List what you personally think are the top 10 production knife makers in the world

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Sami P

Joined
Aug 7, 2011
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Each of you probably has a mental list of the top 3 or 5 makers. But if you have to go the extra mile and make a list of what you consider to be the top 10 in order, what would you say? By "top" I mean makers who are in your opinion associated with good designs and quality steel and fit and finish across their entire line (or most of it).

:cool:
 
I can't put them in a particular order really. I'll say that Kabar is my favorite though. I also think about availability when I class production companies.

Kabar
Kershaw
Spyderco
Benchmade
Buck
Mora
Helle
SOG
Al Mar
Columbia River


I don't consider Busse, Scrapyard, or Swamp Rat production companies, with their limited availability and short production runs. Reeve is a top maker, but you can't find his stuff just anywhere. I also don't consider ESEE a manufacturer. They are a marketer, like Cold Steel. YMMV
 
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  1. Spyderco
  2. Benchmade
  3. Kershaw/ZT
  4. Victorinox
  5. Chris Reeve
  6. Al Mar
  7. Buck
  8. Fox/Extrema Ratio
  9. Case
  10. Cold Steel
 
I cant really put them in order but here they are.

1. Spyderco

2. Zero tolerance

3. Kershaw

4. ESEE(rowen)

5. Case

6. Benchmade

7. Cold steel

8. Scrapyard

9. Ka-bar

10. Victorinox

I know there are others but i cant think of them.
 
Busse
Microtec
Emerson
Al Mar
Kershaw
Bench made
Spyderco
Randall
William Henry
Cas Hanwei
 
Gosh, Having to think at almost 11:00pm...:D

1) Kershaw/ZT

2) Spyderco

3) Benchmade

4) Buck

5) Case

6) Cold Steel

7) Emerson

8) Leatherman

9) Ka-Bar

10) CRKT
 
I consider these makers to be production knife makers because they are not made by one guy.

1. Randall Made Knives (the waiting list speaks volumes, doesn't it? Just wish they would up their RC or try some newer steels.)
2. Busse knife group (including Scrap Yard and Swamp Rat... all have a fantastic heat-treatment. Best user fixed blades on the market. Unsurpassed customer service & warranty)
3. Great Eastern Knives (beautifully executed folders. They build em like they used to... or maybe better.)
4. Chris Reeve Knives (the sebenza might be the all time classic HD folder... it changed the folder world)
5. EESE (solid knives, good heat-treatment, made to be used at a very good price)
6. Spyderco (been carrying Spyderco since the late '80's. Love the flat profile and smoothness of opening)
7. Benchmade (I prefer Spyderco's designs, but Benchmade seems to have better edge retention, apples-to-apples)
8. Dozier (the king of D2... need I say more)
9. Mora (absolutely the best bargain in the knife world)
10. Kershaw (really liking their designs and the ZT series seems to be very popular, but too heavy for my preference)

That's my list. I'm sure everyone won't agree with my choices and/or the reasons for them... but it is my opinion. What is yours? :D
 
In no particular order:

Fallkniven
William Henry
Al Mar
Spyderco
Victorinox
Moki
Benchmade
KAI/Kershaw
Buck
Busse and kin
 
1) Benchmade
2) Spyderco
3) Kershaw
4) Cold Steel
5) Extrema Ratio
6) William Henry
7) Buck
8) Victorinox
9) Busse
10) Al Mar
 
Spyderco
Benchmade
Buck
Kershaw/ZT
Chris Reeve
Victorinox
Cold Steel
Esse
Emerson
Case
In no particular order.
 
Fallkniven
Queen (including those few Winchesters, Moore Maker, Schatt etc.)
Great Eastern
Spyderco
Fontenille Pataud
Roselli
Chris Reeve
Benchmade – but only for the 710 and Ritter Griptilians)
Puma (old ones)
German Eye
 
1. Esee
2. Strider
3. Nwa
4. Off the map outfitters (Brian Andrews)
5. Tilley
6. Gossman
7.spyderco
8. Benchmade
9. Zero tolerance
10.ray liconico.
 
In no particular order, I'm mentioning these companies for their overall greatness.
I'm not always sold on their design, as there is usually something I'm not happy about, but the ones I consider to be top makers are:

Spyderco — mostly cool designs, good build quality, but most often not so practical allround knives. Great service.
ESEE — really good build quality and I feel that they are almost perfect, but I'm not completely happy with their designs. Great service.
Victorinox — nothing needs to be said here, really. The iconic swiss army models speak for themselves.
Cold Steel — hit n' miss. Sometimes they are really good and sometimes they really suck. Great service.
Benchmade — very good build quality and cool designs, but also here I'm not entirely happy with their designs and the ones I've had have been more form than function.
Fällkniven — as I'm swedish, I'll hint that it's pronounced "fellkniven", not "fallkniven", like so many seem to believe. It means "folder" or literally "folding knife". Really good designs and quality.
Bark River — good designs, good build quality, but I don't like the steel they favor.
Leatherman — I've never used anything as much as my Leathermans and it's never failed me yet.
Mora — great knives for what they cost. I always have many of them laying around where they are needed. Mostly perfect designs for intended use.
Fiskars — great axes, scissors and also great budget knives, which are pretty much like Moras. Mostly perfect designs for intended use.

Of course there are many, many more makers out there that I really like as well, but as the magical number was 10, these were the ones I chose.
 
In no particular order........

Current production

Chris Reeve Knives
ZT/Kershaw
Spyderco
Microtech
Lone Wolf
Schatt&Morgan (Queen)
Busse


Oldies

Schrade Walden/Schrade
Case
Puma
 
microtech
protech
spartan
spyderco
tops
strider
mercworx
ZT
chris reeve
benchmade

mostly based upon designs and designated use that i chose these few. far too many other great makers out there to be brand specific.
 
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