Top 10 Best Knife Companies

The Top Ten
1 Benchmade

I have three Benchmades! All are incredible knives at great prices. There is a 100% chance of me buying another Benchmade. The Axis lock cannot be matched by most locks out there. I own a Benchmade Mini Presidio, and I use it quite heavily, and it still stands up to much abuse. I also have a Benchmade Emissary; it is a very compact knife and is very sharp and holds its edge very nicely. Lastly, I have a Benchmade Adamas, which is easily my favorite Benchmade folder. It is incredibly strong, keeps its edge like nothing else, considering it has D2 steel, an amazing knife. The fact that Benchmade isn't in the top 5 is sickening. Cold Steel is most certainly not number one. It just shows how little this website and its creators know about knives. If you get the free time, look up a Diamondblade knife sometime or a Busse or a Hinderer or even ESEE, nor Cold Steel.

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2 Becker Knife and Tool

Becker Knife and Tool is not just a knife brand but one of the more involved producers out there. Mr. Ethan has been great to speak with at shows and events. He is really down to earth and listens to the consumers and their needs/wants. I own numerous Becker knives and will continue until I run out of knives to buy. It is certainly not the most expensive knife on the market, but dollar for dollar, in my opinion, the single best knife you can find.

Becker knives are an amazing value for the money. Fantastic, well-thought-out designs make them exceedingly useful in the field, on a hike, at the campsite, or around the house. The blades come razor-sharp out of the box, hold up under ridiculous abuse, and are easy to sharpen. The handles are some of the most comfortable I've ever held. Awesome awesome knives.

3 Spyderco

Spyderco knives are the "cutting edge" of blade technology. They put extensive research into new and exotic steels, searching for the perfect balance of hardness and toughness. They're expanding production in the US while sourcing the highest quality steel from around the world. Just hold a Spyderco to get a sense of its fit and finish. Precise, sharp, and engineered to perform. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better knife for the money.

The H1 Salt range of knives are the best that I have owned. Living at the coast, I have had the opportunity to test the stain resistance. This knife is with me wherever I go, even in the sea. In 5 years so far, not a bit of discoloration - this is extremely impressive. I really get the best use from the excellent serrated blade, which, in my opinion, is one of the best designs available. The range is comprehensive, and there is a knife for all uses.

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4 TOPS Knives

Heavy knife, made in the US, holds an edge well. Great for batoning, which makes it a perfect survival knife in my book. You can get a heavy knife to do other tasks with more care, but you can never ask a lighter knife to do a heavier duty chore.

Superior knives, both survival and tactical. Comparing a Top's knife to a Gerber, Cold Steel, or a Benchmade is like comparing a really professional tool to a child's toy.

I have a TOPS Black Rhino, and soon a SWAT. I love TOPS. If you are a true collector like me, buy and you will know why I think TOPS is at least in the top 3 with Ontario, Spyderco, Benchmade, Boker, Camillus, and SOG following in that order. BUY TOPS NOW.

5 Mora

I'm surprised at many of these reviews. I'm an avid outdoorsman and a knife collector myself. I own and have used nearly every knife in these reviews, and my favorite is still the Mora. Do your research. Nearly every survival class teacher or guide I've met in the last 40+ years carries a Mora. It's razor-sharp, easy to resharpen, and inexpensive. Unless you lose it, you won't need to replace it. A knife is a tool, and it's only as good as the hands operating it. I'm amazed at how many so-called "Woodsman" throw their knife, baton with it, or refer to it as a weapon, as some reviewers do. You're going to the woods, dudes! You're not fighting zombies or ISIS terrorists! Try gutting a trout or panfish with your 8" Ka-bar or Cold Steel. I have them, but I always carry my Mora. You can't beat the price or quality. I still have my first one after many... 33 years, and it's still going strong.

6 KA-BAR

KA-BAR is one of the best knife companies ever forged. They have been an American classic since World War II, and you will still see knives from World War Two on veterans' belts because they were made to last. While not as flashy as a Coldsteel or as beautifully crafted as a Benchmade, KA-BAR's simple yet amazingly reliable designs have done the job since 1898, which is 82 years older than Coldsteel and 90 years older than Benchmade. That's why I would trust the 7-inch Combat/utility (as would many U.S. veterans) on my belt more than any other knife.

7 ESEE Knives

These are some of the best knives in the $50-$150 dollar price range that money can buy. They have one of the best warranties in the business, and the knives are nearly indestructible. The knives are made from 1095 steel and come with excellent heat treatment. The different models come in a range of powder-coated colors to help combat corrosion. The owners run an excellent discussion forum and offer training that covers many different outdoor activities.

You can train a monkey to put an edge on a piece of metal and sell it, but ESEE is much more than a company selling sharpened pieces of steel. There is a culture behind ESEE that drives individuals into the outdoors to explore the unknown and thrive in adverse environments.

8 Ontario Knife Company

Ontario/RAT produces some very fine knives. Their high-end knives are on par with Cold Steel, and even their low-end folders produced out of Taiwan are of remarkably high quality and value-priced. They do not make a bad product, they price competitively, and they deliver high quality at all price points.

Simply put, I owned many knives, and I also love Mora, but Ontario is hands down the best.

The Rat 1 is without a doubt one of my favorite knives.

9 Victorinox

There is no better value in the knife industry. Their knives perform far better than people would expect. See the rope cutting test by jdavis882 for proof of exactly how good and versatile their steel is. Their factory is also one of the most refined in the world. Each knife produced has an extremely low carbon footprint. The heat produced by their factory is actually used to heat the homes surrounding it at no cost to the people. I love all of the knife companies currently on this list, but Victorinox is doing something that nobody else is. High-quality product, great fit and finish, low price point, low carbon footprint, giving back to their community, lifetime warranty, and excellent performance.

10 DPX Gear

High quality, no BS knives designed by a real person for people who work in harms way.

The Contenders
11 Buck Knives

1. Buck Knives are made in the USA.
2. Buck Knives come with a "Forever Warranty."
3. Buck Knives hold an edge like no other knife.
4. Buck Knives are a steal for the price you pay.
5. Buck Knives are beautiful.
6. Buck will sharpen a knife for you for $7. You pay for shipping to their factory, but they pay for the way back.
7. If you need a new blade on your knife, Buck will put a new one on the knife for $10.
8. Buck will do cosmetic work on your knife for free; all you pay for is shipping to their factory.

Buck knives are the best quality knives I've ever owned in my 62 years. I have owned many knife brands in my years, but the various models, quality, warranty, and price have always made Buck knives number 1 in my book. I've had Buck knives for 50 years, and they still perform like new. I grew up with Buck knives and still carry and use them today.

12 Cold Steel

I bought a Cold Steel Survival Edge knife and find it to be the best hollow handle knife on the market for the price. I have other Cold Steel products and find them to be of the highest performance. I wish they had a bigger selection of knives. (You should see their online video knife torture test) Unbelievable!

I own multiple CS knives and have yet to find one that has let me down. For the money, they are a great value. There are many on this list that are great knives and every bit as good, but when I go into the Canadian woods, I have 2 CS blades and my EDC is a Recon Tanto. None have ever let me down. I also will not carry a folder, so some companies are automatically out for me.

13 Hardcore Hardware
14 Condor

Solid, no-frills carbon steel knife that will hold up to the demands of outdoorsmen and warriors alike. Great price.

15 Kershaw

A great variety, versatile, and razor-sharp out of the box. A cheap and affordable knife with good premium steel, worth it for anyone on a tight budget but looking for a good knife. Just remember the fundamentals of how to use a knife, and Kershaw will never fail you.

I've learned to handle knives since the IDF in Israel. I now collect them. I love them all! But Kershaw knows what they're doing. #1 in my book. Gerber #2. I can shave with a Kershaw knife.

By far the best value in a pocket folder I've found. Super sharp, very solid construction, and quick to deploy.

16 Bastinelli Creations

Amazing handmade French high-quality knives which are not too expensive.

17 Combative Edge
18 Brous Blades

Expensive knives but awesome. I own five Benchmades, and I do love their knives, but the Brous Blades Division is by far the best quality knife I have. There really is no comparison between my Division and my Benchmades. For the price, I think Benchmade is tough to beat, but Brous knives are the best knives I've come across.

19 SOG

I have owned numerous SOG knives over the years, and they are exceptionally high quality, especially the ones made in Seki, Japan. My personal favorite is my SSD89 SOG Scuba/Demo, for which I purchased a Sullivan Model 14 Sheath. It's the perfect ensemble. SOG knives have also become quite the collector's item, and I see them eventually becoming a knife company to rival Randall Knives.

Have used SOG knives on my many trips to the sand box. Have to say that these knives handled everything I needed them to and did not have to be re-sharpened the entire trip. Have many knives to choose from, my SOG is firmly attached to my 3-day bag for a reason.

20 Columbia River Knife & Tool

CRKT started its business by making amazingly cool knives, including collaborations with famous knife makers, and has grown from producing the most value-driven knives out there to manufacturing high-value, high-end "Super Production knives," such as the 2014 Blade Show Knife of the Year, the Ken Onion HiJinx. They have Ken Onion, who is kicking butt and taking names, as just one of the MANY amazing makers they work with. Other notable makers include Liong Mah, Alan Folts, James Williams, and many others, including a total of FOUR members of the Cutlery Hall of Fame. Additionally, there are several more that will likely be inducted in the next 20 years. CRKT is a company you should have started watching years ago, as today they are setting standards for the future.

21 Mcusta Knives

I own a knife from every company listed here (except for Brous, but that is only because they aren't worth the money). I carry a Mcusta. Sure, my Benchmade is great, as is my Spyderco and Emerson, but my favorite is still the Mcusta. But if you get one, get the Damascus, and don't waste your money with anything above that. Easy to clean, easy to sharpen, easy to carry.

22 Dogwood Custom Knives

I've had a chance to meet and talk to Dan, and I can tell you firsthand he is my favorite knife maker to date. Dogwood knives are top shelf. Dan understands the physics, geometry, and history of knives. Dogwood knives are made of the highest quality products by a true master knife maker. Dan understands how physics and blade geometry lend themselves to a knife's designated tasks. Dogwood knives are classic designs proven throughout history and improved with modern materials and Dan's phenomenal skill and eye for detail. All at a great price. Just try to take my Dogwood away from me.

23 Kingdom Knives

Kingdom Knives are made in the USA, in Vermont. They are manufactured from D2 Tool Steel, which is heat-treated to 61 Rockwell and cryogenically treated to -320 degrees. These knives are guaranteed for life against breakage or any other damage. Guides and hunters who clean many animals each year say they have never seen a knife that holds an edge like a Kingdom Knife. You can find more information about them at kingdomknives.com.

24 Adventure Sworn Bushcraft Co.

Beautiful, bombproof, handcrafted knives made by a small team of talented, ambitious people. The Adventure Sworn crew puts their knives to the test in real-world field use to ensure that form follows function in each of their designs. Great selection of styles, materials, and fantastic sheaths.

Flawless craftsmanship with both the knives and sheaths, as well as unbelievable customer service! They truly understand their target audience and welcome feedback from their customers. Top-notch all the way!

25 Leatherman

I have the Juice 2, and it is the ticket for EDC. Lightweight and versatile, it never leaves my side. I use it multiple times on a daily basis; I don't leave home without it. I also have the Charge and the Wave - awesome tools at a great price.

Who can't love Leatherman? These tools are as essential as food and shelter.

It's a Leatherman. You can't go wrong, enough said!

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