These are some of our favorite knives, grouped in approximate categories. Included are knives we have reviewed and/or purchased independently.

There is some unavoidable overlap between categories. For example, a medium size clip-it folding knife might be used as a folding utility knife by some respondents and most knifes with a belt clip can also be carried in a pocket. For the purposes of this article, knives listed as "pocket knives" do not have a clip. A clip on a folding hunting or utility knife is optional; some have a clip and some don't.

Knives with a belt, inside the pocket, or inside the waistband (whatever you choose to call it) clip are abbreviated "IWB" for brevity. The use of such clips is optional. Many folding hunters have a clip, will fit in a pocket and come with a belt pouch. Chuck, Gordon, Rocky and David, for example, like the IWB clip and normally use it when a knife is so equipped. On the other hand Jim Clary, Mary Clary and Gary Zinn don't use the clips on knives so equipped. Gary Zinn habitually removes the IWB clips from his knives. Whatever works for the individual is fine with us.

The only requirement for inclusion is that all knives be production models that were offered for sale to the general public, but not necessarily current production. Although some of us own custom built knives, they are excluded from this article. The participating respondents include Owner/Managing Editor Chuck Hawks, Senior Editor Randy Wakeman, Editor Gordon Landers, Gunsmithing Editor Rocky Hays, Women's Editor Mary Clary, Contributing Editor Dr. Jim Clary, Contributing Editor David Tong, Chief Executive Technical Advisor Jim Fleck, Technical Assistant Bob Fleck, Technical Assistant Jack Seeling and contributor Gary Zinn ("Essential Working Knives").

Keychain, Money Clip, Credit Card and Neck Knives

Classic SD. Illustration courtesy of Victorinox.

• Chuck Hawks: Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Knife (2-1/4" closed)
• Gordon Landers: A.G. Russell Woodswalker in Kydex neck sheath (fixed 2-3/8" blade)
• Rocky Hays: Spyderco Dragonfly Stainless C28; carried as money clip (3.218" closed)
• David Tong: Victorinox SwissCard multi-tool (credit card size, 0.2" thick)
• Bob Fleck: Spyderco Cricket Stainless C29; carried on keychain; lock blade (2.75" closed)

Small Pocket Knife

Ambassador. Illustration courtesy of Victorinox.

• Chuck Hawks: Victorinox Ambassador Swiss Army Knife (3" closed)
• Gordon Landers: Lone Wolf Paul Knife; lock blade (3" closed)
• Jim Fleck: Gerber Ultralight LST #46050; lock-blade (2-5/8" closed)
• Bob Fleck: Schrade Old Timer Mighty Mite 180T; lock-blade (2.8" closed)
• Gary Zinn: Buck Companion (3" closed)

Medium Pocket Knife

Magnum LST Jr. Illustration courtesy of Gerber Legendary Blades.

• Chuck Hawks: Gerber Magnum LST Jr. #06058; lock-blade (3-1/2" closed)
• Gordon Landers: Victorinox Tinker Small Swiss Army Knife (3-1/4" closed)
• Mary Clary: Stone River Gear SRG1DBF (2-3/4" blade)
• David Tong: Puma M340; lock-blade (3-1/2" closed)
• Jim Fleck: Gerber Magnum LST Jr. #06058; lock-blade (3-1/2" closed)

Large Pocket Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Buck 501; lock-blade (3-7/8" closed)
• David Tong: D. Lemire, made in France; lock-blade w/rotating lock similar to Paul knife (3-7/8" closed)
• Gary Zinn: Buck Stockman (3-7/8" closed)

Small IWB Clip, Lock Blade Folding Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Gerber Paraframe Mini (3" closed)
• Rocky Hays: Spyderco Meerkat C64JBK (2" blade)
• Bob Fleck: Spyderco Cricket Stainless C29 (2.75" closed)

Medium IWB Clip, Lock Blade Folding Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Spyderco C13PS Pro Grip SS (3-7/8" closed)
• Gordon Landers: Spyderco Delica; lock-blade (4" closed)
• Jim Clary: Stone River Gear SRG1SATB (3-1/4" blade)
• Rocky Hays: Spyderco Native C41 (3.938" closed)
• David Tong: Kershaw 1740 (3-3/4" closed)
• Gary Zinn: SOG Trident Mini (4" closed)

Large IWB Clip, Lock Blade Folding Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Spyderco C16PSBRG Wayne Goddard Limited Edition Lightweight Folding Knife (5-1/8" closed)
• Gordon Landers: Spyderco Endura; lock blade (5" closed)
• Gary Zinn: SOG Trident (5" closed)

Folding Lock-Blade Hunting Knife

Gator #06064. Illustration courtesy of Gerber Legendary Blades.

• Chuck Hawks: Savage Hunter's Edge; 4 interchangeable blades (4-5/8" closed)
• Randy Wakeman: Savage Hunter's Edge; 4 interchangeable blades (4-5/8" closed)
• Jim Clary: Stone River Gear SRG4RPBF (4" blade)
• Gordon Landers: Spyderco Endura (5" closed)
• Bob Fleck: Buck Folding Hunter Model 110 (4-7/8" closed)
• Jack Seeling: Gerber Gator #06064 (5" closed)

Fixed Blade Hunting Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Olsen OK; Howard City, MI (4" blade)
• Randy Wakeman: Savage Hunter's Edge; 4 interchangeable non-folding blades (3-1/2" blade)
• Jim Clary: Stone River Gear SRG4RPB (4" blade)
• David Tong: Randall Model 23 Gamemaster (4-1/2" blade, micarta handle)
• Jim Fleck: Camillus Bush Crafter (4" blade)
• Bob Fleck: Schrade Old Timer #152 (3-1/2" blade)
• Jack Seeling: Gerber Freeman Exchange-A-Blade; interchangeable non-folding blades (3.5" blade)
• Gary Zinn: Cold Steel Pendleton Lite Hunter (3-3/4" blade)

Fixed Blade Fish/Filet Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Normark Filet Knife (6" blade)
• Rocky Hays: Case XX 316-5

Folding Utility Knife

EvoGrip S18. Illustration courtesy of Wenger.

• Chuck Hawks: Wenger EvoGrip S18 Lock Blade Swiss Army Knife (3-3/8" closed)
• Randy Wakeman: Savage Hunter's Edge; 4 interchangeable blades (4-5/8" closed)
• Jim Clary: Stone River Gear SRG1SATB (3-1/4" blade)
• Mary Clary: Stone River Gear SRG1DBF (2-3/4" blade)

Fixed Blade Utility Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Normark-Fiskars 1967 Hunt/Fish (4-7/8" blade)
• Randy Wakeman: Savage Hunter's Edge; 4 interchangeable non-folding blades (3-1/2" blade)
• Rocky Hays: H&K G3 bayonet (7" blade)
• Jim Clary: Stone River Gear Parer; ceramic blade (4" blade)
• Bob Fleck: Wind River #2001 (4-1/2" blade)
• Gary Zinn: Mora of Sweden Clipper (4" blade)

Folding Multi-Tool Knife

• Chuck Hawks: Leatherman PST (4" closed)
• Jack Seeling: Leatherman Skeletool (4" closed)