If you were building a knife collection, and decided to choose only one knife from each manufacturer, which knives would you choose and why?
*Decision impossible - shutting of brain for safety measures* I don´t even know every knife maufacturer. And even if I did, I couldn´t decide what knifes to collect. I think I would choose the most classic knife from each one if I was going to. A classic is always a safe choice.
Spyderco - Southard Flipper Benchmade - 940 ZT - 0561 Kershaw - Thermite Buck - 55 Chris Reeve - Umnumzaan Victorinox - Manager Boker - Gnome
Here's my list of makers/manufacturers I can think of, the knife I'd want from each, and whether or not I have it. Spyderco - Spyderfly. discontinued, don't expect to ever see one beyond pics on the internet Benchmade - 42. same as above. Bradley - Mayhem. done! Protech - flyfather. doable, but no interest at this time. Brous - silent soldier flipper. done! Chris Reeve - large sebenza. done! Kershaw - OD1. discontinued, no expectations of getting one. Medford - Praetorian or mini-praetorian. doable, but low priority. Emerson - A100. doable, bot no interest at this time. Curtiss - large F3. low interest, and his books are usually closed when I look Will moon - mark 7. same as curtiss Jake hoback - kwaiback. got one ordered. This has bumped a lot of the expensive doable knives to low priority. LEatherman - micra. done, but needs replacing (the scissors aren't as springy as they used to be) Boker - boker plus federal. doable but no interest at this time. ZT - 560. done.
ZT 777 (with the composite blade, of course ) Spyderco Domino Benchmade 940-1 (ok, it's not out yet, but it WILL be soon) Buck Marksman (also not out yet...) CRK Ti-Lock Kershaw RAM Emerson EDC-1 Boker Kwaiken Flipper Lionsteel SR-2 CRKT Ripple Gotta agree with MrOG on the Vic Manager Mora Companion (my only fixed blade) ESEE Izula folder (if it ever exists ) Hinderer Full Ti XM-18 3.5" (I don't think I could ever part with this) Curtiss F3 3.5" Why the heck not, Shirogorov model 95 with MRBS (a guy can dream) John Grimsmo Norseman ...I'm gonna stop here, I'm starting to salivate thinking about all of these deliciously awesome knives
Strider - SnG, S110v DGG spearpoint Emerson- Commander, kryptek CRK- Sebenza, carbon fiber scale Benchmade- Grip, Wilkins sheepsfoot Sniper blade works - DMF, 1095 hamon Spyderco - EDCF Moonglow Manix BRKT- PSK Microtech - Scarab, d/e, ff/fs
i already have most of what i want from the major manufacturers, but i need them all Spyderco, dragonfly either g10 or zdp189 Cold Steel, well ave most of what i want from them, just waiting to see what 2014 has in store Benchmade, Grip and mini Grip Mel Pardu design Microtech, hell any of em will do HTM, same case, sod buster. hey im a simple man schrade, any old timer works for me Bark river, Fox river or Bravo 1. havnt decided yet ka-bar, navy survival knife. i just love that blade size and shape anything from fiddleback forge i guess thats my little list for now. as always, more to come
Bark River Bravo 1.5 Blue/Black G10 or Tigerstripe G10 Benchmade Triage (orange, not sure what specific variant) Leatherman MUT Those are really the only "Grail" knives for me at the moment. I plan on getting a Buck Bantam B?W in Orange Blaze that's larger than the one in my pocket at right now, but that's not really a "Grail". And finally, for the REAL Grail blade, I'd love to have Excalibur. Not sure about the whole becoming King of England thing though.... might be a bit of a bother.
Benchmade - Mini Dejavoo (745) CRK - Small Sebenza Insingo with CF inlays Hinderer - XM-18, 3", blue stonewashed titanium framelock and scale, bronze accessories, stonewashed custom FFG blade. Strider - MSC PT CC Bark River Knives - Rising wolf with CF scales more to follow
Keychain: SAK Manager SAK Director CRK small Sebenza 21 classic Ti scales Spyderco Dragonfly ZDP189 FTR V3 CPM154 - wow TAD Dauntless Karroll EDMW Hinderer XM18 Budget Kershaw Skyline KaBar Mini Dozier Alox Cadet
Neither do I. However, with a possible exception for Enzo, I don't think I would have much of a problem choosing only one from the ones I do know. Enzo: Borka. Possibly the best outdoors folder for yours truly. Good looks, perfect size, a Scandi grind and what seems like a good steel for the purpose. Benchmade: H2O Griptilian w/ combo edge. I am not usually very fond of serrations, but this knife would be a special for boating/sailing/canoeing/surfing and other water related activities where cutting rope and cord quickly could be important. Chambriard: Le Thiers Compact. Classy, beautiful, non-threatening little knife for those dressy moments. Victorinox: Pioneer (already own this one). Probably the best EDC SAK out there today. Buck: 110 Alaskan guide (already own standard 110). A modern take on a timeless classic, in S30V. Chris Reeve: Small Sebenza 21. I guess I don't have to explain this one. Helle: Brakar. Superb laminated steel, good looks and a beefy blade. And a Scandi grind, of course! Bark River Knives: Grasso Bolo II. I don't really need a machete. But I want one. This one! Survive Knives: GSO 6.0: I don't really need this one either, but it would be great to own a really heavy duty, full tang knife, and this looks like it fits the bill. GEC: Bullnose. Nice, simple and useful little folder. Spyderco: Dragonfly SS. Because sometimes, less is more.
OK, you asked. This was a hard decision to make being only one of each maker. Buck- Strider 889 SBMF Benchmade- Doug Ritter Mini Grip with Wilkins Ti scales Kershaw- Starkey Ridge Ti ESEE- That mythical folder they've never put out Ontario- Zancudo Boker- Minos Bark River Knives- Bravo Gunny ZT- zt0801 (by far one of the best knives I've ever owned) Strider- Any of the "lego" styles with digi-cam blade Case- any stag handle canoe will do Northwoods- Camel Bone Fremont Jack Brous- Bionic (blue or orange) Fiddleback Forge- ASP Ka-Bar- Zombie War Sword Sniper Blade Works- Mini LPC tigerstripe camo Tops Knives- Lil Roughneck Becker Knife and Tool- Becker Necker Arno Bernard- Titanium Folder with Carbon Fiber inlay EKA- Classic #5 Emerson- CQC-14 BC Fallkniven- P3Goakc- Sea Drowned oak folder in 3G steel Great Eastern Cutlery- #79 in stag bone Dan Koster knives- Scout in 3V steel Ranger green Queen Cutlery- Joe Pardue cotton sampler Scagel Knives- Fruitport Wharnie in Ram's Horn Schatt & Morgan- Kentucky Shiner single blade in Sambar stag William Henry knives- B06 Android Ventana Al Mar- SERE 2000 in digi-cam G10 SOG- Facet Hinderer- XM18 with a scale of any of these colors (OD Green, digi-cam, orange) Cold Steel- Lawman 3.5 DPx Gear- HEST T/F Milspec Folder in OD Green or Orange SAK- Explorer
ok - dumb question. Just looking at the BEST knives from EACH brand is not the best thing because there's too many overlaps in functionality. How about (not to totally high-jack the thread) a portfolio of knives instead? Like since there are multiple categories, who would make the best from which brand: best folder best full-tang blade best neck knife best machete best parang best throwing knife best kukuri etc.
Best type of knife by maker is a loaded question IMHO... one guy might hate ZT's while another hates Spyderco's... then it becomes a what brand is better thread and not what the OP was asking. My list is majority knives that I've actually used with the exception of the super expensive makers. Your suggestion would make a great new post tho.
SAK climber Spyderco lum tanto sprint Benchmade shotshow griptilian Boker prymate Buck strider Zt 0880 Kershaw zing These off the top I am sure I could add more later