a TOPS knockoff in Smoky Mountain?

J

jayharley

Joined
Oct 6, 2000
Messages
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I just received the new Smokey Mountain Knife Works "11th Hour 2002" catalog. Check out page 55. I was astounded. There is a knife shown as a "Tactical Ops Tanto". It looks like a near identical knife to a TOPs C.A.T. #203. However it does not have a lanyard hole, and has wood handles instead of micarta, and is stainless rather than 1095 Steel. The kicker is that is says TOPs on the blade and has a price of $5.99?

I don't get it. What is this all about?
 
A knockoff in a Smoky Mountain catalog? I'm shocked! :eek: Whatever is the world coming to :confused:

Smoky Mountain Knife Works will sell anything, anytime. Prices and service can be very attractive. Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware, some of what they sell is less than worth it at any price.

If I were TOPS, I would be unhappy at their unauthorized use of any recognizable part of my name or logo. (You might drop them a line.)
 
averageguy: I think the part of this issue that alarms me is the knife in the Smoky Mountain Catalog, for $5.99, actually has the TOPS name on the blade.

I am going to call TOPS tomorrow to get the scoop.
 
I already called TOPS about it and they had found out about it almost before the catalog was out, they are reporting it to the FBI and other fed's.
 
I'm glad I saw this thread -- I'll talk to Mike Fuller, since he is a close friend of mine. Since this Linton thing has become a problem for many, get ready, folks. An industry wide war against counterfeiters is brewing, and most, if not all, of the major names and companies in our biz are jumping on board!!!! We will take them down, and stop the counterfeiting, including putting them out of business if necessary. Stay tuned for more.

Averageguy, I know we had a spat a few threads ago, even though I sort of saw the points you were trying to make, but rest assured -- the counterfeits will not be around to stay.

Thanks for the heads up everyone --

Brian.
 
I'm hoping S&W Knives, Taylor Cutlery, will be caught up in this web. Probably the worst violater in the last 10 years...that he is appearing to be up and up now don't excuse the past..IMHO
 
Why dont we just lock them in a soundproof room with Ernie Emerson armed with a couple of those new kerambits of his and let whats left go back and warn the others :D
 
Don't the folks putting the Smoky Mountain catalog together know that they are dealing with fire, picturing and offering a clear knockoff (which is also clearly and illegally marked with a copywrite company name, no less)?

For a Taiwain or Chinese company to offer a counterfeit knife is one thing. For a US owned knife catalog to knowingly show this knife and clearly offer it for sale, is a bad situation indeed.

I wonder how Smokey Mountain Knife Works would react if someone else printed a flyer or catalog, using their name?
 
lol!!!!...them selling knock offs???...nothing new here!!!...most of what they sell on the lower end are knock offs!!!!

have you seen the emerson, craw/kasper knock offs there? or the countless others????:rolleyes:
 
lol!!!!...them selling knock offs???...nothing new here!!!...most of what they sell on the lower end are knock offs!!!!

have you seen the emerson, craw/kasper knock offs there? or the countless others????:rolleyes:

Most people who buy these knocks offs, or the emerson knock off for example, would probably think emerson electronics (if asked), not knowing what a real emerson (knife) is!!
 
rev_jch: The point is that this knock off had Tops name on it.

I don't recall ever seeing a Emerson, craw/kasper knock off with the Emerson or Craford name on the blade in Smokey Mountain's catalog. That is the key.

Unless a knife has a patented feature (like the Emerson Wave) it is difficult to protect a knife shape. But a manufacturer's name is a big legal problem.
 
I got my catalog today. It says "TOPS" and below that "TACTICAL-OPS". I'll bet they get around the legalities by putting in a period, which you can't see in th pic, making it "T.OPS" TACTICAL-OPS
 
Not a surprise from Smoky Mountain KW, you all should do a little research on how that company got it's start, then I doubt anyone would do buisness with them. But alot of cat. companys sell low end stuff like this I don't think they even know what they are selling just paying someone to put a cat. together then order stuff as needed. Who knows, All I know is after learning what I have about them I wont ever walk in thier store again.
 
Since the knife was produced out of country, patents- trade marks are not binding. SM did not make the knife or put the TOPS mark on it, so they can probably get away with it. Best solution for a business with no ethics, do not do business with them. As long as there are sheeple out there that will reach over a 100 dollar bill, to pick up a quarter, SM and others like them will prosper.
Ken (wwjd)
 
ragnoor: I agree that Smokey Mountain most likely did not have this particular knife made for their use. However US patents etc are in place to stop importers from bringing such product into the states, mislabled to fool the public. It is difficult to stop copywrite / trade mark or patent knockoffs / copies from being made overseas, but it is definately illegal to have these products brought thru customs and it is illegal to sell the products (at wholesale or retail) in the US.

I believe that Smokey Mountain has already been forced to take the knife in question off of their web site, and I presume they are no longer allowed to ship any period.

I also agree that the knife community cannot support a cataloger who attempts to sell in this sleazy manner. Maybe this is simply a catalog editor's mistake. However it ended up in their catalog and that is bad enough.
 
I knoe that a lot of knife compaines do a large part of their catalogs in-house. It's my understanding that the owner of Smoky Mountain immediately removed these knives from the SMKW line of offerings, without hesitation. I don't know if the guy was aware of the situation ahead of time or not, but he did at least remove them without companit or hesitation.

In light of that cooperation, and without being able to know their mtobvations for carrying the fake knives, I'm personally willing to give Smoky Mountain the benefit of the doubt.

It is my understanding that the company manufacturing these knock-offs, plus knock-offs of Emerson and many others (all with the OEM label), is Master Cutlery. Anyone know anything about them or had personal experiences with them?

Best,

Brian.
 
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