Knives
Folding • Fixed Blade • Automatic • Butterfly • Axes • Machetes • Specialty
The complete Keep Shooting knife catalog — 140+ SKUs across every major blade category from EDC pocket folders through heavy-use survival fixed blades, OTF automatics, balisong butterflies, axes and tomahawks, machetes, and purpose-built specialty designs. Factory production from Ka-Bar (since 1898), Ontario Knife Company (since 1889), Cold Steel, Gerber, Kershaw, CRKT, Bear & Son, plus traditional international designs — French Douk-Douk (Cognet, since 1929), Japanese Higonokami, and authentic military surplus from across NATO and the former Warsaw Pact.
About Knives at Keep Shooting
Keep Shooting carries one of the most comprehensive knife catalogs in the American market — 140+ SKUs spanning every major blade category from everyday- carry pocket folders through heavy-use survival fixed blades, OTF and side-opener automatics, balisong butterfly knives, axes and tomahawks, brush-clearing machetes, and purpose-built specialty designs for emergency rescue, ordnance disposal, and close-quarters defensive use. The catalog is organized into seven major subcategories — Folding Knives, Fixed Blade Knives, Automatic Knives, Butterfly Knives, Axes and Tomahawks, Machetes, and Specialty Knives — making it easy to find the right blade for any task.
Folding knives — EDC and traditional folders. Our Folding Knives category covers the full spectrum from modern tactical liner-lock EDC folders through traditional non-locking patterns — the Ontario RAT Model 1 and Model 2 (Randall Adventure Training collaboration), Ka-Bar Dozier Hunter, Gerber Paraframe / Ripstop / STL / US1 line, Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops and Tanto liner-locks, plus traditional international patterns including the iconic French Douk-Douk (Cognet of Thiers, in production since 1929) and the Japanese Higonokami traditional friction folder (Nagao Kanekoma forge, since 1896). The folder catalog spans EDC tactical through historical reproductions and is the highest-volume knife subcategory in the catalog.
Fixed blade knives — combat and survival. Our Fixed Blade Knives category covers the full-tang / partial-tang non-folding designs that are the oldest and structurally most durable knife pattern — combat fighting knives in the Ka-Bar USMC Mk2 / 1219C2 lineage, general-purpose camp and bushcraft fixed-blades, hunting knives, bowie patterns, and traditional military-surplus combat blades. Fixed-blade knives are mechanically the strongest knife pattern (no pivot, no lock to fail) and are the correct choice for any application involving heavy use, prying, batoning, or sustained cutting force.
Automatic knives — switchblades and OTF. Our Automatic Knives category covers spring-loaded automatic-opening folders — both side-opener automatics (where pressing a button releases the spring-loaded blade to swing out around the pivot) and out-the-front (OTF) automatics (where the blade extends linearly out the front of the handle on a sliding track). Automatics are federally restricted under the 1958 Federal Switchblade Act (purchasable by US civilians but with shipping restrictions across some state lines) and state-restricted in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and several other jurisdictions — verify your state and local rules before ordering. Federal active-duty military and law-enforcement personnel have specific exemptions from the federal Switchblade Act for issued or duty-carry automatics.
Butterfly knives — balisong. Our Butterfly Knives category covers the Filipino balisong pattern — folding knives with two counter-rotating handles that fold around the blade and lock together when closed. Originating in Batangas province, Luzon, in the late 1700s and embedded in Filipino arnis and eskrima martial-arts traditions, the balisong became globally iconic through martial-arts cinema. Like automatics, balisongs are state-restricted in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and New York — verify your state's rules before ordering.
Axes and tomahawks. Our Axes and Tomahawks category covers chopping and breaching tools — the traditional camp axe for wood-processing, the bushcraft hatchet for outdoor use, and the tomahawk in both traditional and modern tactical patterns. Tomahawks have served American military forces continuously since the Revolutionary War, and modern tactical tomahawks (RMJ Eagle Talon, Cold Steel Trail Hawk, SOG Voodoo) have seen significant use in Iraq and Afghanistan as breaching tools and close-quarters weapons by US Special Operations units.
Machetes. Our Machetes category covers the long-blade chopping tools designed for brush-clearing, vegetation management, and camp tasks requiring sustained chopping action. Machete patterns include the Latin American long-blade pattern (the most common New World agricultural machete), the Filipino bolo (heavier, cleaver-shaped), the Cuban panga (broad-tipped chopping pattern), and the modern American kukri-pattern derivatives (curved blade with weight forward). Machetes are legal to carry and own in all 50 US states without restriction — the only national-jurisdiction restrictions apply to certain municipal urban-carry rules in the largest cities.
Specialty knives — purpose-built blades. Our Specialty Knives category is the catch-all for purpose-built blades that don't fit into folder, fixed-blade, automatic, or butterfly taxonomy — the Ka-Bar TDI close-quarters defensive knife (Tactical Defense Institute design for law-enforcement weapon-retention scenarios), the OKC M11 EOD knife with non-magnetic insulated construction for explosive-ordnance disposal, emergency strap and seatbelt cutters from CRKT and Gerber, the karambit Indonesian curved defensive blade, and dedicated training knives for safe martial- arts blade practice.
The major manufacturers. Our knife catalog represents the established American and international cutlery manufacturers. Ka-Bar (Olean, New York, founded 1898) — the manufacturer of the iconic USMC Mk2 / 1219C2 fighting knife, the standard-issue Marine fighting blade since WWII, plus the modern TDI defensive line and the Becker BK-series survival knives. Ontario Knife Company (Franklinville, New York, founded 1889) — the American military-contract knife manufacturer producing the OKC RAT line, ESEE collaboration knives, the M11 EOD, and a wide range of military-issue and law-enforcement blades. Cold Steel (founded 1980) — the California / Texas-based manufacturer known for aggressive- design tactical blades, Recon Tanto and SRK fixed-blades, and the company's distinctive cardboard-tube-and-pig-cutting marketing aesthetic. Gerber Gear (Portland, Oregon, founded 1939) — one of the widest American EDC and tactical knife catalogs, plus emergency-rescue tools and multi-tools. Kershaw (Tualatin, Oregon, founded 1974) — American manufacturer of premium EDC folders including the SpeedSafe assisted-opening line. Bear & Son (Jacksonville, Alabama, American manufacturer) — traditional and Damascus-pattern folders, balisongs, and pocket knives. CRKT (Tualatin, Oregon, Columbia River Knife and Tool, founded 1994). Plus traditional international makers including Cognet (France, since 1929) and Nagao Kanekoma (Japan, since 1896).
Blade steels — what you're actually paying for. Knife steel selection is the most consequential single factor in knife performance, and steels in our catalog span four major families. Carbon steels (1095 Cro-Van in the Ka-Bar Becker BK2, SK steel in Higonokami traditional Japanese folders) take the sharpest edge and are easiest to resharpen, but require oil-and-care to prevent rust — the right choice for serious outdoor and bushcraft use. Standard stainless steels (440C, AUS-8, 7Cr17MoV) trade slightly softer edge holding for corrosion resistance and easier maintenance — the right choice for general EDC and value-tier folders. Premium stainless steels (S30V, S35VN, M390, CPM-3V) deliver substantially better edge retention and toughness at significantly higher cost — found on premium-tier folders and competition-grade fixed-blades. Damascus pattern steel (laminated layered steel with visible grain pattern) is primarily decorative but uses high-quality cores — appropriate for collector pieces and gift knives.
Federal and state legal framework. Knife law in the United States operates at three layers. Federal law — the 1958 Federal Switchblade Act — restricts interstate commerce in switchblade-action automatic knives with specific carve-outs for military and law enforcement and for certain disabled persons. State law prohibits or restricts specific knife types in roughly 12-15 states — California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and several others prohibit balisongs / butterflies and impose restrictions on automatic knives, gravity knives, and certain fixed-blade carry. Local ordinances in major cities (NYC, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco) may impose additional restrictions beyond state law. Before ordering or carrying any knife, verify your specific state and local rules — knife law is complex and varies meaningfully between jurisdictions. Most sub-3-inch folders, all non-locking slipjoint and friction folders, all kitchen knives, machetes, axes, and tomahawks are unrestricted in essentially every US jurisdiction.
Sharpening and maintenance. Every knife eventually needs resharpening, and the right sharpening tool depends on the steel and edge geometry. Our Lansky Sharpeners brand page covers the dominant American consumer sharpening-system manufacturer — Lansky's controlled-angle sharpening kits put precise, repeatable edge geometry within reach of casual users without requiring freehand sharpening skill. For professional sharpening across higher knife volumes, Lansky's Crock Stick and Master Sharpener systems extend into commercial / professional grade.
Keep Shooting ships all knives from our Pennsylvania warehouse with free shipping on orders over $49.95 and hassle-free returns. Whether you are an EDC enthusiast building a tactical liner-lock rotation, a survivalist sourcing the Becker BK2 heavy-use companion fixed blade, a hunter looking for a dedicated game-processing knife, a law-enforcement officer adding a TDI weapon-retention defensive blade, an outdoor enthusiast equipping a brush-clearing machete, a traditional-knife collector seeking the French Douk-Douk or Japanese Higonokami, or a casual buyer looking for a budget-tier work knife under $25, every blade in our catalog is from a respected manufacturer with purpose-built design pedigree — and backed by Keep Shooting's return policy and our Pennsylvania-based customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions — Knives
Keep Shooting carries a wide selection of Knives products from trusted brands. Browse our catalog to see the full range, and use the filters on the left to narrow by brand, price, or product type.
Yes! All orders over $49.95 qualify for free shipping, including Knives products. Orders typically ship within 1–2 business days.
Keep Shooting offers hassle-free returns on Knives products. If you're not completely satisfied, contact our customer service team for a return authorization. All products must be in original, unused condition.
If you need help choosing the right Knives product, our team is available to assist. Check individual product descriptions for detailed specifications, or contact us directly and we'll help you find the best fit for your needs.