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 unique, 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: Spyderco Kiwi C75; lock-blade (3-1/4" 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

Buck 301 Stockman. Illustration courtesy of Buck Knives.

• 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 301 Stockman (3-7/8" closed)

Small IWB Clip, Lock Blade Folding Knife

Spyderco Cricket. Illustration courtesy of Spyderco, Inc.

• 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

Spyderco Clipit ProGrip SS. Illustration courtesy of Spyderco, Inc.

• 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

SOG Trident. Illustration courtesy of SOG Specialty Knives.

• Chuck Hawks: Spyderco C16PSBRG Wayne Goddard Limited Edition Lightweight Folding Knife (5-1/8" closed)
• Gordon Landers: Spyderco Endura; lock blade (5" closed)
• David Tong: Benchmade Presidio (4.75" 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

Randall Model 23 Gamemaster. Illustration courtesy of Randall Made.

• Chuck Hawks: Spyderco/Moran FBO2BB (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

Normark/Rapala Filet Knife. Illustration courtesy of West Marine.

• Chuck Hawks: Normark/Rapala 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

Randall Model 5 Small Camp and Trail Knife. Illustration courtesy of Randall Made.

• Chuck Hawks: Randall Model 5 Small Camp and Trail Knife (4" 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

Leatherman PST. Illustration courtesy of Leatherman Tools.

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