American Made Fixed Blades

W

winchester73

Joined
Jan 6, 2008
Messages
710
It seems Buck has the most fixed blade hunting knives and a few American made pocket knives while Case is the opposite with a focus on pocket knives and a few hunting knives. What other companies currently have American made fixed blades? The old USA made Schrades were great but the question is current production American made.
 
Hess Knifeworks of Gladstone, MI. American made knifes (previous Marble's employees) using GEC blades. Excellent knives.

I owned a Hess Whitetail but gave it to a co-worker's son. rredden, here on BF Traditionals porch, just gave me a Hess Pioneer which I like better than the Whitetail.

If I were looking for a currently USA made production sheath knife it would be one from Hess Knifeworks.
 
I guess this would be a good thread to post this picture I took the other day. (shameless promotion) Not a great photo, but shows what I've got.

My GEC fixed blades. Two are users (so far). The H23 stag is great outdoor/ camp knife.
And I'm very impressed with the small H20 micarta. The belt clip sheath works great, I forget that I have it with me.
Fantastic EDC, and around the house and kitchen.


SMUx971.jpg
 
Kabar
Becker
ESEE
Benchmade
Gerber (some)
Case
Hess
GEC
Spartan
White River
Tops
Bark River
 
GEC just finished production on the four different H73s, but they haven't hit the shelves yet.

You can find a number of American craftsman producing fantastic fixed blades in any price range right here in the Knife Maker's Exchange. I've got two fantastic knives from Austin Goldman that were priced around the GEC knives and about 1/3 the price of Bark River, Fiddle Back Forge, etc.
 
leghog said:
Hess Knifeworks of Gladstone, MI. American made knifes (previous Marble's employees) using GEC blades. Excellent knives.

I owned a Hess Whitetail but gave it to a co-worker's son. rredden, here on BF Traditionals porch, just gave me a Hess Pioneer which I like better than the Whitetail.

If I were looking for a currently USA made production sheath knife it would be one from Hess Knifeworks.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information. I hadn't known that Hess Knifeworks used GEC blades or that they had worked form Marbles. These are good looking knives and are very well priced
 
hamsco said:
I guess this would be a good thread to post this picture I took the other day. (shameless promotion) Not a great photo, but shows what I've got.

My GEC fixed blades. Two are users (so far). The H23 stag is great outdoor/ camp knife.
And I'm very impressed with the small H20 micarta. The belt clip sheath works great, I forget that I have it with me.
Fantastic EDC, and around the house and kitchen.


SMUx971.jpg
Click to expand...

Terrific collection!!! They make great steak knives also.
 
Cutco knives are made in the US, but they're kind of overpriced.

Camillus currently has 1 fixed blade being made in the US, and there may be more to come.
 
I've become a big fan of Bark River over the last couple years. I've bought and sold a few to see what I like and have settled on a couple that get used the most.

The Adventurer is their take on a Murray Carter design and is in my pocket 95% of the time.



Evenings and weekends I always have either this Bravo LT, or its smaller brother the Gunny Hunter, on my belt.

 
I will second what Shawn said about the Exchange here. Many of the custom knives are very traditional and a superb bargain, considering the extra attention to detail and heat treatment. I have knives from SamuraiStuart (Stuart Davenport) and eloreno (Erik Loreno) that are both tremendous values.
 
MadTrapper said:
Western.
Click to expand...

If you're talking about the vintage stuff made by Western, Coleman/Western and Camillus prior to their bankruptcy/closure back in late 2006/early 2007, I'll agree with you.

For the newer stuff, i.e., current Western, Western States and Camillus, we'd have to agree to disagree.

I have only held a few of the "newer" Camillus, Camillus Western and Camillus Western States knives currently being made by Acme (who bought Camillus' name/etc). Let's just say I was NOT impressed. The handles felt "funny", the balance felt "off". As for the steel in them? Who knows. The packaging just says "Titanium Bonded Stainless 440". Not 440A, not 440B, not 440C. Just Titanium Bonded 440. Whatever the hell THAT is supposed to mean in the real world.
 
I agree with Leghog Hess is putting out some great knives. However I have found that some of our registered knife makers here produce some excellent knives priced comparatively to production knives. I have got a thing for Blade Forums registered maker G. L. Drew's knives. Great knives at great prices. This little clip point is my favorite.


vcLJbrh.jpg
 
Some of the Ontario fixed blades are made in the US.
Not sure if they are the style you want, but all the Old Hickory knives are made in the US, and I think all the Russell Green River fixed blades are, too.
As for the current production Schrade's, it is my understanding that the 1095 carbon steel hunting/"bushcraft" knives are US made.
 
afishhunter said:
Some of the Ontario fixed blades are made in the US.
Not sure if they are the style you want, but all the Old Hickory knives are made in the US, and I think all the Russell Green River fixed blades are, too.
As for the current production Schrade's, it is my understanding that the 1095 carbon steel hunting/"bushcraft" knives are US made.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the only imported Ontario knives are a few folders, everything else is made in America.
 
Bark River makes a large variety of fixed blades, from neck knives to bushcraft. I'm happy with mine.


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top