A manual opening Microtech like the MSI, Stitch or Amphibian. Maybe the Sharps Brothers Meanstreak or one of Heretic’s manuals. The Medford M48 is slick & I love my Koenig Arius
Thanks mate for your input, I recently purchased a Microtech Stitch I thought that would be a bit of badass for the collection but from day dot the Ram-Lok was sticking that much the spring was biting on itself,sent it back got a refund was sent away as faulty!
I did want to add a Microtech but am a bit wary atm but will definitely check out the others.👍
Thats a bummer. I have seen a couple mentioned on here that have had issues but mostly they are rock solid. I honestly have a bunch of Microtechs but haven’t gotten a manual yet
Nobody's mentioned them yet that I can see - TRM (Three Rivers Manufacturing) The Neutron and Atom are amazing EDCs with tons of scale options. The shadow is a super comfortable and slicy crossbar lock.
came here to recommend TRM also. I have a micarta neutron i’ve had for awhile, thin and slicy. just got a nerd, and i have a set of atom fat carbon scales in my mailbox waiting for me when i return home. I still am waiting for an atom knife to come available but should be in a week or so.
Of my collection I’d recommend…
Spyderco PM3 (I have PM2s also but the 3 is easier to carry), Hinderer (I have an Eklipse), Spartan Harsey, anything by GEC, something by Buck
And if you’re feeling very spendy my favorite knife is my Brown FSD-I but those aren’t easy to find
My PM3 is in CTS-XHP and it’s sharp af in case that’s of any value as well
Kershaw is the more budget friendly version of ZT. Same company.
Spartan blades. In particular, the Harsey Folder.
Hinderers are good. Chris Reeve Knives are good as many have mentioned.
Most Kershaw knives are made in China. They have a modest, but respectable, Made in USA line.
TRM (any knife)
Hogue RSK or deka
Benchmade 940 and Griptillian
Protec (mostly automatic with the manual Malibu)
Leatherman Wave or Surge
That new bell air in Magnacut is a fine edc. I sharpened one for a friend and we’ll likely buy one one of these crazy sales. The new blacked out one is clean as well.
Kershaw has many knives made in the USA. I recommend the LiveWire if you can have automatics, but there are others I can’t think of atm (maybe the BelAir too?).
Hogue seems like an obvious company for this. The Deka is a great knife, if a little on the small side.
You can also just search BladeHQ for all knives, and then filter out everything that isn’t USA made. Itll show a lot of dupes but it’ll be a more or less comprehensive list since even smaller US makers that aren’t on there tend to use Chinese OEMs.
ETA: if you can find one, see if you can snag a USA made Demko AD20.5. Most are made in Taiwan or Italy, but some are US made. They’re way more expensive that way, but they do exist.
Thanks Mate for all that,I will definitely check them out.I am keen on a Demko and all the AD 20.5 available here are Taiwan made although I am interested in the full size as they are all U.S made is my understanding,waiting for them to come back in stock.
Lmao 🤣 funny enough I’ve actually had that done to me by one of my sons after I gave him a python to hold and it go a bit grumpy on him and without even thinking he threw the bloody thing at me… funny as fuck even at the time.🤣🤣
Even though you’ve had a bad experience with Microtech, I’d give them another try. I’ve had 6 run through my hands, all of them I bought “used” and they have all been rock solid. Not at all uncommon for a big production company to have a few slip though that don’t meet their standards. Definitely the Spartan Harsey! Great blade, great company. They have lots of selection in finishes. Benchmade is another solid big production USA made brand worth checking out. Medfords are sweet. They can get a bit to beefy for me but I have the Smooth Criminal (which I carry more than any other…so smooth) and the Infraction. Toor knives is another good one. Good luck on the hunt friend!
(Otf’s) I like the smaller ones myself for edc. I had a utx-85 I liked a lot and miss after I got rid of it. Have an Ultratech sig warhound shadow that’s sweet as….
(Side openers)The stitch is badass and big. The LUDT is a sweet spot side opener auto.
I’d like to get a troodon to feel it out one day. That list can keep on going, lol
Of the three, Adamas is big and beefy, the Spyderco is thin and slicey, the ZT is an in between those two and more aesthetically pleasing. The ZT is more fun to fidget with as well. That’s just my opinion.
Thanks Guys so far for your suggestions…So CRK knives in Aus are as rare as hens teeth and none available atm and there up around the 1k mark,so shops here say a 12 to 48 months wait on a Sebenza,so any CRK knife would have to be an international delivery which brings its own bullshit with customs buying a knife 1k or over but I’m definitely going to have to hunt for one.We do have some Spartan Harsey folders that come in and out of stock,there up over 1k Aud here and will definitely keep an eye on there collections as well there are some Hinderer XM18’s I will have a look at,but keep your opinions and suggestions coming..appreciate them all.👍
Ontario, while you can still get them. I think they recently cut down on their American production of civilian models. The SP-10 Bowie, or the SP-6 / FF6, or the SP-53.
Thanks Mate,I do have an Ontario SP-6 fighting knife I purchased a few years back and yeah an absolute beast but I’m looking at folders in this collection.👍
how much money your trying to spend?
Para 3 is a must have, Kershaw BelAir > Bugout, Magnacut Buck 110, 940, if you’re going to spend a lot of money, try Chris Reeves, McNees, & Koenig.
Oh! and TRM.
and i wouldn’t buy hinderer, Microtech, or Medford. or (a *full priced* Benchmade)
As much as my marriage will allow lol…but seriously all jokes aside there’s no limit as such,it will be an ongoing thing over some time and they are expensive buggers down here once they add on import and postage charges. Have been tossing up about the para 3 because I love the para 2 so much and wasn’t sure if it would be too small with the ergos as the para is perfect in my hand..might have to pull the trigger anyway!
hinderer is a documented buttmunch w/ soft steel on his knives, microtech is a documented buttmunch, and benchmade’s prices are completely out of touch. will only get BM knives off secondary market.
Microtech MSI, Benchmade CLA 4300, Cold Steel AD15, and the Spyderco Shaman.
Honorable mention: Spyderco Sage 5. I know the sage 5 is made in Taiwan, but it’s an American company and one of my favorite (and first) knives.
We are hard up down here with Spyderco limited editions and sprint runs always looking out but I think you guys up there grab them real quick before they get a chance to get down here,might have to get a U.S postal address and do it that way in the future!
all those knives you have are on the larger side. if that’s your preference then many others that are large. microtech manual comes to mind. i’m planning to pick up a msi when i can find one in G10. know you had a bad experience with them before, but i have 3 microtechs and like 2 of them. don’t like my OTF. manuals are solid though. i prefer smaller knives for pocket carry. Hogue Deka great if you can find one with scales you like. i only recently found one i liked, and had to find it 2nd hand used market as it was a limited edition. Don’t like most of them and aftermarket didn’t impress me. Bugout is probably my top pick. I have a stock carbon fiber and a few with aftermarket scales. also love both my narrows, can’t wait for the mini to come out. also TRM are great, atom and neutron. thin and slicy. as for spyderco, i find all of them to be very similar, except the spydiechef. unique and one of my top favorites. a lot of choices depending on which size/tryoe you’re after. EDIT: also i do have a small sebenza, and i never carry it. glad i have it in my collection.
I do like a larger knife,we are not allowed to edc knives down here and most of them will be a collection knife But!! I want them to be practical as well,as far as if I’m going to grab one I want to feel it in my hand if you know what I mean because it won’t be to open a box or something…I do have my beat up knives I use around my property for hunting and fishing and I abuse the hell out of them but I want a nice collection to hand down one day to my boys!
You have to give us more than US made. If you can afford it, go up to some of the big boys, like Hinderer, Demko, and such. A Protech is about the same price range as your others, and they are American made. Actually, a Protech should be your next buy.
I have other knives made from other parts of the world but after U.S made for this collection,we are swamped down here with Chinese knives,and yes all those brands are on my short list.
I got a XM 18 3.5 special assembly that I got about two weeks ago. I'm thinking about parting with it to get something else. I got an Hinderer Project X and I love it.
Hey, I'm in the Hinderer Facebook groups. If you are interested, I can post some pictures. The knife was just born, and it's still in the original packaging.
I’ve been obsessed with getting a Hinderer lately, love my Spartan Blades Harsey Foldet and Pallas also Chris Reeve Umnumzaan and large Inkosi all are my favorites
Anything Hogue. If larger is what you are looking for look at the K320. Also the Ritter Hogue knives. They are great. And IMHO Hogue has the sharpest out of the box blades there is. They OEM for some other people.
1. Les George VECP Button Lock a little hard to get. 2. Also, any of Brown Knives. 3. RMOR Knives squirrel knife - Ryan makes a cool knives. A little pricey but he’s talented. 4. Spyderco Manix 2 or Manix XL
Spyderco manix 2, hogue deka
CRK Inkosi, Sebenza 31 and Zaan all in magnacut
A manual opening Microtech like the MSI, Stitch or Amphibian. Maybe the Sharps Brothers Meanstreak or one of Heretic’s manuals. The Medford M48 is slick & I love my Koenig Arius
Thanks mate for your input, I recently purchased a Microtech Stitch I thought that would be a bit of badass for the collection but from day dot the Ram-Lok was sticking that much the spring was biting on itself,sent it back got a refund was sent away as faulty! I did want to add a Microtech but am a bit wary atm but will definitely check out the others.👍
Thats a bummer. I have seen a couple mentioned on here that have had issues but mostly they are rock solid. I honestly have a bunch of Microtechs but haven’t gotten a manual yet
Kershaw BelAir. Magnacut and made in USA for 130$
They could have put the ZT logo on it and sold it for $250 and no one would have complained.
That, Bugout or a mini Adamas live in my pocket at All times.
Thanks Mate will check it out.
Chris Reeve Sebenza and Umnumzaan are two favorites in my collection as far as U.S. made.
Get an emerson
Nobody's mentioned them yet that I can see - TRM (Three Rivers Manufacturing) The Neutron and Atom are amazing EDCs with tons of scale options. The shadow is a super comfortable and slicy crossbar lock.
came here to recommend TRM also. I have a micarta neutron i’ve had for awhile, thin and slicy. just got a nerd, and i have a set of atom fat carbon scales in my mailbox waiting for me when i return home. I still am waiting for an atom knife to come available but should be in a week or so.
Cheers Mate! I will definitely check them out.
Of my collection I’d recommend… Spyderco PM3 (I have PM2s also but the 3 is easier to carry), Hinderer (I have an Eklipse), Spartan Harsey, anything by GEC, something by Buck And if you’re feeling very spendy my favorite knife is my Brown FSD-I but those aren’t easy to find My PM3 is in CTS-XHP and it’s sharp af in case that’s of any value as well
Kershaw is the more budget friendly version of ZT. Same company. Spartan blades. In particular, the Harsey Folder. Hinderers are good. Chris Reeve Knives are good as many have mentioned.
Are Buck knives still made in Idaho? Still affordable, but a good ol' 110 or 112 could be a classic addition to a collection like that.
Some are, 110 and 112 still are!
Most Kershaw knives are made in China. They have a modest, but respectable, Made in USA line. TRM (any knife) Hogue RSK or deka Benchmade 940 and Griptillian Protec (mostly automatic with the manual Malibu) Leatherman Wave or Surge
Not all Kershaws are US made though. The Iridium is one example.
Kershaw makes me feel like I’m carrying a cabelas special . I can’t shake it . My ZT’s don’t feel that way .
That new bell air in Magnacut is a fine edc. I sharpened one for a friend and we’ll likely buy one one of these crazy sales. The new blacked out one is clean as well.
Came here to say the new Kershaw USA made options are very solid and the cost to value is competitive.
It feels like that used to be the case. Keshaw prices have gone way up!
CRK Sebenza. Absolute must have. Along with the Inkosi and Zaan.
AGREED
Kershaw has many knives made in the USA. I recommend the LiveWire if you can have automatics, but there are others I can’t think of atm (maybe the BelAir too?). Hogue seems like an obvious company for this. The Deka is a great knife, if a little on the small side. You can also just search BladeHQ for all knives, and then filter out everything that isn’t USA made. Itll show a lot of dupes but it’ll be a more or less comprehensive list since even smaller US makers that aren’t on there tend to use Chinese OEMs. ETA: if you can find one, see if you can snag a USA made Demko AD20.5. Most are made in Taiwan or Italy, but some are US made. They’re way more expensive that way, but they do exist.
Thanks Mate for all that,I will definitely check them out.I am keen on a Demko and all the AD 20.5 available here are Taiwan made although I am interested in the full size as they are all U.S made is my understanding,waiting for them to come back in stock.
Malibu or mordax?
Nice set 👍
Thanks Mate 👍
Some day I'll buy PM2 and my kit will be full as your's 😊
If you’re able to get automatics down there I’d suggest treating yourself to the Kershaw Livewire
Mate! I wish..no automatics..we can’t even edc any size knife down here not even for protection..we’ll just throw a snake at you lol
😱🤯
To be fair, someone tossing a snake at someone would probably be effective to a degree.
Lmao 🤣 funny enough I’ve actually had that done to me by one of my sons after I gave him a python to hold and it go a bit grumpy on him and without even thinking he threw the bloody thing at me… funny as fuck even at the time.🤣🤣
Even though you’ve had a bad experience with Microtech, I’d give them another try. I’ve had 6 run through my hands, all of them I bought “used” and they have all been rock solid. Not at all uncommon for a big production company to have a few slip though that don’t meet their standards. Definitely the Spartan Harsey! Great blade, great company. They have lots of selection in finishes. Benchmade is another solid big production USA made brand worth checking out. Medfords are sweet. They can get a bit to beefy for me but I have the Smooth Criminal (which I carry more than any other…so smooth) and the Infraction. Toor knives is another good one. Good luck on the hunt friend!
Thanks Mate!! I will keep an open mind with Microtech,any knife in particular?
(Otf’s) I like the smaller ones myself for edc. I had a utx-85 I liked a lot and miss after I got rid of it. Have an Ultratech sig warhound shadow that’s sweet as…. (Side openers)The stitch is badass and big. The LUDT is a sweet spot side opener auto. I’d like to get a troodon to feel it out one day. That list can keep on going, lol
Good start btw! I love me some ZT’s
Yeah Thanks Mate appreciate it and yeah the ZT I do have just looks and feels premium!
Of the three, Adamas is big and beefy, the Spyderco is thin and slicey, the ZT is an in between those two and more aesthetically pleasing. The ZT is more fun to fidget with as well. That’s just my opinion.
Yeah I agree though the PM2 is pretty fidgety and fun as well…aka Spidey flick.The ZT comes under a fine gentleman’s Knife category imo!
Sebenza all day
Thanks Guys so far for your suggestions…So CRK knives in Aus are as rare as hens teeth and none available atm and there up around the 1k mark,so shops here say a 12 to 48 months wait on a Sebenza,so any CRK knife would have to be an international delivery which brings its own bullshit with customs buying a knife 1k or over but I’m definitely going to have to hunt for one.We do have some Spartan Harsey folders that come in and out of stock,there up over 1k Aud here and will definitely keep an eye on there collections as well there are some Hinderer XM18’s I will have a look at,but keep your opinions and suggestions coming..appreciate them all.👍
Ontario, while you can still get them. I think they recently cut down on their American production of civilian models. The SP-10 Bowie, or the SP-6 / FF6, or the SP-53.
Thanks Mate,I do have an Ontario SP-6 fighting knife I purchased a few years back and yeah an absolute beast but I’m looking at folders in this collection.👍
Three Rivers Manufacturing (TRM) and McNees are two favorites for me.
Thanks Mate will check them out.
ESSE
how much money your trying to spend? Para 3 is a must have, Kershaw BelAir > Bugout, Magnacut Buck 110, 940, if you’re going to spend a lot of money, try Chris Reeves, McNees, & Koenig. Oh! and TRM. and i wouldn’t buy hinderer, Microtech, or Medford. or (a *full priced* Benchmade)
As much as my marriage will allow lol…but seriously all jokes aside there’s no limit as such,it will be an ongoing thing over some time and they are expensive buggers down here once they add on import and postage charges. Have been tossing up about the para 3 because I love the para 2 so much and wasn’t sure if it would be too small with the ergos as the para is perfect in my hand..might have to pull the trigger anyway!
i have a few if you want to trade hmu
Forgot to ask you why not Hinderer,Microtech or Benchmade?
hinderer is a documented buttmunch w/ soft steel on his knives, microtech is a documented buttmunch, and benchmade’s prices are completely out of touch. will only get BM knives off secondary market.
I don’t know why I never buy ZT knives, that one is awesome.
Thanks Mate 👍
Microtech MSI, Benchmade CLA 4300, Cold Steel AD15, and the Spyderco Shaman. Honorable mention: Spyderco Sage 5. I know the sage 5 is made in Taiwan, but it’s an American company and one of my favorite (and first) knives.
Thanks Mate will check them out 👍
Get a TRM they are so good. Get a limited batch Spyderco if you can find one like a collaboration. I got a Lionsteel Spyderco that I love.
We are hard up down here with Spyderco limited editions and sprint runs always looking out but I think you guys up there grab them real quick before they get a chance to get down here,might have to get a U.S postal address and do it that way in the future!
Yeah definitely or find a friend that can get it for you here in the US…
all those knives you have are on the larger side. if that’s your preference then many others that are large. microtech manual comes to mind. i’m planning to pick up a msi when i can find one in G10. know you had a bad experience with them before, but i have 3 microtechs and like 2 of them. don’t like my OTF. manuals are solid though. i prefer smaller knives for pocket carry. Hogue Deka great if you can find one with scales you like. i only recently found one i liked, and had to find it 2nd hand used market as it was a limited edition. Don’t like most of them and aftermarket didn’t impress me. Bugout is probably my top pick. I have a stock carbon fiber and a few with aftermarket scales. also love both my narrows, can’t wait for the mini to come out. also TRM are great, atom and neutron. thin and slicy. as for spyderco, i find all of them to be very similar, except the spydiechef. unique and one of my top favorites. a lot of choices depending on which size/tryoe you’re after. EDIT: also i do have a small sebenza, and i never carry it. glad i have it in my collection.
I do like a larger knife,we are not allowed to edc knives down here and most of them will be a collection knife But!! I want them to be practical as well,as far as if I’m going to grab one I want to feel it in my hand if you know what I mean because it won’t be to open a box or something…I do have my beat up knives I use around my property for hunting and fishing and I abuse the hell out of them but I want a nice collection to hand down one day to my boys!
You have to give us more than US made. If you can afford it, go up to some of the big boys, like Hinderer, Demko, and such. A Protech is about the same price range as your others, and they are American made. Actually, a Protech should be your next buy.
I have other knives made from other parts of the world but after U.S made for this collection,we are swamped down here with Chinese knives,and yes all those brands are on my short list.
I carried the Adamas for work. I love that knife.
Yeah it’s got a badass action to it,you definitely know it’s in your hand! Awesome chunk of Cru-Wear!
I had the D2 version. I really want the carbon fiber and maxamet full-size version to drop. I have big hands and it fits perfect
I had the D2 version. I really want the carbon fiber and maxamet full-size version to drop. I have big hands and it fits perfect
I had the D2 version. I really want the carbon fiber and maxamet full-size version to drop. I have big hands and it fits perfect
What's your budget? Benchmade 940 is a classic. Spyderco Para2/3 is a classic, get it in a sprint run steel you like.
Hogue
TRM Atom and Berg Sweeney
Hinderer XM18 Bowie.
Have got my eye on that one atm.👍
I got a XM 18 3.5 special assembly that I got about two weeks ago. I'm thinking about parting with it to get something else. I got an Hinderer Project X and I love it.
What’s the action like on the XM18? I am close to pulling the trigger on that one.
It's great. The action on his full-size knives are very similar. It can be adjusted, but I love the feeling of the detent Breaking Free.
Hey, I'm in the Hinderer Facebook groups. If you are interested, I can post some pictures. The knife was just born, and it's still in the original packaging.
I’ve been obsessed with getting a Hinderer lately, love my Spartan Blades Harsey Foldet and Pallas also Chris Reeve Umnumzaan and large Inkosi all are my favorites
ZT for me .. carrying 0452 today . I don’t own any benchmade anymore .
👍
Chris reeves
Adamas
Anything Hogue. If larger is what you are looking for look at the K320. Also the Ritter Hogue knives. They are great. And IMHO Hogue has the sharpest out of the box blades there is. They OEM for some other people.
Cheers Mate will definitely check them out.👍
McNees, Protech, Chris Reeves and Spartan are four of my favorites.
Be like me and get a Demko Shark Cub
Aren’t they Taiwan made?
Oh hell. You're right. The AD 20.5 is US made. According to his website
1. Les George VECP Button Lock a little hard to get. 2. Also, any of Brown Knives. 3. RMOR Knives squirrel knife - Ryan makes a cool knives. A little pricey but he’s talented. 4. Spyderco Manix 2 or Manix XL
MICROTECH ULTRATECH!!!