Best of American-made
Best American-Made Knives & Tools
Pocket knives, multi-tools, hammers and pliers from American toolmakers and cutlers. 9 picks from 9 brands in 6 states.
Updated
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In this list (9)
- Estwing E3-16C 16 oz Curved Claw Hammer
- Benchmade Mini Bugout EDC Knife (533BK-2)
- Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter Knife
- Case Sparxx Trapper Pocket Knife
- Channellock 440 12-Inch Tongue and Groove Pliers
- Gerber LST Pocket Knife
- Leatherman Wave+ 18-in-1 Multi-Tool
- Rada Cutlery Regular Paring Knife (2-Pack)
- The Ulu Factory Alaska Ulu Knife with Wood Handle and Chopping Bowl
1. Estwing E3-16C 16 oz Curved Claw Hammer
Made in Rockford, IL
Forged in one piece of steel in Rockford, Illinois. The head will never fly off.
Estwing says its all-steel hammers are made in the USA at its Rockford, Illinois factory. Source: estwing.com
2. Benchmade Mini Bugout EDC Knife (533BK-2)
Made in Oregon City, OR
Benchmade says its blades are laser cut, machined, finished and hand-sharpened at its factory in Oregon City, Oregon. Source: benchmade.com
3. Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter Knife
Made in Post Falls, ID
Family-run knife maker whose Buck 110 Folding Hunter, introduced in 1964, is made in Post Falls, Idaho.
Buck Knives makes the 110 Folding Hunter in Post Falls, Idaho. The Amazon listing states it is “made in the United States.” Source: amazon.com
4. Case Sparxx Trapper Pocket Knife
Made in Bradford, PA
W.R. Case & Sons makes its pocket knives in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The Amazon listing states “made in the USA.” Source: amazon.com
5. Channellock 440 12-Inch Tongue and Groove Pliers
Made in Meadville, PA
A family-owned pliers maker in Meadville, Pennsylvania, since 1886, known for its blue-handled tongue-and-groove pliers.
Channellock makes its pliers in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and the Amazon listing states “made in USA.” Source: channellock.com
6. Gerber LST Pocket Knife
Made in Portland, OR
The Gerber LST is listed as made in the USA. Gerber is based in the Portland, Oregon area. Source: amazon.com
7. Leatherman Wave+ 18-in-1 Multi-Tool
Made in Portland, OR
Leatherman says every tool comes from its factory in Portland, Oregon: “Made in America (USA & Global Parts).” Source: leatherman.com
8. Rada Cutlery Regular Paring Knife (2-Pack)
Made in Waverly, IA
Rada Cutlery says its knives are made in the USA in Waverly, Iowa, and the Amazon listing also states “made in USA.” Source: radacutlery.com
9. The Ulu Factory Alaska Ulu Knife with Wood Handle and Chopping Bowl
Made in Anchorage, AK
The Ulu Factory makes its ulu knives at its 12,000 sq ft manufacturing and retail facility at 211 W. Ship Creek Ave. in Anchorage, Alaska. It describes the result as a real Alaskan ulu made with all-USA products. Source: theulufactory.com
How we rank: Lists are ranked by how well each product’s American origin is documented: editor’s picks first, then products whose maker names the city and links a source, then fully made-in-USA products ahead of assembled ones, then alphabetically. No brand pays to be listed. How we verify origin.
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Answers
Questions about this list
What is the best American-made knives & tools?
Our top picks are Estwing E3-16C 16 oz Curved Claw Hammer (Rockford, IL), Benchmade Mini Bugout EDC Knife (533BK-2) (Oregon City, OR) and Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter Knife (Post Falls, ID). The full list ranks 9 products from 9 brands.
Where are these products made?
They are made in Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Each entry names the state, and the city when the maker gives it.
How did you rank this list?
Lists are ranked by how well each product’s American origin is documented: editor’s picks first, then products whose maker names the city and links a source, then fully made-in-USA products ahead of assembled ones, then alphabetically. No brand pays to be listed.
Are these all made in the USA?
Yes. 9 of the 9 are labeled made in the USA by their makers. Listings we can’t confirm are left off. How we verify.
Where can I buy them?
Every product has a “Buy on Amazon” link to its live Amazon listing, where you’ll see the current price and reviews. 8 of the 9 also link to the maker’s own website.