On top is the current HHD knife, which has really turned into the "gold standard". It's durable, well made, and a proven design. Underneath it is the Schrade SX4B, the Kershaw Vapor, and the Gerber Paraframe II.
The CRKT Sampson has already earned an "A". The other grades are my "midterms", and might change as I work with them more.
The Schrade is a solid "B". Made in Ireland (???), it is lighter due to the plastic handles, and lighter blade. The handles are countoured, rather than slab-sided. The black part is hard plastic, while the gray is a rubbery insert, making for a good grip. The blade is expoxy-coated, which means if we have it engraved, the spray coating can be omitted, leaving white letters on the black blade.
The Kershaw is all-stainless, and made in China. It is the closest in feel to the CRKT, and seems very sturdy. I give it a "B+".
Finally, the Gerber rates a "D", and I'm being charitable. It's also made in China, but has one vey serious problem. The blade does not lock up reliably every time it is opened. The locking leaf does not fit well enough to engage properly when the blade is opened slowly. That means the blade can close on your fingers with just a little pressure. Ouch.
On top of that, there is a detent at the "halfway" point in opening the blade. It stops the blade just enough to risk your finger slipping off the stud, and across the blade. I've almost nailed myself a couple of times with that already. If this knife does one more thing to piss me off, it gets an "F".
So that's my initial evaluation. The next step is to get the Schrade and Kershaw engraved, to see how they look. I'll also be doing a lot of click-click with them. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.