Wondering about the difference between brands

N

nutellarise

Joined
Sep 4, 2013
Messages
38
I'm a bit confused on the difference between brands, would like some confirmation or clarification.

So far:

Cold Steel:
makes very large and heavy blades

Zero Tolerance (KAI)
More expensive, heavy knives.

SOG:
Overpriced for the money, not very good make?

CRKT:
From what I have seen, CKRT is pretty bad?

Benchmade:
All ranges, with axis lock and thumbstuds,
does not like flippers as much

Kershaw:
Not very sure

Spyderco:
Higher end blades, trademark the large hole

Gerber:
sucks

I think that these are most of the big ones, if there are others please say so!
 
What exactly aren't you sure about?

All those companies you listed have varying degrees of quality, (you get what you pay for) CRKT for example make some very good knives in their price point, I've been collecting for over 30+ years and I have knives from every company you listed and I use them all.

Your question/statement is really vague I'm not sure what you're looking for, what are you basing your comments on? Do you own or have you owned examples of the companies you've listed out are you just going by things you've read?

What are your concerns regarding these companies?

One final thing, , do a search for the particular knives you want with the words "review" in front you'll get a lot to read.

If your looking to encourage a healthy debate about the different companies you need to less with your opinions about the subject and to engage in a productive dialog here you need to do your research before hand.

There are many threads here at BFC already that address your topic and many wind up getting merged, closed or even worse, moved to W&C :). So I hope this doesn't degrade to a bash session about the certain companies that tend to elicit strong unsubstantiated commentary.

As for my opinion again, each of those companies make great knives for what they are intended for, you need to define your needs before deciding which companies you want to include in you query.

Remember you started this thread and its your responsibility keep it on course, people will form opinions about you based on how threads like this go.
 
CRKT:
From what I have seen, CKRT is pretty bad?
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In my experience their quality is mixed. They compete in a lower-end market segment, with generally lower-priced knives and lower-end materials. What they do offer is unique and interesting products from famous cutting-edge designers that almost no one else is attempting on a large scale production.

5120_xlarge_116.jpg
 
I am a major Cold Steel advocate. If you want an amazing tactical blade then they are the guys you should go to. They specialize mainly in tactical or combat knives. That being said, they make some wonderful knives for the outdoors, check out their machete line for that.

SOG is generally overpriced and the only thing i like for the value is their SEAL series of knives, which i highly recommend.

Just providing info about what i am most familiar with. Other guys can tell you much more I'm sure.
 
Pick a knife, test it. Carry it, use it frequently. Make your own judgments. Everyone like different things, and will find a knife that suits their needs. A Gerber may be just what you need. Or a Spyderco. Or a custom.

I started at 12 with a cheap Chinese POS that was an all black folder with serrations, a flipper, and a knuckle duster handle. I moved to Gerber, then Cold Steel. After Cold Steel, I went to Spyderco, Boker, Kershaw, etc. Carrying knives is full of trial and error, wasting money, and gaining experience.
 
The changes I would make to your statements would be-
ZT- quality, well priced for what you get, heavy [weight] but very heavy use capable. Owned by KAI (kershaw)

Benchmade- they don't really have a "low end" they're cheapest knife is the griptilian line at ~$80-150. Some have the "spyder hole"

Kershaw [KAI]- quality at all price points from low end/entry level on up.

Spyderco- offered (IMO) the best bang for your buck, most all of their knives have multiple steel options and they use about every lock type, something for everyone. Some say they're ugly but you can't argue about their ergonomics, you'll hear people say "little big knife" (usually about the dragonfly and delica) and "there's a reason ugly knives sell so well" (quite often said about the delica/endura)

CRKT- yes they've got low end knives but some of their stuff is more than decent, if your looking for a quality knife with IKBS (a ball bearing syem for the pivot] the Ripple or Eros is the best choice (and about 1/2 price or less of the next choice with IKBS) they don't offer the high end steel others do.

Gerber- well you hit the nail on the head there.
 
As a user and purveyor of most of the mentioned knife brands and others there are good and not so good in every line up.

Just for a for-instance, Cold steel sells some good hard use knives & swords and some of it rates as poor garden tools.

The market is very competitive, you will get what you pay for to a large degree but it takes more homework than that.
 
the kid said:
I actually think most models Buck (folding) knives are made in China.
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Some are, but I wouldn't say "most." Their most popular folders are probably the Bantam series, 110 folding hunters, Bucklite, and Vantage series, which are all made in the USA.
 
eighty- eight percent of Buck knives are produced in the USA. one year ago Mr. Buck announced that in five years all of bucks knives will be manufactured in the USA.
 
I've owned Bucks off and on over the years. The worst of the lot was shoddy enough to be proverbial "Chinese" quality. The better Chinese knives exceed USA made "Buck" quality.

Trying to assess the value of a knife by country of origin is a fool's errand. In particular, the country that exports most of the knives in that era dominates world production and always has a variety of price levels.

Gerber? In the beginning, they were American hand made - except for their more famous models, the Mark II series - the blades were made in Japan, marked on the tang, which was then dropped into the mold for the aluminum handle, hiding it. Import law was conformed to, and Gerber became famous in military circles during the Vietnam War with the product.

Why did they hide the mark? Because Japanese made knives were considered junk at the time. Obviously those who were buying the cheap imports had a poor opinion of them. The serviceman in the war zone had another.

Short pithy descriptions aren't always accurate. A knife can be less well made than others, and priced accordingly, but because it has a bit less hand labor in finishing it actually means little. The appropriate shape of the blade, the angles of the grind, method of construction, and materials all contribute. I have a Boker Plus Tech that with two improvements would be valued at 5 times its price. A better blade alloy and some hand finishing is all it would need - the ti coated bolsters, carbon fiber scales, etc are all much better grade than the economical price should indicate.

"Boker Plus - import Chinese knives of economical values featuring international designs from famous makers."

CRKT - same thing, take a look at the product line up, great knives from great designers, at great prices.

Don't go by Brand - times change, nations change, and what was a cheap import of the day - say, Sheffield Bowies with engraved blades in full art - are the next generations highly valued collector items. Nobody seems to remember they were cheap imports of ill repute brandished by riverboat gamblers and adventurers.

Or maybe that is the point.
 
the kid said:
I actually think most models Buck (folding) knives are made in China.
Click to expand...

cards94 said:
nope. USA, or at least the ones i own are.
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Bob W said:
Some are, but I wouldn't say "most." Their most popular folders are probably the Bantam series, 110 folding hunters, Bucklite, and Vantage series, which are all made in the USA.
Click to expand...

REDCANOE said:
eighty- eight percent of Buck knives are produced in the USA. one year ago Mr. Buck announced that in five years all of bucks knives will be manufactured in the USA.
Click to expand...

REDCANOE is exactly right. At one time, Buck was having many of their knives made overseas. They moved to Idaho and announced that they would gradually move ALL manufacturing back to the USA. Right now 12% are made overseas. In the next 4 years, that remaining number will be moved back to the USA as well per Buck themselves.
 
Forget about the name on the box or blade/handle grab something you like that feels right for you. Then after you like a brand or style then purchase more from them
 
I would like to know what CRKT knives you have "seen" to say they are "pretty bad".
I couldn't disagree more. Many service men and women, military and regular working stiffs like me use CRKT every day and swear by them. Blade steel varies but all keep an edge well. No knife can go forever before it needs a touch up. Heck my Sebenza couldn't go a day before it lost its edge when I'm breaking down cardboard boxes and my little CRKT Drifter with 8CR 14MOV steel blade kept up right with it. A little touch up and she was right back at it.
And their customer service is second to none in the production knife market.
Pick up an ACUTO8 steel IKBS knife and it will change your mind on this innovative company.
 
There are very well made knives by each of those brands. You can't generalize although the generalization is generally true for Gerber today, but not prior to being bought by Fiskars. I have read that some of the Bear Grylss knives really aren't that bad, but I shy away from such products.

There are lots more brands by the way. But you have to start somewhere. When I started buying what I hoped were useable and practical knives, I started with SOG knives. Have quite a few actually. Starting to slowly give them away as I have moved to other brands now. Some are actually pretty cool.
 
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