The Most Iconic American Knives: A Comprehensive Guide

From Buck 110 to CRKT M16 - discover some of America's most iconic knives! Learn about their features & find out which one is right for you.

The Most Iconic American Knives: A Comprehensive Guide
From the iconic Buck 110 to the CRKT M16, American-made knives have been a staple of the knife industry for decades. Whether you're looking for a pocket knife, a survival knife, or a tactical knife, there's an American-made option for you. In this comprehensive guide, we'll take a look at some of the most iconic American knives and their features.

American Knife Makers

When it comes to American-made knives, there are a few names that stand out. Buck Knives, Spyderco, Benchmade, Case, Kershaw, and Leatherman are all well-known for their quality and craftsmanship. Each of these companies has produced some of the most iconic knives in the world.

Top 5 American Made Pocket Knives

Let's start with the most popular type of knife: pocket knives. Here are five of the most iconic American-made pocket knives:

  • Buck 110: This is one of the most iconic knives in the world and is still one of Case's most popular models. The Trapper has a basic blade for catching and skinning (a clip and spey blade) that was directly inspired by the knife.
  • Spyderco Military: This is the knife of choice for those looking for versatility. The original Leek features a perfectly sized 3-inch shot blasted drop point blade made of Sandvik 14C28N steel with a keen edge.
  • Benchmade Osborne: If you ask a layman for a list of the best knives of all time, the Sebenza probably wouldn't be on the list, but any knife enthusiast would put the Sebenza at the top. Sebenza's first production was introduced in 1990 and has been one of the most influential and sought-after knives of the last 50 years.
  • Case Swayback Gent: Part of the reason the Buck 110 is so easily recognizable is that it has been one of the most imitated knives in history. The Buck 110 is surprisingly large with a blade length of 3.75 inches, but the clip tip proved to be extremely useful.
  • Kershaw Blur: When it was released in 1990, the Endura was teased for its strange and unconventional look, but it became much appreciated and copied frequently. The knife pioneered the modern tactical briefcase and introduced the thumb hole, making one-handed opening in a daily carry a must.

Other Iconic American Knives

In addition to pocket knives, there are several other iconic American-made knives worth mentioning. Here are some of them:

  • USMC Utility Knife: As the name implies, this knife was designed to be a multipurpose knife that could be used in combat or general purpose. The recognizable knife has a 7-inch blade made of Cro-Van 1095 steel along with a comfortable leather handle.
  • Benchmade Griptilian: Benchmade always impressed hard-knife enthusiasts, but it wasn't until Mel Parduo's Griptilian that they really connected with the masses. The Griptilian features a 154 cm steel handle and grip and popularized Benchmade's acclaimed AXIS Lock mechanism.
  • Buck 119 Special: As Buck's best-selling fixed blade, the 119 showcases the company's excellent craftsmanship with a powerful and versatile knife. The 6-inch 420HC stainless steel blade makes it something of a smaller Bowie knife.
  • Fallkniven F1: Fallkniven is best known for supplying high quality military and outdoor knives, and their F1 is their strength piece. Since 1995, this knife has been used by Swedish Air Force pilots and has become something of a benchmark for all other survival knives.
  • CRKT M16: Introduced in 1999, this relatively new knife has made a big impact on the knife world with its affordable tactical design. The M16 features CRKT's patented InterFrame and AutoLawks construction as well as their now ubiquitous flipper opening system.

American-made knives have been around for decades and have become some of the most iconic knives in history. Whether you're looking for a pocket knife, survival knife, or tactical knife, there's an American-made option for you.

Mable Adkerson
Mable Adkerson

Evil musicaholic. Certified twitter junkie. Wannabe coffee evangelist. Lifelong bacon aficionado. Typical web advocate.