Recommendation? Flagship USA Folders

J85909266

J85909266

Joined
Jun 6, 2005
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I've been trying to put together a small collection of what I consider flagship manual folders from big USA made companies. I do not like flippers at all. I am not interested in flippers. I also want knives in the 3.25 in to 4 inch blade range. I don't really care to carry a knife under 3 inches of blade. Don't worry, this is not a knock to imports, and I still buy and carry imported knives, so no need for politics.

So far I have:
Medford Praetorian T
Medford Slim Marauder
Microtech Socom Elite
Spyderco Shaman (I own a lot of Spydercos, but I believe the Shaman is the most impressive knife out of Golden.)
TRM Atom

On my list:
Hinderer Non Flipper XM18 3.5
Southern Grind Spider Monkey
Spartan Blades Harsey Framelock
A Sebenza 31 (I have owned 3 different Sebenzas, a Regular which I will never forgive myself for selling, a Classic, and a 21. So, I'm in no rush to get a 31 since I know that the Classic handle irritates my hand a bit.)
Hogue - Their design language is odd. It's a combination of somewhat bizarre Elishewitz designs and stuff that looks like BM made it. Still, I hear they make good stuff.
Emerson - This is at the bottom because I don't like the wave or chisel grinds at all. I also have heard that the fit and finish is lacking, and they are madly overpriced.

Not being considered:
Benchmade - It has nothing to do with the guns and a lot to do with their fit and finish issues and certain legal interactions they had with another company.
Kershaw/ZT - Mostly flippers, hate assisted knives, had several very unpleasant experiences with a certain company figure over the years that soured the brand for me.

Are there any other at least reasonably available USA made production folders out there that fit my taste that I'm forgetting about, excluding my intentional omissions? Thanks!
 
Triton said:
Yep it was the 110 I had in mind. I assume you mean actually made in the U.S. Not just a U.S. Company. Fun idea.
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Yes, it has to be made in the USA, not just assembled, and certainly not outsourced. I like the S30V and G10 Buck 110. I care less and less about weight or flashy opening as I get older, so that knife appeals to me a lot more now than it did back when I first started the hobby.
 
I would love to see a manual protech Godfather buttonlock with a thumbstud. I will probably just buy the auto Godfather because I doubt Protech will ever make another knife that isn't either a flipper or an auto.
 
Koenig made a non flipper Arius (I believe).
Hogue Ritter
Strider SnG (Had to mention it. You can't deny it's a flagship US made knife)
Les George VECP
Begg Knives Bodega (not Steelcraft)
Triple Aught Design Dauntless
GEC

I know I've forgotten a few. But I think those are a lot of the heavy hitters from recent years that fit your criteria.
 
You can check Yellowhorse Buck 110's
Two horses with one buck ...
Or something like that
 
I wouldn't consider them a "flagship" or big maker but the Three Sisters Forge Gorgon meets your parameters.
tsf-gorgon-tumbled-thumb.jpg
 
J85909266 said:
...

Spyderco Shaman (I own a lot of Spydercos, but I believe the Shaman is the most impressive knife out of Golden.)
...
Click to expand...

I also really like the shaman overall, however, I have to say the gayle bradley 2 in cpm-m4 is my flagship spyderco

I'm just curious if you see refinements on the shaman which the gb2 lacks?
 
GB and GB 2 are made in Taiwan.

Though a custom maker, Matt Bailey has some models in your size and price range.

The SG Spider Monkey is a fantastic knife, get one. I'm carrying mine today.

Hogue makes great knives IMO, and I like the able lock better than the Axis. I just bought my cousin a Deka wharncliffe for his birthday. It's a nice knife. $140 for 20cv.
 
I have a Hinderer Non Flipper XM18 3.5 and recently picked up a Hinderer Halftrack as well.

I really like the XM18 (very smooth easy opening action) and it feels very solid in hand when using it but I LOVE the Halftrack. On paper vs my prior preferences it shouldn't be a knife that works for me (ie too small, flipper etc) but it fills the palm perfectly and fiddling with the tiny flipper puts a smile on my face. It's well worth a try.
 
Southern Grind Bad Monkey, Spider Monkey is a little small for your parameters (but one of my favs).
Olamic may do a flipper delete on a 247, I use the hole to open mine 90% of the time. You can order them with an almost infinite number of options.
Millet makes some pretty great knives, the Aegis Hoplite is a fantastic non-flipper, secondary market only.
I'll 2nd the TSF Gorgon, I carried mine yesterday while on the tractor, whacked some brush with it. It's a beast which brings up their other knife, the Beast. It may be just a bit smaller than your ideal but it fits all the other parameters. I'm on the hunt for one myself.
Les George mid-techs?

I'm kind of doing to same thing myself. I'm waay over flippers and waay into USA made. It has to be super compelling to sway me from USA made anymore (hasn't happened in a long time). Regardless of how nice some overseas knives are (no dispute there, I have a few examples that rival anything USA made) I'm done looking across the Pacific, I won't even consider them. It slows down the collecting but it makes me feel better and I put more thought behind my purchases these days. I like the hunt and the anticipation of waiting for something I 'really' want rather than just filing drawers with anything that catches my fancy. I don't move knives other than gifting so they accumulate.
 
J85909266 said:
I would love to see a manual protech Godfather buttonlock with a thumbstud. I will probably just buy the auto Godfather because I doubt Protech will ever make another knife that isn't either a flipper or an auto.
Click to expand...

There were different variations of the TR3 in a manual version. Now discontinued, they can still be found here and there.

They’ve also made double action autos with a hidden release, such as the Harkins ATAC. Essentially a manual knife with a little “hidden surprise”.

IMG_3318.jpg


Protech-Harkins-ATAC-DA-Auto-Black-Marble-CF-SW-8801-BHQ-50467-jr-large.jpg
 
dirc said:
I also really like the shaman overall, however, I have to say the gayle bradley 2 in cpm-m4 is my flagship spyderco

I'm just curious if you see refinements on the shaman which the gb2 lacks?
Click to expand...

In general I would have to say THE flagship for Spyderco is the PM2. If you included other countries, one could argue the Delica/Endura maybe.
The PM2 is an icon in the knife world.
It's that, the Buck 110, CRK Sebenza, and the Benchmade 940.
To me those are your Mount Rushmore of (folding EDC) knives. Can't get more "flagship" for a brand than that.
 
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