Knives Best Seax Blades For EDC Mike Searson May 19, 2025 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. The Seax or Sax is an ancient style of blade that, at least in principle and shape, dates to the Migration Period in Europe (300-375 CE). The blade style and shape were single edged, sometimes with a point, but often without it. It’s speculated that many were fashioned from larger swords that broke in battle. If a warrior couldn’t afford a new sword, he would fashion a Seax from the remaining parts giving a full-sized handle with a shorter blade that was still effective.Seax may have been the Old English word for “knife” and how the Saxons gained their name, but the design was used by the Franks, Celts, Norse, Sammi Finns, and Slavs through the Dark Ages. As knife and sword making evolved, the rather simplistic design was replaced over time but never truly went away.The design became popular with most working men who needed a simple and effective knife for common cutting chores. The name went through changes — sometimes you’ll see them referred to as a Wharncliffe, Sheepsfoot, or Reverse Tanto — but they all share that same characteristic blade pattern where the spine of the blade tapers to meet the cutting edge of the blade at an acute point, giving you full power with every cut. Originally, they were large, fixed blade knives that were worn in a horizontal sheath across the back. Today, full-size replicas are offered for collectors and reenactors by Cold Steel, Windlass Steelcrafts, RMJ Forge, and hundreds of other bladesmiths. Yet, smaller EDC patterns are available like the ones you see here as folders and fixed blades for EDC. They make for reliable working, utility, rescue, and fighting knives.Coincidentally, across the world in Japan, a style of knife known as the kubikiri or kubigiri came into use. The translation for this is “head cutter” and was possibly designed for samurai whose job was to remove the heads of fallen enemies as battlefield trophies in ancient times. In later years, these types of blades were said to be used as a badge of rank, a utility knife, and even as a surgeon’s blade. In some instances, the point is reduced, or a slight curve may be added to the belly of the blade in more of a Sheepsfoot design. The rise of people tracing their DNA on various ancestry sites may have revived this pattern in popularity over the past few years.SOG KNIVES STOUT SJ CLEAVERThe Stout SJ Cleaver represents a collaboration between Danish custom knife maker Mikkel Willumsen and SOG founder Spencer Frazer. There’s a lot of international flair going on in this piece. A short blade with no point and a two-handed slip joint opening mechanism allow it to cross most international borders. It really teeters on the edge of being considered a Seax in the strictest terms, but this tough little blade is guaranteed to be there when and where you need it due to its relatively benign looks, action, and double-detent slip joint locking mechanism.SPECS: SOG Knives Stout SJ CleaverOAL: 6.4 inches Blade Length: 2.4 inches Blade Material: Cryo D2 Weight: 3.4 ounces MSRP: $60PROS: Cryo D2 signifies that the cryogenic treatment process of the steel gives the knife an enhanced performance standard via increased toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. The action is very smooth, and the double-detent slip joint lock remains very stiff; the choil beneath the blade and the grooved rear help a lot in this regard. This one is so compact that it can easily drop in a pocket or double as a money clip. CONS: A slight elongation evolving into a tip could make for a very compact Seax despite its design as a travel knife. The clip can be a little tight for pockets with thick material.CRKT VIENTOCRKT has historically executed designs with collaboration from the top custom knifemakers in the industry. With their Viento model, they tapped into the skills and design genius of Richard Rogers. The Viento is a liner lock that fires open with a fantastic IKBS flipper action consistently every time you tap it. Normally, a folder with a flipper and no thumb lug, divot, or hole as a backup is met with disdain, but this one never failed in hundreds of openings. CRKT may not always match custom designs regarding materials in order to keep the prices down, but they never miss on the actual mechanisms for the knife in question. SPECS: CRKT VientoOAL: 7.43 inches Blade Length: 4.26 inches Blade Material: D2 Weight: 3.9 ounces MSRP: $75PROS: The blade is made from D2 and is incredibly tough, sharp, and very easy to maintain. The G-10 scales are rock solid and very comfortable to hold. It can be hard to think of a Seax or Sheepsfoot blade in a gentlemen’s style knife but Rogers and CRKT make it work with this one. CONS: The pocket clip is for right-hand users only. Although D2 contains chromium, beware of potential corrosion in wet and humid environments.ED BROWN FIRST RESPONDER TOOLMost of us know Ed Brown as a maker of fine 1911 pistols, but the company has recently branched out into selling a select few branded knives made for other companies on their behalf. In this case, we have a knife from Hogue called the Trauma renamed as the Ed Brown First Responder Tool. This knife is a veritable multi-tool for EMT types. Its primary feature is a partially serrated folding ABLE Lock blade of Bohler N680. On its own, it would make for a great EDC blade for most, but there’s also a glass breaker on the butt, an O2 valve incorporated into the G10 scale, and a swing-out seat belt cutting hook.It’s more of a Sheepsfoot design as opposed to a true Seax, but you can see the influence of the older blade upon this one. SPECS: Hogue Knives for Ed Brown First Responder ToolOAL: 8.25 inches Blade Length: 3.4 inches Blade Material: Bohler N680 Weight: 4.7 ounces Handle Material: G10 Price: $199PROS: Bohler N680 is tough, corrosion resistant, and quickly becoming a leading steel for general-purpose use. The action is incredible and consistent. There were no problems at all opening or closing the knife. The little extras aren’t mere novelties but intelligently designed features that work well. CONS: Swapping the clip to the other side for left-hand use might make the O2 wrench hard to use in an extreme situation.AUXILIARY MANUFACTURING KTK TANTO REVFormer Executive Chef Michael Jarvis builds a wide array of cutting tools in his one-man shop in Reno, Nevada, as Auxiliary Manufacturing. He is a full-time custom maker of fixed blade knives.The KTK Tanto REV is very capable of stabbing, slashing, cutting, and prying. Its origin came from an entirely different type of knife. Jarvis makes a line of Kwaiken-type blades (hence KTK means Kwaiken Type Knife). A customer asked for a Reverse Tanto style of blade, which may as well be called a Japanese Seax, and the knife remained so popular to become a regular part of the lineup. The textured Micarta handles are incredibly comfortable to hold, and the blade is very sharp. This is a true working knife. SPECS: Auxiliary Manufacturing KTK Tanto REVOAL: 8.5 inches Blade Length: 4 inches Blade Material: AEB-L stainless steel Weight: 5.5 ounces MSRP: $279PROS: AEB-L is a very versatile knife steel; it’s tough, offers very good corrosion resistance, and can be heat-treated to a wide range of hardness. In this case, it sports a 61.5 HRC. The handle is textured perfectly without being overdone. This is a very comfortable piece to use and carry. CONS: There’s no lanyard hole for this one. The clip can only be positioned for right-hand use and carry.COLD STEEL KARVECold Steel may have been best known for their Tanto designs in the 1980s, but in the decades since, they’ve drawn inspiration from different knives all over the world. Including the Seax with this model called the Karve. The Karve illustrates the virtues of the Seax and is packed full of cutting power all the way to the tip. The blade’s profile transfers its energy into whatever you’re cutting. The Atlas lock is particularly impressive. This ambidextrous sliding lock can be quickly opened and closed with one hand, while keeping your fingers free of the blade’s path. Plus, it can absorb more shock than the company’s famed Triad style.SPECS: Cold Steel KarveOAL: 8.6 inches Blade Length: 3.75 inches Blade Material: AUS-10A stainless steel Weight: 5.5 ounces MSRP: $129PROS: This is a very well-made piece that opens and closes effortlessly, remaining strong while locked open. The blade steel is AUS-10A stainless steel, which is sharp, tough, and holds a decent edge. Whether it’s a knife or a hand-and-a-half sword, Cold Steel builds knives that last. CONS: It can be a tough knife to get in the pocket due to the clip tension. AUS-10A is probably closer to a carbon steel than stainless, so be careful regarding moisture and maintain it.SPYDERCO AUTONOMY G10 BLACKThe Spyderco Autonomy was developed in response to a request from the U.S. Coast Guard for a cutting tool for their rescue swimmers. They needed a high-performance knife that could be easily deployed with only one hand while wearing heavy gloves, is impervious to salt water, could be easily maintained, and, above all, would cut with extreme authority. This all-black version of the knife has a safety and a pocket clip that’s ideal for other end users. The heart of this knife is its voracious Spyder Edge blade, which is ground from H-1 steel — an extraordinary nitrogen-based alloy that is extremely corrosion resistant. To optimize its function in tactical environments where light discipline is a requirement, it receives a tough Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating to reduce its reflective signature. SPECS: Spyderco Autonomy G10 BlackOAL: 8.62 inches Blade Length: 4.92 inches Blade Material: H1 Weight: 5.4 ounces MSRP: $416PROS: The blade is made from H-1 steel coated in DLC. That means it’s tough, laser sharp, rust resistant, and sports an easily maintainable edge. The G10 scales are contoured and textured. High-quality construction and an automatic that fires with authority CONS: Spyderco restricts the sale of their autos to military, LEO, and fire/rescue personnel. It can be a tough one to get hold of if you’re not in one of those categories. A fully serrated blade knife isn’t for everyone. The serrations may be a bit much for fine cutting chores.EMERSON KNIVES RUNE SEAX (AREA 51)Emerson Knives built its reputation by making knives for U.S. Navy SEALs, and the SEAX continued that tradition following Emerson’s love for viable historical designs. The key there is historical designs that work. Emerson almost exclusively uses 154CM steel these days on their factory knives, which is a great everyday steel to use. G-10 scales and titanium liners round out this knife. The handles on this one are decorated with Norse runes in the G10 coloring.This is a blade you might want to take a closer look at if you are intrigued by the design of the Seax.SPECS: Emerson Knives Rune SEAX (Area 51)OAL: 9 inches Blade Length: 3.9 inches Blade Material: 154CM stainless steel Weight: 4.1 ounces MSRP: $262PROS: The blade is made from 154CM. That means it’s tough, laser sharp, rust resistant, and has an easily maintainable edge. Emerson’s “wave-shaped” opening feature allows for a lightning-fast draw, because it opens the blade as you draw from the pocket. The G-10 scales are rock solid and very comfortable to hold. CONS: At 9 inches in total length this can be a bit big for some folks. This is a limited edition from Emerson’s Area 51 with G10 scales embedded with Viking Runes made in small batches, so availability can be an issue unless you prefer standard black scales. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
