I know it is very hard to narrow it down to just one or two of your favorite knife manufactures but try! If necessary give a top 3. It can be a custom knife maker or a factory maker, any and all are welcome!
1) Emerson - Great designs, very ergonomic, wave opening, great customer service, and they do one heck of a good job on thier 154cm heat treatment!
2) Rat Cutlery - Again, great heat treatment, great designs, and a no non-sense warranty!
3) Benchmade - Axis lock....nuff' said!
Camillus (since they made so many Remington, Case, Shrade and others on contract and you'd never know it)
Case - For long term Cconsistancy - yet now I fear the offshore pressure is forcing them into inferior knives ie: Corelon & Promotional Limited editions in sunthetic scales. I wish they would take a note from Bear & Sons and from Queen and GEC and go el'natural with all but the clasic yellow Delrin.
Queen, Schatt & Morgan - Ontario - for thier productsa as well as the quality of thier contract knives Ie: Case, Colonel Coon and others
GEC - for some of thier paterns are second to none but it's not consistant
BL- Queen's quality in a folder is un matched I think, Case has to stand on it's own great products past and present, We all wish GEC and Bear and Son's luck.
But my favoright collector knife now (and I do not have but one) is Colonel Coon...100% increase in value since last year, limited production made by contract by Queen Ontario.
My favorite manufactures are : CRKT- most innovative company going right now, CASE-sucker for trappers and toothpicks and KA-BAR-good knives for the money. Also like some of Chris Reeve's knives but can't afford them.