13 American-Made Pocket Knives

[WeaponsCollector]

Here's my collection of modern US-made folding knives and my mini-review for each. I figure if I am going to collect and carry knives, I might as well buy American! There's some great foreign-made knives out there too but that will be another thread. Just for the fun of it I've been selling knives on and off for the last few years to friends and family and at various shows so I have a small inventory to show off. I've got Direct TV and sometimes that "knives live" show has some great deals!
All these have pocket clips(on the other side) except the minibuck and the Gerber and all but the minibuck can easily be opened with one hand.

1. Kershaw Cyclone, a big assisted-opening liner lock(I don't recommend carrying this knife because of its size and a funny on-off switch)
2. Kershaw Leek, slim assisted-opening frame lock(great EDC knife)
3. Kershaw Ener-G, lightweight liner lock with trigger assist(great EDC knife)
4. Kershaw Scallion, damascus blade liner lock with assisted opening(great EDC knife)
5. Kershaw Scallion, damascus blade frame lock with assisted opening(great EDC knife)
6. Camillus "God Bless America" lockback, made right before the brand was sold(collector's item)
7. Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn combat folder, big and heavy duty liner lock(collector's item)
8. Mini-Buck lockback(great backup EDC knife)
9. Buck Vantage series liner lock with trigger assist and wood handle
10. Buck Vantage series liner lock with trigger assist(great EDC knives)
11. Bucklite Max lockback(great EDC if you prefer lockbacks)
12. Remington M-series liner lock, heavy duty aircraft aluminum handle(great EDC knife)
13. Benchmade Griptilian with axis-lock technology, preferred by police and military(great EDC knife)

Here's an explanation of some terms I use:
"EDC" = Every Day Carry. A great EDC knife in my opinion is one that is lightweight, strong, easy to open, and comfortable to hold, use and carry.
"trigger assist" = a projection on the lower part of the blade. When the knife is closed it acts as a trigger on the back of the handle. Pushing it will open the blade part of the way. This is often found on assisted opening knives.
"assisted opening" = spring loaded knife that may or may not have trigger assist. These knives are similar to switchblades but require the user to manually open the blade part of the way before it flies open.
"lockback" = folding knife that locks open using a lock bar located on the back of the handle.
"liner lock" = folding knife that locks open using a steel liner located on the bottom of the handle that slides over to lock the blade open.
"frame lock" = folding knife that locks open using the frame itself, similar to a liner lock but stronger.

These are NOT for sale at the moment but if you see one you REALLY must have and you can't find it anywhere else, I MIGHT be able to help. Just PM me. I have extras of all these but the Gerber, the Benchmade, and the Kershaw Leek.

 

[Atlasarmory]

I just picked up the leek last week awesome knife

 

[WeaponsCollector]

I just picked up the leek last week awesome knife

Definitely. Strong, comfortable, and very slim design, you just can't beat it.

 

[Ethan83]

I've been carrying my Leek every day for a few years now, tip-up safety removed in the right edge of my right pocket. Never cut or hurt myself, and I always have a blade ready in 1 second or less using only one hand. Great for work, and not terrible for SD if it came to that.

 

[WeaponsCollector]

I think EVERYONE should carry a good pocket knife or three.
It's legal and there are literally a million uses for them.
Hell, we humans have been making, carrying, and using knives for something like 2 million years so why the heck should we stop now?

 

[SamW]

Thanks for posting. Good review.

 

[Atlasarmory]

I've been carrying my Leek every day for a few years now, tip-up safety removed in the right edge of my right pocket. Never cut or hurt myself, and I always have a blade ready in 1 second or less using only one hand. Great for work, and not terrible for SD if it came to that.

+1

 

[Diesel Kinevel]

I have two Benchmade Griptilians, a mini with the tanto/ half serrated and a standard with a half serrated blade. I EDC one or the other based on my task for the day. They are great knives!

-Z

 

[LostSoul]

I carried a Leek for more than a year, great knife! But a tad small in the grip, and a tad straight in the cutting edge, so I don't carry it much anymore.

 

[WeaponsCollector]

Benchmade Griptilians are amazing knives but pretty expensive.
If you need something bigger than a Kershaw Leek, one of the best EDC knives made today would have to be the Buck Vantage.
I am very pleased with mine. There's several different styles to choose from and they are priced right. The blade and handle are just about the perfect size and the high pocket clip is for tip up carry and reversible. Here's a good review of the Buck Vantage, it's kind of long but covers the knife pretty well....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awY9uYZuaU8

 

[jerielg]

My Benchmade Griptilian is my American Express Card knife. I never leave home without it.

 

[jtarpley59]

I carry a SOG flash and love it.

 

[buzzzyy]

Leeks are OK, i like them, but the spring keeps breaking on them.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with German or Jap knives.

 

[The3clipser]

I thought KAI (Kershaw's parent company) was Japanese? Also, I carry a Kershaw Skyline. Easily the best knife I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Opens as easy as an assisted open knife (but isn't one), razor sharp, holds an edge like no other, and rock solid locking mechanism. Best $35 I have ever spent.

 

[ToneGrail]

Here is my modest but growing collection. I have several cheapo gun show knives that aren't worth mentioning.

Left column:
Spyderco Endura
Spyderco Tenacious
Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara
Spyderco Byrd Wings

Right Column:
Benchmade 5270 Mel Pardue Mini Auto Presidio Axis
Kershaw Blur
Kershaw Whirlwind
Kershaw R.A.M.

Bottom
Victorinox 53950 Slipjoint

 

[WeaponsCollector]

Many Kershaw knives are American made, but I'm not sure who owns the company.
I recently got a Japanese made Spyderco Endura and I am very pleased!
It has got to be one of the fastest opening knives ever made the way the little hook on the blade catches your pocket.

 

[buzzzyy]

I have a SOG Flash II. It's awesome

 

[ToneGrail]

Many Kershaw knives are American made, but I'm not sure who owns the company.
I recently got a Japanese made Spyderco Endura and I am very pleased!
It has got to be one of the fastest opening knives ever made the way the little hook on the blade catches your pocket.

Yeah, that's a great knife. I actually put a zip tie wave on my Tenacious, which actually doesn't tear up my pockets as much as the Endura Wave.

 

[WeaponsCollector]

Yeah, that's a great knife. I actually put a zip tie wave on my Tenacious, which actually doesn't tear up my pockets as much as the Endura Wave.

That's a great idea! I bet it would work with just about any knife that has a hole in the blade.

 

[burbanman]

I have a SOG Flash II. It's awesome

+1 Love the flash II that I carry daily. I liked the Cold Steel Recon 1 I was carrying before, its just a bit large for an EDC knife. It would still be a grab knife for quick defense, or for a camping/hunting trip. Have had several Gerbers and Kerbecks over the years and was really happy, but always seemed to break or lose them. Tried several of the Smith&Wesson knives, just because they were inexpensive from the gun shows, and all broke quickly. I can not recommend them at all for anything other than paper weights