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.
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
CONTEST RULES
1. if you ‘LIKE’ the correct rank order of the brands, you will be entered into a random draw for the Prize Pack
2. ‘Like’ ONLY ONCE [A, B, C, D, E, or F] to be eligible to win
3. promotion closes 11:59pm PST on Wednesday, Aug 26th – only ‘LIKES’ visible on screen captures at this time will be eligible
4. the winner will be announced on Sunday, Aug 30
5. must be 18 years or older to participate
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
Garrett Lampman
August 25, 2015 at 3:31 pm
B
1. Benchmade
2. SPYDERCO
3. Kershaw
Robert Guy Ellison
August 25, 2015 at 3:39 pm
1spyderco 2benchmade 3 kershaw.
Steve De Knight
August 25, 2015 at 3:41 pm
B 1. Kershaw 2. Benchmade 3. Spyderco
Nick Carrasquillo
August 25, 2015 at 3:44 pm
B
1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Kershaw
Colby Young
August 25, 2015 at 3:45 pm
C
1.Spyderco
2.kershaw
3.benchmade
Duke Nguyen
August 25, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Benchmade,
Spyderco
kershaw
and this is from my own experience. so far my benchmade Barrage is the most beat to shit knife i own and its still kicking
Frank Aguilar
August 25, 2015 at 3:47 pm
A
1.Benchmade
2.Spyderco
3.Kershaw
Dave Skowronski
August 25, 2015 at 3:51 pm
F
1. Spyderco
2. Kershaw
3. Benchmade
Dustin Wiggins
August 25, 2015 at 4:09 pm
From left to right. Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw
Mike Johnson
August 25, 2015 at 4:09 pm
1.- Benchmade
2 – Kershaw
3 – Spyderco
Dave Marra
August 25, 2015 at 4:11 pm
D. 3. Kershaw. 2. Benchmade. 1 spyderco
Heath Valor
August 25, 2015 at 4:19 pm
A
1 Benchmade
2 Spyderco
3 Kershaw
Dustan Deerman
August 25, 2015 at 4:34 pm
“D” #1 Benchmade
#2 Spyderco
#3 Kershaw
Richard Childress
August 25, 2015 at 4:53 pm
E
1 spyderco
2 benchmade
3 kershaw
Lee Wanless
August 25, 2015 at 5:21 pm
A or 1) Spyderco B or 2) Benchmade Knife Company C or 3) Kershaw Knives-KAI USA Ltd.
Jared Lane
August 25, 2015 at 5:21 pm
A
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Hyrum Grissom
August 25, 2015 at 5:45 pm
B.
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Travis Stephens
August 25, 2015 at 5:47 pm
B
Benchmade
Spyderco
Kershaw
Victor Minor
August 25, 2015 at 5:52 pm
C
1. Kershaw
2. Benchmade
3. Spyderco
Morne De Beer
August 25, 2015 at 6:10 pm
B
1. Benchmade
2.spyderco
3. Kershaw
Garrett Lampman
August 25, 2015 at 6:19 pm
B
Sean Lawrence
August 25, 2015 at 6:26 pm
B….Benchmade best knife maker around in my opinion!!!!!
James Robert Buckley
August 25, 2015 at 6:29 pm
A….at least as far as brand recognition goes
Scott Hill
August 25, 2015 at 6:43 pm
C
1. Benchmade
2. Kershaw
3. Spyderco
Jeremy Rodriguez
August 25, 2015 at 6:54 pm
B. Benchmade Spyderco Kershaw
Ira Labadie
August 25, 2015 at 7:06 pm
B
1. Kershaw
2. Spyderco
3. Benchmade
Dan Bouchard
August 25, 2015 at 7:31 pm
CRKT makes better quality knives and tools. Kershaw does have some nice knives though.
Darren Trimble
August 25, 2015 at 8:04 pm
F.
1. spyderco
2. Kershaw
3. Benchmade
Dale R. Henderson
August 25, 2015 at 8:05 pm
B. 1. Spyderco 2. Kershaw 3. Benchmade
Louis Cornelius Taljaard
August 25, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Id love to win these knives, I always EDC some sort of knive and those are definately the best I cant ever afford
Joshua Hussar
August 25, 2015 at 8:09 pm
D
1.kershaw
2.spyderco
3.benchmade
Johnny Rodriguez
August 25, 2015 at 8:17 pm
U guys know i am the first one to say that this 3 was gonna be top 3 mind sticking…may the best person win…
Johnny Rodriguez
August 25, 2015 at 8:26 pm
I have a question? ? How good is H&K KNIFES???
Spencer Praznik
August 25, 2015 at 8:45 pm
A 1 Benchmade 2. Spyderco 3. Kershaw
David Lopez
August 25, 2015 at 8:46 pm
D
kershaw,
spyderco
benchmade.
Ira Wasserman
August 25, 2015 at 8:53 pm
E-Spyderco, Benchmade,Kershaw.
Michael Ross
August 25, 2015 at 8:56 pm
c kershaw syderco benchmade
Jesse Hall
August 25, 2015 at 9:27 pm
B ..better Believe benchmade beatsum.
Mike Blumers
August 25, 2015 at 9:41 pm
“LIKE” B. Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw!
Jason Payment
August 25, 2015 at 9:43 pm
E
Spyderco
Benchmade
Kershaw
Ky Westeman
August 25, 2015 at 9:47 pm
E
1.Spyderco 2.benchmade 3.kershaw
Tim Mabe
August 25, 2015 at 9:54 pm
A. 1.Kershaw 2. Spyderco 3.Benchmade
Eric Lykins
August 25, 2015 at 10:10 pm
C
1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Kershaw
David Pellegrino
August 25, 2015 at 10:54 pm
D
1.kershaw
2.spyderco
3.benchmade
Leon Pessotto
August 25, 2015 at 11:17 pm
F. Spyderco, kershaw, benchmade
Karl Hicks
August 25, 2015 at 11:23 pm
If this is the ONLY contest/giveaway I EVER win in my life… I would die a happy man!
Johnny Rodriguez
August 25, 2015 at 11:32 pm
And how about kershawemerson???
Enoch Gattenby
August 25, 2015 at 11:36 pm
B
1.Benchmade
2.Spyderco
3.Kershaw
Eric Walls
August 25, 2015 at 11:40 pm
B.
1.benchmade
2.spyderco
3.Kershaw
Oscar Ramirez
August 26, 2015 at 1:42 am
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Oscar Ramirez
August 26, 2015 at 2:00 am
This is the winner
Evan Hawk
August 26, 2015 at 2:04 am
E
Spyderco.
Benchmade
Kershaw
Jerrod Giffin
August 26, 2015 at 2:37 am
C
1. Spyderco
2. Kershaw
3. Benchmade
Dalton Haak
August 26, 2015 at 3:00 am
Just like their comment that is the one your guessing 😉
Raul Aragon
August 26, 2015 at 3:05 am
A
1. Benchmade
2. Kershaw
3. Spyderco
Nick Papageorgio
August 26, 2015 at 3:05 am
C
1. Kershaw
2. Benchmade
3. Spyderco
Gary Nelson
August 26, 2015 at 3:14 am
Awesome idea thanks for sharing
Pedro Marquez
August 26, 2015 at 3:22 am
C
1.kershaw
2.benchmade
3.spyderco
Mark Meyers
August 26, 2015 at 3:23 am
1. Kershaw
2. Spyderco
3.Benchmade
(represents pure name recognition: The correct order is actually the exact reverse of what I stated. Can I still win?) Benchmade #1 production knives. There, I said it..
Marlo Hernaci
August 26, 2015 at 3:48 am
I’m picking E Because as far as I’m concerned, Spyderco is objectively better as far as designs, value and quality control go. I’ve got one Benchmade, but I’ve got five Spydercos for a reason.
Dan Pleskovich
August 26, 2015 at 3:55 am
D- kershaw, benchmade,spyderco
Dan Stengle
August 26, 2015 at 4:10 am
I think this is most realistic, but the skyline is a fantastic blade.
Sj Pass
August 26, 2015 at 4:46 am
B
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Kenny Allen
August 26, 2015 at 5:37 am
C
1. Kershaw
2.benchmade
3spyderco
Ronnie Bollinger
August 26, 2015 at 5:38 am
i select D
Kershaw
2. Spyderco
3. Benchmade
Rory Gallagher
August 26, 2015 at 6:25 am
1. Kershaw 2. Benchmade 3. Spyderco. C.
Tommy Medina
August 26, 2015 at 6:31 am
F
1) Spyderco
2) Kershaw
3) Benchmade
Jonny Brown
August 26, 2015 at 7:07 am
D
1.kershaw
2.spyderco
3.benchmade
Daniel L Bellinger
August 26, 2015 at 8:38 am
A: 1. Kershaw
2.spyderco
3.benchmade
Jesse Haag
August 26, 2015 at 9:26 am
C
1.kershaw
2. Benchmade
3. Spyderco
Garrick P. Lutao
August 26, 2015 at 9:49 am
F
Spyderco
Kershaw
Benchmade
Hector Garcia
August 26, 2015 at 10:16 am
1. Benchmade 2.Kershaw 3.spyderco
Jeremy Wood
August 26, 2015 at 10:53 am
B.
1. Benchmade
2.spyderco
3. Kershaw
Ryan Jacqmin
August 26, 2015 at 2:25 pm
B
Benchmade
Spyderco
Kershaw
Dylan Betts
August 26, 2015 at 3:24 pm
C
1. Kershaw
2. Benchmade
3. Spyderco
Kevin Eubanks
August 26, 2015 at 3:56 pm
C
1. Kershaw
2. Spyderco
3. Benchmade
Zachary Styrsky
August 26, 2015 at 4:21 pm
C
1.Kershaw
2.Benchmade
3.Spyderco
Ryan Whalen
August 26, 2015 at 5:03 pm
D.
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Mike Traher
August 26, 2015 at 5:30 pm
1. Benchmade 2. Kershaw 3. Spyderco
Ryan Krueger
August 26, 2015 at 5:40 pm
1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Kershaw
Josh Engle
August 26, 2015 at 5:50 pm
C
1. Kershaw
2. Benchmade
3. Spyderco
Derek Olsen
August 26, 2015 at 5:52 pm
1 is a benchmade 2 is the Spider Co paramilitary 2 the last look like Kershaw s
Marshall Tague
August 26, 2015 at 5:53 pm
C
1. Kershaw
2.Benchmade
3.spyderco
Walter Clifton
August 26, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Kershaw spyderco benchmade
Wesley Sapp
August 26, 2015 at 6:31 pm
F. 1 Benchmade 2 Kershaw 3 Spyerco
John Kingston
August 26, 2015 at 6:35 pm
B
1 benchmade
2 spyderco
3 kershaw
Ernie Pickle
August 26, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Shrade old timer and uncle Henry
Dean Spriggs III
August 26, 2015 at 7:07 pm
D
1. Kershaw
2. Spyderco
3. Benchmade
Frank Mil
August 26, 2015 at 7:23 pm
A
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Eric Tablinsky
August 26, 2015 at 7:26 pm
B
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Gary Krystal McDaniel
August 26, 2015 at 7:50 pm
A
1. Benchmade
2. Kershaw
3. Spyderco
Donald Garcia
August 26, 2015 at 8:14 pm
C
1. Spyderco
2. Kershaw
3. Benchmade
Danny Hamm
August 26, 2015 at 8:20 pm
B
1 spyderco
2 benchmade
3 kershaw
Larry Creel
August 26, 2015 at 8:32 pm
B 1-spyderco, 2-benchmade, 3-kershaw
Jared Canon
August 26, 2015 at 9:47 pm
A
1 Kershaw
2 Benchmade
3 Spyderco
Dre' Love
August 26, 2015 at 9:50 pm
SPYDERCO, BENCHMADE, KERSHAW………
Melvin Toledo
August 26, 2015 at 10:32 pm
Bencnmade,kershaw,spyderco
John Crull
August 26, 2015 at 10:36 pm
A
1 Kershaw
2 Benchmade
3 Spyderco
Raymond Lance Waldrop
August 26, 2015 at 10:43 pm
1. kershaw
Raymond Lance Waldrop
August 26, 2015 at 10:44 pm
1. kershaw 2. spyderco 3. benchmade
Steve Pickering
August 26, 2015 at 11:42 pm
A – Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw
Jay Moore
August 26, 2015 at 11:58 pm
1 Benchmade
2 Spyderco
3 Kershaw
4 Kershaw
Matt G. Davis
August 27, 2015 at 12:32 am
D
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Michael Zimmerman
August 27, 2015 at 1:14 am
A
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Loren Ward
August 27, 2015 at 1:24 am
B
1. Benchmade
2. Kershaw
3. Spyderco
William Johnstone
August 27, 2015 at 1:37 am
C
1Kershaw
2 Benchmade
3 Spyderco
Eli Stone
August 27, 2015 at 1:57 am
A
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
William Mosley
August 27, 2015 at 2:01 am
C
1.Kershaw
2.Benchmade
3.Spyderco
Matthew Bickham
August 27, 2015 at 2:30 am
F
1. Spyderco
2. Kershaw
3. Benchmade
Jonathan Tolar
August 27, 2015 at 2:31 am
A: 1. Benchmade 2. Kershaw 3. Spyderco
Peter Velasco
August 27, 2015 at 2:59 am
F
1. Spyderco
2. Kershaw
3. Benchmade
Tony Lancon
August 27, 2015 at 3:22 am
F Spyderco / Kershaw / benchmade
Patrick Leonard
August 27, 2015 at 3:24 am
1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Kershaw
Patrick Dokos
August 27, 2015 at 3:54 am
1.benchmade 2.kershaw 3.spyderco
Cody Stewart
August 27, 2015 at 4:06 am
B
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Nathan Lawton
August 27, 2015 at 4:23 am
B
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Mark Moss
August 27, 2015 at 4:25 am
D
1. Lets haw
2.Spyderco
3.Benchmade
James Gilmartin
August 27, 2015 at 4:32 am
Benchmade, spyderco, kershaw, kershaw
B,S,K,K.
David Paul Neal
August 27, 2015 at 4:50 am
B
Spyderco
Kershaw
Benchmade
Pea Rick
August 27, 2015 at 4:59 am
D
1. Kershaw
2. Spyderco
3. Benchmade
Wyn Knight
August 27, 2015 at 5:03 am
B.
1. Benchmade
2. Spyderco
3. Kershaw
Jason Terry
August 27, 2015 at 5:11 am
B
1. Spyderco
2. Benchmade
3. Kershaw
Jon Perry
August 27, 2015 at 5:25 am
1) Benchmade Nakamura 2) Spyderco Paramilitary 2 3) Kershaw Premium Skyline coated blade (BladeHQ exclusive) 4) Kershaw Premium Skyline stonewash blade (BladeHQ Exclusive also)
Shirley McDonald
August 27, 2015 at 5:46 am
E – Benchmade, Kershaw, Spyderco
Meza Oscar
August 27, 2015 at 6:30 am
1.Benchmade
2.Spyderco
3.Kershaw
Jesse Slater
August 27, 2015 at 6:36 am
B benchmade, spyderco, kershaw.
Jake Captain Kerlin
August 27, 2015 at 6:46 am
C
1. Kershaw
2. Benchmade
3.Spyderco
KnifeNews
August 27, 2015 at 7:04 am
The contest is now closed – thanks to everyone for participating. We will continue to countdown the order of the brands over the next few days and announce the winner on Sunday. Good luck!
Robert Lee
August 27, 2015 at 7:10 am
That benchmade is very nice I looked into possibly buying it if I don’t win but has a nice price tag on it also lol
Scott Hill
August 27, 2015 at 7:27 am
I’m ready for my package gentlemen. Lol
Duke Nguyen
August 27, 2015 at 7:43 am
i was gonna post my beat up benchmade but not allowed to :/
Lucas Salvetti
August 27, 2015 at 7:54 am
So am I in for the drawling
Jake Captain Kerlin
August 27, 2015 at 10:09 am
I just bought one about a week ago. Absolutely incredible knife. One of my favorites in the collection.

Derek Olsen
August 27, 2015 at 4:03 pm
I’m not lucky enough to win this kinda thing so good luck everyone
Jerome Adams
August 27, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Want that Paramilitary2!!!
Mark McNabb
August 27, 2015 at 9:48 pm
A
1. Kershaw
2. Benchmade
3. Spyderco
Eamon Fitzgerald
August 28, 2015 at 1:07 am
Benchmade, spyderco, ka-bar
Matt Kueppa
August 30, 2015 at 4:42 pm
1.spyderco
2.bench made
3.Kershaw