There are hundreds if not thousands of good pocket knife brands out there that are practical for both users and collections.
But the best pocket knife brands? These are among them, with the reasoning.
Rough Rider Knife Company
Rough Rider knife company makes classic pocket knife patterns using quality steels and handle materials (like horn and bone) at a fraction of the price of other manufacturers. Fit and finish are superb, making this a great pocket knife brand both for collectors and those that carry a pocket knife.
W. R. Case
Case knives are like Rough Rider knives in that they utilize high quality blade and scale materials and produce classic patterns. They are, however, made in the United States. This makes Case popular both with knife enthusiasts, collectors and with those who carry.
Buck Knife Company
Buck Knife Company produces both fixed and folding knives and gave the world the transformative, groundbreaking Buck 110 Folding Hunter. Their knives are a bit conventional but they utilize quality steels (that offer great edge retention) with a proprietary heat treatment along with quality scale materials and brass bolsters.
Zero Tolerance
Zero Tolerance, also known as ZT, is one of the newer brands on this list and specializes in producing hard-use folding knives for the line of duty, for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and first responders. They’re made with high-quality lock mechanisms and steel alloys.
Kizer
Kizer makes a lot of innovative pocket knife patterns at reasonable price points and utilizes super steels and high-end scale materials. Models like the Critical and Begleiter are perennial favorites. Great for anyone looking for an everyday carry pocket knife almost regardless of personal preference.
CJRB
CJRB, a subsidiary of Artisan Cutlery, specializes in quality pocket knives that are made with relatively affordable scale materials and high-performance-but-inexpensive blade alloys like AR-RPM9 and D2. In terms of price and value, this brand might be the best one on this list.
Kershaw
Kershaw is the company that gave the world SpeedSafe Assisted Opening and Composite Blade Technology, making their models among the most popular in the industry. With a catalog that spans many blade designs, they are popular with both collectors and users as a result.
Cold Steel
Cold Steel, known best for its outrageous marketing videos, produces a wide range of spears and swords in addition to fixed and folding blades. However, their exhaustive collection of pocket knives, many of which come in at extremely attractive prices, makes them very popular among both users and collectors.
Victorinox
A Victorinox Swiss Army Knife won’t blow you away with its plastic scales and ho-hum blade steel – or with its basic profile – but the quality is there. The crazy thing about Victorinox knives and multi-tools is that they are so affordable that even counterfeiters haven’t figured out how to copy the design and make it worth it – the quality of originals is so good and the price so low, it doesn’t make sense to get a knockoff.
Opinel
Opinel is for users that like basic knife profiles and simple operation. Plus, the collar lock can be removed if you’re facing locking knife restrictions as a result of local laws. They’re simple in profile and low in price, which also makes them attractive.
Explore the Best Pocket Knife Brands at White Mountain Knives
Want to learn more about the best pocket knife brands in the industry? You can explore these and countless others over at White Mountain Knives. Visit their website to learn more today.