The best grafting knife should be compact, almost like a Swiss pocket knife. But while a Swiss pocket knife is designed for nearly everything, a grafting knife is specifically made for gardening purposes.
In this guide, we will highlight some of the best grafting knives to go for various gardening purposes.
We tested all of them and assessed what other users had to say about them for the full overview.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t lock in the open position.
Features
This product is a high-quality grafting and budding knife by Victronix that is ideal for cutting as flat as possible. And all the credit goes to its straight blade design.
This blade is made of stainless steel and won’t lose its shape for a long time because of the single bevel construction. The bevel is on the same side of the thumbnail slot, so if you are holding it in your right hand, the bevel will be facing you.
The knife has a single-sided blade just like a razor. It means you will only have to sharpen it on its bevel side. The bevel side is just sharp enough to do the job, so you won’t have to deal with any cut-open pockets. And the best part is you can sharpen it with any whetting stone.
The only issue with this knife is you cannot lock it in an open position just like a standard folding knife. Over time, the hinge gets loose, and you will find it challenging to keep it open unless you tighten its screw.
Overview
This stainless steel grafting knife has a straight 2.25-inch blade with a bark lifter. It’s an excellent tool for all types of gardeners.
2. Barnel Grafting Knife
Pros
The blade is made of high-carbon steel.
The handle is made of Bubinga wood.
It has a very ergonomic handle design.
It features a spring lock just like regular pocket knives.
It is very convenient to sharpen.
Cons
You will need to sharpen it quite frequently.
Features
The Barnel grafting knife has a folding design. Its blade is made of high-carbon steel, which comes from Solingen Cutlery and is second to none in building and cutting quality. With this blade, you won’t have to worry about rusting or corrosion issues at all. The knife’s length is 6.25 inches when you open it up, and the width of the blade is 2.25 inches.
The handle of this knife is made of Bubinga wood so you are assured of its sturdiness. The ergonomic handle is very comfortable to hold in your hand as well. The lining and the rivets inside the handle are made of brass.
In addition, we loved this knife because you can conveniently lock it in place when it’s open, just like all other pocket knives. It features a spring lock, and there is no other physical lock that you might have to release when you need to close it.
Overview
This grafting knife features a spring lock system and a 2.25-inch blade made of high-carbon steel. It’s the right choice for an average gardener who needs a proper grafting tool at hand.
3. Zenport Budding & Grafting Knife
Pros
It features a single-edge tip.
It is very comfortable to use a folding design.
The blade is made of Japanese stainless steel.
The 3-inch blade can make all types of cuts.
You can sharpen it easily.
Cons
Its handle doesn’t come with an ergonomic design, and it’s not comfortable to hold.
Features
This plant grafting knife is an excellent tool for budding and grafting, and it comes with a folding mechanism. The single-edge blade works well, and it is made of Japanese stainless steel. It means that it is going to hold up pretty nicely no matter how you use it. Plus, the blade is easy to sharpen.
One thing we noticed while testing this knife is that it doesn’t come with an ergonomic handle. This took us by surprise because the blade is of superfine quality, but that handle doesn’t justify it at all.
Sure, its handle requires some upgrading if you want to use this knife for a long time to come. But the blade functions mighty well, and it cuts pretty clean. You won’t have to sharpen it too frequently.
Overall, this is still an excellent grafting knife. The manufacturers have instead focused on making it a cost-efficient option more than the aesthetics.
Overview
Its handle might need some improvements, but the blades cut flat and clean and it stays sharp longer. It is the best knife for occasional gardeners.
4. AM Leonard Grafting Knife
Pros
The blade is made of Sandvik steel.
Exceptional cutting quality.
The blade is heat-treated for hardness.
The Rosewood handle has a smooth finish.
There is a bark lifter at the top end for convention budding.
Cons
This tool is for serious gardeners and professionals.
Features
If you are looking for a premium quality grafting knife, then this is it. The blade of this knife is heat-treated and it guarantees hardness.
Its blade is made of Sandvik steel which holds up well. This timeless steel is immune to rust and corrosion and can stay sharp for longer. Therefore, you won’t have to sharpen your knife regularly.
Right at the tip of the blade, there is a bark lifter that you can use for budding.
But that’s not all!
This knife comes with a rosewood handle that has a smooth finish. It is 4.125 inches long and is comfortable to grip. The blade folds comfortably within the handle and has a spring locking design for added safety within the closure system. The handle doesn’t have any ergonomic designs, but it still works like a charm.
Overview
This quality knife for horticulture grafting is meant for serious gardeners. It is made of premium-quality materials and does sufficient grafting and budding.
Buying Guide
Benefits of a Grafting Knife
Grafting knives are handy tools and are frequently used with budding knives. Grafting knives have single-edge blades, while budding knives come with dual-edged blades. In most cases, you will find a grafting knife that can be used for both budding and grafting. They are great for patch budding. You can use these knives for taking grafts and buds that are commonly used for propagation.
Grafting ensures a plant’s resistance to solid diseases and pests. It genetically and physiologically improves the growth of a plant. Moreover, it guarantees the reduction of space and better growth. It can also perpetuate clones that don’t produce any seeds. This is why it is important to pick a good-quality grafting knife.
Things to Consider When Buying a Grafting Knife
As there are so many different types of knives out there, choosing the best one can be challenging.
Here are all the features you need to consider and compare when buying a grafting knife.
The Number of Blades
Knives come with either single or multiple blades. Multi-blade knives feature a straight edge and a curved blade with a hook. Both these blades are essential in grafting, but with an extra blade, you will have to carry some excess weight.
With multiple blades, you may also experience issues where the blades don’t thoroughly fold into the handle. This might cause an injury if you are going to graft an entire garden.
However, overall, a multi-blade design offers more versatility compared with a sing-blade knife. So it’s up to your preference which one you are going to go with.
The Handle Diameter
Some gardeners don’t pay attention as much attention to a knife’s handling diameter, but you should know that it also plays a significant role. It is directly related to your hand’s comfort. A handle with a thicker diameter feels more comfortable in your hand. If the grip is comfortable, you can carry on with your grafting activity for an extended period. Thinner handles are difficult to grip, especially for long hours.
The Blade Material
Make sure to go for steel blades because they are the best ones in terms of longevity and durability. High-carbon steel is even better than stainless steel because it can handle rust and corrosion pretty well and is lighter.
Other options include blades made of Sandvik and Japanese stainless steel. However, they are slightly expensive.
The Handle Material
There are so many options that are available here. Nylon handles are exceptional when it comes to gripping. But if you are looking for something aesthetical and good for the environment, you can go for wooden handles.
Some knives also come with plastic handles. But they are cheap and low-quality grafting knives.
The Blade’s Edge
You need to make sure that you go for a knife that comes with its sharp edge starting right from the handle. It is going to be very handy in making easy and cuts. Always look for a knife that has its edge starting closer to the handle. This type of design doesn’t require much effort from you when doing the cutting.
Conclusion
Grafting knives are very important tools in gardening. They come in several shapes and sizes and serve different purposes. You need to pick the best one based on your needs and preferences. But our recommendation is to always make sure to go for a knife with its edge close to the handle for guaranteed comfort. The blade materials should also be made of high-carbon steel.
Single-blade knives are durable and robust, but multiple-blade knives are more versatile. For us, the best one out there is the Victorinox Grafting Knife because it comes with a solid handle and a superior foldable design.