Poll: Which factory brands do you prefer and why?

[Atrick-Pay]

CRK, Busse, Camillus (Becker)

 

[Chip]

Busse - toughness
Emerson - wave

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Buck and Spyderco, because I have never gotten a bad knife from either company.

 

[tarsier]

Spyderco - For features like the thumbhole and SpyderEdge. Innovative designs and responsive customer service. The founder of the company is actively involved with customers and still designs/tests knives. Products that provide quality in low-end and midrange knives. Like many people on this forum, I like to rotate through a variety of daily carry knives. By buying Spydercos, I can afford to do so.

Other - Leatherman and Victorinox for being my most used knives.

Edit to fix typo.

 

[Steven Roos]

Benchmade, SOG, Leatherman, and Buck/Strider.

 

[fishbulb]

For the most part I don't have any real allegiance to "brands" as such, but I am consistently impressed by Benchmade knives.

-I find the quality of construction and materials to be excellent, all the ones I have owned have been good on fit and finish with zero blade play; and stayed that way with repeated use. They also come very sharp.

-In every category of folders, Benchmade has at least one serious competitor for best knife on the market.

-Metal liners. This may not matter much to others, but it is essential for me. Every Benchmade that I have ever seen has metallic liners beneath the scale material, on both sides. This adds strength and rigidity, plus knives that do not have this feature just feel cheap.

-Benchmade has not forgotten that a knife is primarily meant to cut. No .25 inch slabs of metal here, all their folders are fairly thin and have good blade geometry.

-And of course, the Axis lock. Best blade locking system I know of.

I just wish that they would make an Axis 690. That would be about as close as any production company would get to making my perfect knife.

 

[PETEDY]

I can't believe that haven't anyone mention S.A.K Victorinox yet
my first knife that I ever had when I was a kid was a Vic. Camper, still have it after 20 odds years, although it does multiplies
to about 10 differents little Vic. by now and still counting. I also
like Buck and Schrade as a pocket knives.
Spyderco would run top on my list for folders ( Spyderhole,
innovative designs, price range, it's just perfect for my taste).
- Some models of Benchmade, Cammillus, Kershaw, K-bar , Coldsteel
B&T, Mora, Hellen, Fallkniven, Opinel,(Not in any order of one brand
better than the other, I liked them all, just for differents used.)
I'm sure there are more brands out there that I have't experience
with , it just what I can get hands on at my local Knives Shop, don't
want to order through the Web something that I haven't handle before.

Regards,
PETER

 

[koolstof]

Buck, Busse, Strider, Camillus, Leathermann, Kershaw, K-bar, Columbia River... Yes, mea culpa, I was not near to complete with my listing (but in my defence, there's a 10 item maximum *lol*).

Burchtree, sorry to hear about your experience with the Cold Steel Peacekeeper. Silly old me who tought you could carve yourself through a mountain with a CS.

I posted this thread because to me, buying a speciality item like a knife implies a leap of faith. You can get cheated in so many ways... However, it seems that some brands offer solid guarantees. I suppose they realise that a happy customer spends more

So thanks for your help!

 

[Orion]

Benchmade- good quality to price ratio.
Microtech- Duh!
Cold Steel- Good quality to price ratio, good selection.
Ontario- Great quality to price ratio.
BK&T- Great users for good price, nice selection, great customer service.
Himalayan Imports- Great bangers, great quality to price ratio, great customer service.
Busse (& SwampRat)- Duh!
Greco- Good knives for the money
Mineral Mountain- Semi custom stuff, great users and quality to price ratio

Peace-
Cam

 

[TheBadGuy]

I think Benchmades are GREAT!!! But currently I am on a Microtech kick.. Spyderco makes some great knives also. I have more Spydercos than anything else.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I've come to like Chris Reeve, Microtech, Spyderco, and Leatherman best. But I've got a lot of others, including Camillus, Cold Steel, and Benchmade, that work well and look good.

Chris Reeve and Microtech are consistently excellent design, materials, and construction. Spyderco is great value for the money, both in quality of materials and fit & finish, and I really enjoy their innovative designs. Benchmade should be up there with Spyderco but the designs just don't excite me as much. I got into Leatherman for my multitools and like them a lot, except for the Wave. But the Swisstools seem just as reliable.

Swamp Rat Knives are a subdivision of Busse, a kind of Basic Busse Basic at reduced prices with some practically identical designs. I got the Ratchet, a small hatchet, and it is awesome: tough, sharp, great balance, handle, and sheath.

 

[Harpy]

Spyderco:

Why? Because they offer designs I like>>the Harpy and Merlin + a few others<< at prices I can afford while maintaining my 1st hobby, watches. Spyderco's fit and finish with wonderful for the price and they aren't affraid to break ground on new designs and try new steels.

peace love and one more knife

 

[JohnnyLightOn]

My #1: Spyderco. Unbeatable combination of design, function, quality, and value.

My #2, based on one knife: Benchmade. My 806D2 is fantastic.

Johnny

 

[Nathan S]

CRK beats 'em all; after that, Benchmade and then Spyderco. Victorinox has a special place in my heart, too.

 

[Silver Puss]

Puma (not the newer laser-cut knives without brass guards)
TOPS
Masters of Defense
Diefenthal
Kissing Crane

I'd like to say Busse and Bauchop also, but I'm not sure a knife you may have to wait up to a month for is "factory".

 

[Silver Puss]

Puma (not the newer laser-cut knives without brass guards)
TOPS
Masters of Defense
Diefenthal
Kissing Crane

I'd like to say Busse and Bauchop also, but I'm not sure a knife you may have to wait up to a month for is "factory".

 

[Ankerson]

Here is an very good review for those of you who have not seen it yet.

It brings up some very good points when buying a Bowie Knife too..

Comparing Busse and the Cold Steel Trail Master (Carbon V)

http://www.bladeforums.com/magazine/trial/csvsbusse-2.html

Cold Steel has had this model in their line for many years now and it is a proven workhorse. I doubt anyone who has ever purchased a Trail Master felt they did not get a good buy. In fact I have sold many Trail Masters in my day, and my pitch was that it was the best large bowie knife available at nearly any price. It still is! The Trail Master is an incredible cutting machine. After really playing with one for several days I find it has a much better balance that the Busse. It’s tip control was more predictable and if you ever plan on using a bowie as a fighter then you will need to look past the Busse and get a Trail Master. And if you ever plan on throwing your Trail Master you will be pleasantly surprised. The Busse is in no way a thrower.

 

[diogo]

My prefered brands are:

Kershaw because of their overall good quality construction and inovative looks

CRKT they produce the best quality-low price knives I've ever seen

Opinel they have the best looking fishing pocket knives i've ever had

Victorinox & wenger they produce the best EDC knives (small size and multifunctional)

Spyderco their looks and overall sturdiness (only the ones with stainless steel or G-10 handles. The others are surprisingly fragile)

 

[koolstof]

First time I hear such a thing about the handles of Spyderco. Who can second that, any comments?

 

[Lenny]

Spyderco- Quality and Value
Reeve- Don't think I have to say why, now do I?
Lenny