Hey guys, I am looking into buying a knife and need some advice. I went to a knife shop yesterday and looked at quite a few knives. The worker there showed a few brands that he liked (Benchmark, Byrd(?), and Beretta) and said that all of these brand of knives are solid. He took a real shine to Byrd knives, claiming that hardly anybody knows about this company and how much respect that deserve.

While all of this, I asked the worker what type of steel was used on all of them. He pointed towards a few Smith & Wesson's and said that most of their knives are 440/440C, so I mentally marked out those in my mind because I know for a fact that 440/440C is trash. The other brands were supposedly AUS8 steel, but I hardly know anything about that.

Can any knife experts give me advice on which brands of knives are the best band for the buck?

No thread-whoring please.