There are a lot of good knives out there. Marble's makes fantastic knives for just about any use you'd like. They look great, hold an edge extremely well, and are very durable. They are even made there in Michigan. They are a bit expensive, though. They are my favorite.
Buck makes great knives, too. I have found that the steel is very hard and is hard to sharpen. But, when it is sharp, it keeps it's edge very well.
Gerber, Schrade, and some others also have some great functional knives.
There are also some imported knives from Germany and Sweden. I have two hunting knives made by Frost Cutlery in Mora, Sweden that I really like and carry most often.
But for a special gift, I'd think hard about Marbles. They have a website: www.marblearms.com