Best production knife of the last 20 years?

FOLDER: Buck 110, no doubt about it. I don't know if they invented the lockback folders, but they sure put them on the map. The only quality folder my dad ever bought. He bought his over 20 years ago though. Al Mar SERE, would be my next choice.

FIXED: Cold Steel Trailmaster. It is the large bowie by which all other production bowies are (or were), measured. Cold Steel Tantos would be next - they made "Tanto" a word everyone now uses.

Sebenzas are great, but I believe they fall into the custom category:

CUSTOM FOLDER: Sebenza

CUSTOM FIXED: Brend Model II
 
It is pretty hard to argue about the Sebenza as the best folder. But if I had to choose just one, it would be the REKAT Pioneer. It is darn close in strength, and if you find one that was ground thinner at the edge than most of them, darn close in cutting performance too. The Pioneer is way ahead in comfort and ergonomics though. A little more attention to detail, like edge geometry, clip mounting, and dual thumb studs (we won't mention making the two handle sides exactly the same shape) would put the Pioneer way over the top by my standards.

I don't know about production fixed-blades, I don't own a single one. Handmades are so much better and so affordable. The Busse Basics should probably get the prize on promise alone. The Buck Master Series look excellent, and the Fallknivens, but the Cold Steel tantos and the Ka Bar carbon steel combat knives have probably outsold everything else by a large factor.

Harv
 
Any of the Spyderco staples.They transformed the industry by offering high quality at a low price.

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"To grow older is inevitable.To grow UP is optional."


 
Just a note to confirm the Sebenza is definitely a production knife even though it came from the mind and hand of a custom knifemaker. I recently asked them to make up a Sebenza for a customer with no clip (and no screw holes for a clip) and they weren't willing to do that. Definitely not a custom. Definitely a great knife, though.

Another interesting question is what is the best selling knife of the past 20 years. I'd bet it either has walnut scales on a chef's knife blade or that it has red plastic scales with a Swiss cross on it.

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Fred
Knife Outlet
www.knifeoutlet.com

 
For me, to be considered the best in the last 20 years, a knife has to have a log and enduring track record. For folders, the Buck 110 has been around that long. I still have mine and I'm sure its over 20 years old. Yet, it is still a popular, rugged knife.

For fixed blades, the Cold Steel Tanto gets my vote. It has been around a very long time, had a dramatic influence on the market when introduced, and continues to be very popular among tanto lovers.
 
1. MT full size socom
2. BM Mel Pardue Axis Lock
3. Spyderco (New Version) Military

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Regards,
Ron Knight

Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it
 
I won't count the 110, as it's 36 years old, so...I'll have to go with the Spyderco Delica/Endura. This pair basically started the big brother/little brother knife model selection so common today. Not to mention the legal one-hand opening hole, pocket clip (the new steel clips on the Zytel knives are better, but I'd still like the handle around the base of the clip to be reinforced to avoid stripping out), light weight, great steels, serrated/plain, super-sharp edges.
Of course, there are tougher, or stronger knives, but IMO no better knives for the money.
Jim
 
gotta go with the Buck 110. And my pick for the fixed blade "bang for the buck" category will be the Schrade Pro Hunter. Keeps an edge longer than it has a right to. What exactly is "Schrade +" steel? I like it. And half of me wants to nominate the Gerber Gator for being one tuff SOB for the buck. My choices may not be flashy, but they cut and cut well.
 
gotta go with the Buck 110. And my pick for the fixed blade "bang for the buck" category will be the Schrade Pro Hunter. Keeps an edge longer than it has a right to. What exactly is "Schrade +" steel? I like it. And half of me wants to nominate the Gerber Gator for being one tuff SOB for the buck. My choices may not be flashy, but they cut and cut well.
 
Buck 110, carried one all over the world.

Certainly not the best by today's standards but it still gets my vote, or is that my age showing <grin>.
 
I think the best production knives made that most could afford to use were BlackJack's classics,trailguide,and B,K,&Ts. Excellent edge geometry,reasonably tough,good handle materials.I miss 'em.
m
 
The buck 110. It is the first knife that I owned. As far as bang for the buck CS Voyagers, take your pick.

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Drac Noroc

A mind is like a
parachute, it only functions when open.

AKTI # BA00013

 
20 yrs? Endura/Delica for sheer influence on the knifemaking industry, quality for price, and well-earned popularity.

Sebenza's influence should not be underestimated, however: it was the first (I believe?) to advance M. Walker's liner lock and introduced the integral lock (correction if I'm wrong?). In any case, it has opened up "high end" folders to me and a whole lot of other folks. It may indeed have gathered a fashion cult around it -- but it's quality ain't no fluke.

Glen
 
folder = sebenza
large fixed blade = project I / II
small fixed blade = spyderco moran
 
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