Got a Favorite Knife Maker?

[woodsltc]

I like many different knives, but my favorites have changed over the years.

My current favorite EDC is a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian. My current favorite hunting knives are Doziers...made by Bob Dozier out of Springdale, AR.

Don

 

[The Mighty S&W]

For everyday carry, I go with the low priced modern Smith & Wesson knives. They work well and don't break the bank, so it doesn't hurt my feelings to put some wear and tear on them.

For general utility/outdoor use, I primarily go with an LMFII Infantry knife from Gerber.

For collecting, I have a soft spot for balisong (butterfly) style knives, and Benchmade is where it's at for those. Here is one of my favorites. It is one of only 100 pieces made, and is serial numbered in the first ten.

 

[Retired W4]

Chris Reeve and Al Mar, although both have devolved over the years, for different reasons. I have posted pictures of some that I have over the years.

 

[mattallamerican]

bark river is tuff to beat

 

[Golddollar]

Does anybody else like Ka-Bar knives? I carried one of the big Ka-Bar knives for deer hunting, and there is a neat story about it.

One day back in northeast Ohio where I grew up, my late father was in the nearby hardware store. The proprietor came up to Pop and showed Pop a number of the big Ka-Bar knives that came into the store. The proprietor told Pop that the knives got wet and the finishes on them got spotted up, so they couldn't be sold as new. So the proprietor offered these knives to Pop for the princely sum of $5.00 each. Pop figured he had carried knives in the past that looked worse than those Ka-Bars, so he bought a number of them. Pop gave my brother and I a knife each.

I really learned about the quality of the steel in that knife. I had a Buck sharpening kit and it took me 3 hours to sharpen that knife up, but it would go through the rib cage of a deer like a chain saw.

 

[Retired W4]

My EDC, an OLD Al Mar Falcon. Pre thumb stud, blah, blah. Probably made when Al was still alive. The ivory micarta has turned yellow with age.

 

[BW460]

Giant Mouse. I have the Grand model and it is the finest knife I have ever owned.

 

[series guy]

L. T. Wright Handcrafted Knives. Located in Steubenville Ohio. Made in the good old USA with USA materials. Really hard to beat their quality for the price. And if you call there is a good chance you will talk to LT. Not many businesses like that left.

 

[BubbaBlades]

My favorite knifemaker is me (at least for fixed blade knives). If I need a folder I have used Buck knives for 59 years and I am still using them.

This Randall Kit knife was made by Don Zaccagnino Sr. (Zack Knives). I am lucky to have known "Zack" and have several of his works of art.

Another deceased knifemaker that I have great respect for is John L. Kemp. John worked for Randall Made Knives during the '50s and '60 and after retiring he made some knives that looked very much like a Randall but were true custom knives made completely by him.

 

[Sistema1927]

I buy Case CV knives when I find them, prefer to SS.

These two, Bark River and Benchmade, are my favorite knives.

 

[Echo40]

Buck Knives, without a doubt. They have produced the largest volume of knives which I have found interesting.

I really like clip point blades, and many of Buck's blades are clip point.

Custom Buck 120 General Purpose Knife. 420HC Blade, Rosewood Grips, Brass Handguard/Pommel.

Custom Buck 110 Folding Hunter. Custom Engraved S30V Blade, High Polished Brass Bolsters, Cherrywood Scales.

Buck 110 Slim Pro. Custom Engraved S30V Blade, O.D. Green Micarta Grip.

Buck 639 Fieldmate. 425M Blade, O.D. Green Rubber Handle.

 

[Marshwheeling]

For EDC, the knives I carry are SAK Alox Electrician, Opinel 6, and right now, a Queen Cutlery Hawbaker.

As between Benchmade and Spyderco, I'll take Benchmade, mostly for the Axis lock. My favorite single OHO is my Ray Laconico Keen, made by WE.

For fixed blades, at the top of the heap, I'm gonna have to say Carothers. Heat treat and ergonomics are outstanding.

Ka-Bar Becker. For a guy who writes cookbooks, Ethan Becker designs a pretty good, comfortable, reasonably-priced knife.not

Varusteleka. This Finnish surplus dealer has blades made by Lauri out of 80cRV2. Modest price, super performance.

Mora. One's too many and a dozen's not enough.

Anza. I have been buying these knives since the early eighties. Quirky, out-of-the-mainstream designs, hollow ground from old files.

Edit: Add: Scrapyard Knives. Part of the Jerry Busse family of knives. Lower priced than Busse knives, typically use SR101, a carbon steel similar to 52100, a ball bearing steel. Reseprine handles. Not cheap, but they won't cost you $700 like a Busse.

 

[robvious]

Bill Deshivs... lever lock automatic is a piece of art..
but for everyday stuff.. Opinel, old Gerber, Kershaw, Buck

 

[Claymore33]

Benchmade or Case for folders.
Inexpensive ranch knife. SOG.

 

[Mdclinks]

Not that I currently own any but I love seeing opaul's work.

 

[OLDSTER]

Benchmade, Buck, and Pro-Tech

 

[BlackAgnes]

Um, well...

Tim

 

[mocha001]

benchmade for edc
buck for hunting

 

[kmyers]

We have models from Spyderco than any other brand so that would fit.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Not a knife collector, but a fan of Benchmade. I use this one almost daily.