The Top 3 Knife Brands That Stick in the Minds of Knife People
in ALPHABETICAL (not necessarily rank order) are:
Benchmade
Kershaw, and
Spyderco
Each of these brands were remembered by over 90% of knife people in our survey.
COMING TUESDAY: Guess the correct order on the KnifeNews FaceBook Page and you will be entered into a random draw for this prize pack – the winner gets all 3 amazing prizes! All courtesy of our friends at BladeHQ
Benchmade Nakamura AXIS Lock Knife Carbon Fiber
Kershaw Premium Skyline Knife S30V Carbon Fiber Matching Serial Number Set
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Knife Digi Camouflage G-10
TOP KNIFE BRANDS THAT STICK IN THE MINDS OF KNIFE PEOPLE
Rank | Brand Name | % Able to Recall | % Top of Mind | Awareness Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 98.3% | 68.6% | 243.2 | |
2 | 94.3% | 63.0% | 229 | |
3 | 94.9% | 47.6% | 215.8 | |
4 | CRKT | 62.9% | 22.7% | 124.5 |
5 | Zero Tolerance | 58.9% | 31.1% | 120.8 |
6 | Gerber | 57.1% | 19.0% | 110.4 |
7 | Cold Steel | 52.6% | 16.3% | 100.4 |
8 | Buck | 48.0% | 14.3% | 90.6 |
9 | Böker | 46.9% | 18.3% | 90.4 |
10 | KA-BAR | 42.3% | 13.5% | 79.9 |
11 | SOG | 40.0% | 7.1% | 72.6 |
12 | Victorinox | 34.9% | 11.5% | 65.1 |
13 | ESEE | 33.7% | 5.1% | 60.8 |
14 | Chris Reeve Knives | 31.4% | 12.7% | 59.3 |
15 | Emerson | 28.0% | 22.4% | 55.4 |
16 | Ontario | 28.6% | 6.0% | 51.8 |
17 | Opinel | 23.4% | 7.3% | 42.5 |
18 | Microtech | 24.0% | 2.4% | 42.5 |
19 | Leatherman | 22.3% | 7.7% | 40.5 |
20 | Case | 18.3% | 0.0% | 32.0 |
21 | Morakniv | 17.7% | 3.2% | 31.8 |
22 | Schrade | 16.0% | 10.7% | 30.3 |
23 | Kizer | 13.7% | 4.2% | 24.5 |
24 | LionSteel | 12.6% | 4.5% | 22.5 |
25 | Pro-Tech | 11.4% | 5.0% | 20.5 |
We surveyed involved production knife enthusiasts and asked them to list as many production knife brands as they could remember to gauge brand awareness. The average survey respondent was able to recall 12 knife brands and in total 167 brands were recalled.
Research indicates that there is a relationship between brand recall and market share, because in most buying situations a brand must be prominent in the mind of a buyer in order for them to consider purchasing it.
The survey, which was also the basis for our Infographic, did not measure brand esteem or brand identity and has nothing to do with what knife people think about the brands. Instead, it provides an indication of how widely the brand is known and if it has a strong place in the minds of involved production knife enthusiasts.
August 21, 2015 #4 CRKT
August 20, 2015 #5 Zero Tolerance
August 19, 2015 #6 Gerber
August 18, 2015 #7 Cold Steel
August 17, 2015 #8 Buck
August 16, 2015 #9 Böker
August 15, 2015 #10 KA-BAR
August 14, 2015 #11 SOG
August 13, 2015 #12 Victorinox
August 12, 2015 #13 ESEE
August 11, 2015 #14 Chris Reeve Knives
August 10, 2015 #15 Emerson
August 9, 2015 #16 Ontario
August 8, 2015 #17 Opinel
August 7, 2015 #18 Microtech
August 6, 2015 #19 Leatherman
August 5, 2015 #20 Case
August 4, 2015 #21 Morakniv
August 3, 2015, #22 Schrade
August 2, 2015 #23 Kizer
August 1, 2015 #24 LionSteel
July 31, 2015 #25 Pro-Tech
Jeff Conrad
August 23, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Do we guess here?
KnifeNews
August 23, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Yes!
KnifeNews
August 23, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Here on our FaceBook page – but it won’t be ’till our post on Tuesday
Matt Garcia
August 23, 2015 at 4:25 pm
1spyderco 2benchmade 3kershaw
David Ryals
August 23, 2015 at 4:27 pm
So we wait until Tuesday to make our guesses?
David Ryals
August 23, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Ok thanks
KnifeNews
August 23, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Yes – it’ll be easy to enter – there will be six possibilities listed as comments and you ‘Like’ the order that you think is the most likely to be correct
Shane K McComas
August 23, 2015 at 4:36 pm
So LionSteel and Kizer made the list but Tops didn’t? I find that odd.
Jake Vandenberg
August 23, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Oh wow. This would be awesome!
Mark Manzanero
August 23, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Benchmade/Spyderco/Kershaw
Nick Carrasquillo
August 23, 2015 at 5:06 pm
1 – spyderco.
2- benchmade
3- kershaw
That’s my order 🙂
Marvin Javier Rivera Rodriguez
August 23, 2015 at 5:24 pm
#1 Benchmade
#2 Kershaw
#3 Spyderco
David Ryals
August 23, 2015 at 5:29 pm
Ok I’m looking forward to it, it’s exciting for the chance to win 3 of my favorite bands all at once, thank you for the opportunity
Nick Carrasquillo
August 23, 2015 at 5:32 pm
On a side note. It’s great to have finally found a general knife news page here on Facebook. Second note is I never owned a benchmade yet, but hope to try one sometime soon. Thanks 🙂
KnifeNews
August 23, 2015 at 5:32 pm
Yeah it’s an awesome prize – but gotta give the props to BladeHQ http://www.bladehq.com they offered to kick in the prizes!

David Ryals
August 23, 2015 at 5:40 pm
That’s awesome of them, they are one of the sites that I use when I need accurate information and fair pricing on knives, I ordered a plastic spyderco delica for my 8 year old nephews birthday, that he absolutely loved, and even for that small order the level of customer service was awesome, they are very professional and I will definitely give them return business, thank you BladeHQ

John Mcdowell
August 23, 2015 at 5:43 pm
1-Kershaw
2-Spyderco
3-Benchmade
Greg Reynolds
August 23, 2015 at 5:44 pm
1. Benchmade, 2. Spyderco, 3. Kershaw.
Dave Marra
August 23, 2015 at 5:52 pm
3 Kershaw 2 benchmade 1spyderco
Stephen Tomlinson
August 23, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Kershaw, Benchmade, Spyderco. That’s my vote.
KnifeNews
August 23, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Nick – Thanks – just screen captured your comment to share with the team. Really appreciate it!
Daniel Dabbs
August 23, 2015 at 6:04 pm
easy. 1. spyderco, 2. benchmade, 3. Kershaw
Scott Hill
August 23, 2015 at 6:21 pm
1. Benchmade
2. Kershaw
3. Spyderco
By the way I love this page. It’s a really great thing to find other knife enthusiasts and see others opinions and thoughts. Thank you guys.
Zachary LeBlanc
August 23, 2015 at 6:41 pm
1 Kershaw
2 Spyderco
3 Benchmade
Matthew Cover
August 23, 2015 at 6:46 pm
3. Benchmade
2. Kershaw
1. Spyderco
Do we comment on this post or another on Tuesday?
KnifeNews
August 23, 2015 at 6:48 pm
Hi Jake Vandenberg Thanks for the question: #2 has a hire brand score than #3 because it was top of mind with more knife people (the other columns get cut off on mobile) – if you view on a desktop/laptop – you will see the total brand score.
KnifeNews
August 23, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Thanks Scott. Really appreciate your comment and we are really happy you like it!
Kyle Pitakis
August 23, 2015 at 6:57 pm
1. Benchmade, 2. Kershaw 3.Spyderco
Jake Vandenberg
August 23, 2015 at 6:57 pm
Oh I see. Never mind then.
Jake Vandenberg
August 23, 2015 at 7:04 pm
That actually helps quite a bit on making my decision. I’m glad I asked.
Johnny Rodriguez
August 23, 2015 at 7:10 pm
Yup and here is the #1 kershaw #2 spyderco and #3 benchmade….
Michael Waki
August 23, 2015 at 7:27 pm
1.Keeshaw
2.Benchmade
3.Spyderco
Since we are gong by brand recognition.
Fortino A. Alvarez
August 23, 2015 at 7:49 pm
3. SPYDERCO
2. BENCHMADE
1. KERSHAW.
Matthew Hill
August 23, 2015 at 8:12 pm
ok, wasn’t sure if there brands were hired by score
Stephen Orehowsky
August 23, 2015 at 8:49 pm
1. Spyderco 2.Kershaw 3. Benchmade
Dalton Lopez
August 23, 2015 at 8:56 pm
It’s gonna be 1. Spyderco 2. Benchmade 3. Kershaw
William Kister
August 23, 2015 at 9:09 pm
1. Kershaw.
2. Benchmade.
3. Spyderco.
Gavin Au
August 23, 2015 at 9:14 pm
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Dan Brown
August 23, 2015 at 9:36 pm
Kershaw/Benchmade/Spyderco
Mike Ruff
August 23, 2015 at 9:46 pm
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Great page here, nice to see a page like this on here where you can get honest hard facts as well as opinions about different brands of knives out there. Keep the posts a comin’ !
Vince Charnick
August 23, 2015 at 10:34 pm
Personally I’d say Benchmade, Spyderco, and then Kershaw
Stephen Bynum
August 23, 2015 at 11:21 pm
1. Spyderco 2. Benchmade, 3. Kershaw
Eric Shaw
August 23, 2015 at 11:21 pm
1.Kershaw
2.Spyderco
3.Benchmade
Ryan Kawb Smith
August 23, 2015 at 11:29 pm
Y’all don’t listen very well Damn
Micah Sonntag
August 23, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Spyderco benchmade Kershaw
Victor Minor
August 23, 2015 at 11:45 pm
1- kershaw 2- spyderco 3- benchmade
Gene Kim
August 24, 2015 at 12:32 am
3 spyderco 2 benchmade 1 Kershaw
Mathew Uno Marek
August 24, 2015 at 12:35 am
1 . Kershaw
2 . spyderco
3 . Benchmade
Lets hope it’s right.
Pat Drake
August 24, 2015 at 12:43 am
Benchmade #1 spyderco #2 Kershaw#3
Daniel Sagara
August 24, 2015 at 1:23 am
Ive owned 4 or so benchmades and ive had one close on my finger, 940, presidio, adamas, and griptillian. The presidio is the one that closed on my pointer finger
Gregory Kasriel
August 24, 2015 at 1:35 am
1. Benchmade
2.spyderco
3.kershaw
Mike Blumers
August 24, 2015 at 1:41 am
Been a knife fanatic for years now! Just picked up a nice Kershaw fillet knife the other day! Made some awesome fillets too!! All three of these brands make some really sweet knives!!
Joshua Clay Nolan
August 24, 2015 at 1:44 am
Benchmark Kershaw spyderco can’t believe yall not putting butterfly first
Zach Fowler
August 24, 2015 at 2:36 am
Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw.
Ralph Crolley
August 24, 2015 at 7:02 am
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Josh Mitchell
August 24, 2015 at 10:22 am
1. Benchmade
2. Kershaw
3. Spyderco
Scott Freeman
August 24, 2015 at 10:36 am
1. Spyderco
2. Kershaw
3. Benchmade
Kurt Pflanz
August 24, 2015 at 11:49 am
#1 Benchmade
#2 Kershaw
#3 Spyderco
Shaun Spike TheNephilim Collins
August 24, 2015 at 11:57 am
Hmmm that’s a tuff one. Gonna have to say:
Benchmade
Spyderco
Kershaw
All three are fine knives. I personally carry Kershaw and I use the hell out of it daily. Cutting, penetration, scraping I have even used them as pry bars.
Mike Bonebrake
August 24, 2015 at 11:57 am
Benchmade, kershaw, spyderco…
Cody Thurston
August 24, 2015 at 11:59 am
1.Benchmade 2.Spyderco 3. Kershaw
Zachary Styrsky
August 24, 2015 at 12:40 pm
3.Benchmade
2.Kershaw
1.Spyderco
David Bookout
August 24, 2015 at 12:44 pm
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Sanjuro J Keegan
August 24, 2015 at 1:35 pm
All these brands are ok,but a coldsteel is where its at.
Ryan 'Lazar' Burnsed
August 24, 2015 at 1:40 pm
1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Kershaw
Dustin Allen Miner
August 24, 2015 at 1:40 pm
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Love this page, i look forward to more!
Victor Minor
August 24, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Can we make guesses now or do they only count on Tuesday.
Justin Haynes
August 24, 2015 at 3:43 pm
-Kershaw
-Benchmade
-Spyderco
Ryan Manyblades Burton
August 24, 2015 at 4:08 pm
1. Bench made
2.spyderco
3.Kershaw. great companies I own several of all three brands
Matthew Hallbauer
August 24, 2015 at 4:20 pm
1Benchmade 2 kershaw 3spyderco
Dylan Baklor
August 24, 2015 at 5:36 pm
1- Kershaw
2- Spyderco
3- Benchmade
Rich Bachman
August 24, 2015 at 7:13 pm
1 benchmade, 2 spyderco, 3 kershaw
Scott Spindler
August 24, 2015 at 7:52 pm
I’m a Spyderco guy but I’m actually thinking it’ll be:
3. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
1. Kershaw
Awesome GAW for this one! Enjoyed watching the list!
Philip Heiser
August 24, 2015 at 9:32 pm
1 Kershaw Knives-KAI USA Ltd.
2 Spyderco
3 Benchmade Knife Company
Thanks for an awesome contest/giveaway!
Steven Lambert
August 25, 2015 at 12:26 am
#1 kershaw #2 spyderco #3 benchmade. love em all. got a griptilian in my pocket as i type this.
Dan Halfdan Williams
August 25, 2015 at 1:59 am
Benchmade, Spyderco, and Kershaw
Michael Blankenship
August 25, 2015 at 4:34 am
My personal top 5. Benchmade, kershaw, Case, ZT, Victorinox.
Michael Blankenship
August 25, 2015 at 4:37 am
You should take a look a the Bencmade Volli. I have one and I love it. The S30V steel is awesome.
Richard Moore
August 25, 2015 at 5:34 am
1. Kershaw
2. Spyderco
3. Benchmade
Nick Carrasquillo
August 25, 2015 at 11:25 am
I’ve looked at three benchmade at the one shop in my city with them. I found the griptillian really wide in hand and the volli seems nice, but the blade looks real thin. I really like the mini barrage though. Hope to save up for one soon.
Dwight Dou
August 25, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Kershaw, benchmade, spyderco
Jason Brown
August 25, 2015 at 3:04 pm
1 spyderco
2 benchmade
3 kershaw
Great page, hope I win.
Paul McDonald
August 27, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Kershaw, spyderco, benchmade