Flagships

Wolverine666

Wolverine666

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Dec 7, 2009
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Most (if not all) knife manufacturers have at least one flagship model. A knife that has helped to put them on the map. And I'm curious as to which knives you think have done that for each company.

In my opinion I would say the following knives have helped their respective manufacturers achieve legendary status :

- Benchmade 710
- Spyderco Para Military2
- Chris Reeve Sebenza

I'm not so sure about other companies so I'd like you to chime in with your opinions on those. And the key word here is "OPINION". Everyone is entitled to say what they think. So let's not start any wars.
 
ZT 0300 for Zero Tolerance.

For Kershaw? Maybe the Blur.....?

I would say the Mini-Grip has done well for Benchmade, too. Maybe the 710 and 551/556 should share the mantle of Flagship Knife for BM...

For CRKT, I nominate the Carson M-16/M-21, because I don't think anybody else is going to...

Cold Steel changes their lineup pretty often, but the Voyager has stayed in the catalog for a long time.

ESEE? The Izula.
 
KaBar - the 1217 Fighting Utility Knife. (AKA "the Kabar", "USMC" knife, or Navy Mk2)
 
as much as I want to say the Para2 for spyderco I think the delica/endura is their true flagship knife much like the griptilian is for benchmade. for Kershaw I would say its probably a toss up between the Skyline and the Leek.

As for other brands I think its something like this

Ontario: Rat folders
Esee: Izula
CRKT: M16/21 but the ripple is making a name for its self
Al Mar: Sere 2000
Buck: 110
lionsteel: SR1
Microtech: Socom delta
Sog: flash
Hogue: EX-01
Strider: SMF
Boker: Im having trouble figuring out but for now im gonna say the Subcom

these are all what I would consider flagship knives
 
Spyderco was on the map pre-para2. They explicit claim the delica and endura as their flagship models. And I'd agree with the mini grip. Leek for Kershaw.
 
I think the term flagship is being misunderstood a bit... It's not the model that puts bread on the table- it should be 'pride & joy' among their offerings... most luxurious or advanced model, most coveted, &c.
 
OP - great topic! Thanks.

My conjecture:

Benchmade - 42 Bali-song - legendary reputation in flipper circles. BM started out making butterflies IIRC.
Kershaw - Leek - 100+ variants. I see more of these clipped to pockets than anything else.
Zero Tolerance - ZT0350 - I think this is still the best seller to date.
Spyderco - Endura
 
Wolf_HR said:
I think the term flagship is being misunderstood a bit... It's not the model that puts bread on the table- it should be 'pride & joy' among their offerings... most luxurious or advanced model, most coveted, &c.
Click to expand...

I agree, when I think flagship it's the top of the line model, exhibiting the best of what a company has to offer.

Full Definition of FLAGSHIP
2: the finest, largest, or most important one of a series, network, or chain <the company's flagship store>
 
farmer ted said:
I agree, when I think flagship it's the top of the line model, exhibiting the best of what a company has to offer.

Full Definition of FLAGSHIP
2: the finest, largest, or most important one of a series, network, or chain <the company's flagship store>
Click to expand...
.


Perhaps "iconic" would be a better word for most of the suggestions above?
 
Before i ever read the first post I was thinking about griptilian/mini-grip vs. 710/707 and I'd have to agree with the OP on the 710 being their flagship. I think the griptilian line put BM's in alot of people's pockets that wouldn't otherwise want a BM, but as far as their actually most beloved knife I'd have to say 710. Same with spyderco and their self proclaimed flagships being the delica/endura, again I think those two knives put more spyderco's in pockets, but I think, by what "flagship" means to me, that it'd be the PM2 or even the military over the delica/endura.

Just my 4¢
(That's 2 for each company)
 
Wolf_HR said:
I think the term flagship is being misunderstood a bit... It's not the model that puts bread on the table- it should be 'pride & joy' among their offerings... most luxurious or advanced model, most coveted, &c.
Click to expand...

Oh. Yeah. I'm one of the misunderstanders.

For Kershaw, then, the Leek or JYD. So many flavors, some with those nifty composite blades.

For ZT, maybe the 0880.

CRKT? Hissatsu. Or the Elishewitz Anubis/Pharoah lineup.

ESEE: still the Izula. When they want to do something new and different, the Izula is the first choice.
 
Yalius said:
.


Perhaps "iconic" would be a better word for most of the suggestions above?
Click to expand...

Yes "iconic" works well too.

I still say the 710 for BM , Para2 for Spydie and Seb for Chris Reeve are the most "iconic" knives for their respective companies.

And Cereal-Killer , glad we share the same thoughts on this topic &#55357;&#56836;
 
IMHO, the ESEE Izula and the Becker 14/24 are two knives the respective manufacturer's never thought would take off like they did.

 
Kershaw Leek
Spyderco Paramilitary
Benchmade Grip
Cold Steel Voyager
CRKT M16
Gerber Paraframe
Microtech Halo V
ZT 0350
Ontario RAT
Boker Nano
Strider SnG
CR Sebenza
Brous Silent Soldier fixed blade
Al Mar Falcon
Buck 110
Emerson Commander
Esee Izula
Ka-Bar USMC
Lionsteel SR-1
Mcusta Katana
Opinel #9
Hinderer XM-18
SOG Trident
SVORD Peasant
 
J_Curd said:
Benchmade - 42 Bali-song - legendary reputation in flipper circles. BM started out making butterflies IIRC.
Kershaw - Leek - 100+ variants. I see more of these clipped to pockets than anything else.
Zero Tolerance - ZT0350 - I think this is still the best seller to date.
Spyderco - Endura
Click to expand...

I have to agree 100%
 
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