In the series premiere, "And in the Beginning," Dexter uses the Buck 119 to carry out his first kill against Nurse Mary, a woman responsible for poisoning her patients. During the confrontation in his very first kill room, Dexter utilizes the knife to maintain control and silence his victim before delivering the final blow. While Dexter eventually transitions to using a specialized set of surgical tools in his later years, the use of this specific hunting knife here for Dexter’s first kill serves as a nod to his origins. It highlights his transition from the hunting trips he took with Harry to Dexter applying those same skills on a human target.

In the Better Call Saul episode "Mijo," the cartel leader Tuco Salamanca wields the Espada during a tense desert confrontation with two skateboarders who attempted to scam his grandmother over a false hit-and-run. Tuco uses the oversized Cold Steel folder to intimidate the pair, showcasing the blade's sheer scale as he considers their fate. Luckily for the skaters, Jimmy McGill, the future Saul Goodman, intervenes and successfully negotiates with Tuco to spare their lives and break their legs instead as a fair compromise.

Throughout the long-running series NCIS, the ZT 0301 is the quintessential tool of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The knife is a physical embodiment of his famous "Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife." Gibbs is frequently seen using the ZT 0301 for a variety of practical tasks, ranging from the mundane, such as peeling an apple or opening evidence, to the tactical, such as cutting through restraints or extracting forensic clues at a crime scene. Its recurring presence and rugged look perfectly mirror Gibbs’ no-nonsense, disciplined character, solidifying the knife's status as one of the most recognizable and functional props in the history of procedural television.

In the series Sons of Anarchy, this knife is the signature weapon of Jax Teller, the Vice President (and later President) of the SAMCRO motorcycle club. Often carried in a leather sheath on his hip, the KA-BAR is a constant presence throughout the show’s seven seasons. Jax utilizes the knife in numerous high-stakes situations, ranging from combat during club disputes to more personal confrontations. The choice of the USMC Fighting Knife serves as a symbolic link to the club’s history, as SAMCRO was founded by war veterans, and carrying such a legendary military tool reinforces Jax’s role as a leader in a world defined by violence and tradition.

In the series Reacher, the Griptilian is the knife of choice for the title character, Jack Reacher, a former Army Military Police investigator. Given Reacher’s nomadic lifestyle and his preference for carrying only the essentials, the knife fits his no-frills philosophy perfectly. He is seen using the Benchmade in various survival and tactical scenarios, such as cutting through zip ties or bypassing obstacles during his investigations. The selection of the Griptilian underscores Reacher’s pragmatic nature; he doesn't care for flashy or ornate weapons, opting instead for a high-performance, American-made tool that gets the job done efficiently and without fuss.

Gil Hibben is a titan in the world of custom cutlery, having spent over six decades establishing himself as one of the most influential knife makers in history. Before his designs became staples of television and cinema, Hibben served as a Navy machinist and began making knives in the 1950s, eventually becoming the first president of the Knifemakers' Guild. He is perhaps best known for his fantasy designs and his work as a movie knife designer, most notably creating the iconic blades for the films Rambo, The Expendables, Mortal Kombat, and more. His style is defined by a mix of martial arts utility and dramatic flair, often utilizing 440C stainless steel and mirror-polished finishes on his blades, making his pieces stand out on the silver screen.

In The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 episode 8, "On Your Belly You Shall Go," a custom Hibben fixed-blade serves as a central plot device when it is gifted by the volatile Cobb Milsap to his son, Corey, during Corey’s birthday party. The blade’s menacing presence is established early on, as Cobb uses the celebration to intimidate Corey’s mother, Lori, and assert his dominance over the family. The narrative comes full circle during a brutal confrontation at an alligator farm, where Cobb overpowers both Eli Gemstone and Baby Billy Freeman. Just as Cobb is poised to deliver a fatal blow, Corey intervenes, using the very knife his father gifted him to stab Cobb in the back. This act of defiance ends with Corey pushing Cobb into an alligator pond, where Eli rings the feeding bell to ensure Cobb’s demise, turning the patriarch's own gift into the instrument of his destruction.