I think that the Gerber EVO series offers a less expensive, lighter weight alternative to the Kershaws. Not sure how well they hold up for more than 3-4 years but I have yet to have to sharpen one. Have bought at least a dozen of them for gifts and personal use. My knife experience in adulthood has largely been with these two brands. I owned a Victorinox years ago and was quite UNimpressed with it.
That being said, the Kershaws have a better flip opening mechanism that is far more smooth. I still keep a Kershaw on my desk; but, the EVOs are at least 1/3 the weight for a similarly sized knife. I DO know that the Kershaw can be reshaped and resharpened after I broke the tip of my old one (about ten years old) and my Pop put it to the grinder/sander. But the Kershaw has lost its edge far too quickly again. Also, the Kershaw came with a sharper blade from the factory but has dulled far more quickly than the Gerbers.
You can't go wrong with either brand, Gerber or Kershaw, and have numerous options for weight, size, price.
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