I'm a simple, rugged kind of guy. I hate expensive knives because I know things about steel composition and overall build quality. I am a tremendous fan of Opinel knives. Absolutely dirt cheap (under $15) and they have simple, reliable locking mechanisms, the sandvik steel used in the stainless versions is both quite tough and takes a wicked edge with ease. There are also carbon versions, of which I have as well, and while they do take a little more care (any old grease will work, oil from your face, I use chapstick sometimes, though camilla oil is best and what I use on my ultra high end kitchen knives) they can take and hold an even more wicked edge. I have an old Gerber that might as well be pot metal when compared to even my stainless opinel. They make an absolutely absurd number of sizes, I have a no12 for camping (it's a foot long open) and I feel the perfect pocket knife size is an 8, though my partner had a 7 and it's just fine.
My second knife is a non locking spyderco kiwi. Simple, light, tiny, and fits in my breast pocket for opening boxes and packaging. I love the non locking design that can't close if you're holding it, and the dead straight edge makes a few laps on the whetstone a breeze over a curved edge.
In all honesty, for the price and quality (fit and finish and the lovely contoured beechwood are both wonderful) An Opinel #8 stainless is pretty much the best pocket knife out there. There's a reason it's been made for over 100 years with practical no change. If you don't own an Opinel, hou owe it to yourself to get one. No self respecting knife owner doesnt.
One honorable mention for the ems guys is the NRS pilot knife. Blade is shaped so it can be run under clothes without risk of injury, seatbelt cutter, serrations able to saw through fiberglass, glass breaker, bottle opener, and the tip works on most flathead and Phillips screws. Plus it has a SOLID metal buckle release that really ties it together. Takes a decent edge, but not as ferocious as an opinel. I keep it on my shoulder strap of my 75l ospret pack, the quick squeeze release is awesome, and it's honestly a better tool than my stupid leathetman raptor trauma shears.
Get a proper whetstone set if you are a real knife guy. You'll learn a lot about what you like and dislike once you start lapping the more expensive stuff and find out that they use such hard tool steel that they take forever to sharpen and often times are not heat treated well enough to keep that edge as well as a much cheaper nlade can.
