$15 Chinese Knives vs. the Good Stuff

[Codger_64]

It could be that the majority of buyers of that genre know nothing of quality, they just want a cheap "cool" knife to show off. Obviously there is a smaller group who appreciate a quality knife and refuse to buy these. Targeted marketing.

 

[Simple Man]

A "good" quality Chinese knife, that is not a dead copy of someone else's work, I'm ok with.

Will I use them? At most, in a backup BOB, in a drawer next to the chair or in the truck as a loaner. I have others I'd prefer to carry and enjoy using on a daily basis.

 

[Lycosa]

Does Snap-On make a tanto?
My PERFECT $20. folder is my KA-BAR Dozier Lightweight, made in Taiwan.
Quality is Quality. I don't care where it comes from.
rolf

 

[richard thurman]

It could be that the majority of buyers of that genre know nothing of quality, they just want a cheap "cool" knife to show off. Obviously there is a smaller group who appreciate a quality knife and refuse to buy these. Targeted marketing.

A very long time ago I had the real Microteck Scarab and the clone one right beside each other. They looked and the real deal but bought the clone one. I had a guy that had the real one but he was buying the clone one because he said if he loses it or breaks it he loses $50.00 ver $400.00 for the real one and he was a police officer. I think the people just don't want to spend that kind of money.

 

[steponmytoes]

Not so long ago (well at least before the 1970's), Japan was considered a country that could only make cheap toys and other junk you wouldn't spend your hard earned dollars on. Fast forward 30 years and Japan is dominating the automobile and electronics market. Now, Japanese goods are on the same level or perhaps even higher than European and U.S. goods. We are seeing the same thing in China, perhaps at an accelerated pace. I guarantee that 10 years from now, people will have a different impression of China (even though most of their stuff is crap now).

Funny thing, my Spyderco's from Taiwan (technically not China but pretty close) have better FF than the ones I have from Seki, Japan. Also my Sony camera made in China works much better than an identical one my friend has (made in Japan). It's easy now to discount the Chinese made stuff now since a lot of it is junk, but there are a number of factories in China (a growing number) that knows what they are doing and will be producing high quality goods that will be hard to compete with.

 

[steponmytoes]

PS someone mentioned that Kershaw is making more of their knives in China now... could be seen as both good and bad. We wouldn't have the good prices/value we are getting but at the same time, more of the manufacturing jobs that could be created here are now overseas...

 

[MassMatt]

if that is so then why is there a meg market or the clones then?? everyone and there brother are selling the cheap china switchblades but nobody are selling the ones that are being made in the USA. how come that is please?? The ones that are made in the USA are so much better made that the china ones but the china ones are out selling the USA ones. maybe the china workers aren't dumb like you think. They have a much better selling them like hot cakes.

You misunderstand my point; "China workers dumb"? Not what I said at all. Chinese manufacturers are going where the $ is. There is a market for cheap/low quality knives. My point is that China started out making low quality stuff just as the Japanese did decades ago, and just as pretty much any country does as it starts to industrialize. Their standard of living is increasing and with it their costs. Manufacturers who place orders purely or primarily on costs have many low cost places to choose from, they will not stick w/ China if the profits aren't there, or are potentially higher in, say, Vietnam, or Indonesia.

 

[AddictedToGear]

Oh it starts out good like all the really cool fantasy blades you see, but just wait.........lol

 

[richard thurman]

You misunderstand my point; "China workers dumb"? Not what I said at all. Chinese manufacturers are going where the $ is. There is a market for cheap/low quality knives. My point is that China started out making low quality stuff just as the Japanese did decades ago, and just as pretty much any country does as it starts to industrialize. Their standard of living is increasing and with it their costs. Manufacturers who place orders purely or primarily on costs have many low cost places to choose from, they will not stick w/ China if the profits aren't there, or are potentially higher in, say, Vietnam, or Indonesia.

What about Paul Chen hanwei knifes and swords?? They are being made in china and there is nothing cheap about them. From my understanding they are handmade too and they are not cheap by a long shot.

I copied this from a early post. What about them?? China will make whatever they can sell in the market that is moving fast. Just because everyone does not buy the name brands does not make them stupid. Maybe they just don't want to spend that kind of money?? Or maybe they want to spend it on their wife and kids first. Maybe they need to fix their truck or car first.