Most preppers can get on board with the EDC or everyday carry concept. For most people, EDC includes items or gear you wear and other vital items your store in your phone, carry in your pockets, attach to your keyring, or tuck into your purse or wallet.
Minimally, EDC is those items you need to just get through the day with a few items thrown in to help with unplanned situations or emergencies. One of the items that most people can agree is needed in a lot of everyday emergencies and for survival situations is a knife of some sort.
Let’s face it, in today’s age of security, you just can’t carry a fixed blade or even a folding knife with you everywhere you go. So if you want an EDC knife to slide discreetly in your purse or wallet, we’ve put together the list of the best of the best credit card knives below.
Why Carry a Credit Card Knife?
If you already know the value of a credit card knife, you can skip down to get right to the list of best credit card knives. But if you aren’t sure why you need a credit card knife in your wallet or purse, make sure to read through these next two sections.
Credit Card Knives are:
- Affordable
- Easy to conceal
- Sleek
- Pretty cool gadgets
- Useful to have on hand for cutting tasks
- Discreetly carried in a wallet or purse
- Hidden resort self defense if needed.
When to Use Your Credit Card Knife
How many times have you searched the house or office for a knife or scissors to open a package that just arrived?
If you’ve ever had your glasses come apart at work, a colleague point out a string hanging from your shirt, or found yourself struggling to remove the twine from a bale of hay so you can feed your horses, you understand the frustration.
You may often find yourself thinking that you could do something quicker and easier if you had the right tool. But you can’t just carry a knife or scissors everywhere with you.
A credit card knife comes in handy for:
- Opening package
- Cleaning and Preparing Fish
- As an Eating Utensil
- Sharpening Sticks for cooking or hunting
- Cutting twine, zip ties, or rope
How to Choose the Best Credit Card Knife
There are so many credit card knives for sale on the market today. How do you know which credit card knife to choose? Below are several factors to consider and compare when you are comparing options among the best credit card knives.
If you think about each of these carefully in relation to your own preferences and needs, we’re sure you’ll be able to select the credit card knife that is best for you.
Knife Function
The function of a knife can be a crucial difference when you are considering the various options for credit card knives. Some credit card knives are not really knives, but are more of a straight blade, sometimes resembling a nail file or a letter opener more than a knife.
It’s important to understand how you need your credit card knife to function in various situations and to identify how the blade will funcion when you need to rely on it.
Credit card knives often come as just one piece of a multi tool. Determine what other tools you need to have as part of your EDC and weigh that carefully when choosing the best credit card knife for you.
Design
Look for a credit card knife design that is easy to open or to unfold or fold to close. Some credit card knives are just that, a knife. Other credit card knives have additional tools built-in to the design which may or may not interfere with things like the grip, function, and reliability of the knife itself.
Several credit cards have a detachable knife blade which can be removed if you are traveling or visiting somewhere that prohibits any kind of weapon.
Blade Material
The material used to make a good credit card knife is a critical component. Look for a steel blade credit card knife whenever possible. Stainless steel is nice to have because of its durability and rust resistance.
Experienced preppers looking for a reliable survival knife that can step up as a self defense weapon in a pinch will want to look for the VG-10 steel blade like the one in the SOG Access.
Safety
The knife should be designed with a secure locking mechanism that prevents accidental opening if carried in the wallet or pocket and that locks the blade in place when opened so it doesn’t accidentally close and cut you.
The grip of the knife should be comfortable and secure to prevent slipping, especially if you intend to ever use it for self-defense.
These credit card knives vary in their function but we’re sure that you can find at least one that will meet your EDC needs.
Our List of Best Credit Card Knives
Vintage Spyderco SpyderCard
This handy credit card knife by Spyderco has been discontinued but if you can find one on eBay or maybe at a flea market or yard sale, snap it up and tuck it into your wallet. Preppers agree: it’s still one of the best credit card knives out there. You’ll be glad to have it on hand.
- Aus 6 Steel Blade just under 3 inches long
- Liner Lock Mechanism
- One Handed Open and Close
- Same dimensions of a credit card only thicker
- Rounded Corner Handles
- Practical Knife for various everyday tasks
Wildcard by Zootility Tools
A new tool by the creator of the TSA compliant pocket monkey. This credit card knife was designed with the user in mind and is a fully functional knife. For those who travel, you can detach the knife blade and leave it at home. If you forget and TSA confiscates it, you can simply replace the blade for a couple dollars.
- Only 2 mm thick (equal to thickness of 2 credit cards)
- 2.75” partially serrated blade
- Flyoff pivoting blade locks open and closed
- Dual blade guards prevents accidental cuts
- Detachable blade for traveling (replace for couple dollars)
- Bottle opener
- Pry bar
- Made in U.S.
- Frame lock closed retention and fixed when open
- Grip is sufficient for light use
- Not sufficient for neck carry
Boker Plus Credit Card Knife
The Boker Plus credit card knife is a good choice for those who need something with versatile carry ability. It includes a clip for secure pocket carry and comes with a chain for safe neck carry.
- 3mm thick for a decent fit into your wallet
- 440C stainless steel blade
- May need to be sharpened out of the box
- Blade is 2.25” long and 1.5mm thick
- Frame lock for closed retention
- Decent grip for cutting and slicing tasks
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SOG Access Card
The SOG Access Card knife is a favorite with experienced preppers who want to carry a credit card knife capable of being used as a last resort self-defense tool in a pinch.
It may be too bulky for some wallets, but the design include a secure clip for pocket carry if desired.
- 2.124” inch VG-10 steel blade
- Blade is 2.75” long with saber grind and drop point on both sides
- Durable and easy to sharpen
- 4.8mm thick means it will fit in your wallet but could be bulky
- SOG traditional Arc-lock mechanism
- Smooth, fast open and close
- Grip similar to comfort and function of larger knives
Victorinox Swiss Army Swisscard by Swiss Army
Like having a lighter version of a swiss army knife in your wallet. Makes a great gift for loved ones. Removable blade means you can take the other tools with you when you travel.
Includes multiple detachable tools including:
- Blade/Letter Opener of stainless steel
- Scissors
- Pressurized Ballpoint Pen
- Tweezers
- Magnifying glass
- Nail file with screwdriver
- Ruler (inches & cm)
- Toothpick
- Straight Pin
Tactical Credit Card Wallet Tool by Survival Hax
This handy credit card knife comes with a total of 12 tools in one device. It is bulkier, about the thickness of 4 credit cards. The blade is partially serrated with a hex tool and fish line cutter tip, perfect for those spontaneous fishing trips.
• 12 tools in 1 credit card
• Blade is partially serrated with fish line cutter tip and a hex tool
• Compass
• Tweezers
• Knife Sharpener
• Whistle
• 3 foot Nylon Cord
• Magnifying glass
• Bottle opener and flat head screwdriver
• Rulers
• Fire Starter
• Toothpick
SURVCO Credit Card
This handy two piece credit card multi tool weighs less than 4 ounces. Great for survival, hunting, and self-defense. Use the 2 pieces made of 304 stainless steel (non magnetic) along with cordage or zip ties to accomplish more than 20 different functions including light chopping work!
- Knife
- Ax
- Tomahawk
- Shovel
- Arrow head
- Skinner
- Shovel or Scraper
InstaBlade Credit Card Knife
Reviews on the InstaBlade Credit Card Knife are mixed. Some users claim the knife works great for those little everyday emergencies like opening packages or cutting string. Others say the plastic is flimsy and the knife breaks cutting something as common as a zip tie. Do your own research or get your hands on one and try it for yourself.
- Simple
- Fully Functional blade
- Folding
- Surgical steel blade
- Locks to prevent accidental opening
- Built-in safety sheath
Survival Multi Tool Card by RumbaDock
This credit card tool card comes with 3 different sets and is the ideal gift for the hunter or fisherman in your family or friend group.
- Durable well-made tools
- Arrow tips, spearing trident, and broadhead
- Barbed fishing hooks in two sizes
- Tweezer
- Sewing needles and awl
- Snare locks
- Nice to have in a pinch
- Are Credit Card Knives Legal to Carry?
Whether or not credit card knives are legal to carry will largely depend on where you live or where you are traveling to. In most cases, the length of the blade in a credit card knife will determine whether or not it is legal to carry.
In some countries or regions, it may be illegal to even purchase credit card knives as in the case for most Australian states. In many places, knife blades under 3 inches long are legal to carry. Check your local and state laws carefully to be sure you understand any restrictions.
The TSA has issues a warning to travelers about credit card knives when it comes to traveling however. Trying to take a credit card knife, or any knife of any size onto an airplane will result in confiscation and potentially additional consequences.
TSA agents realize that some travelers may simply forget that they are carrying a credit card knife until they go through the security checkpoint. For this reason, some checkpoints will offer you the chance to return the knife to your car or give it to someone outside the security line.
One Denver airport checkpoint offers a mailer you can use to mail your credit card knife back to your address from the airport before boarding the plane. If you are planning to travel consider a credit card knife with a removable blade so you can leave it at home when traveling and still have the remainder of your tools with you.
Do you have a favorite credit card knife? Did you find one on this list you’d like to try out? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Born and raised in NE Ohio, with early memories that include grandpa teaching her to bait a hook and watching her mom, aunts, and grandmothers garden, sew, and can food, Megan is a true farm girl at heart.
For Megan, the 2003 blackout, the events of 911, and the increasing frequency of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, spurred a desire to be more prepared. Soon to be living off-grid, this mother of four and grandmother of ten is learning everything she can about preparedness, survival, and homesteading.