1. Benchmade
The axis lock is amazing. Great steels and flowing designs. Outstanding customer service from a local company.
2. Spyderco
Ugly knives but great users. Outstanding prices. The best business ethics and customer relations in the industry.
3. Cold Steel
Great affordable knives. Hilarious owner with a penchant for crazy advertising. Some of the best beater knives, swords, and fixed blades on the market for the price, imo.
4. Victorinox
Great affordable kitchen knives and multitools. Long history and outstanding product warranty.
5. Kershaw/ZT
Flipper fun for everyone. Good pricing. I wish more models came with left hand pocket clips.