV Stonewashed High Carbon Stainless Steel. It comes with a black nylon handle that is durable and secure, and a convenient nylon fiber neck sheath with a breakaway chain. The finger choil and pinky hole provide extra security, and the multiple holes in the sheath give users several carry options. This knife is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Cold Steel Recon 1 Tactical Folding Knife
The Cold Steel Recon 1 Tactical Folding Knife is a durable and reliable tool perfect for military and law enforcement personnel, fire and rescue crews, and civilians. Its CPM-S35VN steel is highly corrosion-resistant and able to take and hold a sharp edge, while the tough G-10 handle provides a secure and comfortable grip. The knife also features a TriAd lock for added safety and protection, and has a weight of 5.3 ounces, a blade length of 4 inches, a handle length of 5 3/8 inches, and an overall length of 9 3/8 inches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are lockback knives good?
The benefits of a lockback include reliable strength, safety, and ambidextrous operation. The unlock “button” is out of the way of your grip when using the knife, meaning you're unlikely to accidentally disengage the lock and have it close on you.
2. What knives are issued to Navy SEALs?
Navy SEALs (USA) The Ontario MK 3 Navy Knife is standard issue for the United States Navy SEALs. With a 6-inch stainless steel blade, it's a perfectly compact piece of equipment for this elite and efficient group.
3. What folding knife do the Navy SEALs use?
Ontario MK 3 Navy Knife The U.S. Navy Seals commonly deploy this knife. It features a stainless steel blade which is approximately 6 inches in length. The U.S. Navy Seals commonly deploy this knife. It features a stainless steel blade which is approximately 6 inches in length.
4. What is a lockback knife?
Backlock (or: Lockback or Back-Lock) is the mechanism in certain lockable pocketknives. The handle of a Lockback knife contains a mechanism that allows the blade to be locked in place and then unlocked again. The blade of a Lockback knife also has a small notch on the end of the tang.
During our lockback tactical knives research, we found 24 lockback tactical knives products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 304,333 customer reviews through our big data system to write the lockback tactical knives list. We found that most customers choose lockback tactical knives with an average price of $19.86.
The lockback tactical knives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of lockback tactical knives, including Smith & Wesson, Kershaw, GOOD WORKER, Cold Steel. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Paul Tilton is a fitness enthusiast. He doesn't like to work in front of a computer screen so he quit his job and runs a gym in Washington. He spent a lot of time on the road and has been a contributing writer for a well-known travel guide website. He is now happy to share his travel experience and professional knowledge of travel gear and fitness here.