USA Knife Makers - Lets pick a favorite!

[CyberRacer]

It's a US Knife Makers Smackdown!!!

Let's see who the community likes best among US manufacturers. Rules for this one are:
- Had to be a US based company
- Company has to design and manufacture at least part of their product line in the US
- Doesn't have to be a brand that you own, just one that you like better than the rest
- What qualifies the brand as your favorite is up to you. Let us know.
- This is a folder/OTF centered poll. Nothing against fixed blades, just needed to narrow the field

Sorry for the catch-all at the end, Ten is the maximum number of responses.

Fan-Boys Welcome!

 

[blanex1]

I cast my vote to CRK's.

 

[scdub]

This should be interesting. I’m thinking Spyderco will be hard to beat.

I voted Microtech although I’ve only purchased one and my wife now owns it.

I have several ZTs and like them as well but I thought it was a Japanese company. Looked it up and apparently it was started in the US but after a few years it was bought by KAI Japan in 1977, so not sure if it’s really a “US” company.

 

[TheEdge01]

I voted Case.

 

[MadeOnABench]

I am an unapologetic fanboy for butterfly markings on knife blades

 

[jmh33]

I voted Case.

John

 

[Alberta Ed]

BuckSpydercoBenchmadeCaseCRKBarkRiverColdSteelMarblesSchradeGrohmann*(*Canadian) is pretty much my fave.

 

[gazz98]

Spyderco. I own and carry more Spyderco than anyone else.

 

[LLRJ17]

Sophie's choice.

Appreciate too many to make a selection.

 

[Monofletch]

That’s a rough one. I voted “other”

 

[ferider]

From your list I voted Hinderer for folders. But for fixed blades, there are some US makers that I like better.

 

[Shorttime]

Hogue. Country of origin is not that important to me. It should be I guess, but I'm a cheapskate.

 

[Delta-v]

I own more Benchmade than anything else so I got to give up to the Butterfly. I still love others and I do recognize that some US makers are on another level. But for designs I like at my price point, Benchmade gets the nod.

 

[Deino]

Leatherman

 

[dogstar]

Interesting results so far. I thought BF = Spyderco Forums. When folks ask for a recommendation, it's always Spyderco this, Spyderco that. I guess I was wrong.

 

[WedgeAntilles]

CRK. I can get pretty much any configuration in dedicated lefty model. Not ambi, not just one or two models and no steel choices, full range of options. And the greatest warranty and customer service I've ever seen.

 

[luethge]

Gossman
Martin
Curtiss
LT Wright
Helm
Siegle
Les George
Wenger
Carothers
SET

Fixed Blades are better

 

[Motoblade]

This is tough! Wish I could pick top three. If I take the makers themselves out of the equation and just look at the end product that the buyers get its hard not to put Hinderer at the top (this is not by much) crks, striders, spartan blades ect are all so good but I just feel like Hinderer hold the crown for having more customization options for each model and the new tri-way models just gives the user another option.

I've had the ability to let non knife people hold and open my knives and everyone reacts better to my XM24.. as I write this I'm currently carrying my Sebenza.

 

[Ruari]

Carothers Performance Knives

 

[Hal]

No brainer for me - Kershaw.

Nothing wrong with the others - but - a Kershaw is what I reach for when I'm headed out the door and remember I haven't stuck a knife in my pocket yet & my wife is yelling at me to hurry up.