American made production knives?

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
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While driving down icy roads in high winds last night I decided that I had nothing better to do than to think about knives.

It occurred to me that I don't know of hardly any American knife companies that haven't moved at least some production overseas. (I consider Strider, Chris Reeve, etc. to be semi-custom)

Maybe Microtech, Blackhawk/MOD,Wegner, TOPS?

what companies can you name off the top of your head?
 
I don't know for sure, but what about companies like Queen and Camillus?
 
I've been very pleased with Japanese knives, but I'm very against the "high end" brands making knives in China/Taiwan etc. If they want to change the name on them, (ala Byrd), I'm still not a big fan of it, but at least it doesn't devalue the rest of their line...Benchmade's red class is a significant long term mistake if the goal is to remain one of the most respected knife brands. But if it's to make a quick buck, well, I suppose it makes perfect sense. Trade in the rep...
 
I think I would differentiate between "moved production overseas" and "added to the product line knives made overseas".

As a factory support person, I get bummed when I see American factories shut down and the product that was once made here, made elsewhere. To me, that is jobs leaving the US. And it sucks.

I am less upset with a company that starts adding new models that are made elsewhere to the product line. To me that is a company fighting for market share, but not shipping existing jobs away. As long as they do not lay off their American production workers, I am not bummed.

As an example, I don't mind that the BM Vex is made in China. It's a new addition to the product line. I would be upset if they stopped making the Skirmish in the US and shipped production off to China.

Spyderco has always had Japanese blades. They have American production too. And they have added Chinese production. As long as the American blades remain American blades, it gives me a choice and it maintains American jobs. And I gots no problems with that. I am a little uncertain what to think about the Native line. The Native is made in the US. The Native II and III are made in Japan. I got a Native III and I like it. I will leave it to Sal to do the right thing and ensure that no American jobs were lost in that change. And I am certain he will do right by us all.
 
There was a time when a Gerber costed more then a custom in Europe.What a quality for their presentation series.S&W made beautiful outdoor,bowie, folding hunter and so on knives.What a miror polish.And now?????? When I bought my last Winchester last year it realy surprised me that you who are so proud of your country but do not support your community.I only buy EC and USA products because I put my money where my mouth is. Benchmade,Lone Wolf ,Loveless,S&W,Ruger,Winchester,GE,Timberland,Browning,B&O, BMW.
 
WadeF said:
I don't know for sure, but what about companies like Queen and Camillus?
Click to expand...

Queen and Case are 100% American made, unless the knife has Mother Of Pearl handles or some exotic wood not found in the USA.

Camillus is now contracting knives from China under the "CAMCO" name.
 
Anza is an all American proprietary company and they have damn good products too. Queen is made in the US, KA-BAR, and Ontario as well. All good companies though in that list Anza and KA-BAR have my vote (though KA-BAR has recently done some out sourcing, unfortunately).
 
Hey folks ain't capitalism great ? :) This is the long term effect of Americans demanding all around cheap products and the American workers wanting high wages for a factory job...... *cough Unions cough*....
Didn't like paying $3000 for a PC when most parts were made in America so now they are all made overseas , same goes with nearly anything you will buy at Target , Walmart , costco , etc etc....

Welcome to the world market.

Even Benchamde is making introductory knives in Taiwan :D
Honestly I find it rather humorous.. if you are wondering why , it is because why in the hell should I stress over something I have absolutly no control over.

It is only going to get worse as time passes , I'm not defending it or condemning it (which I spent a good part of my life doing) , I'm just observing.

The minute a Chinese company can make a top shelf knife with top quality materials and sell it for $30 (which is not far off IMO) , well I think you folks can imagine those consequences.

I guess buy American , while you still can , if you still can ?

hmm......

Todd
 
I actually started this thread out of idle curiousity.:D

Since the topic is taking that turn...

Yes, I generally do prefer to buy American. The only knives you won't find in my collection are knives from Pakistan and China. (unless gifted to me by a well meaning friend or relative)


Knives of Alaska, Blade tech, and Bark River come to mind.

I think I was mistaken about the TOPS now that I think about it. oops.
 
The dreaded and much despised Darkops is 100% American. (or dorkops for those whom won't recognize the correct name) That's one reason I don't feel I should be so hard on them.
 
Hardly anything else I buy is made in the US anymore, so I quit worrying about where the knives come from as long as they're well built. 200 years ago I'd have to raise my own chickens rather than go to the grocery store, I'm not too concerned about jobs being lost to outsourcing when they'll get lost all over again to technology.
 
Emerson knives. Then they came out with the ''Hardware'' series. thats ok to me. Their base line is 100% USA.
 
Thomas, I respect you deeply and I like your company's knives. I think you guys do a good honest job. But, is not your parent company Japanese? I think that puts you out of the running on this one because RWS was asking about American companies. No slur on you or your company.
 
knarfeng, no offense taken.

A little history and future direction from our perspective;
Kai Corp. is based in Seki City, this is true. Kai USA is made up of Kershaw Knives (an American born company, 1974), Shun, and Zero Tolerance. Our facility here in Tualatin Oregon is very modern, and we have established our own state of the art factory. 99.9% of the employees here are in fact, American citizens. We are one of the very few American factories left that are self-sufficient and can produce quality cutlery in real volume. We, unlike other "American" manufacturers (no slam intended), do little outsourcing and have minor interest in that area of our industry. Kai USA realizes that competing against the imports (China and Taiwan) will be difficult, but a task that can and will be acheived. We are focused on more and more USA made products, and will look to grow from this focal point. We are trusting that the effort we put forth with this patriotic direction will be appreciated by those folks like Run With Scissors and other conscious individuals like him.

If that puts us out of the running with this thread, sorry for piping up. I do hope it at least leaves a positive impression with those interested in knives made by Americans hands.
 
Thomas said,"If that puts us out of the running with this thread, sorry for piping up. I do hope it at least leaves a positive impression with those interested in knives made by Americans hands."
Thomas leaves a positive impression always because he is a straight shooter and a "class act." Kershaw leaves a positive impression because they are going above and beyond the call...to be a good corporate citizen. I wish more companies followed their example.:thumbup:
 
fudo said:
Thomas said,"If that puts us out of the running with this thread, sorry for piping up. I do hope it at least leaves a positive impression with those interested in knives made by Americans hands."
Thomas leaves a positive impression always because he is a straight shooter and a "class act." Kershaw leaves a positive impression because they are going above and beyond the call...to be a good corporate citizen. I wish more companies followed their example.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Amen to that. :cool:
 
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