I don't know how to define 'BEST', but my three most common daily carries are:
1. Spyderco small Centofante C25
2. Kershaw Ken Onion Mini-Task
3. Benchmade 850 Mel Pardue
All have plain-edge blades under 3 inches long. I'm sure these are not the Best knives there are in this price range (depends on what you need the knife for), but one of these three finds its way into my pocket everyday. So for me, they're the Best knives.
Although I don't own either, I have played with both of these and think they are really well constructed, solid, purpose built knives, but a little big for my daily needs:
1. Spyderco Wegner
2. Spyderco Starmate
Paracelsus