Granted, the basic design of a folding pocket knife hasn’t changed radically over the centuries, but what has evolved are the styles and mechanisms making pocket knives enjoyable to both use and collect. The Best Pocket KnivesBest Overall:Best Value:Most Ultralight:Best Spring-Assisted:Best Out-the-Front (OTF):The Expert: My grandmother once chided me that a man with a pocket knife was worth an extra dollar an hour on their dairy farm. My preferences for a good pocket knife have evolved considerably over those 30 years, and my collection of pocket knives has grown as well. Don’t Break the LawIn the United States, carrying most pocket knives won’t break any laws. But each state has its own rules that might restrict the specific pocket knives you can legally carry.