Best Boot Knives for Self Defense – Reviews and Buying Guide

A boot knife, also known as a gambler’s dagger is a small fixed-blade knife that is designed to be carried in or on a boot. Generally, such a knife is worn on a belt or under a pant leg. Boot knives usually come with a sheath that includes some form of a clip to attach it to the hunter’s camo or suit. But why use a boot knife?

It is because boot knives offer a great concealed-carry solution and eliminate the need to carry a long knife with you unnecessarily. The boot knives are small, easy to conceal and carry and come with a light price tag that makes it available to almost all groups of hunters regardless of their income level.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best boot knives available in the market that you can buy. Like all our other lists, this list also contains products in the widest possible price range so that our recommendations satisfy your needs and desires without causing much strain to your wallet.

Without wasting any more time, let us jump into the article and have a look at our recommendations.

Top 6 Best Boot Knives 2023 Reviews

Here are the list of the best boot knives for the year 2023-24. Let’s take a look.

#1 – SOG Instinct Boot Knife

The SOG Instinct Boot Knife is the first knife among others in our list of the best boot knives review that comes with a high-quality molded nylon sheath that will keep it secure at all times and is connected to the blade with a chain. The SOG Instinct Boot knife is draped in black, and with the company name, SOG inscribed on it. It has an overall length of 4.8 inches and a blade length of 1.9 inches.

The black handle is made up of machined G10, and it has a notched design to allow better handling. As a part of the packaging, the knife comes with a high-quality molded nylon sheath with matching design to hold it by the belt.

The SOG Instinct Boot Knife has a durable construction and is made up of Satin 5CR15MOV Stainless Steel. The full tang knife, combined with its durable design makes it extremely beneficial to be used as an alternative hunting or military knife in case of an emergency.

Weighing around 1.6 oz, this knife is one of the lightest out there for sale, which enables you to carry the knife in your boots the whole day without feeling an extra pull of gravity. Even if you don’t use the knife throughout the day, you won’t feel the regret of bringing it.

This knife is pretty much convenient for occasional hunters and those having budget issues.

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#2 – CRKT Shrill Double Edge Boot Knife

The CRKT Shrill Double Edge Boot Knife is the second boot knife and also one of the best boot knives in our list of the best boot knives available in the market that you can buy. It is a double edge blade that can be used using both sides.

The small-sized handy boot knife has an overall length of 8.68 inches and a blade of 4.77 inches. The CRKT Shrill Double Edge Boot Knife is also quite lightweight and features a grippy to enhance the grip Micarta handle that is not only durable and tough but also adds on to the beauty.

Other features of the blade include polished resin Infused fiber handle overlays, dual-edge titanium nitride finish blade, a high-quality leather sheath that comes with a boot clip, and is extremely beneficial to be used when stuck in an awkward situation.

Weighing around 4.32 ounces, this lightweight boot knife is perfect for light usage and those who prefer small weaponry for better utility in place of the large ones. The knife comes packed with a high-quality leather sheath that clips to your boot, resistant to heavy wear and tear.

Being handy and swift, this lightweight power-packed knife is preferred by hunters all over the globe to carry with them as a boot knife whenever they are out hunting in the wilds.

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#3 – Schrade Needle Boot Knife

Here comes the third knife in our list of the best boot knives available in the market that you can buy, the sleek and straight Schrade Needle Boot Knife. This knife is quite long as compared to other items in our list of the best boot knives.

The Schrade Needle Boot Knife has 5.04 inches black textured TPE wrapped handle with a lanyard hole. The handle is just of the perfect size needs to have a proper grip. Also, grooves are made on the handle for fingers to adjust in, which also enhances its navigation. The Schrade Needle Boot Knife comes with a spear point design, and the included blood groove in the middle of the blade. These features might not appear to be significant in the day to day life but will come in handy if you get to use the knife in a self-defense scenario, where saving your life is the priority.

Also, the Schrade Needle Boot Knife comes with a double-edged design that offers serrated surfaces as well as straight ones, that offers it the versatility to the knife. With an overall length of 12.66 inches, this knife is quite suitable to be used by all the hunters. The blade of the third knife in our list of the best boot knives available in the market is made of reliable 7Cr17MoV High Carbon stainless steel and comes equipped with a black, thermoplastic elastomer handle.

The Schrade Needle Boot Knife fits perfectly inside the black colored high-quality leather sheath provided by the manufacturer, which fits perfectly and will not fall off

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#4 – Smith & Wesson Full Tang Boot Knife

Here comes another boot knife draped in black in our list of the best boot knife that you can buy. The fourth knife is the Smith & Wesson Full Tang Boot Knife comes from the house of Smith & Wesson, which has established itself in the domain of knives. The handle of the knife is made up of black rubber, and it has a textured surface that will allow you to draw the knife easily and use it efficiently. The textured surface of the handle will also allow you to hold it tightly even in unfavorable weather conditions and thus will not cause any massive problem to use.

Over the years, multiple upgrades made this knife an all-purpose utility one, suitable for outdoor activities in all kinds of weather conditions, whether at the top of a snow-capped mountain, at a warm sea beach, or in the wilderness of tropical rainforest; thanks to its hard and beautiful handle.

Weighing only 5.6 ounces, this is one of the lightest survival knives available in the market, which facilitates easy carrying, swift usage, and fast maneuvering. The 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel makes its blades strong, sturdy, and easy to sharpen while adding anti-corrosive properties to the metal, increasing its lifetime beyond decades.

The blade itself is around 4.7 inches long, making it quite effective and suitable for cutting hard objects, while the full-body measure around 9 inches, quite large as compared to others in the list of best survival knife reviews.

Overall, the Smith & Wesson Full Tang Boot Knife is quite durable, comfortable to hold, easy to us, and is safe to use out there in the wild while you are out hunting.

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#5 – Schrade High Carbon Stainless Steel Small Boot Knife

The Schrade High Carbon Stainless Steel Small Boot Knife is the fifth and the second Schrade boot knife in our list of the best boot knives available in the market that you can buy. In the domain of Knives, the Schrade is one of the most noticed names amongst all the manufacturers. It has 3.6 inches 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel handle with thermoplastic elastomer handle, which makes it easier to handle the knife properly and navigate it with ease.

The knife is made to be used in extreme conditions as it is one of the most durable knives available in the market. If you are a person who likes hunting often, then this knife is a perfect buy for you because of its slim design perfect grip and durable stainless-steel Blade. As an added advantage, the manufacturer has provided a black leather sheath with Boot and Belt Clip, which guards the knife without darling it and is designed to cling on to your body so that it won’t fall off in the middle.

Other features included in the Schrade High Carbon Stainless Steel Small Boot Knife are double-edged spear point blade with blood groove, black textured TPE wrapped handle with lanyard hole, to name a few.

As a disadvantage, the slots made in the handle are not that much comfortable for holding, and you might, however, need to wrap it with something like a paracord to give comfort to your hand. Overall, the Schrade High Carbon Stainless Steel Small Boot Knife is best for rough use in the wild and is a good bargain for its price tag.

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#6 – SOG Snarl Boot Knife

Like the first boot knife in our list of the best boot knives, the SOG Snarl Boot Knife too comes from the house of the SOG Specialty Knives, Inc., an American knife and tool manufacturing company famous for their reproduction SOG Knife and has quite a good amount of experience in making quality knives. SOG manufactures a variety of knives other than the original military-inspired designs, such as everyday carry, hunting knife, tactical knife, and has made quite a large name in this domain. The sixth rank holder in the list of best boot knife almost like the first knife in our list, the SOG Instinct Boot Knife.

The SOG Snarl Boot Knife is a curved boot knife that is small in size and has a futuristic blade design. A great thing about the Snarl is that it has an amazing construction. The knife is made out of a single piece of stainless steel, and it’s very durable. The blade measures only 2.3 inches in length, but it’s designed to be best at everything it does. The blade’s sheepsfoot design is made for stabbing and making powerful cuts, so it’s very effective despite its small size. Due to its small size, this can be an all-round hunting knife to be used out there in the wild.

The SOG Snarl Boot Knife is a compact fixed blade that can be used for various purposes like hunting, tactical or general-purpose, and thus is very versatile. The knife measures 4.3 inches in total length that has a 2.3 inches full tang knife blade. The knife is extremely lightweight and weighs around 1.9 ounces. It is made up of 9CR18MOV stainless steel. The manufacturer has also included a Kydex sheath for easy clipping and utility neck knife chain in case you want some extra security.

Other features included are an oversized blade ring finger choil, ring pommel, and jimping for a solid grip, multi-grip design, and nearly indestructible design to name a few.

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Things to consider before you buy a boot knife

• Self-Defense

If you’re looking for a self-defense knife, or a boot knife that you can use while stuck in an awkward situation, you should either choose a large or a small boot knife. Imagine seeing your opponent holding a large knife in his or her hand, ready to administer it into your tummy if you mess with him or her. Scary, right? You can do this to your enemy too. Even the sight of a large knife is enough to divert them from the malicious track they opted for.

However, the small boot knife can sometimes be better than the larger models in some aspects, such as concealing properties. A small knife can fit in anywhere. You can carry a small boot knife at all times when you’re away from home, without letting anyone know what you have against them in case they turn hostile.

• Multi-Purpose Tool

If you’re looking for a multi-purpose tool you can have close at hand at all times, you should go with the medium-sized boot knives as they are very much versatile. One can use a medium-sized knife for self-defense and other purposes with great results. They excel in any work, be it peeling fruits and vegetables while you are camping or cutting bushes and branches while you are trekking.

If you’re planning on using the boot knife as a multi-purpose tool, try buying a boot knife that comes with a combo edge. The straight edge will help you slice, while the serrated edge will help you saw through things. Middle-sized knives can be concealed properly too if done with care. However, they will not be as greatly concealed as the small sized ones but will be enough for you to do the job without getting extra attention.

• Be Informed

If you are carrying a knife, it should be legal. While some states and countries allow you to carry a boot knife as a self-defense tool, while others don’t. Do check the rules and regulations of the state or county you are in. Most of the restrictions are with the length of the blade, as carrying knives with length greater than the maximum can be ruled as illegal and take you through some legal formalities. It is better to check beforehand and buy only a knife whose blade length is in the permissible limit.

Conclusion:

And thus, we have reached the end of our journey through the list of the best boot knives available in the market which you can buy. Before you go on to choose your knife, make sure you are completely familiar with your needs and desires and what type of knife suits you the best. Buying an ill-suited boot knife is as good as buying air at the cost of some hard-earned bucks.

Also, keep in mind the things to consider while buying a boot knife so that you can get a nearly personalized one. We hope that you have liked our article and are equipped with all the necessary information which will help you buy an EDC knife.

Happy Shopping!