Best Knives for Gifts?

My choice in a gift would usually be a Vic Classic, probably in red because that's the iconic SAK color. Most of the people I know are not pocket-knife users, and that's a good safe choice. Plus a Classic is useful enough, and typically lasts long enough, that if the recipient has a spark of knife interest, that'll do it.

And if it meets the fate of most gift knives — getting lost, or hidden in a drawer, or confiscated at the airport — the loss isn't great.
 
This year for Xmas I'm giving several people knives, all picked specific for them.

For my friend Brian I'm giving him some variant of griptilian (have a 551 for him but I'm looking for a mini instead). For my landscaper friend who will only carry a folding utility knife I'm giving a Boker nano and my old spyderco ladybug hawkbill (since he's had one of those $2 ladybug knock-offs on his keys years now). For my father-in-law a custom scaled UKPK and for my wife a CRKT ripple cerakoted hot pink (she's also getting either a foursevens quark 1xAA or a eagletac D25A cerakoted to match). My wife's also giving her dad another knife she really likes for him, incase he doesn't want to use the UKPK since the wood scales are hand made (by me) and he works on the water- a Boker Exkalibur 2. (A very cool little knife).
 
Leatherman Squirts, Spyderco Ladybugs and various Victorinox have made well appreciated gifts in the past for my BIL's and nephews. I sharpened a couple Tenacious I gifted a few years ago at our last family gathering and it was nice to see them getting used. I usually give them all the same knife, multi-tool or flashlight each year. I bought a bunch of Opinel's with the thought and customizing them and making leather sheaths for them for Christmas this year but I might have to push those to next year as I have been short on time for projects lately. Most likely going to be a flashlight year with AAA Maratac's this year.
 
My brothers and I just got our dad a Buck 110 from the custom shop, for his 50th birthday. This just happens to be the 50th birthday of the 110 as well. I thought it was very fitting. We also had it engraved with his initials and 50 years. Brass bolsters, s30v blade, and rams horn scales. It's a beaut.
 
Thanks y'all these are all great ideas. I've given two SOG power assist multi-tools away, both to contractors. I have one and was impressed with the ratcheting gears on the pliers. But as far as blades, this year I was thinking about gifting some little Spyderco's or a BM mini to my brothers. They have done a lot for me and it's the one that I am about to start EDC ing.
 
None. Most of the very few friends of mine who are into knives have better collections than I do, the rest of them just aren't interested at all and would rather have something else. One friend of mine wants a pink folder of some sort(she saw a pink camo Buck somewhere, I believe), so I could probably find her something, but other than that, I would be better off buying my friends something other than a knife.
 
One more vote for the SAK's, for both genders. I'm on a SAK binge lately and they really excel as presents. My experience is that giving somebody an Explorer usually hits all bases except the saw, I find what NKP people really like is the mag glass, the scisssors and the main blade for opening packages. Or a SwissChamp model if the recipient would appreciate a camping saw tool.
I prefer black over red so that's what I give and many people have never seen a black SAK before, so that's fun.
 
I've given so many away I think it's awesome to see people appreciate them and use them. My brother loves his manix 2xl and my brother in law loves his kershaw blur in s30v. My dad always carries his benchmade triage and I've given some fixed blades away as well to really good friends, I like to open their eyes to a good quality cutting tool and they love it, and if they love it I love it.
 
I've thought about giving my Japanese Kershaw DWO to someone, havn't found someone to give it to yet. It's small, cheap, and made by a reputable company. Perfect gift to a NKP. :thumbup:
 
Any SAK, Perticularly the "Classic", but I like the Tinker too. I also think the Spyderco Ladybug would make a great gift.
Gonna buy my Mother In Law a Delica for Christmas. (She really likes mine, and only has an old combo edge AL-Mar that sits in her truck)
I've also given away a CRKT Marzitelli Prowler, & CRKT Ryan
 
Interesting hearing all your choices. Seems like many prefer a smaller gift knife. Anyone given any Ontario Rat ll's out? I have some friends and brothers that would probably go for a smaller EDC or like a specific blade, maybe for cutting up fish or a hunting knife. Just like the idea of giving a useful tool and not a gift card:)
 
I gave Opinels to a couple of my friends, with very positive reception, as well as Chinese Rough Rider Slipjoints in a variety of traditional patterns, and find them to be equally as popular. Both are reasonably priced, and something an individual shouldn't be afraid to use.
 
Usually I give a buck 110. I think every guy should have one. I gave my wife a pink griptilian. She loves flipping it open and closed.
 
I helped my mom pick a knife to give my step-dad. We ended up finding him an antique German hunting knife from the 50s or 60s(not sure which). It ended up being a great gift because it is wonderful as a user but it also has a lot of interesting history behind it. The point is that usually finding something unique can make for a great gift knife. Ours turned out to be.
 
I picked up 2 of the Damascus Skylines when they first came out. I think i paid like $38 each and I gave one of them to my dad for a Christmas gift that year and then a year later they are selling for over $100 :). I gave my brother an orange ffg Delica 4 for his birthday and one of my buddies a Kershaw R.A.M. I really miss that R.A.M.!
 
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