There’s no shortage of great pocket knife brands right now, and it’s hard to separate some of the best from the best. That being the case, there’s plenty of room at the top, and no matter how you look at it, you’re going to encounter some of the following.

These are among the best pocket knife brands in the industry, and we’re including some solid reasons why.

Buck Knives

Buck Knife Company brought the world the Buck 110 Folding Hunter, a heavy lockback folder with a clip point and attractive ebony scales and brass bolsters, which has been endlessly duplicated.

But Buck has also produced a wide range of other popular folders, most of which sport its signature 420HC steel with a unique heat treatment that is simply better than that of others.

But what we really love about Buck is the price, because their models are overwhelmingly affordable.

Gerber Knives

Gerber, like Buck, produces a lot of budget folding knives, and as a pocket knife brand, is best known for the Paraframe as well as other popular models like the Kettlebell. While there are some upper-end models, overall they produce extremely budget-conscious beaters that perform time and time again.

Cold Steel Knives

While there are some expensive Cold Steel knives out there, most of them are made with affordable steels and scale materials, and while they’re pretty plain to look at, they are rock-solid and will take a serious beating. Cold Steel is also well known for producing some very unique patterns, as well as the “doublesafe” lock that some of its models, notably the Slock Master and the 1911, boast.

ESEE Knives

ESEE Knives is on here for two reasons: its legendary warranty, which follows the knife for its lifetime, regardless of owner, and for the fact that it makes some really solid little knives. If you want a fixed blade, a Candiru or an Izula will serve you well.

Ontario Knife Company

Ontario Knife Company, better known as OKC, brought the world the RAT I and II folding knives, which are considered by many to be among the best folding knives in the industry, bar none. This is especially true because of the low price.

Victorinox

Victorinox is the company that brought the world the original Swiss Army Knife, which is made to such a high level of quality and at such a low price that there are no competitors that can undercut it and still uphold that same level of quality and value. In addition to the original SD, there are many other Swiss Army Knives and multi-tools that are worthy of consideration, making Victorinox among the best pocket knife brands.

Rough Ryder Knives

Rough Ryder Knives is among the best pocket knife brands for a very important reason: it produces high-quality pocket knives in traditional patterns like stockman and trapper knives, using semi-precious materials like pearl, horn, bone and antler, at a price far lower than competitors like GEC and Case.

Zero Tolerance

Zero Tolerance knives are expensive, but they are renowned for the quality of their construction, their use of super steels, and the unique profiles of their pocket knives. Preferred by law enforcement personnel and first responders, Zero Tolerance pocket knives, also known as ZT Knives, exhibit some of the highest quality in the industry

Spyderco Knives

Like Zero Tolerance pocket knives, Spyderco knives are preferred by law enforcement and paramilitary personnel. They can also be a bit expensive, but models like the Sage, Delica and Tenacious are frequent flyers on “best of” pocket knife lists. The brand is distinguished by its full flat grinds, leaf-shaped blades, and ambidextrous Spyderholes.

Byrd Knives

Love Spyderco pocket knives, but not the price? Get a Byrd Knife. Byrd Knives offer pretty much everything you’d love about Spyderco, except the price.

Kershaw Knives

Kershaw is the company that brought the world SpeedSafe Assisted Opening and Composite Blade Technology, two big game changers in the pocket knife market. Models like the Blur and Leek are perennial favorites and make this one of the best pocket knife brands out there.

Kizer

Kizer Knives are generally fairly affordable, and the brand makes some unique patterns while still using a fair mix of both budget and premium elements.

CIVIVI Pocket Knives

CIVIVI pocket knives like the Elementum and the Praxis and Altus are among the most popular in the industry, and like Kizer, this relatively new brand does an excellent job balancing budget and premium components at a fair price.

CRKT Pocket Knives

Columbia River Knife and Tool, well known for models like the Pilar, Provoke, M16, and Squid, is one of the best pocket knife brands if only for the price. Like Buck and Gerber, CRKT produces reliable patterns from high-quality yet affordable steels and other materials.

CJRB Pocket Knives

CJRB, a subsidiary of Artisan Cutlery, is well known for its budget pattern knives like the Maileah and the Pyrite, among others, many of which use its proprietary AR-RPM9 steel. You won’t break the bank with a CJRB pocket knife but you will likely score a solid knife that will outperform others in its weight class.

Shop These and Other Pocket Knife Brands Here

Interested in learning more about these and other pocket knife brands? Shop our collection and if you’re looking for something you don’t see listed, either a brand or a specific model of knife, get in touch with us directly and we would be more than happy to help.