Production makers that consistently bring out the best of whatever steel they use...

M

Mtommer

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Oct 9, 2016
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There's a lot of opinions and a lot of loose threads regarding various production only brands (ie not custom makers). I didn't come across any one specific thread that may address my subject. So, I think it would be helpful to have a list of companies that in general, whatever knife you get from them, you can count on that knife to have the highest of overall fit and finish, heat treatment of the steel in question, and so on. For example, Buck knives. Buck often uses 420HC which many consider a fairly inferior steel to many of today's super steels. However, there's 420HC and then there's Buck's 420HC which is that steel being brought out to it's fullest potential. I am interested in production makers that have a substantial presence in the at or sub $100 range.
 
The new Cold Steel folders in CTS XHP have been pretty good performers for me. Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, ZT have all been consistant as well.
 
ZT- Outside of a small hiccup with Elmax they have been spot on with every steel they have touched.

Southern Grind- They have done amazing things with Sandvick steel on their Bad monkeys and been amazing in what they have done with S35 on the Spider Monkey.

Hinderer-I have only owned S35VN and been blown away by how it holds an edge and resharpens.

Kershaw-They have also done a great job with every steel they have produced. Cost plays a factor on this though.

Just my personal opinion!
 
Ka-Bar. Namely, their US made and Becker branded stuff.

Victorinox and Wenger. Their steel isn't a super steel and doesn't hold and edge forever but it isn't designed to. Their consistancy, quality and ease of sharpening make them a standout and a classic.
 
All American made stuff from Buck ( they don't really have that many Chinese knives comparatively ). Hands down the best 420hc in existence.
 
Strider knocks it out of the park, with whatever steel they use; they are masters of heat treat. Hinderer knives rock, as do Emerson's.
 
With a few exceptions like Lile and a few others, I find production knife edges are generally definitely superior in durability to most custom knife edges, regardless of price or the steel being used...

If two knives are equal in design overall, one custom and one production, and each maker is an unknown value, the non-Chinese production knife is absolutely the better bet, especially if it is made in Japan... Even comparing a $2000 very reputable custom to a $100 factory clunker, the custom is the one with the burden of proof in my book... That's just what I have observed.

Gaston
 
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