Your five best knife manufacturers!

[UK KEN]

Hello All

I could use some help, I am trying to decide on the top five knife manufacturers (other than Spyderco, I have them pretty well covered) to include on my new web site.

Please let me know your top five for A. Fixed Blades
B. Folders

Thank you in advance for your help. :)

Cheers, Ken

[Ted]

I've only listed brands I own or have owned and that really had perfect products. (can't say that of my Strider PT which I do however carry a lot!)

A)

Chris Reeve
Fallkniven
Al Mar probably, but can't afford the Shiva...would like it however

B)

Chris Reeve
Al Mar
Forge-de-Laguiole

[Fred Sanford]

Both of these lists are in no particular order.

Fixed Blades
1. Becker
2. Buck
(That's all I've handled)

Folders
1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Buck
4. Kershaw
5. Blade-Tech

[Piet.S]

I don't really have list but I rate Hill knives among the finest.
Both FB's and folders.

[HoB]

Can only respond to B) but the answer depends on what kind of properties you are looking for.
Fit and finsh:

CRK
WH (Williams Henry)

But in terms of selection, practical design and usability I would, personally, rank neither very high.

I think that Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw should be on that list even if currently practically no BM design appeals to me. I think these five would be my picks, though each for different reasons which makes a ranking between these five pretty much impossible.

[TheKnifeCollector]

Fixed blades: CRK, Bark River, Ranger Knives Folders: CRK, Spyderco... That is the best I CAN do.

[lerman]

as for folders
1. linton :D :D :D (just kiding)

1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Buck
4. Kershaw
5. crkt

FBs:
1. tops
2. busse
3. cold steel
4. buck (the old models)

[Jenner 515]

Fixed Blades:
1. Buck
2. Cold Steel
3. TOPS

Folders
1. Case
2. Buck
3. Schrade
4. Kershaw
5. CRKT

[florijn]

Folders,

Benchmade
Microtech
Extrema ratio
Spyderco
Cold steel

In the above list could be also the below knives but I dont own any of them yet!

William Henry
Chris Reeve
Mercworx
Mission
Combat elite

No fixed blade experiance for me

[Knifewing]

Here are my picks for (non-Spyderco) production knives that I have a bit of experience with. All make strong contenders in the fixed and folder categories:

-Benchmade (I really like the Nimravus fixed)
-Al Mar (I, too, wish I had a Shiva and mini Sere folder)
-Cold Steel (solid stuff)
-CKRT (interesting designs)
-AG Russell (I think a variety of producers make their "house brand" knives but in my experience they're of good quality and value)
-Mcusta (beautiful Japanese folders)

Hope this helps.

[KSDbass]

before I do this, I have little experience with fixed blades
Fixed Blades-
1. Strider
2. SOG knives
3. HAK

Folders-
1. Strider
2. Spyderco
3. Benchmade
4. Kershaw (if they'd always use better bladesteels they'd be higher up)
5.CRK&T

[druid]

A
spyderco
microtech
WH
lonewolf
mod


b
busse/swoprat
spyderco
brkt
al mar
crk

[jaislandboy]

I guess I can chip in for the Folders category:
Al Mar, Benchmade, Ontario knives (Retribution2), Kershaw, LoneWolf Harsey series...

[para-force]

Folders:
1.) Spyderco
2.) Kershaw
3.) Emerson
4.) Benchmade
5.) Strider

Fixed blades:
1.) Camillus
2.) Strider
3.) Benchmade
4.) SOG
5.) Spyderco

[Jimd]

Folders:
1. Strider
2. Blade-Tech
3. Benchmade

Fixed:
1. Strider
2. Ontario - Their TAK and RAT series are outstanding.
3. K-Bar
4. Busse