And even though the Benchmade 710 has the privilege of being the first to rock the innovative AXIS Lock, it was the Griptilian that truly popularized the critically acclaimed mechanism. eBay. And while the world around changed, these knives retained their usefulness and, as a result, remained largely unchanged through to the present. Even accounting for duplicates and alternate editions, that number is still well into the thousands when you pare it down. Still, over 30 years of operation is definitely nothing at which to scoff. $40.00. While a knife doesnt necessarily have to have a unique story in order to become iconic, it certainly doesnt hurt. Pocket knives have been around for decades and they have helped with things like cutting rope and opening a package to whittling or removing a splinter. The higonokami also often features an extended blade tang with a rounded lever at the end which would allow both for quick deployment and serve as a safety feature keeping the blade extended, so long as the user kept a sturdy grip on the handle. The Laguiole is a style of knife not a brand but it is still worth listing as one of the most iconic knives in the world. Like Opinel, Victorinox was also founded back in 1897 making it one of the few knife-making companies to have existed for a century or more. In fact, it derives its name from Melanesian spirits of destruction. Since the Military, other manufacturers have been trying to copy the ergonomic design, durable liner lock, and slim but powerful profile. Total Length: 8.25 Copyright 2023 StansTips.com. Part of the reason why the Buck 110 is so easily recognizable is that it's been one of the most mimicked knives ever made. Lock Type: XR Lock. 12. While many of these blades have possessed an iconic status for over half a century, the marked rise in popularity of the everyday carry knife space has shaken up the sector, with a small handful of these contemporary cutting tools emerging as must-have instant classics. Total Length: 8.40 This is one of the most expensive and sharpest Case Knives and has been made out of durable Honyaki Steel. Suffering a scare when the original Schrade factory closed its doors in 2004, the Old Timer line was quickly saved by Taylor Brands LLC, which still puts out the knives based on the original designs. The Warren Osborne-designed 940 series is one of the most popular Benchmade lines and is widely considered by knife enthusiasts to be one of the best everyday-carry knives ever made.It's offered in a variety of different materials as well as the spinoff 943 variant, to suit a number of tastes. Dont take that in a negative way, though. Along with the KA-BAR, the Mark II was heavily relied upon during the war and it likely saved many lives. This versatile tool typically has a razor sharp blade and a compact design that makes it easy to carry, easy to access, and easy to . Benchmade TI Monoblock ($400) Source-BladeGallery: Fine handmade custom knives, art knives, swords, daggers. Exquisite Knives - Rare Custom Knives & Blades - Knives for Sale In their purest forms, they are solely pocket knives, however, there are some with added embellishments like folding corkscrews for wine enthusiasts or stylistic elements to individualize certain knives. These knives have stood the test of time (yes, even the more modern ones), theyre recognizable, theyre reliable, and people keep turning to them time and time again. This is the type of knife that youll be able to put some wear on. (see below! The new Bon Fide comes in silver (shown) or OD Green for 99.99. The general design of the Buck Special hasn't changed over the past 50 years, but the knife is still highly regarded and copied in many aspects. Your best bet is to search out some knife forums. They also frequently feature engraved kanji (simplified Japanese language characters) on the blade, handle, or both. As out-the-front knives have grown increasingly popular over the last decade, these knives have gone from exorbitant tactical rarities to widely used and commonly-carried everyday carry tools making them a must-have for any collector. William Henry's exclusive collection of folding knives elevates the archetype of all human instruments to a superb personality statement. Its origins date back to French colonialism in the South Pacific. Its no wonder why, considering they can help out in a wide swath of situations. 1. If there was a people's choice award for most iconic knife, the Mora would be near the top. Despite the old-fashioned look and feel of the knife (or perhaps due to that fact), the 8OT became explosively popular and respected by casual and hard-core knife users. Best Damascus Knives (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 - Task & Purpose 9 features a 3.5 nail nick-opening clip point blade thats mated to a Beechwood handle and secured using Opinels incredibly simple yet secure Virobloc safety ring. Gerber still sells the Mark II, but it's marketed more as a survival knife. MSRP: $800 Street Price: $520. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Made in Japan by the Yoshihiro knife masters of Sakai, this stunning slicing knife features lovely decorative elements inspired by the phoenix, the sacred bird of this region. 20 Iconic Knives Every Knife Enthusiast Should Own As a knifemaking brand, Spyderco does a lot of things exceptionally well. (And no, it didn't have a liner lock.) Handle: G-10 The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. For large collections, we can come to you. Top 25 Pocket Knives that are Indispensable: #16 Case Trapper - KnifeNews And wed probably agree with that sentiment if it werent for the Griptilian. Decorated in a sandblasted finish, the handle is mated to a CPM S35VN drop point blade thats rated at 60 for hardness on the Rockwell scale, and, more importantly, packs one of the smoothest actions weve ever had the pleasure of using. Kershaw Tension Linerlock Pocket Folding Knife Black Textured G10 SOG isn't so much a tool maker so much as a knife company that knows the value of being prepared. These are the 12 most iconic pocket knives of all time. A Limited Edition model goes for $250. Debuting in 2010, the second-generation Paramilitary 2 also known simply as the PM2 features all of the main hallmarks associated with the Colorado-based company, from its signature compression locking mechanism to its uniquely-shaped clip point blade to its instantly-recognizable round thumbhole opening. In the Pocket Knife Trader's Price Guide, this model is valued at $5,500. The last thing you want to do is buy an antique knife that is unsafe to use, so be sure to ask questions before purchasing one of these items. Yoshihiro Mizuyaki Honyaki. Today, the base model is a minimalist and, frankly, gorgeously simple cutting took which is renowned and revered around the world for its reliability (especially in regards to the ever-sturdy proprietary Reeve Integral Lock) and extreme ease of maintenance. The best part is that the Leatherman Wave locks when closed, making it easy to fit right in the pocket. However, there are a few things to consider when determining the most collectible pocket knives. Handle: Anodized Aluminum The most collectible knives are made by craftsmen or well-known brands and have special qualities. In an effort to shine a light on the most legendary models currently in production, weve thoroughly pored over the space, hand-selecting a shortlist of the most important pocket knives that every collector should own, from tried-and-true classics to more recently-released, modern-day EDC must-haves. Case Knives have been the most collected and appreciated traditional knife since the early 1900's. Beginning the the early part of the last century, Case knives were the yardstick all other cutlery was measured. Built around a diminutive yet durable aluminum handle with a double-action thumb slide, Microtech's Exocet is a compact auto OTF that packs a sub-2", California-legal blade that's available in a number of different blade shapes. BARRY WOODS COLT BROWN MICARTA FOLDER. Despite weighing less than an ounce, the Classic SD features seven tools: a pen blade, nail file, screwdriver, key ring, toothpick, tweezers, and scissors. 7" Overall Length - Very Sharp, Dragon Pocket Folding Knife. As you may have noticed from the first two entries on this list, a huge part of what affords a knife legendary status is a long and rich history of use and such is the case with the classic Swiss Army Knife. As perhaps the biggest added benefit, theyre still made in the USA. No one "needs" a $500 pocket knife. The Most Expensive Pocket Knives - Imagine having one for $2.1 Million The handle has a titanium back and a solid grip, plus, you can customize with after-market clips if you want to personalize your choice. Of course, one of the best features on the knife is Ken Onion's Speed-Safe assisted opening system, which uses a revolutionary torsion bar to allow quick and reliable deployment with one finger. Most collectible knives are made with very fine, exacting detail and rare materials. Total Length: 8.03 The Best Pocket Knives of 2022 - GearJunkie Top 5 of the Most Expensive Pocket Knives - Outdoors and Nature A living legend in the knifemaking community, Hinderers signature lies in a subtle, stylistic curvature that is abundantly apparent in the Cryos silhouette. The most expensive pocket knives list starts with some thousand dollars and reaches up to 2.1 million. The look is due to the alternating layers from multiple steel bases worked into a composite for both hard steel that holds its edge and soft steel that doesnt break as easily. Benchmade is known for making some of the most respected knives, but the Griptilian hit all the right spots with consumers. Best OTF Knives 2023 - 11 Reliable Ejector Knife Models - TheCoolist The Trapper has a basic trapping and skinning blade (a clip and spey blade) that was directly inspired by the jack-knife. The 12 Most Iconic Pocket Knives Of All Time | HiConsumption Mirror polished 3 3/8" blade is marked "ROSTFREI" in script on the tang. The pivot has a stainless steel cage that makes it easy to flip out or close up, and the frame and lock is made with aerospace-grade titanium. Blade Length: 3.44 Buck Knives is credited with inventing the folding lockback knife. SPONSORED. 5 Most Expensive Pocket Knives (Updated 2021) - Online Barracks In 1960, the 8OT was only the second Old Timer ever produced (the 2OT was the first but is no longer in production). Quality! Free shipping for many products! They can be the centerpieces of our collections; the ones that we hope will continue to gain in value over time. One of the main reasons the KA-BAR knife is so well known is because it was issued to troops, meaning millions of men owned and depended on the knife. Since its release, the F1 has become a sort of benchmark for all other survival knives and started a trend in which functionality and simplicity beat out flashiness and gimmicks. In fact, the Model 110 has led to other knives with a similar design to be simply referred to as a Buck knife. 8 Pricey Pocket Knives Worth the Investment Boker Mother of Pearl. Which Case Pattern is Most Collectible? - All About Pocket Knives In addition to the materials that the blades are made from, you should also view the craftsmanship of the knife or the number of years it has been in circulation. In 2018, Spyderco discontinued its then-most expensive knife the Nirvana with an MSRP of $739.55. 18 Best Pocket Knife Brands for Your Everyday Carry There is another ridiculous knife we will mention in the last. Nesmuk Jahrhundert Messer is the sixth most expensive pocket knife on our list. Functional recreations of the knife have been made by brands like Boker Plus and CAS Hanwei. Thanks for stopping in! Whats especially interesting about this particular knife is that thanks to its wide variety of available handle materials, handle colors, blade steels, blade shapes, edge styles, and finishes it doesnt have a single recognizable silhouette, but many. There are are some custom knives that have sold for much more. The creators of the Old Timer line wanted to make knives that harkened back to the days of their granddad. The 4170BK Auto Fact draws inspiration from Italian stiletto knives and traditional switchblades. Able to trace their roots back to Mora, Sweden in 1891, Morakniv is one of few lasting brands to come out of the cold, unforgiving, and beautiful expanse of northern Europe. Close but still not the most expensive. Spyderco Paysan. Paul a 6488 Case Congress recently sold for $14,000. The Spyderco Endura and Delica offered something new, but the Spyderco Military is probably the most mimicked and well-known of all the Spydies. Yoshihiro Mizuyaki Honyaki. Total Length: 7.87 12 Pocket Knives Every Collector Should Own | HiConsumption Victorinox . Handle: Brass 1. 2 - The Best Pocket Knife on a Budget: CIVIVI Elementum. Handle: Ebony & Brass The Kershaw Leek is one of the newest knives to make the list, but its inclusion is no accident. As proof positive that, sometimes, simpler is better, the French Douk-Douk friction folder has been around for the better part of a century and is still widely carried by everyday carry enthusiasts to this very day. Since then, the USA-made knife has only become more widespread and respected for its use in WWII. Handle: Aluminum. If you are, youve probably spent quite a bit of money over the years. Warenski, whose workshop was in Kimberley, Nevada, began making knives in 1973 but sadly passed away on July 31st, 2005. Some of the World's Most Collectable Knives - Exquisite Knives The three most common categories for pocket knives are carbon, stainless, and tool steel. If that wasn't enough to earn it a place on the list, Buck has sold more than 15 million of these knives, making it one of the best-selling knives ever. It was a simple enough concept equipping a folding knife with two blades, a clip point for general-purpose cutting and a spey blade that was useful in gutting but it catapulted Case from a small local brand into a massive, well-respected manufacturer. The success of the knife has led to numerous versions of the Military, including the smaller Para Military. Nesmuk Jahrhundert Messer. Introduced in the 1920's it combines two blades in one body and includes clip and Spey blades, making it perfect for skinning or whittling. Zero Tolerance 0609. The M16z is the culmination of these improvements with a 3.5-inch AUS8 steel blade with an InterFrame construction and CRKT's patented AutoLAWKS. And while there are quite a few excellent integral knives, Benchmades 781 Anthem is unequivocally one of the very best, with a CPM 20CV super steel blade thats mated to a one-piece handle thats been precision-machined from a solid block of titanium. Some are not just antiques but actual artifacts. Case in point: a simple Amazon search for the phrase elicits over 4,000 results. Originally built as a standard-issue piece of military gear for Switzerlands infantry, the Swiss Army Knife was quickly adopted by militaries around the world, has been an included tool for NASAs manned missions, and is available in just about every permutation you can imagine including SAKs designed for bartenders, computer engineers, first responders, and more. However, theyve branched into more modern materials as theyve grown. Top 10 Most Expensive Knives In The World - Oishya Kick off your boots, sit back, and enjoy. The Gerber Mark II is another one of those iconic war knives, but this one was issued in the Vietnam War. Case Xx Cutlery Co Pocket Knives Knife Collector Collectible Western Hunter Hunting Lover Gift Cowboy 1990s Nos Vintage Belt Buckle Ad vertisement by VintageBeltBuckle. An icon can be something that's extremely successful and admired or something that's widely recognized and representative of a whole.