Within any industry — be it running, cycling or outdoor gear — there are well-known brands and those that fly under the radar. Recognition, however, isn’t a measure of quality. In pocket knives, the big players are Gerber, CRKT, Benchmade and Buck, among others. Here are a few with less clout but equal merit — and a discounted blade that proves the point.
QSP

QSP is a straightforward acronym that stands for Quality, Service, Price. It may be bland, but it’s also what you want in a pocket knife, and it doesn’t mean the company cuts corners on manufacturing or materials. For instance, the Leopard, which is on sale for 35 percent off, has ceramic ball bearings for smoothing opening, G-10 handle scales and a Sandvik stainless steel blade with solid edge retention.
Real Steel

Real Steel is another company, along with QSP, bringing credit to the growing Chinese knife making industry. Established in 2013, it has collaborated with many of the industry’s leading designers. The E571 is an affordable, all-stainless pocket knife with a flipper tab, frame lock and blade that prioritizes corrosion resistance. It’s currently 25 percent off.