Choosing the Best Pocket Knife Brand is a bit of an art form. To do so, you have to first be properly informed to make the best decision. In the case of knife brands, there are also many personal factors that will help you decide which knife to buy from a quality brand.
So the question that a lot of people are asking is just how do you go about picking the best pocket knife based on brands. Keep reading and this article will help you out.
Top 10 Best Pocket Knife Brands
1. Kershaw Knives
It was started in 1974 in Portland, Oregon. Since 1974 Kershaw brand has been making some of the finest knives in the world. Owning a Kershaw pocket knife means you are carrying a quality cutting tool.
Kershaw manufactures different types of pocket knives for sportsmen, work, utility and outdoor recreation. Such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, backpacking, climbing, and survival or tactical. Kershaw has some state of the art knife designers. Also, they use top quality materials when building their knives making them one of the world’s finest knife makers today. Here's a buyers favourite, the Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife.
2. Buck Knives
This company has a long and interesting history, dating back to 1902 in San Diego, California. A father and blacksmith apprentice, Hoyt Buck, found a way to temper steel so the blade would have a longer edge. He made the knives by hand. His son also took to this interest and started Buck Knives in 1961.
In 1964 Buck Knives introduced the Model 110 Folding Hunter, a knife that changed the knife industry. Buck Knives are committed to doing their best and developing new products. Since then it has been a 4th generation family business. In 2005, the company moved to Post Falls, Idaho.
3. Spyderco
Founded in November 1978 by Sal Glesser and his wife Gail. Spyderco was named after Sal noticed performance sports cars have often involved the name 'Spyder'. He then, in turn, named the company Spyderco. They first started producing knife sharpeners but in 1981, they produced their first folding knife, the CO1 Worker.
This knife features a round hole in the blade and was designed so it could be a one-handed, ambidextrous opener. The hole in the blade is now the company's trademark. Spyderco is the first to feature a pocket clip on the right side of the handle. These knives are often used by fire personnel, police, and citizens.
Most of their knives especially folding tactical knives are made in the US but they also have contracts with Japan, China, Taiwan and Italy. With their main headquarters are located in Golden, Colorado. Their pocket knives are known for its simplicity and reliability. Their most popular pocket knife at the moments is the Spyderco ParaMilitary 2 G-10.
4. Gerber Knives
The Gerber famous knife brand was founded in 1939, in Portland, Oregon. Originally the Gerber family owned an advertising firm. The son, Joseph Gerber, mailed 24 sets of kitchen knives to families and they were a massive hit. Very soon after Abercrombie and Fitch wanted more than knives.
That led to Joseph Gerber officially founding the Gerber Legendary Blades in 1939. Their headquarters are located in Tigard, Oregon. They have nine main models, with them being most legendary for their tactical pocket knife range. Check out the Gerber Swagger Pocket Knife.
5. Benchmade
Benchmade Knives is an American made company that is one of the foremost knife makers today and continues to raise the standards of specialty cutlery all over the world. Their quality is second to none and their pocket knives ease of use, and style is in a class by themselves. Benchmade knives can be quickly opened and closed with one hand making them easy to operate and a real pleasure to own. Nothing but premium materials are used to build a Benchmade knife.
Whatever endeavor you find yourself in Benchmade has the right knife for the task at hand. Benchmade Knife Co. is committed to offering you the finest pocket knives made today with a simple philosophy that states "Make it cool, make it solid, make it happen and definitely make it Benchmade. Best of all, most of their knives cater to those of us that need a left-handed pocket knife.
6. Smith and Wesson
Smith and Wesson was founded in 1852, to make guns. Even though they are known for firearms, they are also known for their knives, axes, tools, safes and more. The manufacturing of knives is still fairly new to Smith and Wesson. They started the company in the 1850s for marketing pistols, and they have mostly stuck to making firearms. In 1974, that changed and they started making knives which have become some of the most popular knives today.
These knives cater mostly to the police and military. The pocket knives come in automatic and assisted opening knives and more at good prices. They also come in many finishes, including camo, desert or flat black. Smith and Wesson's headquarter is located in Springfield, Massachusetts. They are committed to reliability and affordability in all of their products such as this Stainless Steel Tactical Knife.
7. Zero Tolerance
A fairly new company Zero Tolerance was founded in 2006. The knives were produced along with the Kershaw Knife brand. The first line was combat knives but has expanded to general use knives. In its short history, Zero Tolerance has won eight awards at the Blade show in Atlanta, Georgia.
The company won ‘Overall Knife of the Year’ and ‘Collaboration of The Year’ multiple times. The knives sold are folding and fixed blades. The company has worked with many custom knife makers like Les George, Ken Onion and Emerson Knives. Check out this fine looking Crucibe Blade with Blackwash Finish.
8. Cold Steel
Founded in California in 1980, this company is known for swords, knives, and other edged weapons. They are credited with making the American Tanto (a footlong double or single edge blade worn by Samurai) popular. Asia has highly influenced Cold Steel as they have plants in Japan and Taiwan. They imported nearly all their knives from Sekki Japan and had two models produced in Taiwan, but those soon went back to Japan.
The knives today are made of VG-1 Stainless steel and VG1 core Sanmai III. Their knives are widely renowned for their strength because of the materials used to make them. Many of the knives, swords, and other products are designed by Cold Steels President Lynn C Thompson. He’s based the knives on traditional knife designs from all over the world.
9. Opinel
This French knife company originally started out with the founder, Victor-Amedee Opinel, a peddler, establishing his first blacksmith workshop in Gevaudan. When his son took over the business, he was a renowned “Edge Tool Maker” who would make well-made sickles and other tools. When Joseph Opinel, grandson of Victor-Amedee, with a passion for new technology sought to make a new object.
He redefined the shape and process with the new technology and made a better small pocket knife. He made several different kinds varying from size and shape. The knife was a big hit with the locals, in which Joseph Opinel made his first factory in Pont De Gevoudaz. The company is credited with inventing the ‘Virobloc’ or safety twist lock mechanism. See the full range available here.
10. MTECH USA
Also known as Microtech, the company was founded in 1994 in Vero Beach, Florida. 2004 was a big year for MTech, because the MTX2 won the American Made Knife of the year.
Since then they have opened a second facility in Mills River, North Carolina. The company has grown up so much that they have a sister company, Microtech Small Arms Research (MSAR) engineering, focusing on developing new blades. MicroTech is known for making quality and affordable pocket knives. The Microtech Tool Steel and Aircraft Alloy are all from the US and are regularly tested for reliability and lifetime warranty. Check out out a popular knife of theirs at the moment, the Tactical Dagger with Spring Assisted Opening.
Choosing The Best Pocket Knife Brand Conclusion
To know if you have really found the right brand of pocket knife for you, it should cover all your everyday, survival and camping needs (and then some). Regardless of which option you go with, I hope this article about the Best Pocket Knife Brands has helped you make your final decision.
Well, the rating can be subjective, especially the order. But overall, its quite right. Spyderco Shall come after Kershaw & then cold steel. But nice post, summarizing each company.