Knives - I Want it Truly Made in the USA
- Thread starter Jotobo
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Buy ESEE (formerly R.A.T. Cutlery). Here's there website URL...
http://www.eseeknives.com/index2.htm
http://www.eseeknives.com/index2.htm
If you are willing to drop the dough, go to Buck's website for their folders with different and better steels. Their standard 420HC is on the low end of steels, however the guy in charge of their heat treatments is legendary in getting the most out of any steel (I forget his name...Paul Bos? I forget). If you do get a standard Buck, triple check to make sure it is an American made example as a lot of Chinese ones are in circulation, especially on eBay.
Spyderco is made in Japan and the U.S., but I have no problem with Japanese examples whatsoever. They make good stuff. Reminds me of the days when Japanese Strats were considered a step down from American made ones. Turns out the Japanese ones were every bit as good, if not better than the American ones...and they still can be had for less dough.
For folders, Spyderco is solid in just about every way. Benchmade is too, although you will likely be sharpening it after purchasing. I just got a Zero Tolerance knife that is a collaberation with Strider and it is phenomenal, especially for the price...but it is big, thick and heavy. I have never had a Chris Reeves, but personally from what I have seen and read they are over-rated and over-priced.
Choppers...I have a Fehrman with S3V steel, although I would not mind having a Busse, of course. I'm good with my Fehrman though. I got it within a week or two of their price hike! Whew! The best value for choppers in my opinion are the Swamp Rats (cousins or whatever of Busse), although you will have to be on rust watch. And although I don't have a Fallkniven, I like what I have read. Again though, I am content with my Fehrman. I'm not a survivalist and even if I was, my Fehrman is exactly the knife I would want with me.
Spyderco is made in Japan and the U.S., but I have no problem with Japanese examples whatsoever. They make good stuff. Reminds me of the days when Japanese Strats were considered a step down from American made ones. Turns out the Japanese ones were every bit as good, if not better than the American ones...and they still can be had for less dough.
For folders, Spyderco is solid in just about every way. Benchmade is too, although you will likely be sharpening it after purchasing. I just got a Zero Tolerance knife that is a collaberation with Strider and it is phenomenal, especially for the price...but it is big, thick and heavy. I have never had a Chris Reeves, but personally from what I have seen and read they are over-rated and over-priced.
Choppers...I have a Fehrman with S3V steel, although I would not mind having a Busse, of course. I'm good with my Fehrman though. I got it within a week or two of their price hike! Whew! The best value for choppers in my opinion are the Swamp Rats (cousins or whatever of Busse), although you will have to be on rust watch. And although I don't have a Fallkniven, I like what I have read. Again though, I am content with my Fehrman. I'm not a survivalist and even if I was, my Fehrman is exactly the knife I would want with me.
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Black Toe Knives
Member
It is "Chris Reeve" not Chris Reeves. Then maybe you shouldn't make a comment about Chris Reeve Knives until you have carried and used one of his knives. Maybe his over-price and over-rated knives is reason he wins Blades' Knife of year awards year after year.
1987 Knifemaker’s Guild of Southern Africa "Best Folding Knife" (Sebenza predecessor)
2000 "[16], 2001[17], 2003"[18] , 2004, 2005, 2006"[19], 2007[6], 2008[14], 2009, 2010 [15] "Manufacturing Quality Award"
2003 "Collaboration Knife of the Year" [18] ("The Green Beret Knife", a collaboration between CRK and William Harsey, Jr.)
2005 "Collector Knife of the Year" ("21st Anniversary Sebenza")
2006 Grays Sporting Journal “Gray's Best” Award
2007 "American Made Knife of the Year"[6] ("The Pacific Knife", a collaboration between CRK and William Harsey Jr.)
2008 "Overall Knife of the Year"[14] ("Umnumzaan")
2008 Field and Stream "Best of the Best""[20] ("The Pacific Knife")
2010 "Overall Knife of the Year" [15] ("Ti-Lock", a collaboration between CRK and Grant & Gavin Hawk)
Blade Magazine 2008, 2009 & 2010 Manufacturing Quality Award: Chris Reeve Knives, for its entire line of knives
Blade Magazine 2009 Kitchen Knife Of The Year®: Chris Reeve Knives “Sakayo Slicer”
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ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Valkman
Member
Moore Maker is great. Chris Reeve and Strider are great, although you may not want to spend $400 on a knife. I have several.
sniper5
Member
Kershaw has an entire category in their online catalog: Made In USA
HoosierQ
Member
Spyderco is an American company that has knives made for them all over the place, including the USA. Their "flagship" models, Military and Paramilitary, are all made in Golden Colorado out of American Steel, CMP S30V (and sprint runs of other American Steels like CPM M4, CPM S90V, etc).
Spyderco is one of the real class acts in the business and they are very up-front as to where each knife is made. They know some people want US made and others want price point (China and Taiwan) while others want some of the sophisticated Japanese steels they offer.
Another truly class act is ESEE. 100% USA made in good old 1095, heat treated to perfection.
Buck...well they're back!!! They are doing very good knifemaking right now and yes Paul Bos does their heat treating...this guy is the Michael Jordan of the heat treat...you get the idea.
Spyderco is one of the real class acts in the business and they are very up-front as to where each knife is made. They know some people want US made and others want price point (China and Taiwan) while others want some of the sophisticated Japanese steels they offer.
Another truly class act is ESEE. 100% USA made in good old 1095, heat treated to perfection.
Buck...well they're back!!! They are doing very good knifemaking right now and yes Paul Bos does their heat treating...this guy is the Michael Jordan of the heat treat...you get the idea.
451 Detonics
Member
For great knives at good prices it is tough to beat the Case CV knives.
Black Toe Knives
Member
Paul Bos retired last year. Paul Farmer is now heat treating for Buck, he training under Paul Bos for ten years.
Black Toe Knives
Member
Do like I did. Spend 10,000 dollars and two year as a knifemaker and make your own.
Black Toe Knives
Member
Brad it is easy. Win a million dollars, make knives till it is gone.I'm still trying to work out the logistics to make that happen for myself...
If you had ever had one like many of us here you probably wouldn't be expressing that opinion. Mine has been in hard use for over a decade and a half and that comes out to just over $20 a year (less than a year's worth of fancy coffees or energy drinks ). There may be someone out there that thought their Sebenza was a waste of money, but I've never met one in 30+ years of owning, using and collecting knives.
Ol' Badger
Member
Well...
...it isn't where your knife is made but by whom. China can make a good knife. But I prefer USA because every penny you spend on the dragon will be used against us one day (Sooner than later).
Buck 112
Kershaw Shyline
Spyderco Native
Buck Bantam (USA made ones)
These will not break the wallet and will give good service.
...it isn't where your knife is made but by whom. China can make a good knife. But I prefer USA because every penny you spend on the dragon will be used against us one day (Sooner than later).
Buck 112
Kershaw Shyline
Spyderco Native
Buck Bantam (USA made ones)
These will not break the wallet and will give good service.
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