Cutting Edge: The Best OTF Knife Under $100

Having the right OTF knife with you will be of utmost benefit wherever you go, whether in your pocket or bag. When it comes to budget, few items prove as indispensable as a reliable OTF knife.

These knives are versatile and suitable for one-hand operation. Also, they are faster and more convenient for tackling your EDC jobs. In fact, OTF knives are more than a little badass.

Amidst the vast array of knives on the market, how do you choose the best OTF knife under $100? We have compiled a list of high-performing OTF knives that excel in both performance and quality within their respective price ranges.

Why Do You Opt for Out-the-front Knives?

The other name for out-the-front knives is OTF knives. They support one-hand operation at the press of a button. These knives were originally manufactured for military applications, and now they are getting popular for outdoor pursuits like fishing, hunting, or camping. OTF knives provide several benefits, such as,

• They are durable for being constructed with high-end materials
• You can use them for daily carry or heavy outdoor use
• OTF knives come with different designs to suit your style and needs

Best OTF Knife Under $100 [Review] – Top 5

While OTF knives may not suit everyone’s preferences, they have gained immense popularity and are produced by manufacturers worldwide. This section showcases premium models, highlighting their features, pros, and cons.

1# Best Versatile: HUAAO Assisted Opening Knife

The HUAAO Assisted Opening Knife is designed with modern precision. It comes with a little thin blade, but you will barely find a button lock knife at this price. Blade and handle construction is durable, having a straight edge. Due to the thin structure, the knife becomes lightweight 120G and fits easily in the pocket with the clip.

Technical Specifications

• Handle Material: Aluminum
• Blade Material: 5Cr13Mov
• Blade Length: 10 cm
• Handle Length: 13 cm
• Blade Thickness: 2 mm

We named it the best versatile OTF.

Why?

The blade is suitable for several purposes. If you love hiking, fishing, and hunting frequently, keep it in your pocket. This will meet your every outdoor activity requirement. Also, it can be used for household life, survival, and tactical purposes.

Can it withstand harsh conditions?

Yes, the blade is manufactured with 5Cr13Mov, making it super durable. Moreover, cutting tasks gets impressive and less strenuous. This material adds extra durability to the knife. Also, it has decent corrosion resistance. Overall, the blade is built to last.

If you have ever spent time fishing in saltwater or a large lake, you appreciate owning a knife that opens with one hand. Happily, you can open this knife with a single hand. More importantly, it deploys quickly. This feature is beneficial during an emergency.

The sharpening process is pretty straightforward, ensuring the knife’s longevity. In addition, its pocket clip makes it secure and easy to retrieve without looking.

Pros

• Excellent outdoor OTF knife suitable for outdoor activities
• Stylish design and lightweight construction
• Durable and versatile blade
• 5Cr13Mov blade can be sharpened easily

Cons

• Inferior quality pocket clip 

2# Best for EDC Tasks: Punisher Glass Breaker Spring Assisted Knife

Another best OTF knife under $100, the Punisher Spring Assisted Knife is sleek and suitable for EDC, tasks. It is small and lightweight, which can take place in your pocket without trouble. This will be a great deal if you need a simple one-handed knife for various operations.

Technical Specifications

• Blade Material: Stainless Steel
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel
• Blade Length: 3.5”
• Blade Shape: Clip Point
• Special Feature: Glass Breaker, Belt Clip

You will not face hassle while opening the knife in an emergency. It is because of the spring-assisted feature. This knife supports one-hand operation, offering maximum convenience. It has a speedy deployment mechanism and keeps your other hand free, which is extremely beneficial when defending yourself.

Very sharp, high, strong 440 stainless steel blade, letting you cut food, rope, packaging, and many more. At the same time. It can be used for pruning shrubs, scraping off stickers, cleaning fish, etc., making it an all-purpose knife.

Surprisingly, this is a rock-solid knife for its stainless-steel construction. It feels good and comfortable on the hand. A well-balanced weight gives you the required maneuverability when using the knife. The opening mechanism is fast and locks the blade firmly in place.

What else!

This knife is equipped with a glass breaker. The glass breaker easily breaks through car glasses, making it an ideal choice for emergencies. As a result, if you are in a situation where you need to break the automotive glass, this knife will come in handy.

There is a solid metal clip, letting you carry it in your pocket conveniently. Don’t hesitate to get this one if you need a good-quality knife at a reasonable price.

Pros

• The blade stays sharp and nice with proper care
• Smooth actions and faster deployments
• A sharp and hard metal point is included for breaking automotive glass
• All metal body, decent weight, and well-balanced

Cons

• It has a little learning curve

3# Best All-purpose OTF Knife: Tac Force Assisted Opening Pocket Knife

With premium-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship, the Tac Force Assisted Opening Pocket Knife can tackle at any moment. The blade of this OTF knife feels incredibly safe and lightweight in hand. It is durable and can be used for outdoor survival, hunting, and camping.  

Technical Specifications

• Blade Material: Stainless Steel
• Handle Material: Aluminum
• Blade Length: 4”
• Blade Shape: Clip Point
• Special Feature: Pocket Clip, Folding

Made of stainless steel, this knife is damn robust and corrosion-resistant. This way, it can withstand any tough situations effectively. It allows you to handle a wide range of cutting jobs.

What truly makes this OTF knife special among others?

Textured aluminum handle offering comfortable and strong grip. It gives the knife a cost-efficient professional look. Also, such a handle structure makes it flexible for various fits and applications. In fact, the texture ensures a positive grip for all-purpose conditions.

What makes it an all-purpose knife?

The knife has a clip-point blade shape, enabling you to tackle fish cleaning, meat processing, animal skinning, and many more. Generally, clip-point knives tend to have quicker movement and less drag during insertion. This knife is also no exception. As a result, piercing objects like packaging can be easier.

When it comes to talking the price, Tac Force Assisted Opening Pocket Knife is another best OTF knife under $100. By the way, don’t forget that it’s a cheap yet best OTF knife that comes under $30. 

All in all, this is an affordably priced knife. It is very neat and cool to look at and to have. This is a great knife if you need to use it as a tool or to open up some items. The more you carry this knife, the more uses you will find.

Pros

• Incredibly lightweight and small
• Robust pocket clip
• Crafted from aluminum
• Exceptional overall build quality

Cons

• It might be unsuitable for slashing 

4# Best Affordable OTF Knife: Ohmonlyhoo 3.8” OTF Knife for Men and Women

Yes, you can get a premium-quality OTF knife for under $100. 

The Ohmonlyhoo 3.8” OTF Knife for Men and Women is a sturdy and strong out-the-front knife. All stainless-steel body and linear design let it perform most cutting jobs. No wonder it is one of the most affordable OTF knives on the market.

Technical Specifications

• Blade Material: 7Cr13Mov HC Stainless Steel
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel
• Blade Length: 3.8”
• Blade Thickness: 2 mm
• Safety Feature: Liner Lock

The stainless-steel handle and the 7Cr13Mov HC stainless steel blade create a perfect weight balance to give you a comfortable grip. Also, the blade will not rust and ensure corrosion resistance. 

We used it for multifunctional tasks, and the performance impressed us the most.

You can consider it as your best companion if you need to cut letters or boxes or frequently do other daily EDC tasks. At the same time, it helped us prepare food, cut rope, clean fish, etc., during hiking, hunting, and camping.

Like many OTF knives, it opens faster with an open flipper mechanism and supports one-handed operation. This way, it becomes a convenient choice among knife enthusiasts. 

Don’t forget that you can get this best OTF knife under $100 (less than $30 for sure). 

Moreover, the flipper opening feels most secure during deployment. A little skill is necessary to open the OTF knife instantly with a short and quick click. You can also close the knife with one hand easily.

The included sheath quality is also satisfactory. Premium nylon sheath protects the knife efficiently from external damage. You can tie the sheath with the belt easily for easy accessibility to the knife. Besides, the liner lock secures the OTF blade precisely.

Pros

• Safety lock design to prevent injury
• Easy and convenient storage in the included nylon sheath
• Long-lasting and durable razor-sharp blade
• Flipper open confirms secure deployment

Cons

• The thickness of the blade is a bit too thin

5# Best for EDC Tasks: Tops Home EDC Knife

Looking for the best OTF knife under $100 that is designed to offer a good balance of utility, performance, and convenience of carry?

Look no further and buy the Tops Home EDC Knife. The blade has a sharp edge, and re-sharpening can be done easily. With this knife, you will not find any difficulty when piercing through a compact spot. Also, this OTF knife is compact and lightweight, letting you use it for daily purposes.

Technical Specifications

• Blade Material: Stainless Steel
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel
• Power Source: Manual
• Blade Length: 3.43”
• Blade Shape: Clip Point

This OTF knife is engineered to give you a smooth opening experience. With the help of a ball-bearings pivot, you can open it at one hand at a safe speed with the flipper. Also, it is equipped with multiple safety features to prevent finger injuries.

What are the safety highlights?

A liner lock mechanism locks the blade. Also, it eliminates the chance of closing the blade unexpectedly. Thus, it becomes a reliable OTF knife for everyday use, like cutting cardboard and opening packages or letters. Also, the size metal pad reduces friction, making it easier to unlock the blade safely.

A reversible pocket clip is another worth-mentioning feature of the knife. With a sturdy tip-down carry pocket clip, you can take this OTF knife for hiking, fishing, camping, or other outdoor activities.

The black coating on the extra-sharp blade helps maintain edge retention for many days. Faster deployment lets you open it whenever needed. Additionally, it is sleek enough to store just about anywhere. However, it is important to keep the knife away from kids.

The knife is well-built; accidental falls can’t damage any parts. Perfect length, nice grip, and smart look allow you to tackle multiple EDC tasks efficiently.

Pros

• Handles various uses of EDC effectively
• Smooth opening experience
• Reversible pocket clip
• Ergonomic handle design for comfortable grip

Cons

• Fragile belt clip

Single Action OTF vs. Double Action OTF – Which One to Buy?

In order to choose between single-action OTF and dual-action, you will need to know the differences. Here we shared the key differences with you.

Parameters	Single Action OTF	Double Action OTF
Opening Mechanism	Automatic process	Automatic process
Closing Mechanism	Manual process	Automatic process
Deployment	Fast	Faster than single-action OTF
Design	Simple	Intricate
Price	Less expensive than double action OTF	Expensive

Now, let’s learn more about these 2 OTF knife types.

Single Action OTF Knives

The blade of the single-action OTF knives comes out the front by pushing a button. When closing the blade, you have to fold it using your hands. Opening these knives is fast, while closing takes a little longer as the process is manual.

Single-action OTF knives are more inexpensive than dual-action. The reason is the design of these knives is simple and takes less time to manufacture. If your budget is tight or you are looking for the best budget OTF knives, go with single-action OTF knives.

Double Action OTF Knives

Discharging and retracting the dual-action OTF knife blade is a completely automatic process. That is why many people prefer it over single action. You can use them almost anywhere, and are suitable for everyday carry tasks.

They have intricate designs, and the manufacturing process is more detailed compared to a single action. For this reason, these knives are expensive. Regarding efficiency and productivity for everyday tasks, dual-action OTF knives are the best option.

Buying Guide – How to Buy the Best OTF Knife Under $100

OTF knives come in different designs and styles. As a result, you can lose yourself in the market when buying the best OTF knife on a budget.

To simplify your selection process, we discussed a few factors you need to keep in mind when selecting the right one.

Use/Purpose

Ask yourself the below questions.

• What is the purpose of buying the OTF knife?
• Do you need quick access to your knife?
• Are you looking for a badass OTF knife?

The answer to the above questions will help you decide better when buying.

OTF knives can be used for a myriad of purposes. These are a great choice for those who tackle EDC tasks in stressful conditions. They also feature several WOW factors to make your camping, hiking, hunting, or other outdoor sessions comfortable.

Knife Size

The size of the knife can make a huge difference when using the knife. It is a crucial factor that we often overlook. Choosing the best OTF knife according to your hand size is important.

Smaller OTF knives can be uncomfortable to grip, especially when dealing with bigger tasks. Also, they are unsuitable for bigger hands.

On the other hand, larger OTF knives are generally bulkier, making them difficult to carry. However, they will give you confidence when handling tasks.

Consider your hand size and style when choosing. Grab your selected knife and learn how it feels. Since you will be using valuable bucks, it is important that your chosen knife should feel comfortable to use.

Construction & Materials

When buying the best OTF knife, choosing a model made of premium materials is essential. Durability, quality, and performance greatly rely on the OTF knife construction.

You will find many low-end OTF knives in the market made of basic materials. Avoid choosing them as these will show poor performance over time.

Stainless steel and aluminum are good materials for manufacturing OTF knives. The above-reviewed OTF knives are made of quality materials for the utmost durability and excellent performance.

Legality

OTF knives are illegal to use in many states in the USA. While other regions accept using OTF knives, the blade must be of a certain length.

For example, OTF knives are legal in Georgia, but the blade length should be 2 inches or less. Learn the legality of your state by visiting the official website of the American Knife & Tool Institute.

FAQs on the Best OTF Knife Under $100

Are OTF knives legal across all states in the USA?

The straightforward answer is NO and YES. According to some state laws, an OTF knife is illegal to carry. Minnesota, Hawaii, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland are such states. 

On the other hand, a few states accept carrying OTF knives, but they have limitations. Such states are,

Vermont: Maximum blade length 3”

California: Maximum blade length 2”

Massachusetts and Connecticut: Maximum blade length 1.5”

Washington, DC: Law enforcement and emergency personnel can carry OTF knives

New York: Legal to be used for fishing, hunting, or trapping

Illinois and Kentucky: The user needs a license

How much does an OTF knife cost?

OTF knife prices vary depending on construction, style, manufacture, etc. The price range for OTF knives is $10-$350.

Does the military use OTF knives?

OTF knives are made for military and law enforcement personnel. Military uses OTF knives for defensive fighting positions.

Is an OTF knife automatic?

Yes, OTF knives are a type of “automatic knife” where the blade deploys out the front by pressing a button.

What are OTF knives called?

The other names of OTF knives are sliding knives, angel blades, telescopic knives, out-the-front knives, etc. The blade of these knives opens and closes through a hole in one end of the handle.

Last Words

Finding the best OTF knife under $100 requires careful consideration of several factors. While budget-friendly, it’s crucial to prioritize quality, durability, and overall value for money. Our reviewed knives will impress both seasoned and casual knife enthusiasts with their high-quality materials, innovative design, and superb performance.

Still haven’t found the best OTF knife under $100 for you?

Our vote goes to the Punisher Glass Breaker Spring-Assisted Knife. The knife stands out on its own from the moment it is unboxed. Setting itself apart from the competition, it boasts a sturdy build, high-quality materials, and an ergonomic handle design. Additionally, it offers added convenience and safety features that enhance its overall appeal.