I used to think I need a high-end maker name for a good boot knife until I rethought the issue.
A boot knife is either a double-edged (usually illegal) or single-edge (tanto or clip stlye) stab-and-slash last defense knife around 4-6 inches. It is intended to be disposable, and likely to be handled rarely.
Given that purpose, I like the COld Steel Peacekeepr 2 (shorter blade) as the nice compromise for functionality and economy. The Taiwan steel is not bad, and teh clsoe-outs are around $30. Nice Kydex sheath with mounting holes, clip, and checkered rubber grips. It is light, fast, and will violate most states' knife laws, being double-edged. Still, that is a moot point when you are on your knees, back, or struggling to survive. Since they are so economical, I bought several, and tested the devil out of one on slashing 1-inch thick cardboard, stabing phone books, double-arcing phone-books and the 1-inch thick cardboard, slicing 1-inch cord of manila rope, and even drove one in a sheet-metal car hood and car door and bent it back. The Cold Steel DVDs did similar with meat chunks and a vise. I am convinced of the durability of such blade.
My cheapy 20 year-old United Cutlery Texas Toothpick ($15) cannot even begin to match the workmanship of the Peacekeepr 2, but it is jsut a sticker boot knife for stabbing. It has a soft, unsafe leather sheath typical of the workmanship of that period.
the Pentagon is nice, but the balde is short and it costs about $50+.
I also like the Taiwan First Strike CKRT knives as a boot knife (medium is around $50). The edges do not come sharp from the factory, but they are perfect for plain old punching stab into a target for defense. They look really cool with the pseudo Japanese sword-style handle wrapping.
Of course, you can always spend as much as you want for a knife, but you may not have to.
