What production knife company do you see as having the best fit and finish?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What production knife company do you see as having the best fit and finish? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 11/9/2015 7:13:59 PM EDT

Not necessarily durability or innovation, but fit, finish, and execution. Special attention to things like centering, even grinds, smooth opening and solid lockup. Lets keep it to companies that routinely produce knives under 200 dollars.

Posted: 11/9/2015 7:43:54 PM EDT

[#1]

I think that Spyderco does a nice job... especially on their USA produced knives (link)

Posted: 11/9/2015 7:44:01 PM EDT

[#2]

Kershaw is the first that comes to my mind.

Posted: 11/9/2015 8:08:32 PM EDT

[#3]

Thanks for the responses so far

Posted: 11/9/2015 8:45:24 PM EDT

[#4]

Always been a fan of benchmade.

Posted: 11/9/2015 9:10:13 PM EDT

[#5]

I gotta go with ZT on this one.

Posted: 11/9/2015 9:11:54 PM EDT

[#6]

4 replies 4 companies

Posted: 11/9/2015 9:19:56 PM EDT

[#7]

Benchmade, but Spyderco is a close second.

Posted: 11/9/2015 9:22:16 PM EDT

[#8]

Spyderco for me.

Posted: 11/9/2015 10:09:38 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
...Special attention to things like centering, even grinds, smooth opening and solid lockup... under 200 dollars...

View Quote

Pick up, hold, & fondle a Spyderco Para Military 2 - Made in Golden, Colorado U.S.A.
$198 MSRP / $110 delivered at Amazon.

Posted: 11/9/2015 10:29:04 PM EDT

[#10]

Spyderco.

Posted: 11/9/2015 10:35:23 PM EDT

[#11]

Spyderco and Benchmade come to mind

Posted: 11/9/2015 10:36:37 PM EDT

[#12]

I love me some Spyderco way back to '93. BUT, you gotta inspect their product before you buy. Blades not centered in handles, uneven grinds, blade play, and when not buying from a reputable source, fakes.

But....the majority of the time, it's a great blade. Are there better out there, sure, I got a small sebenza sitting in my knife case but would prefer to cary most any of my Spyderco over it. IMHO.

Oh, and the Paramilitary 2 is a fantastic example!

Posted: 11/9/2015 10:41:30 PM EDT

[#13]

Id pick my Spyderco Manix over my Benchmadr Griptilian. Splitting hairs though.

Posted: 11/9/2015 10:47:33 PM EDT

[#14]

My vote goes to Spyderco. Every one that I've had exhibited exceptional fit and finish. Plus, they were freakin' razor-sharp.

Posted: 11/9/2015 11:20:40 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Benchmade, but Spyderco is a close second.

View Quote

Posted: 11/9/2015 11:25:13 PM EDT

[#16]

Old timer still likes his Buck knives.

Posted: 11/9/2015 11:37:41 PM EDT

[#17]

Top to bottom; Orange Delica, Carbon Fiber Military, Bob Lum Tanto, and Paramilitary 2.

Posted: 11/9/2015 11:39:58 PM EDT

[#18]

Zero tolerance, benchmade and spyderco in that order for me. Its not that the spyderco's are lesser quality but they seem like more simple designs that don't require as much attention to detail.

Posted: 11/10/2015 1:02:51 PM EDT

[#19]

Chris Reeve Knives

Spyderco (Taichung plant leads the way)
Benchmade
ZT

Posted: 11/10/2015 1:24:30 PM EDT

[#20]

I've had good experiences with almost every brand of knife I've tried (microtech, emerson, benchmade, spyderco, kershaw, zt). The only issue that bothers me out of the box anymore is blade grinds, because those are a little more difficult to fix. Blade centering, blade play, etc can easily be fixed.

Posted: 11/10/2015 1:51:34 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
I think that Spyderco does a nice job... especially on their USA produced knives (link)

View Quote

Posted: 11/10/2015 3:41:53 PM EDT

[#22]

Bark River Knives makes some extremely good looking stuff.

Though they do refer to themselves as "semi production" so feel free to rule them out on a technicality OP. Regardless they do great work and are worth a look.

ETA: spelling

Posted: 11/10/2015 4:05:04 PM EDT

[#23]

ZT most likely, bump the price up and Chris Reeve takes the cake hands down.

My paramilitary 2 was good quality, but every other spyderco was OK.

Posted: 11/11/2015 9:50:28 AM EDT

[#24]

Best overall fit and finish in the sub $200 price range would have to be ZT, with Benchmade and Spyderco right there behind them. ZT really packs in the features and specs for the money they charge for their knives, and quality is still outstanding.

Posted: 11/11/2015 10:13:39 AM EDT

[#25]

are talking folders only?

if not, i'll throw ESEE into the ring.

Posted: 11/12/2015 1:22:59 AM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
are talking folders only?

if not, i'll throw ESEE into the ring.

View Quote

ESEE has 3 folders. I love the Avispa fit and finish is superb lock up is solid razor sharp from factory. I cant complain I actually own two and will buy another.

Posted: 11/15/2015 12:37:35 AM EDT

[#27]

Spyderco, esee, ZT, benchmade.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 11/17/2015 12:21:15 AM EDT

[#28]

Posted: 11/17/2015 7:17:12 PM EDT

[#29]

I have been pretty impressed with Scar Blades. The fit and finished on my Papa Bear rivaled my Busse knives.

Posted: 11/18/2015 9:37:20 PM EDT

[#30]

I too have to give the nod to Spyderco, specifically the Golden Colorado knives. I have a Para Military 2, and it has the best fit, and finish of any of my sub $200 knives.

I actually think that the Para Military II is the ugliest knife I own, the design is just pure function. It's my favorite all time user, and it's been used almost everyday for well over 4 or 5 years. Still tight, smooth, and as solid as it was day one!

I have a lot of other knives I find more attractive, and they cost more money than the Para Military did, but they all pale in comparison when it comes to form and function.

Don

Posted: 11/24/2015 3:44:20 AM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Always been a fan of benchmade.

View Quote

Been issued and bought a few Benchmades GREAT KNIVES

Posted: 11/29/2015 6:18:19 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
Always been a fan of benchmade.

View Quote

Posted: 11/29/2015 7:21:15 PM EDT

[#33]

1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw

Posted: 11/30/2015 12:14:25 AM EDT

[#34]

from my limited experience of the brand, zero tolerance has probably the best fit and finish I have ever seen on a production knife ... that being said spyderco and benchmade have never let me down in terms of fit and finish.

Posted: 11/30/2015 1:45:53 PM EDT

[#35]

1. Medford Knife and Tool, Strider, Microtech, CRK
2. ZT, Spyderco, Lionsteel
3. Benchmade, DPx
4. Kershaw, Emerson, CRKT

Posted: 11/30/2015 2:17:43 PM EDT

[#36]

My Benchmades and Spiderco's have all been really nice as far as fit and finish. The benchmade is probably a little better than the spiderco's.

Posted: 11/30/2015 9:03:43 PM EDT

[#37]

Protech, Lone Wolf (pre-Benchmade acquistion), ZT, and Microtech

Posted: 11/30/2015 9:48:44 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
I gotta go with ZT on this one.

View Quote

+1. I really like mine.

Posted: 11/30/2015 10:46:29 PM EDT

[#39]

Protech...nice autos

Posted: 12/1/2015 1:05:15 PM EDT

[#40]

ZT for production

Posted: 12/1/2015 2:52:22 PM EDT

[#41]

TOPS

Posted: 12/6/2015 11:05:18 AM EDT

[#42]

Spyderco, Kershaw, ZT, and Benchmade for folders.

Microtech for autos.

Posted: 12/6/2015 11:51:46 AM EDT

[#43]

Spyderco

Posted: 12/6/2015 5:52:31 PM EDT

[#44]

Based on the title of your post I would say hands down Randall Made Knives. Best knives for fit and finish I've ever owned. Then you added the qualifier inside the thread to limit the choices under $200. I don't have any response for that criteria. It truly limits the level of quality.

Posted: 12/7/2015 8:57:15 AM EDT

[#45]

ZT for me.

Benchmade also has a nice fit and finish, but IMHO their knives aren't as well put together as ZT.

Posted: 12/17/2015 3:55:59 PM EDT

[#46]

Posted: 12/17/2015 4:54:59 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz336/Dodge223/Blades/a9668665.jpg

View Quote

Think you got enough folders there Butch?!?!?

Posted: 12/17/2015 5:17:38 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:

Think you got enough folders there Butch?!?!?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz336/Dodge223/Blades/a9668665.jpg

Think you got enough folders there Butch?!?!?

Joke is on you! That is just 2 of 4 spyderpaks

Posted: 12/17/2015 5:30:49 PM EDT

[#49]

Quote History

Quoted:
Kershaw is the first that comes to my mind.

View Quote

haha no. I have seen Kershaws with uneven grinds, discolored logos, bad lock ups, over tightened pivots... they are ok for cheap but not the best by far.

Posted: 12/17/2015 5:36:25 PM EDT

[#50]

Microtech by far and away has the best fit and finish, so nice that I won't carry one for fear of damaging it.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What production knife company do you see as having the best fit and finish? (Page 1 of 2)

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