favotite brand of knife

My favourite brands, from what I own and have personal experience of:

Fixed Knives:
Himalayan Imports
KA-BAR (particularly the Becker knives)
ESEE Knives (formerly RAT Cutlery)
Mora (good knives, great value)

Folders:
Spyderco
Opinel

Multitools & SAKs:
Victorinox
Leatherman

I am sure that there are many brands that are also good but I don't have the money to try out everything and I definitely can't afford $400 knives at this point.
 
Buck, Kershaw, Victorinox, and Rough Rider. I did just get a Spyderco though...
 
There is a limit you reach (like an uncoached golfer that habitually does so many of the same things wrong that he only gets fairly good at the game) - when going to bed with just one maker. There are so many great new and old knife companies out there today that you just cannot stock all of their best knives. Most, if not all, of the aforementioned companies make some great knives. Find the knife that fits your needs esthetically (and functionally, if you are actually going to use it) regardless of the maker. Then all you have to consider is all those standard things like: materials, fit, finish, edge holding ability (don't get too hung up on all those celebrity steels), ease of sharpening and the maker's reputation for backing up their product. Remember how competitive this business is. Any maker may come out tomorrow with a knife that in your mind would top your favorite of today. Be skeptical of anyone who tells you a knife is monetarily a good investment. Few are - and for such purposes you will be much better off these days investing in gold rather than cutlery.
 
Kershaw/ZT are far and above the rest in terms of quality, fit and finish, innovative designs (anyone else using a composite blade?) that don't look like every other blade in their line, and have a far superior customer service equaled only by a few fixed blade makers. AO's, autos, flippers and nail nick folders, along with some of the best kitchen knives made are available. Something for everyone. Nothing else comes close in the folder category, regardless of the price point.

That said, I have a few BM and Spyderco knives. I can base my statement above on my experiences with these two brands.

I also like Buck and the old Schrade knives.

In the fixed blade category, its impossible to beat ESEE for your money.
 
As far as production folders go I don't have too many out side of CRK, Emerson and Spyderco.
 
Of the ones I've spent time with:

I've liked every: ZT, Kershaw, CRK, Bradley
I've liked some: Benchmade, Spyderco, Buck, Gerber, Lone Wolf
I haven't liked any: Boker, CRKT, Camillus, Cold Steel, Smith & Wesson
 
There are a few custom makers I prefer over any manufactor.
In all but a locking folder that is(like sebenza there).

Favorite Manufactor/Company brands are...
CRK(only the folders)
Busse
Case
Spyderco
Benchmade
 
I do agree with udtjim, I select knives by design and alot of companies have atleast one design I like. But if I had to choose 2 that I favor it would be:

Spyderco
Emerson
 
spyderco
Al Mar
kershaw
benchmade
boker(some stuff)
CRKT(some stuff)
Cold Steel(for their tomahawks and their older knives)
 
I have pretty much owed them all and it seems like spyderco really has their thumb on the pulse of knife owners. Their owner interacts with the community, allows input into his designs, stands behind their product and they are just plain useful. So, I have to say they're my favorite. I really like benchmade quality in most case but they are disconnected form their base. They still make a fine knife. Kershaw/ZT make a very good knife and as far as standing behind their product, NO ONE bests them in this department. I have been down right surprised at times by the customer support of Kershaw. I have become a big fan of their ZT line but wish they would expand to a few more models. So for me it's
1. Spyderco
2. Tie between Benchmade and Kershaw/ZT
3. Busse. They'd beat benchmade and kershaw if it weren't for the prices (somewhat justfied though)
4. Strider - again, the only ding is the prices.

Now if we were to include autos in the list, Protech knives would be at least number 2 if not tied with Spyderco for #1. Dave is another owner who stands behind his product and makes one HECK of a knife.
 
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