USA Knife Makers - Lets pick a favorite!

What US Knife maker do you like best

  • Buck

    Votes: 28 10.3%

  • Spyderco

    Votes: 82 30.0%

  • Benchmade

    Votes: 25 9.2%

  • Kershaw/ZT

    Votes: 7 2.6%

  • Chris Reeve

    Votes: 59 21.6%

  • Rick Hinderer

    Votes: 18 6.6%

  • Medford Knife & Tool

    Votes: 5 1.8%

  • Case

    Votes: 10 3.7%

  • Microtech

    Votes: 5 1.8%

  • GEC, OZ, Koenig, Spartan, TRM, Olamic or someone else...

    Votes: 34 12.5%
  • Total voters
    273
  • Poll closed .
It’s rather funny that Spyderco is winning when the majority of their models are made overseas. In fact, someone voted “Spyderco” and posted a Taichung made knife, lol.

I consider Spyderco a “US based” knife maker but not a predominantly US made knife.
 
Hackenslash said:
It’s rather funny that Spyderco is winning when the majority of their models are made overseas. In fact, someone voted “Spyderco” and posted a Taichung made knife, lol.

I consider Spyderco a “US based” knife maker but not a predominantly US made knife.
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How many on the list have or have had stuff made elsewhere? Designed knives made elsewhere? It is an interesting point that would certainly change the results if we made it exclusively USA makers/manufacturers.
 
craytab said:
How many on the list have or have had stuff made elsewhere? Designed knives made elsewhere? It is an interesting point that would certainly change the results if we made it exclusively USA makers/manufacturers.
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Currently on that list that I know of Buck, Spyderco, Kershaw, Microtech, Spartan, and possibly Olamic. Others like Case and Benchmade have had lines made overseas at one point or another or may still have with Case in the Tecx brand
 
craytab said:
How many on the list have or have had stuff made elsewhere? Designed knives made elsewhere? It is an interesting point that would certainly change the results if we made it exclusively USA makers/manufacturers.
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DustinK said:
Currently on that list that I know of Buck, Spyderco, Kershaw, Microtech, Spartan, and possibly Olamic. Others like Case and Benchmade have had lines made overseas at one point or another or may still have with Case in the Tecx brand
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I guess that makes the default winner: CRK
:)
Seriously, the vast majority of Kershaws and Spydies sold are not USA made.
 
I voted "Orher"; because I really dig the wide variety that is available from Olamic.
 
I already voted for CRK and will stick to my vote. But my second choice, and I'm surprised (well maybe not) that they weren't included in the options and haven't been mention is Protech's. As far as I know they are exclusively made in the US, with quality materials, reasonably priced, and backed by excellent customer service. I've been extremely please with every one I've owned. They have been my first choice in automatics and it seems the Malibu flipper has been a pretty successful seller.
 
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CRK without question. Spyderco is great too, but CRK is the only brand that I can have knives I love in any style I want. Every other brand would require compromising preferences.
 
I went with case due to history. CRK is my favorite current US maker. Spyderco though I love them is a partially overseas shop regarding some models which I can't vote for. Benchmade may be my #2. Heck half of a Toyota is made in the US now lol.
 
From OP
- Had to be a US based company
- Company has to design and manufacture at least part of their product line in the US
———————————————————
Seems like Spyderco is being subjected to criteria not included in the original post.
 
DustinK said:
Currently on that list that I know of Buck, Spyderco, Kershaw, Microtech, Spartan, and possibly Olamic. Others like Case and Benchmade have had lines made overseas at one point or another or may still have with Case in the Tecx brand
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Yes indeed.

Hackenslash said:
I guess that makes the default winner: CRK
:)
Seriously, the vast majority of Kershaws and Spydies sold are not USA made.
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And what if the company name sake wasn't made in the USA? 😂

ADBrown said:
From OP
- Had to be a US based company
- Company has to design and manufacture at least part of their product line in the US
———————————————————
Seems like Spyderco is being subjected to criteria not included in the original post.
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Did you miss where I and another poster pointed out that most other makers on the list currently, or have made knives in other countries too? (ps, my comments actually are in spyderco's defense if you think about it).

All USA made is a high bar to set for most companies of any sort of size. Doing so for this poll would limit the responses quite a bit and take some big fish out of the tank. Seems, you grow to a certain point and then try to capitalize on popularity by mass producing overseas. And how far do we set the bar? All components made in the USA? Steel? That list could get real small real quick.
 
sharp_edge said:
The mother company / headquarter is in the USA correct?
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That would be U.S. based.

And if their production is based entirely overseas: feel free to NOT for them as your favorite.
 
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My favorite US made knives are probably CRK and Hinderer. For a favorite brand, however, I think I have to give it to Spyderco. The reason is demonstrated in the pic below (and yes I realize some of the knives in that pic were made in Japan). Represented are: Maxamet, K390, Rex45, CRU-WEAR, serrated H1, LC200N, 20CV; in a sampling of different models that are all superb cutting tools. Likewise, if someone had a favorite model they could collect that model in a variety of interesting steels. Spyderco is a company by knife nerds and for knife nerds, from a family that obviously has a passion for bringing us knives they think we'll like. It is apparent in the variety of knives they release, and it is apparent in the almost giddy enthusiasm I see every time I watch a video of Eric discussing them.

noFvJjT.jpg
 
3 years ago I’d say Kershaw/ZT but they have fallen so far in the time since. Sad really as when ZT is in their game they are great. Of the 28 ZT knives I’ve owned I’ve never had an issue with any of them. Can’t say the same for Spyderco or Benchmade. Never had a CRK. Had a few Hinderers and I can’t think of a more overrated knife.


So I voted Spyderco.
 
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