Production Knife Rankings

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Hondo_Lane

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Dec 31, 2005
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I have been looking at buying a Zero Tolerance knife, but don't know how it compares with other knives I am familar with. This got me thinking that their isn't really a production knife ranking or identifed classes out there. SO here is what I've come up with.
4 classes: Holy Grail Class: The knife that can cut all other knives (think the samurai sword in Kill Bill);
Elite: The highest quality steel and materials, design, and quality, something you wouldn't think twice about trusting your life with;
The Profressional: Great quality but at descent price. Just not as good as the Elite, perfect option for those who need a day to day tool but can't afford the Elite;
Conventional: Price first, quality second. Still get a lot of knife for your buck. Bargin Bin: Cheap, Cheap, and Cheap. So here is my list of Production knives (I limited it to production only, no custom):

Holy Grail: Strider ???

Elite: Microtech, Master of Defense, Zero Tolerance?

Professional: Benchmade, Spyderco, TOPS, SOG

Conventional: CRKT, Gerber, Buck, Ka-Bar

Bargin Bin: Something from COSTCO

What do all of you experts (and I mean that) think? Agree with the class definitions? Agree with where I assigned the brands?
 
I won't grade by brand name because there is good and bad in all lines. I tend to rate KOA very high. Many makers run the board from excellent down to just fair. I buy KOA, SOG, Spyderco and Kershaw as a rule but also own a lot of Buck and CS.
 
This could actually be a pretty informative thread. Great idea.

I am only listing knives I have used and/or own so no offense if I do not list someones favorite.

Holy Grail: Busse

Elite: Swamp Rat

The Professional: Scrap Yard, Ranger Knives (both high quality but affordable)

I'm interested at how Fherman and Trident knives are ranked here. I have had my eye on those for some time. :)
 
I usually just seek the best quality for what I can afford.

Some cheaper knife are impressive too. Such as Opinels and Byrds. Of course not as good as BM or Spydercos, but great for the price.

To be honest, my Opinel has had more pocket time than my CRKT M21-04.
 
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Professional: Rat Cutlery RC-3, Ka Bar USMC cheap but it hasn't failed me yet.
Elite: MOD Mark 1 CQD (price, plus it is my daily edc)
Conventional: Ka Bar TDI, H&K Ally
Bargain Bin: S&W extreme ops hawkbill I use them for sharpening practice. 10 bucks shipped for two.
These are all knives I own.
Elite: Ranger RD7/9 soon to own.
Hope to get a Busse battle mistress in the holy grail category but college budgets don't stretch to $800 something knives.
 
I own many different knives, but my users are only from a few production companies... And most from within the Busse "family". I love 'em, and beat on a few... Not like Tyrkon Lawson, but I do beat 'em some...
...So I can't give a fair ranking... The rest are customs. However, it seems that I lucked into the production knives that serve me very well personally right away, and haven't had to search any further so far.

billstevens said:
Professional: Rat Cutlery RC-3, Ka Bar USMC cheap but it hasn't failed me yet.
Elite: MOD Mark 1 CQD (price, plus it is my daily edc)
Conventional: Ka Bar TDI, H&K Ally
Bargain Bin: S&W extreme ops hawkbill I use them for sharpening practice. 10 bucks shipped for two.
These are all knives I own.
Elite: Ranger RD7/9 soon to own.
Hope to get a Busse battle mistress in the holy grail category but college budgets don't stretch to $800 something knives.
Click to expand...

If you're looking for an FBM Limited Edition, yes, I see your point, but the FFFBM's and the FBM CG's are hundreds less... However, if you are choosing between Busse's and books (for college), I'd stick to books; get that degree that earns the $$$, then you can snag all the Busse's that ya want later. :thumbup::thumbup: The knives you already have should serve you well!! :)
 
This would be more interesting if you include that the production knife must be obtainable in ten days or less. Then you are talking true production knives. Maybe thats another post for another day.
 
udtjim said:
This would be more interesting if you include that the production knife must be obtainable in ten days or less. Then you are talking true production knives. Maybe thats another post for another day.
Click to expand...

Which company & specific knife would you be referring to?
 
Among those I own, or have owned:

Top notch: Bob Dozier, Bark River's A-2, Benchmade's D2 and S30V, Queen's D-2, Spyderco's CPM D-2, Kershaw's S30V.

Medium: Cold Steel's Carbon V blades, and the very old 440C Gerbers, an old WW2 carbon steel KaBar.

Wally-World specials: (i.e. cheap but decent) Case, KaBar, Old Timer, Schrade, Uncle Henry, Buck, Non-440C Gerbers, Cold Steel stainless, etc.

There are a lot of other good and bad out there, but these are the ones I have owned and can speak of from personal experience.
 
What exactly are you looking for? Theres at least a few dozen different types of Busse family knives for sale right now in the exchange, and the Wanted to Buy forum is just a click away. Its not really all that difficult. :)
 
Ben Dover said:
Among those I own, or have owned:

Top notch: Bob Dozier, Bark River's A-2, Benchmade's D2 and S30V, Queen's D-2, Spyderco's CPM D-2, Kershaw's S30V.
Click to expand...

Bob Dozier! I've worked with quite a few of his knives and every one was simply amazing, well worth the price. One bowie in particular was stunning, I wish I still had a picture.
 
I'd call all your midtechs (Sebenza) holy grail.
Your upper level production (Alias, Skirmish, Rukus, Buck Mayo) elite.
Standard knives from quality makers (BM, Spyderco, Kershaw) professional.
Lower level/cheaper knives (Gerber, S&W) conventional.
And all your CCC (flea market & gas station knives) bargin.
 
Here's a consensus I've seen so far:

HOLY GRAIL: Strider, Sebenza(Reeve),Busse, Crusader Forge(TCFM), Dozier

ELITE: Microtech, Zero Tolerance, Swamp Rat, MOD

Professional: Benchmade, SOG, Kershaw, Spyderco, TOPS

Conventional: Gerber, CRKT, S&W, Cold Steel, Scrap Yard

Bargain Bin: Schrade, Case, Uncle Henry,Flea Market, Costco

Controversial:
Ranger Elite or Professional?
Ferhman: Holy Grail or Elite? I own a Crusader Forge and a Ferhman. I could go either way. My Ferhman is a great knife, but my trident from crusader is a tank. I'm just not sure ..tough one. But I definetly think my Crusader Forge TCFM makes a Holy Grail. It could be considered a custom and not a production knife.
Ka Bar: Professional or Conventional?
Buck: Conventional or Bargain Bin?

I know different knives from the some brand can jump classes,(Ka Bar could be a good example) but I was just looking for a consensus on the brands.

I hope this discussion continues. I find the results very interesting and useful.Its also quite interesting too see where there is universal agreement and where there is universal disagreement.
 
i would have no problem putting trust in my ranger rd4 or rd9, and the quality of my delica would not worry me enough to pay 4 times more for something else, so i dont know what to think of your gradeing system
 
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