Despite the US’s history of making great knives, we often see manufacturers shift to overseas production. But there are still plenty of American knife makers who make their knives domestically, ranging from large companies with factories to small family owned businesses who run their own operations.
Hawk Knife Designs is one of those small family owned knife companies that carries on the tradition of small batch handmade knives. The father and son team behind Hawk have a knack for hyper-mechanical folders, OTFs, and some pretty cool designs.
Buck Knives
Buck Knives makes a variety of steel warrior knives that are crafted to be durable and last for a long time. Their range of knives includes everything from classic traditional designs to everyday pocket knife styles.
The company is known for its patented tempering process on each blade, which ensures that the edges remain sharper than most other brands. This allows the knives to maintain their edge longer and perform better for a wider variety of tasks.
Founded by Hoyt Buck, the company was established with Christian values in mind and continues to uphold those beliefs today. CJ Buck took over in 1999 and has continued to advance the ingenuity of the brand.
Hawk Knife Designs
Hawk Knives is a small shop manufacturer based out of Idaho City and started by father-son duo Grant and Gavin Hawk. Their innovative knives are all hand forged and built with attention to detail and quality.
They have a number of excellent USA made automatic folders, but their main focus is on OTFs. Their Para-X single action OTF is a big hit, with a wide range of styles to choose from.
They also make a number of custom OTF models that are a little more expensive than their standard production models. Some of these OTFs use exotic materials such as Damascus blades, abalone push button inserts or Mokuti hardware.
ESEE
ESEE knives are made by a company called TransEquatorial Solutions, Inc., which is co-owned by Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin. They are affiliated with Randall’s Adventure Training, one of the premier survival schools in the world.
They make knives that are no frills but incredibly durable and functional. They typically use 1095 high carbon steel and have micarta handle scales and durable powder-coated finishes.
ESEE is well known for their no-nonsense high quality knives, which are favored by both military and outdoorsmen all around the world. They also offer a lifetime warranty for every knife they make, so if you break it, they’ll replace it for free!
Pro-Tech
Pro-Tech is a California company that makes knives for a wide variety of jobs, from cutting rubber to carving wood. They do everything in house, from designing their knife blades to billeting, stamping, and forming their handles.
Their mission is to produce hard use knives in the USA at an affordable price. They are very careful to get their manufacturing materials from eco-friendly sources and recycle metal shavings during the process.
Shcrade
Shcrade has been around for a while and they make some pretty good knives. Their focus is on making knives that are functional and well made.
They also have a couple of really interesting designs that are worth looking into, like their Dino Rock resin handle with nickel silver bolsters and the re-imagined Endura.
Unlike some other US knife makers, they seem to do everything in house, including heat treatment. They use CPM S30V steel and a variety of other premium American-sourced materials in their designs, and they’re usually paired with some of the best sheaths in the business.
White River Knife & Tool
If you’re looking for a high quality, American made knife, White River Knife & Tool has you covered. They’re a small family company dedicated to making premium American knives with all US sourced materials.
They have a no questions asked lifetime replacement guarantee on their knives, so you can rest easy knowing you’re getting a good deal. They also sell a set of G10 handle scales to bolt onto your Backpacker, which is a great way to upgrade the grip on your existing blade without replacing it.
Their products are mainly hunting and bushcraft designs with 1095 steel. It’s probably worth keeping an eye on their YouTube channel if you’re interested in seeing how they make them, because they have a pretty thorough operation.