What companies make THE BEST quality production folders?

Good question, I've been lucky in life to play with if not own knives from
all the top mfg and since the CRK knives are out my vote would have to go BM.
 
Artfully Martial said:
I'd say Kershaw and Spyderco are on par.
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I disagree there. Spyderco (for the most part) uses much higher quality materials and has a much better fit and finish because of that.

Kershaw is a good company, dont get me wrong, but I dont think they're in the same bracket at BM and Spyderco.

My list:

Microtech
Benchmade
Spyderco
Gerber (of the old days, the new stuff is junk)
Kershaw
CRKT (Their non trendy knives. I like the m16 series)

There's others I could probably throw in there, but overall those are my most highly respected companies. All that said, I EDC a Spyderco, and it's the favorite knife I own (for now, I'm looking at picking up a BM710 that might give it a run for the money).
 
Well, in fairness, I did note that Benchmade and Spyderco's materials were often better, as there are relatively few high end Kershaws. I clarified what I said by saying I interpreted his questions as fit and finish, in which case, I've had fewer problems with Kershaws.
 
Well I just got an Al Mar Nomad today and I'll put the f&f right up there with
my Mini Skirmish and above some of my spydies. My frn spydies (some of them) seem to have a little blade play problem but I think its inherent in the frn design and my new adventura has a little vertical play that I tightened out a little so its within limits now.....but.....I am very impressed with the Nomad for having bought something without ever having held it....Next in line a Boa, Dominator or Combat Elite RRF...or if I win the lottery.....a DDR Gunhammer Radian!!!
 
Artfully Martial said:
One thing that I can always count on with a Spyderco though (and not with Benchmade) is an amazingly ridiculously sharp OOB edge.
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I have also found this to be true.
 
Don't forget Moki. They are as close to a custom shop as a fellow can get without paying custom shop prices. In fact, they are even advertised as being handmade (which I don't doubt).
 
At the top of my ruggedness list would me my Al Mat Sere 2000. It is a tank.

At the top of my refinement list are my Microtechs. Really precision built.

For everyday use I like Benchmades.

I don't care for Spydercos. I bought one as a gift for my son. There is significant lateral blade play.
 
Hi guys,
What about Lone Wolf. I thought these are good knives, but nobody name them.
Are they any good? I just saw "LC14680 Harsey T2" Cocobolo for $130 and LC14800 Harsey Ranger" for $95 at workingperson.com and thought it is great, but........
R
 
Willieboy said:
I don't care for Spydercos. I bought one as a gift for my son. There is significant lateral blade play.
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You're basing an opinion of an entrie company based on ONE knife? That's pretty bold.

The Alemite Walker I own from Spyderco has no blade play whatsoever.
 
I haven't found the fit and finish of Spyderco and Benchmade to be any better than that of Buck, Kershaw, or CRKT. Benchmade is supposed to have great fit and finish, but I have found it to be average at best (for the price). These brands are all great and have acceptable fit and finish, but it is far from perfect. It is sort of a pet pev of mine when someone calls a knife's fit and finish "perfect" when it is just a common production knife.

I have a very demanding eye. I have OCD and fondle my knives for fun, so I find flaws I might have missed upon first look. Things that virtually every production knife gets wrong are perfectly even grinds and bevels, blade centering when closed, and scale fitment. I've never seen a BM, Spydie, Buck, CRKT, or Kershaw that got these all visually perfect.

Of the knives I own or have extensively handled, the Sebenza is the best in terms of fit and finish (and the only one I can't find any real flaws in), followed by the Al Mar SERE 2000. So in my *limited* experience I would say, excluding CRK, Al Mar has the best fit and finish. And my SERE 2000 isn't even near perfect. The grinds and bevels are very good. Near perfect- the bevels only get a little off near the tip. The scales fit perfectly to the liner. The only problems are a little uneveness where the false (bayonette) edge meets the meat of the spine, and a little uneveness in the polish job on the blade.

My Skirmish is very good too, though.
 
Hair said:
I have a very demanding eye. I have OCD and fondle my knives for fun, so I find flaws I might have missed upon first look. Things that virtually every production knife gets wrong are perfectly even grinds and bevels, blade centering when closed, and scale fitment. I've never seen a BM, Spydie, Buck, CRKT, or Kershaw that got these all visually perfect.
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Have you had much experience with the Spyderco Blue Alemite Walker? It fills those categories with perfection in my opinion. Of course, it doesn't have scales, so that's out of the question.
 
Is it just me or almost all of Benchmade steels available are mostly done in 154CM?

I just like the VG-10, H-1 steels better, not to mention its easier to find S30V steels in spydercos like the manix than it is in the benchmade.
 
Never even handled one.

If yours is virtually perfect (not that it isn't and that you can't tell as well as I can, but I cannot say without seeing it myself), I think it is just a matter of luck as Spyderco just doesn't have custom-level quality control. If they put human eyes and hands on every single knife they produce to insure perfect fit and finish, they would cost a lot more. I am glad they don't, but I also know that one shouldn't expect perfect fit and finish from them either.
 
bh49 said:
Hi guys,
What about Lone Wolf. I thought these are good knives, but nobody name them.
Are they any good? I just saw "LC14680 Harsey T2" Cocobolo for $130 and LC14800 Harsey Ranger" for $95 at workingperson.com and thought it is great, but........
R
Click to expand...

My Lone Wolf T2 Harsey replaced my BM 710. Yes they are that good and the S30V blade is sharp.
 
Sounds like you already know how great CRK knives are.

I hear Spyderco are great but I haven't owned enough of them to comment. I have owned TONS of BMs and all have been great! I will say that I was pleased enough with my Spyderco Salt that I am considering very serious a Navigator II and a Large Manix for future purchases. :)

I also recently purchased an Al Mar Sere2000 which is my second Al Mar knife (first folder). Fit, finish, ergos and over all design scored an A+ in my gradebook. Jury is still out on the liner lock and synthetic pivot bushings. Time, more useage and more research will tell.
 
Harry Callahan said:
Don't forget Moki. They are as close to a custom shop as a fellow can get without paying custom shop prices. In fact, they are even advertised as being handmade (which I don't doubt).
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THEY ARE! In fact, they actually do the MOP inlay by hand[ using files instead of pantographs and milling machines! For those of you mentioning Al Mar, the credit actually should go to Moki. The William Henry Evolution, the W-H Spire (K-22),some of the Fallkniven folders, the Beretta Busfields are/were made by....

MOKI.

My list would be....

Moki
William Henry
Queen
Lone Wolf
 
I would have to say it's between bm, spyderco, al mar, and mt.. I think my sere and mini socom are the best knives i have as far as overall quality. But, those are the only ones I've ever had from those 2 companies. I've had many great spydercos and benchmades. Overall, Iwould have to say that the sere is the best made knife I own (especialy at the price), however, due to the slim selection from al mar, I'd give the overall quality award to mt. Bm is probably slightly better than spyderco, but not quite a mt. -Of course crk and strider are probably better, but I dont make enough to have an opinion on those yet.
 
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