Compiling a comprehensive collection of the best knife brands in the industry is a difficult task that is not easy to accomplish. We have well over 100 excellent, quality pocket knife brands in our collection, and many more brands that are not known for their selection of pocket knives.

Moreover, there is so much variance in what a “pocket knife” means to so many different people that it is hard to settle on a definitive list. To some people, a pocket knife conjures up images of a folding pen knife, to others the word pocket knife raises memories of the venerable 110 Folding Hunter.

Be that as it may, here are some of the top quality pocket knife brands from our collection, and why we consider them some of the best, hands down.

●Benchmade

Benchmade has a simple motto, “Yours, for life.” They’re bold about their assertion that their folding knives are tools that will last a lifetime with proper care and they make no buts about it. This is a reputation that has been cultivated carefully, and one that is reflected both by popular opinion and in the prices that Benchmade knives command.

Of course, it’s not hype. They produce a variety of high quality folding knives that are excellent EDC knives and working tools, featuring high quality materials and quality steel blades. Super steels, like S35V, are not altogether uncommon in their catalog.

Benchmade may produce a variety of high quality everyday carry knives, but they’re also respectable for their fixed blade knives. Don’t overlook the Steep Country or the Bushcrafter if you have an open slot in your collection.

●ESEE

ESEE is another knife maker that commands a lot of respect in many circles. Known chiefly for their no-nonsense, no frills fixed blades, like the ESEE 4 and ESEE Junglas that are touted as survival and camp knives, ESEE produces some high quality tools with little more than 1095 steel and determination.

Yes, ESEE’s bread and butter are fixed blades, but do not miss a chance to check out their folders, like the ESEE Avispa. They’re covered by an amazing warranty and are remarkably tough tools.

●Case

As a producer of beautiful, heirloom quality pocket knives, W. R. Case has a company history that very few can challenge. While Case does produce bowies and larger fixed blades, they are best known for their classic slip joint pocket knife patterns, like Trappers and Stockmans. Many Case knives are works of art, featured attractively jigged bone handles - no pocket is complete without one.

●Ontario Knife Company

Ontario Knife Company, better known as OKC, is a producer of hard working tools that place a higher emphasis on performance than on aesthetics. These are plain tools, but they are downright indestructible. What we can say is this: both the RAT 1 and RAT II are downright excellent, bombproof tools that make no excuses. For what it’s worth the Wraith is a workhorse too. If you need a new folding knife for general utility or EDC, OKC is a quality production that will not leave you disappointed.

●Cold Steel

Cold Steel is best known for its completely ridiculous promotional videos, many of which show you just how easily their tools can cut through 18 layers of cardboard at once. However, and despite their shock tactics, Cold Steel knives and tools represent nothing but quality. They might make use of budget materials like polypropylene and 4116 steel, but they are “budget” tools in name only. Many of their folders are rock solid, and gems of the knife world.

●Boker

Boker, also known as the “Tree Brand,” has one of the longest and most storied tales on this list. Officially, Boker’s history only extends back to the mid 1800s, but this company has roots all the way back in Germany, with roots that began taking shape in the 1600s. Today, Boker is headquartered in Solingen, Germany, has a global presence, and produces beautiful, traditional pattern folding knives making use of quality stainless steels and handle scales, like stag and bone. It’s also one of the last premier producers of straight razors.

●Great Eastern Cutlery

Great Eastern Cutlery, like Case, focuses on producing classic pocket knife patterns using attractively decorated scale materials. Unlike Case, Great Eastern Cutlery (AKA GEC) is notable for predominantly using 1095 steel in the production of its pocket knives.

This steel, which is often referred to generically as “high carbon steel” is very strong and can be honed to a very fine edge. However, it will rust when not properly cared for, which is something you need to consider.

●Kershaw

Kershaw knives are beloved by many different types of users around the country - around the world, really. Kershaw is known as much for its innovative patterns as it is for proprietary technology like its Speed Safe assisted opening and its Composite Blade Technology.

The former enables quicker, safer deployment of a folding knife and the latter enables Kershaw to utilize more than one type of steel in the construction of a knife, allowing for a differential temper. This makes it practical for a knife steel to be both hard and strong, giving the benefits of increased toughness and better edge retention.

●Rough Ryder Knives

If you love the aesthetic of Case knives, then you simply must get familiar with Rough Ryder Knives, previously known as Rough Rider. Taking their name from Roosevelt’s Rough Riders themselves, Rough Ryder Knives might just be the knife world’s best kept secret.

Rough Ryder Knives are characterized by classic patterns like Whittler, Canoe, Stockman and Trapper patterns, and their fit and finish are better than good - they’re excellent. What makes them equally remarkable is they are often elaborately, ornately detailed and make use of elegantly graven colored bone and stag scales, although more exquisite materials like horn, mother of pearl and malachite are also present in their premier lines. If you appreciate a beautiful pocket knife that can punch way out of its weight class, Rough Ryder is for you.

●Schrade

We’ll be honest. Schrade knives are downright plain. The company’s stark but pleasant lime green-and-gray packaging is, to be frank, more attractive than their tools are themselves. However, Schrade knives are some of the toughest out there. You can beat them up and down a trail and they’ll never flinch.

So they make use of softer steels like 65Mn carbon steels and basic handle materials like G10 and TPE, but they will never flinch or shatter, and they can be easily retouched up. If you need a knife you can pound through a log, there are Schrade knives out there that will serve humbly and effectively.

●Victorinox

Does Victorinox need an introduction? We like to hope not - Victorinox brought the original Swiss Army Knife to the world and opened its eyes to the potential of the multi tool. Nowadays, Victorinox produces simple but effective tools like the Classic SD and as complex as the Camper - many of their multi-tools have upwards of 20 functions and are made with quality steels and handle scales. They’re also ergonomic and reliable. What more can you want from a tool?

●CIVIVI

CIVIVI might be a relative newcomer to the knife scene, but it’s been said that some CIVIVI knives offer excellent quality for the money. The fit and finish as well as the materials from which the knives are made command much higher prices in comparable knives, making CIVIVI blades a comparative steal. Look only to ever-popular models like the Elementum for proof of this. It’s a consistent crowd-pleaser. Best of all, CIVIVI specializes in folders, making it a prime choice for inclusion in any list of top-quality pocket knife brands.

●Zero Tolerance

Zero Tolerance is also a very popular producer of folding knives, especially almost law enforcement and paramilitary personnel. Modern designs, rugged materials and unflinching functionality are the hallmarks of Zero Tolerance knives, and their knife designers make artful use of tough, durable materials like carbon fiber, G10 and titanium in their construction.

●Leatherman

A Leatherman pocket knife is, like Victorinox Swiss Army Knife, a very versatile, very dependable tool. All you need to know this first hand is to handle one of their tools. They’re hefty and weighed down with functionality, and many of them offer much more than folding pliers. Some come with socket wrenches, sharpening rods, ferrocerium fire starters, and even specialized range tools!

●Spyderco

Spyderco knives can be identified by their interesting silhouettes and near-ubiquitous use of what they call Spyder-holes, which facilitate opening their knives. They’re largely made using performance steels and ultra-durable synthetics. Tough, dependable and durable, Spyderco has many fans. Tough, reliable, and ergonomic, there are good reasons that the Spyderco Tenacious, Delica and Paramilitary folders consistently top lists of the “best folding knives.” They’re well worth the asking price in terms of quality, and extremely durable tools.

●Condor Knife and Tool Company

Condor Knife and Tool is much better known for its fixed blades, like the Otzi and Kephart knives that it produces, than it is for folders. However, some Condor folders are among the toughest out there. See the Blue River Hunter and the Krakatoa Folders for evidence of their prowess producing quality knives.

●Buck

Buck knives are legendary in the knife world and the company has been producing serious quality since 1902, making it one of the oldest producers on this list. Some of Buck’s designs are among the most influential in the industry, with models like the Vanguard, Buck 119 and Buck 110 Folding Hunter deeply impressing the development of many hunting and utilitarian knives that have followed. The 110, specifically, has proven immensely influential in both form and function, and has been mimicked endlessly - though the knife itself is one of the best selling of all time, with more than 15 million having been produced. Buck is also highly esteemed because many of their knives are still produced in the United States and come with Buck’s famous “Forever Warranty.”

Buck produces a large number of folding blades in addition to the classic 110 Folding Hunter, and models like the Nobleman and Spring are worth checking out. Buck also released a number of new folders this past year, including highlights like the Budgie - don’t miss them.

●CRKT

CRKT, more rarely known by its proper name, Columbia River Knife & Tool, is a serious contender for the title of most innovative producer of quality, budget folders. Models like the CRKT Squid and CRKT Fossil have nearly cult followings, and the brand is one of the most respected in the industry. They also produce fixed blades, but CRKT is a heavyweight hitter in the world of top quality pocket knife brands.

●Gerber

Gerber is another knife company with a long history of success and a lot of popularity. Specifically, Gerber is known for a number of extremely popular folding knives, like the Gerber Pocket Square and the Paraframe, although models like the Gator have also been produced in folding models. Gerber is also noteworthy for producing a variety of highly specialized multi-tools like the Armbar as well as innovative fixed blades like the Tri-Tip Cleaver.

If you need a new knife, for any reason, a choice from any of these quality pocket knife brands will not steer you astray. They are, for all intents and purposes, and for their own reasons, some of the best representatives of the industry as a whole. Looking through this list you will find excellent picks for survival knives, craft knives, whittling knives, hunting knives, and so much more.

You just need to do a little legwork. The perfect pocket knife, whether an EDC knife or a crafter, is waiting for you in our catalog. You just need to identify what matters to you and then pursue it.

If you don’t see something you’re looking for, specifically, feel free to reach out to us at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com for help. We may be able to help you find the blade that has your name on it, even if you don’t see it listed on our website.