Having a good set of kitchen knives is essential for any cook, and there’s nothing higher quality than a knife set made in the USA. We did extensive research to find all the kitchen knives made in the USA. Below, you’ll find our research, tips on searching for the country of origin yourself, and information on where some of the most well-known brands in the industry are actually made. Enjoy finding some American-made knives!
Complete List of Kitchen Knife Brands Made in the USA
Rada Cutlery has been making knives in America since 1948 out of their facility in Waverly, Iowa. Their starter knife set is the perfect pickup for yourself or someone else who might be moving into a new home. They also have oak block sets and individual knives you can check out.
New West knives are a bit more expensive, but they make some incredibly high-quality chef knives. Their G-Fusion knives are unlike anything I have ever seen before. It has an incredibly sharp blade and is really well-balanced. These G-Fusion knives are made in a lot of different varieties, everything from 6″ to 12″ and a few different edges to choose from. If you’re willing to splurge a little bit on a chef knife, you can’t go wrong with New West KnifeWorks – these knives will last a very long time.
Made In is a well-known brand in the cookware space, but they also make a few knives right here in the USA, one being their fillet knife set. This set comes with two knives, one straight-edged and one serrated. Made In also has a knife roll (basically a little bag to safely store and travel with your knives) and oyster shucker that are made in the USA, so make sure to check those out as well.
Dexter Outdoors is a subsidiary of Dexter-Russell, which has been around for a long time – manufacturing knives in Southbridge, Massachusetts, since 1818. Their outdoors brand focuses on making great fillet knives for fishermen and does not disappoint. These knives are incredibly sharp with a comfortable handle and are easy to sharpen as you use them over time. Not all of their knives are made in the USA, but their most popular fillet knives are.
R. Murphy dates all the way back to 1850, and they are based in Massachusetts. They put a ton of care into each and every knife they make, and they have a lot of good specialty options. If you need to shuck some oysters, their oyster knives are very popular (Mike has a pair of them that he picked up at a local store in New Hampshire). In addition to your traditional knives in a set, R. Murphy also makes bar knives, bar saws, dough cutters, paring knives, butcher knives, and several others. If you need something outside your normal block set, check them out.
Cutco is synonymous with American made knives and isn’t just the door-to-door salesman anymore that you probably encountered growing up. You can get any of their knives online, and they have great sets and individual knives.
Warther Cutlery is a 4th generation family business that has been making knives since 1902 at their headquarters in Dover, Ohio. Each knife is crafted for comfort and durability, with a razor-sharp edge they get from hand grinding every one.
Chelsea Miller Knives are made using a very cool process with reclaimed materials. Chelsea learned the process of metallurgy and woodworking from her father, and the result is a very unique collection of kitchen knives that stand out from your standard sets.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Kitchen Knives
How to Find Kitchen Knives Made in the USA
In addition to offering a selection of American made kitchen knives, our goal is to help you shop more intelligently. Let’s take a closer look at the kitchen knife industry—from the origins of the materials to labeling and tips for finding high-quality knives made in the USA. First, let’s break down what “made in the USA” truly means and how to interpret it.
What Does “Made In The USA” Mean?
The “made in the USA” label is protected by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Therefore, companies can only use this label if their product is “all or virtually all” made in the USA. However simple as this may seem, some gray areas make it a bit more challenging to find an actual product that is genuinely sourced and manufactured in the United States. So, some additional research is required to find a kitchen knife made in the USA.
You must also look at the source materials and dig deeper into the product’s label.
Materials
The first step in finding a kitchen knife made in the USA is to look at the product’s raw material. Researching the materials used to create a kitchen knife will help you understand whether or not it is made in the USA.
Steel
China produces more than half of the steel in the world. China is the largest producer of steel, followed by India and Japan, which many kitchen knife manufacturers also take advantage of. The United States does not lag too far behind in steel production, ranking fourth in the world.
Although it would be simpler and often cheaper to stick with imported steel, you are better off sticking to American-made steel when looking for a quality kitchen knife. US-made steel is three times stronger than Chinese-made steel. And since steel is the main component for most kitchen knives, quality is paramount.
In terms of steel, you will mainly be looking at stainless steel and carbon steel. Stainless steel is a popular choice as, as the name suggests, it is less likely to rust and stain.
On the other hand, carbon steel is the better option if you are looking for a sharper knife.
Handle
The kitchen knife handle is not always made from the same material as the blade. Some popular handle materials (besides steel) are wood and plastic.
Wood
Wood is a traditional handle material that is also very attractive. Although quite porous, it is non-slip, which makes it an ideal handle material. However, wooden handles require more maintenance and are more expensive than other materials.
Wood is a relatively versatile raw material with many different uses. The United States ranks highly in wood production worldwide. So, finding a wooden handle for your kitchen knives made in the USA shouldn’t be too tricky!
Plastic
Plastic is another material used as the handle for kitchen knives as it is cheaper and easier to maintain. This material is also non-slip, which makes it a great budget-friendly material for your kitchen knife.
The United States produces about a fifth of the world’s plastic, which is not insignificant. So, finding a proper US-made plastic handle should not be too difficult if you look at the labeling.
Labeling
Examining the packaging label on a knife might help you determine whether it was made in the USA. Luckily, a few regulatory laws make distinguishing where products are manufactured much easier!
Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 mandates that all imported goods have a label indicating their origin on the item or packaging. This legislation is fantastic for consumers! The label “made in the USA” is protected by the FTC and can only be used by products that are “all or virtually all” made in the United States.
Some companies will try to pass off their products as “assembled in the USA” or “made in America.” Don’t be fooled by the tricky wording and phrases. If the label does not explicitly say “made in the USA” word for word, the product is likely not made in the United States.
However, it is worth noting that the FTC does not properly regulate the usage of the “made in the USA” label. It is up to each company’s discretion to determine that its product meets the requirements. So, there are cases of illegal usage of the “made in the USA” label. It is up to the individual consumers to report any unlawful use to the FTC.
Other Tips
In addition to researching the raw material and reading the label carefully, here are some suggestions to assist you in identifying kitchen knives that are made in the United States.
Visit the Business’s Website
Many businesses that produce their goods in the USA openly display this information on their website. When in doubt, always check the company’s website to determine if they manufacture their knives in the USA or not. In particular, check the About Us page and product information pages.
Keep in mind that even though businesses must disclose the location of their manufacturing facilities on product packaging or labeling, this is not a legal requirement for online information. So, be wary if a company doesn’t explicitly state whether or not they produce their products in the USA.
Give the Company a Call
If you’re still unsure if a particular knife is made in the USA, your best bet is to call the company and ask. Most businesses will be happy to answer inquiries about their goods and can let you know whether or not knives are produced in the USA.
Stamping Vs. Forging
It is worth adding a note regarding the difference between stamped and forged knives. Stamped knives are, as the name suggests, stamped out by a machine. This method of making knives is much easier and cheaper. So, stamping is often used by companies already cutting manufacturing costs by outsourcing production. If you are getting a stamped knife, look for higher-quality steel.
If you’re looking for the highest quality, forged knives are the way to go. Forged knives are made by an expert craftsman, and they tend to be more unique. However, as they are hand-crafted, they will also be much more expensive than a stamped knife.
Kitchen Knives Not Made in the USA
Here are some of the brands we found that are not made here. Leave us a message if you find any others that we should add to this list! We are constantly updating it based on our research.
- Chicago Cutlery – made in China
- Mercer Culinary Knives – they use a lot of Japanese steel
- Wusthof – German knifemaker
- Shun Cutlery – based in Japan
- Global Cutlery – based in Japan
- Carter Cutlery – use Japanese blades
Related Research
If you’re currently outfitting your kitchen, check out our guides on cookware made in the USA, bakeware, kitchen towels made domestically, and cutting boards made here.
