Knife gifts for a boyfriend, weighted toward the things men his age actually want to hold: balisong butterfly knives, karambits, D2 tacticals, push daggers and tracker blades, all hand forged in our own Memphis workshop. A name, a date or a short line can be engraved before it ships as a paid option. If you want a gift he will pick up every day rather than thank you for politely, this is the collection.
Shopping for December? The Christmas knife gifts for him guide has picks for a boyfriend, a husband and a dad.
-
Onyx Fang Handmade Damascus Karambit Knife with Buffalo Horn Handle, Brass Spacers & Damascus Finger Ring | Collector Gift | BMK-1190
Original price was: $203.00.$158.00Current price is: $158.00. -
Bush Viper Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Karambit Knife with Olive Green Paracord Handle & Leather Sheath | Survival EDC Gift | BMK-1184
Original price was: $125.00.$98.00Current price is: $98.00. -
Smokeclaw Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Karambit Knife with Olive Wood Handle, Mosaic Pin & Leather Sheath | Traditional EDC Gift | BMK-1183
Original price was: $131.00.$102.00Current price is: $102.00. -
Copper Crescent Handmade D2 Steel Mirror Polished Karambit Knife with Rosewood Handle & Leather Sheath | Classic EDC Gift | BMK-1186
Original price was: $141.00.$110.00Current price is: $110.00. -
Shadowstone Handmade D2 Steel Stonewashed Karambit Knife with Black Micarta Handle & Leather Sheath | Tactical EDC Gift | BMK-1188
Original price was: $135.00.$105.00Current price is: $105.00. -
Verdant Reaper Handmade D2 Steel Satin Karambit Knife with Olive Green Micarta Handle & Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Gift | BMK-1187
Original price was: $133.00.$104.00Current price is: $104.00. -
Scarlet Fang Handmade Damascus Karambit Knife with Black G10 Handle, Red Liners & Leather Sheath | Collector Tactical Gift | BMK-1185
Original price was: $165.00.$129.00Current price is: $129.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Brass with Buffalo Horn Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-564
Original price was: $190.00.$148.00Current price is: $148.00. -
Stagwedge Handmade Damascus Push Dagger with Stag Antler & Walnut Handle, Brass Bolster & Leather Sheath | Collector Knife | BMK-1197
Original price was: $216.00.$168.00Current price is: $168.00. -
D2 Tool Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless Steel Walnut Burl Wood Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-472
Original price was: $168.00.$131.00Current price is: $131.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Brass with Stainless Steel with Bone and Rose Wood Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-567
Original price was: $299.00.$233.00Current price is: $233.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Brass with Ebony Wood Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-609
Original price was: $190.00.$148.00Current price is: $148.00. -
D2 Tool Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless Steel Dye Bone Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-481
Original price was: $190.00.$148.00Current price is: $148.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Brass with Ebony Wood Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-569
Original price was: $190.00.$148.00Current price is: $148.00. -
Damascus Balisong Butterfly Knife Hunting Blade Beautiful Engraved Brass & Copper Handle Original Traditional Filipino Butterfly Batanga Knife USA Made | BMK-2005
Original price was: $258.00.$201.00Current price is: $201.00. -
Golden Timber Handmade D2 Steel Tracker Knife | Tom Brown Style Stone Washed Blade | Walnut Wood Handle with Gold Screws & Mosaic Pin Inlay | Black Leather Tracker Sheath | Bushcraft Survival & Camping Gift | BMK-1108
Original price was: $239.00.$186.00Current price is: $186.00. -
Olive Ranger Handmade D2 Steel Tracker Knife | Tom Brown Style Stone Washed Blade | OD Green G10 Handle with Gold Screws | Black Leather Tracker Sheath | Bushcraft Survival & Camping Gift | BMK-1109
Original price was: $239.00.$186.00Current price is: $186.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless with Walnut Wood and Burl Wood Inserts with Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-434
Original price was: $168.00.$131.00Current price is: $131.00. -
D2 Tool Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless Steel Bone Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-453
Original price was: $180.00.$140.00Current price is: $140.00. -
Rosethorn Handmade Damascus Push Dagger with Rosewood Handle, Brass Pins & Leather Sheath | Collector EDC Knife | BMK-1196
Original price was: $184.00.$144.00Current price is: $144.00. -
Handmade Damascus Balisong Butterfly Knife Brass Engraved with Camel Bone Hand Forged Damascus Steel Knife Gift USA Made | BMK-2004
Original price was: $305.00.$238.00Current price is: $238.00. -
Black Lotus Handmade D2 Steel Chinese Dao Sabre | 29 Inch Gently Curved Single Edged Blade, Matte Satin Finish | Polished Buffalo Horn Grip with Ornate Brass Disc Guard, Brass Pommel Cap & Red Tassel | Leather Scabbard | Martial Arts Collector Gift | BMK-1137
Original price was: $529.00.$413.00Current price is: $413.00. -
Damascus Balisong Butterfly Knife with Beautiful Brass Handle Handmade Original Traditional Filipino Butterfly Batanga Knife Black Mamba Knives USA | DB-30
Original price was: $255.00.$199.00Current price is: $199.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless Steel with Bone Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-605
Original price was: $168.00.$131.00Current price is: $131.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Brass with Stainless Steel with Dye Bone Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-608
Original price was: $299.00.$233.00Current price is: $233.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Brass with Walnut Burl Wood Insert Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-566
Original price was: $190.00.$148.00Current price is: $148.00. -
Damascus Balisong Butterfly Knife Original Traditional Filipino Butterfly Batanga Knife with Handmade Brass Handle | DB-03
Original price was: $273.00.$213.00Current price is: $213.00. -
Handmade D2 Steel Balisong Knife | Bone & Brass Bolster Handle | Premium Butterfly Knife with Leather Sheath | BMK-714
Original price was: $386.00.$301.00Current price is: $301.00. -
Balisong Blade Damascus Steel Butterfly Knife Amazing Buffalo Horn Handle Hunting Camping Knife Gift USA Made | BMK-2003
Original price was: $354.00.$276.00Current price is: $276.00. -
D2 Tool Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless Steel Bone Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-463
Original price was: $180.00.$140.00Current price is: $140.00. -
D2 Tool Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless Steel Rose Wood Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-469
Original price was: $168.00.$131.00Current price is: $131.00. -
Hand Forged D2 Steel Balisong Snake Blade Knife| Stag & Brass Engraved Bolsters Handle | Premium Butterfly Knife with Leather Sheath | BMK-2017
Original price was: $544.00.$424.00Current price is: $424.00. -
Damascus Balisong Butterfly Knife Original Traditional Filipino Butterfly Batanga Knife with Handmade Steel Bolster and Wooden Handle | DB-04
Original price was: $239.00.$186.00Current price is: $186.00. -
Bronze Fist Handmade D2 Steel Mirror Polished Push Dagger with Rosewood Handle, Brass Bolster & Leather Sheath | Classic EDC Knife | BMK-1194
Original price was: $158.00.$123.00Current price is: $123.00. -
High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Brass with Rose Wood Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-563
Original price was: $190.00.$148.00Current price is: $148.00.
The honest version of this decision
Buying a knife for a boyfriend goes one of two ways. Either you get him the thing he has been watching videos about for six months and he is genuinely delighted, or you get him a generic gift-shop blade and it sits in a drawer next to the wallet from two Christmases ago. The difference is not price. It is whether the knife matches something he already does.
| If he... | Get him |
|---|---|
| Fidgets constantly, likes learning tricks | A balisong butterfly knife. It is the closest thing to a hobby you can wrap. |
| Is into martial arts, tactical gear, EDC videos | A karambit, or a D2 tactical folder |
| Hunts, camps, or is outdoors most weekends | A fixed blade with a leather sheath, or a tracker knife |
| Cooks for you | A Damascus chef knife. Underrated, and the one gift you both benefit from. |
| Collects, displays, cares how things are made | Damascus, and tell him the steels. He will look it up anyway. |
| Has never owned a knife | A three inch folder. Start small, and see what he reaches for. |
About balisongs, since that is what most people are here for
A butterfly knife is the most likely thing on this page to be a hit. Please check your local law before ordering. Buy a real one with pinned pivots and proper handle construction rather than a trainer that rattles, because the whole appeal is in how it moves. Our balisong construction guide explains what separates the two, and butterfly knife tricks is a decent thing to send him with it.
What to engrave, and what not to
Twenty characters. That is the working limit, and it goes further than you think if you resist the urge to write a sentence. Initials and a date age well. Inside jokes age badly. A single word that means something to the two of you is usually the strongest choice, and it is the one people come back years later and tell us they were glad they picked. Engraving is a paid option added at checkout, and we send a proof before anything is cut.
Is a knife a good gift for a boyfriend? If he has any interest in tools, gear, cooking or the outdoors, it is one of the best gifts in the price range, because it gets used and it lasts. If he has none of those interests, a knife is a decoration, and there are better decorations.
What knife should I buy my boyfriend? A balisong if he fidgets or likes learning things with his hands, a D2 folder if he is into EDC, a fixed blade if he is outdoors, and a chef knife if he cooks. A three inch folder is the safe answer when you are not sure.
Are butterfly knives legal to give as a gift? Please check your local law before ordering.
What should I engrave on a knife for my boyfriend? Initials, a date, or one short word that means something between you. Up to 20 characters. Short beats clever, and a date is the thing people are gladdest about ten years later.
How much should I spend on a knife for a boyfriend? Between $100 and $200 buys a properly forged knife with a real heat treat. Under about $60 you are paying for the box rather than the blade.
What if he already has knives? Buy a pattern he does not own rather than a bigger version of one he does. A karambit, a balisong or a kitchen knife are the three that collectors most often have not got round to.
More reading
See also knife gifts for men, gifts for a husband, Valentine's gifts for him, birthday gifts for him, or the full gift guide.
Every knife here is forged by Black Mamba Knives in our own American shop.
