Are the Chinese eating the USA's lunch in knives? (no jingoistic intent)

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Danke42 said:
Ripped from the headlines and fits in here.

techcrunch.com

How Shein's influencer trip to a Chinese factory backfired | TechCrunch

"It feels like they used you for damage control and it's disturbing," one commenter wrote on Destene's video.
techcrunch.com techcrunch.com

Those factories are not better at building better knives. They're better at convincing the public to trade low to questionable quality goods that may be based on stolen IP for the public's instant gratification.
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Again, it depends on the company and there is a need to differentiate when talking about this kind of stuff.

Stick with the better companies with good reputations like WE, Kizer, Bestech, etc.; and you can both trust the steel stamp and that nobody unscrupulously copied anyone else. For instance, check out my carry knife from earlier today. This is a legit Ray Laconico design produced by Kizer. Ray has done multiple designs with Kizer and Kizer has also made knives for MBK.

OOqBOGu.jpg
 
Chronovore said:
When you are cheating in the budget arena, the cost difference between 3Cr13 and Chinese D2 can be the angle. More often, we see 5Cr15 or even 8Cr13Mov stamped "D2". It's enough of a difference to matter. Some of that could be holding just enough of an edge to fool someone with a moment's use. (That kind of stuff comes up with counterfeiting, but expecting truth in claims on a counterfeit is nuts in the first place.) More often, we see this with rebranding distributors like Eafengrow. They buy whatever knives look like they'd sell in whatever cheap steel, and stamp them with whatever steel identity they think will help them to sell.

To see an example of cheap stampable knives that might get used in such a scheme, check out Shieldon's website. While lots of OEM work happens in the dark, they openly advertise a variety of ready-to-go models in 3Cr and other low-end steels for bulk ordering. If you ever see one of those on Amazon, AliExpress, etc. in "D2" or "M390" and a different company name; that's the kind of scam I'm talking about.
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tl;dr......😁
 
Chronovore said:
Again, it depends on the company and there is a need to differentiate when talking about this kind of stuff.

Stick with the better companies with good reputations like WE, Kizer, Bestech, etc.; and you can both trust the steel stamp and that nobody unscrupulously copied anyone else. For instance, check out my carry knife from earlier today. This is a legit Ray Laconico design produced by Kizer. Ray has done multiple designs with Kizer and Kizer has also made knives for MBK.

OOqBOGu.jpg
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The company in question is Eafengrow.

Eafengrow?!?

Hi, folks. I took a chance and bought a knife I've had my eye on for a while. An Eafengrow 456 Tactical I have to say, I'm very impressed! The blade is D2 steel and it passed the paper cutting test with ease- MUCH better than my Freeman and my Ghostrike. The handle fits my hand...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Fura, Eafengrow, etc. - False Advertising?

I recently discovered the spreadsheet linked below, which claims to show independent hardness test results, as well as steel analysis. Can anyone vouch for the accuracy of the data? https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OepNr_D4lqbdTFqdqWl1rmAd4bOzPzJe6J0iEWrdJGU/edit#gid=0 If the analysis...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Recommendation? - What is Eafengrow EF931 a clone of? Looking for the real knife

Good afternoon everyone! I am new here, but already know that people don't like Eafengrow knives because they tend to be clones/knockoffs of higher quality knives. I have a Benchmade 940 that I love, but was looking for something a little chunkier for work. That being said, I recently picked up...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Ethics Question - Need Advice

Hi everyone. This question regards Eafengrow. To the best of my knowledge, they are some kind of distributor for CH and maybe other brands. I understand that some people here have strong opinions because they deal in "clones". That isn't the issue here. I was recently looking for an inexpensive...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
I've seen chinese D2 (such as ganzo) tested as real D2 with a 61.5 hrc... but in terms of overall heat treat, it's anybodys guess.
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Chinese D2 is infamous for being all over the map on performance, HRC, etc. Surprisingly, some of the best examples I've had of Chinese D2 have come from Petrified Fish and cost around $30. Ganzo's D2 is surprisingly good for the price too. (Note: Petrified Fish is one of those "better" or more reputable Chinese companies I mentioned. Ganzo is infamous for improperly copying designs and design elements from others.)

Where I like Chinese D2 is as a replacement for 8Cr13Mov at comparable prices. Otherwise, I prefer 9Cr, 10Cr, N690, 154CM, 14C28N, etc..
 
Danke42 said:
The company in question is Eafengrow....
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Yeah but people are talking about Chinese knives in general along these lines. That's why I made a point about differentiating.

BTW, you can see me trashing Eafengrow in some of those links. I talked about them a few posts ago here too. AFAIK, they are a rebranding distributor that doesn't actually manufacture anything. They just buy what they think will sell at a profit and stamp the blades with whatever steel identity they think will sell at the target price. (The main exception is when Eafengrow acted as the sole distributor for CH Knives in the west, but that no longer seems to be the case.)
 
I assume what is hinted is that e.g. Spyderco is involved in something suspicious or, are naive, with their Chinese lines.
 
Chronovore said:
Chinese D2 is infamous for being all over the map on performance, HRC, etc. Surprisingly, some of the best examples I've had of Chinese D2 have come from Petrified Fish and cost around $30. Ganzo's D2 is surprisingly good for the price too. (Note: Petrified Fish is one of those "better" or more reputable Chinese companies I mentioned. Ganzo is infamous for improperly copying designs and design elements from others.)

Where I like Chinese D2 is as a replacement for 8Cr13Mov at comparable prices. Otherwise, I prefer 9Cr, 10Cr, N690, 154CM, 14C28N, etc..
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I couldn't agree more about chinese D2 being a much better budget steel than 8cr13mov. I'm a cheap beater pocket knife kind of guy because I straight up abuse my pocket knives... all of my expensive knives are custom fixed blades where wood is the main cutting medium. I own both petrified fish and one in house ganzo design in d2. The fit and finish was shockingly good, the grind... not so much. They run their D2 hard, probably around 62hrc.. it will micro chip but that's to be expected on any hard d2 with a thin edge.

Definitely not the greatest or purest D2, the ganzo came with what looked like heated oil marks in the finish of the flats. Things like grain refinement etc, is anyone's guess... but like you said, as a bankable upgrade from 8cr13mov (I carried a tenacious for years) the difference is very noticeable in terms of retention. Wouldn't put it up against american D2, but hard to be for a $30 budget abuse knife. Both are rock solid in terms of construction.

I love american made, I support it whenever I can and would never buy chinese for 90% of products, but folding knives specifically seem to be ok. I'm just not able to abuse a $200 folder like I can a sub $50 folder... which is exactly what I do with the knife I have on me at all times, use it for all kinds of things I shouldn't.
 
NapalmCheese said:
The (to me) stupid GEC secondary market has permanently turned me off their brand. I have a similar issue with Randall, and will never order a Randall made knife. I can't tell if they really just can't produce enough knives to satisfy their market, or if they feel that driving this secondary market is good for them; so I buy from other USA manufacturers. But then again, I've been accused of lacking refinement in my knife choices and being a low end buyer/user on this website before as well; so maybe I just don't know any better.

I'd like a beer scout, and there's probably a Rough Ryder version of it. But I'm not going to buy an inflated priced GEC Beer Scout and I'm not going to buy a Rough Ryder copy; so I'll just use the cap lifter on my Swiss Army Knife (or the edge of a table, the spine of a knife, someone else's cap lifter, multi-tool, etc.).
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I don’t know why you chose to bring this up in this thread. Comparing GEC to RMK is not fair.

GEC creates a feeding frenzy with their releases. The only way a normal person can get one of their knives is the secondary market. I totally agree with you a total turn off.

Randall will take anyones order and build it when your turn comes up. Just like any custom maker. You just have to be patient. I have several Randall Made Knives and have never paid any mark up. They are readily available compared to GEC.

Back on topic. Once you have a few knives, every other knife is a luxury purchase. You have a choice of were your money goes. Choose wisely.

Also lots of people say they only buy American knives, but they only buy used knives. This doesn’t support the American companies either.
 
Arathol said:
Quite incorrect......There are many Chinese makers that produce knives that are just as good or better than knives at the same price point made in other countries. That is why sales are going to them.....better product at much lower prices. Thats an inescapable fact....
What maker in the US would or could produce a front flipper thats as smooth as glass with excellent grippy linen micarta, integral milled titanium billet back spacer/clip, and perfectly centered14C28N blade for $50.....
atQGJN8.jpg
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Here’s a nice $50 flipper in 14C28N. No bearings, but it’s a classic.
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eveled said:
I don’t know why you chose to bring this up in this thread. Comparing GEC to RMK is not fair.

GEC creates a feeding frenzy with their releases. The only way a normal person can get one of their knives is the secondary market. I totally agree with you a total turn off.
Also lots of people say they only buy American knives, but they only buy used knives. This doesn’t support the American companies either.
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But it does. The person I’ve bought most of my Hinderers from won’t buy more until he sells the ones he has. I work 5 days a week, so I usually can’t just stop in the middle of my shift and say “sorry guys, I have to go wait for a drop of pocket knives” lol
It’s the only way, or else I wouldn’t have a single Hinderer (never mind the configurations I actually WANT)
 
I see your point.

I was thinking more of vintage used. Even then if the seller is in America at least the money is still here in our economy.
 
Here's a perfect example of personal passed experience. All purchased at knife center.The Ontario rat model 1. Taiwan version Ranger green Aus8 blade, even grinds, center, sharpens hella easy, cuts like a hot knife through butter. Fit and finish with the liner's to scales were nice and clean. I believe I paid $22. "China" D2 version, first I'll start with the over lapped micarta scales passed the liner's, not center, grinds were so far off. One side of the edge was literally round couldn't cut anything looked exactly like the D in D2. Wouldn't stay center after adjusting. Could only sharpen one side in hopes of fixing it. Cost $50. Best believe I ditched that version.
Benchmade bugout $135 undisputed quality steel, plastic "grivory" scales. Great in every way, not a single issue. I'll pay the difference between value in what you get.
 
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I'm buying a knife made in each of my states in the United States of America. I'm only part way through my roadtrip.

It's not political.

Never voted in my life.

It's neighborly.

If it isn't to my standard, I can drive over and talk about it.

Can't do that if it was made overseas.

[No offense to my friends in Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland..and ok, France]

 Haha
 
I bought a Petrified Fish knife from the exchange for 15.00 ; the g10, fit finish was amazing . It usually sells for around 45-50.00 .Everything about it was perfect.They do come up with some strange names, though, that might help to turn off people from their knives Petrified Fish ? Ugh ,cool knife but real dumb name lets face it..
 
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