Knife company second choice

jackknifeh · #1

I've only bougt more than one knife from the same company twice. I have a few Spydercos and a few from another company. I'll buy more Spydercos (one is on pre-order now). I will not buy a knife from the other company whose name will remain unmentioned as well as the reason.

My question is if Spyderco is the first choice or favorite company who produces the best variety and quality knives who would come in 2nd or 3rd maybe.

Jack

SQSAR · #2

There is a long list of custom and semi-custom makers that offer some really good stuff. No doubt many of us on this forum know a bunch of niche companies that are awesome. However, I'm assuming you're talking about The bigger names in the knife industry (as you mentioned variety).

Fit & finish and quality materials, can only get a company so far. Beyond that, we are looking a designs, customer service, quality control, and a company's business ethics. This is why Spyderco is number one. But beyond that, judging from a 'totality of circumstances' I'd say Benchmade runs number two to Spyderco.

Creepo · #3

My experience is rather limited as I haven't bough that many knives and most of what I've bought have been the :spyder: kind.
It is a bit hard to pick just 2 IMO, there are some that have both variety and quality and then there are those who are lacking in the other. But for the sake of your question I'll try to name my 2 personal favourites out of the big names that have both quality and variety. I know there might be couple names above these but I have excluded them due to other factors I look for in a knife company, namely ethics and such. :rolleyes:

2nd for me would probably be Boker. They have been in the business for ages so they know what they are doing. The actual German-made Boker line exhibits great quality but the price is also rather high on those, to balance it out they have the Plus line which is made in Taiwan(?) that has become pretty popular for the collaborations especially with Chad Los Banos. The Plus line exhibits a great price to quality ratio. They also make knives in South-America (Arbolito line) and China (Magnum line, which I don't really care for myself). Knives range from classic slip-joints to modern tactical autos and fixed blades, they have also collaborated with a number of custom makers. They are however a bit lacking in the steels they use.

3rd would probably be Kershaw, they have a wide selection of knives ranging form the budget-line to the high-end-line. The quality on all according to user reports seems good, of course it varies according to price. They have done a number of collaborations and also have innovative in house designs. Aesthetically not many of them appeal to me but I acknowledge them as good designs. They are also one of very few production knife companies who have ventured into the world of high-tech exotic steels, think stuff not even Spyderco has touched yet. Some CPM stuff, ELMAX, VANAX...

It was a bit challenging putting even those 2 in an order... I would also like to mention CRKT. Most of their designs are collaborations with custom makers so they exhibit exceptional variety, but they are a bit lacking in quality. They have however stepped up their game a bit recently, especially with the new Ken Onion collaborations. :)

Now the world of fixed blades is a whole other story...

2cha · #4

Fallkniven for fixed blades, their folders lack variety and ingenuity, but the fit and finish are second to none. When I sold off knives to focus on Spyderco, I did keep my Fallkniven folders.

Benchmade for US made folders. I haven't bought one for myself in many years, but a few have fallen into my hands, and I sure don't complain.

rosconey · #5

benchmade and kershaw-
kershaw has the 2 steel blade(non laminate)-this gives them the slight advantage over benchmade-

i have a speedform thats just about perfect f&f with the dual steel blade

and my benchmade 755 sibert is as well made as any knife

Simple Man · #6

Busse and Queen, long list after that.

SmoothOne25 · #7

bm to carry/beat to sh!t and spy to carry/collect/praise for decades...

-DONE- NOTHING TO SEE HERE...

CanisMajor · #8

I like Emerson. My Mini 15SF is one of my favorites.

Canis

MtnMan · #9

1st choice folder: Spyderco
1st choice fixed: Fallkniven

additional favorites, folder: Benchmade, Kershaw, Fallkniven
additional favorites, fixed: ESEE, Becker, Mora

phillipsted · #10

I would second the recommendation of Boker. I've visited their Solingen Germany factory, and their German-made lines are top notch. Watch out for their non-German lines such as Magnum - the quality and price vary all over the map.

TedP

FIMS · #11

I also have Emerson and Strider, and a Hinderer coming soon.

They are for different reasons and uses.

However I always come back to Spyderco.

Keeps me grounded.

jzmtl · #12

Always liked Kershaw for variety and value, but lately I'v been digging a few benchmade designs (15020-1 bone collector green/black, and 950 rift).

The new Boker plus models are also excellent. Not top of line blade steel but well made and priced.

yowzer · #13

Non-Spyderco knives companies I really like: Great Eastern Cutlery, ESEE, Bark River, Victorinox.

.357 mag · #14

I'm not really a big fan of many knives since I got my last spyderco but as after as multitools go I've been happy with leatherman. I have a skelitool CX 154cm that helps me out alot.

Sithus1966 · #15

For me it would be Kershaw.

Evil D · #16

I like Victorinox, Case XX, some Buck, some Kershaw. That said, i've probably spent more money on Spyderco knives than all of the others combined, and it's not because of price per knife..it's because i've just bought more Spydies. I do like the Kershaw Leek and Buck Rush though...those are two nice knives for the money.

c.joe · #17

As much as we all dislike Cold Steel knives, I always carry one (has to be a tri-ad model) as a beater and for knife laymen to use if I forget my multitool. (did I ever mention that I throw them?) I abuse the crap out of it knowing it isn't worth much. But they hold up and make excellent beaters. Can't go wrong with their really grippy g10 too. This would be my 2nd choice. (oh and their fixed blades make excellent camping knives)

My 3rd choice would be a tie between Kershaw, SAK, and BM. They are all hit or misses for me so I am quite picky with their models.

I would also suggest CRK folders. They are pricey but are really worth their price.

npueppke · #18

I like Kabar a lot, not so much for folders though.

I've only had one Kershaw and I wasn't really all that impressed with it (it was a leek). I keep meaning to try another one but never get around to it because Spydercos are so much cooler.

sarguy · #19

When I flew into Portland a couple of weeks ago I had to borrow a friend's BM and ZT300 (I think it's a Kershaw sub-company). Both suited my needs for carrying and SD and utility blade, but I did miss my Spydies. I also noted that while the Carson flipper works quite well, the "oval hole" in the BM Griptillian I had just wasn't as handy as the Spyder-hole.

jimnolimit · #20

buck, kershaw.