Anyone who will NOT buy a Sage because they are made in Taiwan?

Aren't we all just citizens of the world? Especially when it comes to sharp pointy things.

I won't be buying a sage from Taiwan, mostly because I'm carrying my dragonfly g10 from Japan :-P
 
Hi Golddust -

Normally I would be hesitant to buy anything that was stamped "made in anywhere" but USA.

However, I think Spyderco is a great company, and if Sal Glesser approved of the manufacturer, I would be just fine with the Taiwan made knives.

I will likely try one out this year.

best regards -

mqqn
 
Spyderco's highest quality F&F knives are being made in Taiwan.
Steel is American.
Taiwan is a Capitalist country and ally to the United States.
Taiwan is a Democracy!!!!!!!!!!!
Taiwan is a free trade, fair player on the world stage. ie, its currency trades openly along with any G8 currency.

If you like the knife buy it!!!!!!!
 
As long as a knife is good quality and ethically made I could care less were it is made in fact that's how I feel about just about everything I buy
 
Golddust said:
I love Spyderco, I love the ergonomics, style, innovation, blades, so on and so forth. I have been looking for a strong EDC blade that will not make me think twice and I can have on my pocket for years which brought me to the Sage series of knives. The size, shape, materials, and simplicity are everything I am looking for in a knife and it would be perfect except for one thing, the knife is made in Taiwan and is stamped right on the blade. I know this shouldn't matter if the quality is solid but when I see it stamped on the blade it makes me sick to my stomach to think that it is the only thing stopping me from buying it. So I am wondering if anyone else has this problem and if anyone can help me overcome my thoughts?
Click to expand...


Buy the knife, grind off the stamping on the tang. Problem solved.
 
Taiwanese people gotta eat too...

Sure it'd be nice if it were made in the USA, but it'd be more expensive. Besides, a less expensive knife made oversees means I have more money left over to spend on American made knives.

The vast majority of the stuff you own, watch, and wear is made overseas anyway. I do understand the desire to have American made tools. A TV made in Japan or a t-shirt made in Vietnam is one thing, but a tool...something about an American made tool gives confidence. But IMO that's a false confidence. Good stuff can be made in China, and Americans are quite capable of making crap.

I played with the Sage 2 as part of the passaround, and apart from one specific issue I had with it (my grip tended to unlock the knife rather than lock it more securely), it was a great knife. As sexy as the Sage 1 is, being a linerlock I never pulled the trigger on one (even though, being a linerlock, it wouldn't have the issue I had with the framelock of the S2).

I'm eagerly awaiting the Sage 3 with the bolt lock.
 
I use to have the same mindset. But a lot of my Spidies are made in Japan so I figured what the heck and bought a Gayle Bradley. I must say its quality matches or exceeds any other Spyderco knife that own. Fit and finish, perfect. Blade centering, perfect! Lock engagament, perfect! I say buy it. You won't be sorry!
 
Golddust said:
I love Spyderco, I love the ergonomics, style, innovation, blades, so on and so forth. I have been looking for a strong EDC blade that will not make me think twice and I can have on my pocket for years which brought me to the Sage series of knives. The size, shape, materials, and simplicity are everything I am looking for in a knife and it would be perfect except for one thing, the knife is made in Taiwan and is stamped right on the blade. I know this shouldn't matter if the quality is solid but when I see it stamped on the blade it makes me sick to my stomach to think that it is the only thing stopping me from buying it. So I am wondering if anyone else has this problem and if anyone can help me overcome my thoughts?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about quality. Taiwan is capable of producing good knives. Spyderco only contracts with high end manufacturing companies.

For me there are two categories of product:
- made in USA
- not made in USA. I don't differentiate as to which non-US country.

I prefer to buy products that are made in the US. I recognize that this goal is not always possible. This has nothing to do with product quality. It has to do with my own understanding of economics.

When it comes to knives, I will buy a foreign made knife if the foreign made knife is of a such a design or is made from an alloy that I cannot get in a US-made version. However, I will not buy a foreign made knife merely because it is cheaper than its US-made counterpart.

I can get S30V blades on a US-made knife. The rest of the design has no special features that I can't find in a US-made knife. So I won't buy a Sage. Those are my rules for me and my knife purchases.

How you set your rules is up to you. It is not up to me, nor to anyone else on this forum. If you feel funny about sending your money overseas don't buy the knife. If you don't feel funny about it, buy the knife. But buy what suits YOU.
 
i only see my world in black and white. there is no grey, therefore by buying this knife i am attacking american jobs and the economy! sarcasm...
 
I have both Sages and the Gayle Bradley. I don't care where they are made, these are nice quality knives. The only thing keeping me from buying the Sage 3 is the darn blue handle.
 
Socom Elite said:
Yea it eats me up bad. I won't buy one cause of it. Also, why is it so expensive since it's made there?
Click to expand...

Price? Have you noticed the materials? Carbon fiber, titanium, S30V? These are top notch materials and many knives made stateside with those very materials would cost even more.
 
I like to buy American products, but if it's high quality, I have no problems buying a foreign made product. I don't like manufacturers cutting corners and giving the customer much less for the money than is standard, though. This is why I won't pay $50 for a Taiwanese Cold Steel knife. With Spyderco, on the other hand, they're delivering premium materials and manufacturing for far less than you would expect, using the cheaper Taiwanese labor to do so. Supposedly Spyderco also keeps their profit margins constant, so they aren't making any bigger of a percentage off their Taiwanese knives than they are off their American ones. Plus, the fit and finish from that particular factory is supposed to be pretty much the best you can get in a production knife. I can't help but respect them for that. Once I find a good deal on a Gayle Bradley, I'm jumping for it.
 
rather silly reason for disliking that knife. look around your house, your appliances, your phone you tv.

Made In China.
(a communist state, i would point out)

your clothes:

Made in Indonesia
Made in India
Made in Taiwan

so, does it really make a difference?

Flatlander1963 said:
Spyderco's highest quality F&F knives are being made in Taiwan.
Steel is American.
Taiwan is a Capitalist country and ally to the United States.
Taiwan is a Democracy!!!!!!!!!!!
Taiwan is a free trade, fair player on the world stage. ie, its currency trades openly along with any G8 currency.

If you like the knife buy it!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

i agree.


I've handled it, and i like it a lot. they're both on my list, and the stamps didn't bother me that much...
 
Nothing is wrong with Taiwan.

It is just sadden to see that USA should have been able to make the knife with same quality and cost. I suppose that cost of shipping the S30V steel from US to Taiwan is cheaper that the labor cost differences.

Just an idea, perhaps Spyderco could stamp: Steel made in USA, assemble in Taiwan :)
 
So I am wondering if anyone else has this problem and if anyone can help me overcome my thoughts?
Click to expand...

Well, YOU would be the one losing out on a great knife.

It was either this or the Titanium Military.
Click to expand...

I've never seen people hesitate between a Sage and a Military. They are completely different, and because of the size difference rather complementary (as in: actually you want both).
 
By the way you say it, it is as if they were made in North Korea. Or some enemy of the U.S. I would love to hear what you think about Sal and Eric since it was their choice to manufacture there.
 
Being the owner of a beautifully made Taiwanese Sage Ti...I respect and feel the Taiwanese earned the right to stamp "Taiwan" on the blade given it's remarkable craftsmanship.
 
To be honest, I've gotten a few not-so-well made knives made in the USA (I'll leave you to figure out who).

Country of manufacture is a minor nuance. I'd say materials and quality control are bigger factors. That Sage is a decent knife at that price. Carbon fiber, S30V. There's not a lot of production folders that use those materials at the same price point.
 
Having lived and been involved in the knife scene in Taiwan for a few years now I can say with out a doubt that there are some very talented makers here, in both cutsom and production knives. I happen to know that the people Spyderco use are people well deserving of the credit they are due. While the "Taiwan" stamp my be off puting to some (and that's fine, people can have their opinions) they should at least recognise there are good people doing good things here. :):thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top