This Surprisingly Affordable Tactical Folding Knife Has No Business Looking This Good

Perhaps no knife maker has been on more of a tear lately than Solingen, Germany-based Böker.

From somehow improving a legendary designer’s iconic folder to reviving US production to casually dropping possibly the best-looking $42 pocket knife ever, the brand is truly en fuego.

Böker

That momentum continues this week, as Böker — no stranger to high-end blades — continues to explore the affordable knife space. 

Teaming up with Heckler & Koch, another German manufacturer better known for firearms, results in two editions of the new SFP Tactical Folder, which does not require gearing up like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando to unleash a lot of practical utility.

Tactical magic

It’s worth noting right off the bat that you have two choices here, and the difference is not purely aesthetic. 

The core version of the knife has an uncoated, stonewash-finished blade while the All Black edition features, yes, a black blade that is partially serrated, so if saw-requiring tasks are on your to-do list, the latter probably gets the nod.

Other than that key difference, the two knives are quite similar. 

In either case, you get a beefy 3.6-inch spearpoint blade made of D2, a big reason this knife is more affordable than it looks. 

Boker itself calls D2 an “upper-tier conventional steel,” which is another way of saying it is one of the better budget-friendly tool steels. 

Böker

It boasts excellent edge retention and stability, but is a tad high maintenance in that sharpening takes some work. 

The blade is deployed to its full 8.58-inch length via a thumb stud that sits on the spine for ambidextrous use and held in place with a liner lock.

That means you’ll need very dextrous fingers to return to the handle scales without using both hands.

Modeled after the handle of H&K’s SFP9 firearm, the scales feature ergonomically shaped finger recesses that enable a reliable grip, even when the knife is wet and/or you are wearing gloves.

Böker

Said scales are made of polypropylene, a man-made thermoplastic that is lightweight, hard and budget-friendly, another reason this knife is so affordable. 

Secured to the handle is a reversible tip-up deep-carry pocket clip, and the knife also comes with a nylon storage case.

Together with the very versatile blade, that all adds up to a fine-looking folder (over)qualified to tackle a range of everyday tasks, from box cutting to food slicing to outfoxing even the most nefarious clamshell packaging modern manufacturers can devise.

Availability and pricing

The Böker x Heckler & Koch SFP Tactical Folder and SFP Tactical Folder All Black are both available now for $70.

Böker

Böker x Heckler & Koch SFP Tactical Folder

Created in collaboration with a renowned German firearms manufacturer, this knife boasts a number of features that carry over nicely to EDC use. Made of reliable D2 steel, the 3.6-inch spearpoint blade deploys via a single ambidextrous thumb stud and is held in place by a sturdy liner lock. The handle scales, meanwhile, are constructed of lightweight yet durable polypropylene with ergonomic finger recesses that enable a secure grip even when wet and/or you are wearing gloves.

• $70 at Böker

Böker

Böker x Heckler & Koch SFP Tactical Folder All Black

This knife boasts many of the same compelling features as the core SFP Tactical Folder, with one notable difference: its black, 3.6-inch D2 steel spearpoint blade is partially serrated, equipping it to tackle sawing tasks. Like the core model, it deploys via a single ambidextrous thumb stud and is held in place by a sturdy liner lock. It also features an ergonomic handle made of lightweight yet durable polypropylene, making it grippy enough for reliable use in wet conditions and/or while wearing gloves.

• $70 at Böker

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