USA Knife Makers - Lets pick a favorite!

[craytab]

Bad news about Microtech...

How so?

 

[K.O.D.]

I'm not a brand loyal person. I do own 7 Spyderco. I voted other, I think Hogue is great as well.

 

[ylimehajile]

I voted Spyderco, but would switch my vote if I could just get a non-tanto Zaan . They last about 45-seconds on the KE.

 

[ShaiHulud]

How so?

Recent collaborations with a Chinese company marks the multi hundred dollar folders as made in China, which is funny since they built a made in America business model over 20 years ago. So, I wouldn't necessarily call microtech strictly a US knife maker anymore ---
my vote goes goes for Spartan blades

 

[Eddy G]

Mostly for sentimental reasons I went with Buck. I’ve had a 110 or 112 close at hand for 40+ years and they have never let me down.

That said I LOVE love love my Tops and Hogue knives.

I’ve used a Kershaw flipper every day at work for the last 2 years and while it’s not my favorite knife I’ve beaten the crap out of it and it still looks and works great

 

[awesome14]

Buck all the way! Buck gets a bad rap because they have the best heat treat in the business, their 420HC blades exceeding others' S30V blades, simply because Buck has 70+ years experience with heat treating, but they sell their knives for 15-20% of what they're worth, given their competition's pricing.

So people think if they pay $60 for a Buck 110 or 112, that their getting less knife compared to to a $400 knife from a different manufacturer. But Buck is run by Christians who have forgotten more about knife-making than other makers will ever know! They cannot in good conscience use a 1000% markup!

Knife pricing has nothing to do with value. It's completely arbitrary, a speculative exercise in whatever the public is willing to pay. And I resent Spyderco and Kershaw being included, because their knives are US made only in the loosest sense, being almost completely manufactired in China, and even using some Chinese turnkey knives that are shipped from China completely assembled.

 

[sharp_edge]

This is awfully subjective but I voted Hinderer because I feel it has the best sub $500 titanium framelock flippers, which is what I like the most in my current age. "Best" in the sense of looking, consistence, and pride of ownership (made in the USA) although I have heard that Rick Hinderer is jackass. And no - ZT 0560/0561 and ZT 0562 are not at same level (I tried seven of them and still have two).

 

[dogstar]

Buck all the way! Buck gets a bad rap because they have the best heat treat in the business, their 420HC blades exceeding others' S30V blades, simply because Buck has 70+ years experience with heat treating, but they sell their knives for 15-20% of what they're worth, given their competition's pricing.

So people think if they pay $60 for a Buck 110 or 112, that their getting less knife compared to to a $400 knife from a different manufacturer. But Buck is run by Christians who have forgotten more about knife-making than other makers will ever know! They cannot in good conscience use a 1000% markup!

Knife pricing has nothing to do with value. It's completely arbitrary, a speculative exercise in whatever the public is willing to pay. And I resent Spyderco and Kershaw being included, because their knives are US made only in the loosest sense, being almost completely manufactired in China, and even using some Chinese turnkey knives that are shipped from China completely assembled.

I think Buck is a great company (voted for them, too), but that is a fair bit of hyperbole.

 

[awesome14]

I think Buck is a great company (voted for them, too), but that is a fair bit of hyperbole.

I don't think it's hyperbole at all. In my experience, as far as practicality, workmanship, performance, blade performance, longevity, and practically every other measure of a folding knife, Buck Knives aell for about 20% of their competitor's equivalents.

I am not the most experienced knife guy out there. But I have a fair amount of experience. And I like knives that don't fail under extreme considtions.

 

[cbach8tw]

Buck, for longevity and classic yet still put out some good new blades. performance for price ratio as well, they also have the 420HC nailed down.

 

[craytab]

Recent collaborations with a Chinese company marks the multi hundred dollar folders as made in China, which is funny since they built a made in America business model over 20 years ago. So, I wouldn't necessarily call microtech strictly a US knife maker anymore ---
my vote goes goes for Spartan blades

Huh, I guess it is more of old news, or the same news because that is true of most on the list. And Spartan has stuff made in Taiwan, so not strictly US made either.

 

[craytab]

I don't think it's hyperbole at all.

It's worse. This just isn't even rational:

Buck gets a bad rap because they have the best heat treat in the business

Maybe dial it back.

 

[William Schrade]

Have you seen or handled the new knives from Schrade? American Outdoor Brands paid a high ransom for the brand and brought it back from captivity in China. Of course I might be a bit biased but they're really bringing the legacy back to an iconic brand.

 

[awesome14]

It's worse. This just isn't even rational:


Maybe dial it back.

Could you please do me the favor of citing my error. If you can't do that, maybe you should think before you post. Just because you don't like something does not make it incorrect. And saying something is not rational does not mean it is. Let's have only constructive criticism from now on. State what you disagree with, and why your explanation is better. Hurling broad sweeps is the vestage of those who who don't like the truth. I like the truth, so I address the specific content of a post or comment, rather than trying to impugn the whole thing with a few words, because then I don't appear feeble. And, if I just don't like something, I ignore it. Stuff just doesn't really get to me. I'm emotionally tough. There is nothing I fear, because I know no guilt. I have a pure heart and clean thoughts. That's no commentary on any other member. Just sharing a few secrets for getting through life without spasing out on little things.

Sometimes I forget how tough I really am. It comes from living through real pain. When I found my 24-year-old sister hanging from the attic rafters, with a big purple face, that bothered me, but not to excess. When my daughter died from a tooth absess that traveled into her brain, that bothered me. But not to the point of breakdown, or even close. Because everyone has to die sometime. It doesn't really matter when, because life a gwme where everyone loses, eventually. My brother died of a heroin overdose. I didn't blame anyone but him, because it was his fault. I was sad about it, though. I made a memorial for him and had it hung in my church. He was a great guy. I never knew he did heroin until I read the autopsy report.

So, I don't sweat the small stuff, like certain members on this board. I wish we could all do the same. Life is too short to squabble about every little thing.

 

[Blade Lab]

Spyderco for best overall, because of their overall quality, breadth of their line, and commitment to experimenting with different steels. In my opinion Koenig makes the best KNIFE, but they essentially have only two models, so it's hard to classify them as the best brand. Similar reasoning for CRK.

 

[Blade Lab]

Have you seen or handled the new knives from Schrade? American Outdoor Brands paid a high ransom for the brand and brought it back from captivity in China. Of course I might be a bit biased but they're really bringing the legacy back to an iconic brand.

They've gotten some pretty bad reviews, unfortunately.

 

[Hackenslash]

Could you please do me the favor of citing my error. If you can't do that, maybe you should think before you post. Just because you don't like something does not make it incorrect. And saying something is not rational does not mean it is. Let's have only constructive criticism from now on. State what you disagree with, and why your explanation is better. Hurling broad sweeps is the vestage of those who who don't like the truth. I like the truth, so I address the specific content of a post or comment, rather than trying to impugn the whole thing with a few words, because then I don't appear feeble. And, if I just don't like something, I ignore it. Stuff just doesn't really get to me. I'm emotionally tough. There is nothing I fear, because I know no guilt. I have a pure heart and clean thoughts. That's no commentary on any other member. Just sharing a few secrets for getting through life without spasing out on little things.

Sometimes I forget how tough I really am. It comes from living through real pain. When I found my 24-year-old sister hanging from the attic rafters, with a big purple face, that bothered me, but not to excess. When my daughter died from a tooth absess that traveled into her brain, that bothered me. But not to the point of breakdown, or even close. Because everyone has to die sometime. It doesn't really matter when, because life a gwme where everyone loses, eventually. My brother died of a heroin overdose. I didn't blame anyone but him, because it was his fault. I was sad about it, though. I made a memorial for him and had it hung in my church. He was a great guy. I never knew he did heroin until I read the autopsy report.

So, I don't sweat the small stuff, like certain members on this board. I wish we could all do the same. Life is too short to squabble about every little thing.

I appreciate your journey but you might want to edit it down a bunch. This kind of commentary doesn’t really belong in GKD. There’s an entire community forum for this type of sharing.

Directly pertaining to Buck, they are a great American based company, but I think that the burden of proof lies in the claim they’re clearly better than others.

Welcome to Blade Forums and enjoy your knives!

 

[JD Bear]

Well that escalated quickly.....

 

[Reswob]

Recent collaborations with a Chinese company marks the multi hundred dollar folders as made in China, which is funny since they built a made in America business model over 20 years ago. So, I wouldn't necessarily call microtech strictly a US knife maker anymore ---
my vote goes goes for Spartan blades

Spartan decided to start importing a couple Taiwan models. While this is infinitely better than PRC made knives, it's still very disappointing to see a company that heavily advertises Made in USA start importing some of their lineup (and like Microtech, they are charging WAY too much for overseas products).

 

[Hammer67]

I'm at a point where folders are pretty much just a utilitarian choice for me. I don't get excited about super expensive, high-end folders anymore. They are just a functional compromise, when I can't carry a fixed blade, or to augment a fixed blade that I'm carrying. MUSA Spydercos have never let me down, and I also really like my Pro-Techs.

Now if we wanna talk about USA Fixed Blade Makers, I might have more to say. But it will probably start and end with "Carothers."