A question to our foreign cutlery connoisseurs...

[LX_Emergency]

I honestly think it has more to do with the desired quality by the contracting company (and willingness to enforce good QC on the maker).

Yup, just check out the stuff that A.G. Russell is having made in China. Top tier stuff.

Where the stuff is made (country) has NO impact on me as to whether I'll purchase it or not. None what so ever. I'll always go Quality/Design/price/company > where it's made.

I don't live in the US anyway. So there's no nationalistic pride for me to gain on it anyway.

 

[Lenny_Goofoff]

First, I appreciate diversity of your knife industry. Big companies, small companies, lots of custom makers.
Second, having something not made in China is already fun.

The label itself means something if the the particular maker stands behind it.

 

[davek14]

I honestly think it has more to do with the desired quality by the contracting company (and willingness to enforce good QC on the maker).

Gerber sold out and allowed the quality of their product to be overshadowed by other issues. It wasn't that they were made in China that killed their reputation. It was being made in china, and expecting to not have to take the care to make sure the product was up to snuff (because they didn't care).

I'd buy a spyderco knife made in China though, as it has more to do with the fact that I trust them not to put their name on a crap knife. I do not trust Gerber to do the same. I would have 20 years ago, but not today.

It's a perception problem. A factory in the US can put out just as bad of a product as China.............or equally as good. The difference is in the management of the work, rather than the location. Spyderco proves this. So does Gerber. Their goals are different. Gerber went short-run profit, and now they are paying for it.

That is a good point. There are exceptions to this. I forgot about Spyderco in particular.

There are so many others which get China to produce nasty stuff it makes a person leary (Winchester, Smith and Wesson, Schrade, I could think for a bit and list many.) That's why we come here to this forum, to learn and not be taken in by the disreputable folks.

Kershaw is supposed to be well made in China. How are the Buck China mades? I hear some are the good 420HC and some are not.

What's up with Camillus?

I like how Boker has kept the Boker Solingen (quality), now has the Boker + (a reasonable China made), and also has Boker Magnum (cheap Chinese).

 

[scott.livesey]

it matters a great deal, especially when companies have items made "over there", bring the pieces into the US, have them assembled by temps, then sell them as "MADE IN THE USA."
what is funny is i work in manufacturing making car parts and then hear some yahoo yell at me for not driving an american car when i know my toyota was made in kentucky with over 95% of the parts made in the usa. they are driving a chevy which was assembled in mexico of the cheapest parts available.
i try whenever possible to buy made in america items. maybe it has to do with my 21 years in the US military or my dad's 20 years in the US military or my uncle's grave in Holland where he was killed in WW2.
scott

 

[SurfingSalmon]

Wow, I was surprised to see this thread come back from the attic!

SurfingSalmon,

Since you asked, I will offer my views as a Canadian...

Regarding the Made in Idaho stamp question: I own a large and a small Sebenza (both pre-date the Idaho stamp).
The fact that they are made in the USA is definitely an asset for me, (considering our proximity to the US, which I travel to frequently, and the relationship between our countries).

I have about 6o knives in my collection and the majority originate from the USA (primarily Randall, CRK, ESEE, Becker, ZT).

I also have knives from German, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and Finland. The common elements that draw me to this diverse group of knives are: good basic design, quality of manufacture, durability and solid customer service.

The only country I adamantly refuse to buy knives from is China, as I refuse to support their ongoing theft of intellectual property from enterprising companies all over the world.

Greg

Thanks for your responses everybody! I was sitting around with my Sebenza taking note of the "Made in Idaho" stamp on the scales and I wondered for a second, say if I was Canadian, if that would bear any significance to me.

Cool, thanks for the response! I'm interested on eventually acquiring some Boker Tree Brand slip-joints.

Hello im from Sweden and "Made in USA" dont make me trust the knife any more or less, its all about who made it and from what material. Also i know the "Made in USA" stomp can end up on CCS knives thats just put together in the states but is first made from rusty ships in <insert random backwater country.

Also OP you should look for the "Made in Sweden" stomp Fällkniven and Mora Knives is awsome.

I love Moras, my favorites are the Mora Classics. And for Fallkniven, I love japanese steel, too