5 Awesome Knives That Are Still Made in America

Over the past 20 years, we’ve watched as the body of America’s manufacturing base was gutted, disassembled, and outsourced to countries like China. By itself, that poses some serious problems for our blue-collar workers, but the Chinese companies that have taken over these industries have managed to add insult to injury, by turning once great American brands into shoddy product lines that are a shadow of their former selves.

When most people think of American products that are now made in China, usually things like toys, electronics, shoes, and even American flags come to mind. Of all the industries that have been outsourced however, the knife and cutlery industry is often overlooked.

Most knife enthusiasts probably know this already. Nowadays, it can be difficult to find quality, affordable knives that are still made in America. It seems like the bulk of the knife market is at best, “Assembled in the USA” which is really just a code word for “Made in China.”

However, there are still a few US knife companies that continue to make awesome blades in America. In fact, some of these holdouts may never make it to China, due to the backlash of their consumer base. Every time a knife company moves to China, their quality significantly diminishes, and unlike other markets, knife enthusiasts are more than willing to vote with their wallets.

So if you’re looking for an American made blade that will last a lifetime, fret not. You won’t have to look very far.

Case Cutlery Stockman Pocket Knife

Of all the knife companies in America, few have been around as long as Case Cutlery. They’ve been making pocket knives since 1889, and have since been bought out by Zippo, another great American company that has yet to move their operations to China. A few years ago, Case was falling on hard times and briefly moved some of their product lines overseas, but as of now their selection is all American.

Their Stockman knives are particularly famous, not only for their utility, low maintenance, and affordability, but for their aesthetics as well. It’s practically a work of art.

Classic KA-BAR

The KA-BAR is probably one of the most famous knives in the world. It is a versatile workhorse that is equally suited for utility, as well as self-defense. The knife is legendary among US military personnel, and is well-known for its quality and hard-core durability. The moment you pick one up, you know you’re holding a knife that will probably outlive you.

With that said, the KA-BAR company is slowly but surely, opening up to China. Many of their recent models are made overseas, but fortunately their classic knife is still made in American, at least for now.

Kershaw Leek Knife

While we’re on the subject of knives made overseas, let’s take a look at Kershaw. This company has never been exclusively American, and currently makes knives in Japan, China, and the USA. Fortunately, Kershaw doesn’t hide this fact. They’re very honest about which knives are made in America, and which ones are made overseas. You can actually go to their website, and see which blades were made in their Oregon facility.

But of those knives, the Leek is the most popular, and for good reason. This is a very sleek and unobtrusive blade that utilizes an ambidextrous design, and contains an open assist mechanism for lightning fast operation. If you live in a jurisdiction that doesn’t allow switchblades or automatic knives, this may be one of the best alternatives for you (although there are few areas where even this is illegal).

Benchmade Griptilian

As far as knives go, it’s really hard to do better then Benchmade. These are notoriously durable knives, that are among the most popular for folks looking for an EDC (every day carry). And since 2010, their entire selection is all American made. Benchmades are among the highest quality folding knives in the world, and are typically lightweight, low profile, and comfortable to hold. But as you might expect, all of these qualities come with a hefty price tag.

However, when you buy a Benchmade you’re not just getting an awesome knife. You’re also purchasing one of the best warranties in the industry. This isn’t a “limited” lifetime warranty. Every knife that is sold through an authorized vendor, can be returned to the company for almost any reason, including maintenance and repairs. When you buy a Benchmade, you’re buying a lifetime of service and reliability.

Buck Folding Knife

There’s nothing on this list that is more quintessentially American than a Buck Knife. For me personally, it seems like everyone in my family from my parents generation had one of these knives when they were kids, and carried them everywhere including school (when that was still allowed). In fact, the reason why I own a buck knife is because it is so American. My uncle bought me one from Big 5 for my 18th birthday. When he asked the clerk “don’t you have anything made in America?” he was immediately sold on this classic knife.

These knives are a no-frills piece of work. They’re durable, super sharp, and incredibly beautiful. There is no “play” in the blade, and when you feel the weight in your hand, you know you’re holding a “real knife,” not some plastic tacticool toy. Honestly, this is the one knife that every American should be proud to own.

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Contributed by Joshua Krause of The Daily Sheeple.

Joshua Krause is a reporter, writer and researcher at The Daily Sheeple. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and is a freelance writer and author. You can follow Joshua’s reports at Facebook or on his personal Twitter. Joshua’s website is Strange Danger .

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