The "top" three?

ono724

ono724

Joined
Jul 17, 2010
Messages
1,490
Okay, I have got to ask this question, and hope I don't sound ignorant in the process. I'm no expert on knives, but have been carrying one in some form or the other for almost 40 years. Most of my knives have either been Bucks or Case. I've always found Bucks to be well built reliable knives, yet, on this site, I've seen countless references to the "big three" knife makers being Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw. Are they that much better than Buck?

Thanks

~Jim
 
it really depends on what you like. some people like fancy one handers with the best of the best materials. others like myself like classy simple slipjoints. i dont really think one is better than the other on common everyday type chores. but i wouldn't want to defend myself with a buck 301 or some other non locking slippy. it really depends on what you want, or maybe what kind of town you live in.
 
ono724 said:
Okay, I have got to ask this question, and hope I don't sound ignorant in the process. I'm no expert on knives, but have been carrying one in some form or the other for almost 40 years. Most of my knives have either been Bucks or Case. I've always found Bucks to be well built reliable knives, yet, on this site, I've seen countless references to the "big three" knife makers being Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw. Are they that much better than Buck?

Thanks

~Jim
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No! I'm not saying they are not excellent knives...they are. But not better than Buck. Matt is right..what ever floats your boat. Spyderco's all look the same to me(and not in a good way--personally speaking-no offense to those who feel differently) Benchmades are well thought of by a number of guys on this forum but I've never owned one. I have owned and own Kershaws and am not particularly impressed but again, not a fair sampling, its a small number. 95% of the knives I've owned are Buck. I like the design of most, the quaility of all, the ability to cover the market segments with nearly all the niche' types and premiums and the best warranty of any product, knife or otherwise, on the planet, period.
 
Depends on how you define "big three". Big in terms of gross annual sales, highest profit? These are all big businesses that you listed.

In defining "best" knife, it all depends on the knife itself and how it is going to be used. None of those "top three" you mention to my knowledge make anything that would work well as an oyster knife or a leather paring knife.

Personal taste has a lot to do with it, too. One person's best is another's second best. In judging a knife there are so many considerations. Materials, workmanship, functional design, aesthetics... the size of your hand...

Buck is up there in terms of longevity, market presence, innovations. (Don't forget that the folding 110 changed the industry.) Paul Bos worked at Buck, not Spyderco, Benchmade, or Kershaw. I've seen Lone Wolf knives that can hold the stage with any of your mentioned three. SOG and Leatherman have their place, too. Price is also a consideration when you talk about a "top three". Quality for what price? Buck can offer high performance knives with Bos heat treated S30V steel for under a hundred dollars. They also make some of the nicest looking knives for a volume production company. And then there are the individual custom makers...

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no real answer. Or else there are many answers depending on the who you are talking to and the applications considered.
 
The big three are called that by the American tactical knife buyers that have an obsession with one hand knives. I doubt that any of the so called big three have production figures that would approach Victorinox, or maybe even Opinel, a couple of knives that are looked down on if not out and out scorned.

Buck has a longer history, and has been sold world wide longer than any of the big three. Buck's were THE knife carried by our troops in Vietnam, long before either of the big three were a gleam in their inventors eye.

As far as I'm concerned, if any knife nut is going to name a big three of knife companies, Buck should be one of the first names mentioned, if not THE first one.

Buck just does not have the recognition from video games and action movies aimed at teenage mall ninja's and concrete commando's.

As far as top three companies that give best bang for the buck (pun is intended) in production knife companies, I think Buck and Victorinox are two of the three.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it!

Carl.
 
I think it is incorrect to label Spyderco, Benchmade, & Kershaw the "Big Three."
They are more prominent in the in the premium one-hand tactical market.
They do routinely offer a wider number of premium steels in their models.
Their new model evolution is quicker esp. Spyderco and Kershaw.

So they have a lot of fans in the “Tactical Cool” Knife Nut crowd which is a significant percentage of the forumites around here. I own knives from all three of those makers and they are all good even great knives.

I think Buck has made significant in-roads into these same markets with the Vantage and Paradigm models but their base customers are those that value the classics like the Buck 110, 100 Series Fixed Blades, and 301 Stockman above other styles of knives.

Buck Customers: Hunters, Outdoorsmen, On the Job Knife Users, Older/Mature/Practical.
Tactical Cool Crowd: Mall Ninja’s, Knife Obsessed People, Younger/Impulsive

All just my opinion of course but not one of those other makers has a fixed blade that performs in the field like a Ergo Hunter, Vanguard, or 102 Bird & Trout for example. And nobody makes anything better than a S30V Stag handled Buck 110.
 
I have to agree with Flatlander. I've only owned one Benchmade and kept it about a week before trading it off (How do you like it Flatlander? ;)) . It just didn't appeal to this old traditionalist, but then I'm the type that prefers a Winchester lever gun or a Colt Python over the military style rifle or a autoloader hand gun. I did a quick tour of the bay and could only come up with one Benchmade that even remotely attracted me and it was a traditional looking fixed blade. I found nothing at all in the Spyderco line that would tempt me period.

I do have and have had quite a few Kershaw's but the only one's I've kept for myself have been a few Leeks, and that only because of the wharncliffe style blade. If Buck would come out with, say the 532 (a much sturdier knife IMO) with that blade, the Kershaws would be down the road.

All three of those makers seem to limit their products to pretty much one basic concept of knife design that appeals to the tactical crowd. Buck has, I believe, something for everyone.

That fact and Buck's great reputation for superior, world class customer service should certainly put them at the top of the list.

I'm a huge fan of Buck knives, but I also can't believe that Case wasn't considered one of the top three.
 
Plumberdv said:
I've only owned one Benchmade and kept it about a week before trading it off (How do you like it Flatlander? ;))
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I love it Dave but I remember you giving it me as a gift.
I guess I love it because I strattle the line between mature/practical and young/tactical. :D:D
 
Most of us have numerious posts on this forum and have seen these "drive-by shooters" in the past. I am an owner of a few Bucks, a few Westerns, a few Schrades and a few Imperials. If you see a trend then you can see what I like. Buck fits my bill and that is why I have them. I have way too many knives to daily carry all of them but have my favorite with me now, a Buck 486.
 
edbeau said:
Most of us have numerious posts on this forum and have seen these "drive-by shooters" in the past.
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;) That's a good observation Ed. Why else post that question in a brand specific sub-forum if it's not aimed at starting controversy.
 
jackknife said:
I think Buck and Victorinox are two of the three.
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In these discussions (or trolls, whichever the case may be) Victorinox is often overlooked. No one can match this company and its history for a multi-use pocket folder.

And if you are going to the European arena, there are other top player companies depending on what you want. Fällkniven, Wusthof, and others I'm sure. The J.A. Henckel conglomerate is a huge player in the international kitchenware knife market. To focus on three tactical knife producers and call them the "top three" knife makers is a bit narrow.
 
Plumberdv said:
;) That's a good observation Ed. Why else post that question in a brand specific sub-forum if it's not aimed at starting controversy.
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I wouldn't assume too much plumberdv. I posted my question in this particular sub-forum because I am and have always been a Buck knife fan, and it bugs the hell outta me that everywhere I look in BF, it's always those other three that get spouted as the best of the best of the best...

So my humblest apologies for "starting controversy"

Jim~
 
ono724 said:
I wouldn't assume too much plumberdv. I posted my question in this particular sub-forum because I am and have always been a Buck knife fan, and it bugs the hell outta me that everywhere I look in BF, it's always those other three that get spouted as the best of the best of the best...

So my humblest apologies for "starting controversy"

Jim~
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Jim
You'll have top forgive me if I assumed too much. It's a fairly common occurance for a "troll" (not meaning you) to drop in, make a provocative statement or ask a provocative question. They just then sit back and see how much dust it kicks up. That's why Ed referred to them as "drive by's".

Welcome to the Buck forum. As you can see already, none here (I don't think) would ever subscribe to that "Top Three" list!
 
Buck covers the maket with a wide aray of knives for all kinds of applications. There is a Buck knife for everybody. Warrenty is the Best, hands down. BUCK RULES
 
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