American Made

[Redmasta]

I will ask, how many people who automatically assume all knives made in any Asian country are assembled by slave labor in sweatshops, have actually been to and lived in said Asian countries? I mean, actually lived in a country for years, and not just among other American/Western ex-pats, but among the people of that country? To automatically assume any Asian manufacturing is done using slave labor is ignorant. Sure it happens. It's happened, and is probably still happening, right here in the U.S. Many people on the forums also confuse or intermix Taiwan and Mainland China as the same. They aren't. I spent nearly a decade in Taiwan.
Jim

Doesn't seem like anyone in this thread who said they prefer made in USA mentioned anything about sweat shops and slave labor in China, so why even throw that out there?

 

[Ankerson]

Aruba cheap?

Cheaper than a lot of places...

 

[James Y]

Redmasta:

Because in threads like this, it often comes up. Plus, someone already mentioned he prefers to support U.S. companies who pay their workers a living wage. That implies that outside the U.S. they aren't paid a living wage...sounds kinda like 'slave labor'.

As I said, I respect anyone's preferences to buy only U.S.-made, or to buy from anywhere else. And if my earlier post doesn't apply to someone, it shouldn't upset them...well, it shouldn't be upsetting, anyway. Because there are many people who think that way.

Jim

 

[JarrodS]

Yes, I wouldn't buy a knife made in a sweat shop. It might have rust stains.

 

[snooka]

Let's face it, nothing is 100% made in the US anymore. Even if it says made in the US on the blade, what about the screws and other parts? Might be 100% assembled in the US, but not 100% made anymore.

Quartermaster is 100% US made according to their website

"We believe that the best tools in the world are made right here in the United States of America.

This is why all QTRM5TR knives, 100 percent of their components, even the boxes they're sold in are Made in the USA."

 

[Sosa]

Quartermaster is 100% US made according to their website

"We believe that the best tools in the world are made right here in the United States of America.

This is why all QTRM5TR knives, 100 percent of their components, even the boxes they're sold in are Made in the USA."

The discussion was going well and you throw this crap in the hat. The business practices of quartermaster knives reflects them and their company only. Not a whole nation.

 

[Colinz]

Tagged (for later)

OT: Fascinating thread. I have read a few other threads and posts regarding this subject since about 2001. If someone interested in attitudes changing over time in a society (without being caught up in bias/scewed statistics etc.) search the forums you will find an hour or two of interesting reading.

 

[mst]

I'm not an American so US made usually means a 80% price bump for me, but I do definitely appreciate good customer service and quality control. Chinese companies are definitely lacking in that regard. However, Japanese or German made carries about the same value in quality for me. Afaik Germany isn't big in the knife industry, but they could do good things there.
The fact that some parts are sourced from Asia shouldn't really bother you though. We're living in a global economy and not many products can reasonably be completely sourced from one country.

 

[Lee48]

When you consider the fact that knives, like many products, are made of various components and materials and these come from suppliers and these suppliers obtain them from distributors and manufacturers from all over the globe, I doubt there are very many 100% American-made knives available these days. American cutlery manufacturers have been using components and materials from other countries for well over a century. Historic US cutlery company Case says it continues to use cattle bone imported from South America for its handles. The synthetics used in some knife grips come from chemicals supplied by international chemical manufacturers. The metal in the fittings probably was mined in another country. And don't forget the leather in sheaths and the handles of knives. There ain't a lot of tanneries left in the USA. Most of our leather comes from China. And what about the machinery and computers used in making these knives? Do you really think all the components and materials in the equipment used in the manufacturing process was American-made? I doubt cutlery companies even know where all their components and materials originate.

For any company to claim their products are 100% American made is pure marketing, hyperbole and overall BS. Or, maybe, it's just plain ignorance on the part of the company itself.

 

[sunandsteel]

100% made in the US pocket knife, built today, and right down to every nut and bolt? It doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Spydercos are good for me whether they come from Golden, Seki City or Taichung.

CRK's, Striders...I don't question.

a few builders like Jim Allen, Joe Hoover, Jim Burke, Guy from Survive are good boys.

I do what I can, but I won't break an arm to make sure that the screws are American-made.

 

[leghog]

100% made in the US, built today, and right down to every nut and bolt? It doesn't exist anymore.

Much too broad a statement. There are still 100% American made products, including fromAmerican sourced natural resources from grills to chemicals in your garage, and possibly even that garage's door, or under your sink, and possibly even the plumbing in that sink and possibly even the POCKET KNIFE IN YOUR POCKET --- there just aren't that many components to a folding knife.

 

[mmarkh]

I hope you realize China supports North Korea. I buy American made knives because I can. Too many other products you really don't have a choice but with knives you do.

I buy based on quality and personal taste from any country except North Korea.

 

[sunandsteel]

Much too broad a statement. There are still 100% American made products, including fromAmerican sourced natural resources from grills to chemicals in your garage, and possibly even that garage's door, or under your sink, and possibly even the plumbing in that sink and possibly even the POCKET KNIFE IN YOUR POCKET --- there just aren't that many components to a folding knife.

Made the correction. I meant to say pocket knives.

 

[leghog]

100% made in the US pocket knife, built today, and right down to every nut and bolt? It doesn't exist anymore.

Much too broad a statement. There are still 100% American made products, including fromAmerican sourced natural resources from grills to chemicals in your garage, and possibly even that garage's door, or under your sink, and possibly even the plumbing in that sink and possibly even the POCKET KNIFE IN YOUR POCKET --- there just aren't that many components to a folding knife.

Made the correction. I meant to say pocket knives.

What in a GEC 71 is not American made?

What in a Case Baby Butterbean is not American made?

 

[mst]

What in a GEC 71 is not American made?

What in a Case Baby Butterbean is not American made?

Not disputing that these knives are not designed, produced, manufactured and assembled in the US, but for example, keep in mind that before 2011, all of the chromite used in the US was imported, mainly from South Africa.

 

[csisland]

Quartermaster is 100% US made according to their website

"We believe that the best tools in the world are made right here in the United States of America.

This is why all QTRM5TR knives, 100 percent of their components, even the boxes they're sold in are Made in the USA."

Right down to the pins or screws? I don't believe it. Something or some little nugget must have been imported.

 

[RevDevil]

Quartermaster is 100% US made according to their website

"We believe that the best tools in the world are made right here in the United States of America.

This is why all QTRM5TR knives, 100 percent of their components, even the boxes they're sold in are Made in the USA."

The shipping manifest indicating "metal components" is the only thing from China right? They made all the Ti parts and blades here, shipped them to China then had them returned.

 

[Lee48]

What in a GEC 71 is not American made?

What in a Case Baby Butterbean is not American made?

I don't know about the GEC specifically but, as I said in my previous response, Case has been using cattle bone from South America (specifically Brazil) in its knife grip panels for many years. It is stated on Case's website. (It comes from the Zebu breed of cattle.)

GEC #71 uses delrin for handle material. It's a thermoplastic that is made from petroleum products. The petroleum products could come from anywhere on the globe and may be a mix from several countries. Petroleum is traded, sold and shipped internationally every day.

 

[JNewell]

Leaving aside the origin of the petroleum, delrin (with a lower case d) is made in many places around the world, including major manufacturers in Korea, Japan and Germany, to name a few.