Knives & Tactical Tools — EDC, Fixed Blade, OTF & More
Tactical Surplus USA carries knives across every format and price point — from sub-$30 utility folders to premium fixed blades and OTF automatics backed by lifetime warranties. The right knife depends entirely on intended use: everyday carry demands different characteristics than a field hunting blade, a camp tool, or a tactical fixed blade for duty use.
Folding and OTF knives are the dominant EDC format. Out-the-front automatics deploy the blade straight forward from the handle with the press of a button — fast, one-handed, and compact. CobraTec dominates the value OTF market with their lifetime warranty and D2 or 440-stainless steel blades at accessible price points. Benchmade's Infidel is the premium OTF benchmark. For buyers in states where OTF automatics are restricted, assisted-opening folders — which require a manual push before the spring assists the rest of the opening — are legal in all 50 states and provide comparable one-handed deployment speed. Browse our folding knives and OTF selection.
Fixed blade knives are stronger than folders for any task requiring sustained force — batoning wood, field dressing game, bushcraft tasks, or duty carry where deployment speed is irrelevant but structural integrity is not. The Ka-Bar USMC 1217 is the most historically proven tactical fixed blade in American military history. The Gerber StrongArm is the practical budget alternative with a MOLLE-compatible sheath. For heavy field use, ESEE knives carry an unconditional no-questions-asked lifetime warranty and full-tang construction designed for genuine field abuse. See our full fixed blade knife selection.
Axes and saws are the tools that knives cannot replace for sustained wood processing. A quality camp axe handles splitting and felling where a knife blade would fail or be dangerous. Folding saws process wood faster than any knife for fire preparation. Browse our axe and saw selections. For keeping any edge sharp in the field, see our knife sharpeners.
For state-specific knife carry laws, see our laws guide. All knives ship free to the contiguous US.
Knives & Tools Frequently Asked Questions
Are OTF knives legal to buy and carry in Florida?
Yes — Florida has no state-level restrictions on OTF knives, switchblades, or automatic knives. You can own, purchase, and carry them without any special permit or license. Florida is one of the more permissive states for knife laws. Local ordinances in some municipalities may impose additional restrictions on concealed carry — always verify your specific city or county rules. Out-of-state buyers should verify their own state's laws before purchasing, as OTF knives are outright banned in Delaware, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Washington D.C., and face restrictions in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Washington state.
What is the difference between an OTF knife and an assisted-opening knife?
An OTF (out-the-front) knife deploys the blade automatically straight forward from the handle by pressing a button or switch — no manual movement required. This makes it a switchblade under the Federal Switchblade Act and subject to state switchblade laws. An assisted-opening folder requires the user to provide an initial push on the blade (via a thumb stud, flipper tab, or thumb hole) before the spring assists the rest of the opening motion. Assisted openers are explicitly excluded from the Federal Switchblade Act's definition and are legal in all 50 states. Both types provide one-handed deployment — OTF is faster, assisted openers are universally legal.
What blade steel should I look for in a tactical knife?
For budget knives, 420HC stainless is rust-resistant and easy to maintain — good for knives that will see hard use in wet environments. For mid-range, D2 tool steel offers excellent edge retention at a price point accessible to most buyers — CobraTec uses D2 in many of their OTF models. For premium, CPM-S30V and S35VN are the benchmark stainless steels balancing edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. MagnaCut is the 2026 innovation — engineered to eliminate the traditional tradeoff between toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance that defined premium steel selection for decades. For most buyers, D2 or S30V hits the right price-to-performance point.
What is the best EDC knife for everyday carry?
For most buyers, a quality mid-range folding knife in the $60-150 range hits the best combination of blade steel, build quality, and carry comfort. The Benchmade Bugout is the most widely carried premium EDC folder — lightweight at 1.85 oz, S30V steel, reliable AXIS lock. The Kershaw Livewire is the best assisted-opening option at $130 with CPM MagnaCut steel and a Kershaw lifetime warranty. CobraTec OTF knives are the go-to for buyers who want automatic deployment — the FS-3 and Medium FS-X Gen 2 in D2 steel with CobraTec's lifetime warranty are the most widely carried value OTF models. For buyers who prioritize build quality over price, the Benchmade Infidel is the OTF benchmark at $450+.