from my research, i think its mainly in the type of steel s30v being the absolute best i believe. obviously way more goes into it but steel quality goes A LONG WAY if you know how to properly sharpen, which i certainly do not.

usage wise, cant overlook buck, they allow you to custom build your own knoife picking out steel type and quality handle material and everything. learn to sharpen correctly and it would definitely be the last knife youd EVER need.

collecting wise, i prefer case xx. they are classics, american made, and hold their value as an investment rather than a silly hobby. i currently own over 40 case knives, and atleast 15 other custom made collector knives. only two knives i actually use are buck and gerber. both are getting dull though because i dont know how to sharpen.