Best bang for $... production knives

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
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I'd say Spyderco/Byrd followed by MT. Spyder will stand by their warranty, quickly I've heard. Spyderco cares about customers. MT, while I may not agree with the owner, makes excellent knives with fit and finish at near custom levels.
 
Mictrotech is an incredibly expensive (for what you recieve), difficult to achieve Warranty assistance production knife brand.

I judge bang for buck by Knife, Service, and ongoing Customer Support.

For this, Spyderco, Kershaw and CRK are about the only three production brands that immediately come to mind as having any form of customer service these days.
 
Bang for the buck? Byrds, Rough Riders, and Kershaws.

Warranty work? Spyderco, Boker, and Kershaw.
 
Best bang for the buck.... I'm probably going with Kershaw on this one. When you look at the materials used, customer service, warranty, and the quality control the knives go through I would have to say Kershaw is in the front of the pack.
 
I'm a Spyderco guy all the way, but I have to go with Kershaw and Buck for this category, since I give a premium for their USA production.

Byrd is an incredible value, as is Rough Rider if you like slipjoints, but I can't really bring myself to embrace Chinese production over US. That's especially true when you consider the very reasonable price difference.

Edit: for fixed blades it's undoubtedly Mora.
 
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We have to throw in Victorinox, Opinel, and Mora. Very high value.

I have never tested Victorinox's customer service, but the knives do come with a lifetime warrantee. (the fact that I have never had to test it says something all on its own)

Kabar has some great deals too. For both folders and fixed blades.
 
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Victorinox, Mora, Opinel, Condor/Imacasa, Buck, Kershaw, Spyderco/Byrd, Tramontina, RAT...

Just a few off the top of my head. :)
 
I have heard Case has excellent customer service, but I have never had to use it.
 
I am Mr. Bang for the Buck, and in my opinion it's Kershaw. Second I would say Byrd knives. There are others that have models within there line up that are good in that matter like the Buck Vantage Pro, and Spyderco Endura. Really though, when it come to bang for the buck, it's Kershaw.
 
RAT Cutlery is at the top of my list, and Spyderco, luckely I have not need to use either.
 
IMO a knife does not need a warrantee to be "the best band for the buck." That said, a good warrantee always helps though.

For example, I would still consider Victorinox a great bang for the buck even if they had no warrantee.
 
Bang for the buck:

Spyderco/Byrd - great quality, wide range of prices and materials offered, innovative, great customer service...something for everyone's price range. Love the Byrd line, can't believe what you get for $30.

Benchmade - top quality and fit/finish that rivals customs, great designs, axis lock and great liner and frame locks too, wide range of prices.

Buck - quality build, great warranty, very affordable if you aren't looking for the next "Steel of the month" exotic materials and catchy marketing.

Kabar - beat them to death and they still perform with minimal maintenance.

Kershaw - nice designs, love the assisted openers, very affordable, great customer service.
 
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