I like Starrett , but do have a central 6" dial caliper that gets used for everything from a measuring tool to a scribe for distances from edges and radii.
Craigslist is a great source.......guys getting out of the business , shops selling out etc.
I have NEVER seen a good deal at a pawn shop , though they do have nice stuff from time to time.
When buying a micrometer for crankshafts , one without the carbide faces is nice because it is less prone to scratching things.
You'll want standards or gauge blocks to set them and keep them accurate.