I think quality depends heavily on what kind of premium a company puts on its reputation. For instance, Benchmade. They have U.S. and Foreign made knives, that they have to be willing to put their name on, and risk having someone on this forum or elsewhere rip the quality control. Its all in whether a company cares enough about it. I won't buy from China for political reasons, but I am sure there are good knives that come from there.
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Are U.S. Knives Really Better?
- Thread starter Confederate
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Personally I believe the QC in the USA is among the best in the world, and not only for knives. Quality also extends beyond the actual product and into the realm of back-up service/warranties. The US is also a leader in this area.
I admire US companies and the knife-loving culture of the country. So I try to only purchase knives that are made in the USA, but this is not always possible.
For example, I bought a SOG Tomcat III recently and that is Made in the USA, but the blade is stamped Seki City.
I also believe it is a question of you get what you pay for. I prefer to spend a little more, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it.
Mark
I admire US companies and the knife-loving culture of the country. So I try to only purchase knives that are made in the USA, but this is not always possible.
For example, I bought a SOG Tomcat III recently and that is Made in the USA, but the blade is stamped Seki City.
I also believe it is a question of you get what you pay for. I prefer to spend a little more, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it.
Mark
Okay, but that still doesn't answer the OP's question....Spyderco makes knives in Japan, and the USA, and China, and Taiwan.
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Benchmade makes excellent knives, but I've never seen them tested for strength. No doubt they hold an edge and are great EDC knives, but they remain untested for rigorous use. No one in his right mind, for example, would baton a Benchmade. They're made for light weight carry, not heavy outdoor or self defense use.
So where does one go? Spyderco, Cold Steel and Columbia River all make good heavy duty knives, but they're all outsourcing their knives to other countries. And those knives are very well made and really have no competition in the U.S.
So where does one go? Spyderco, Cold Steel and Columbia River all make good heavy duty knives, but they're all outsourcing their knives to other countries. And those knives are very well made and really have no competition in the U.S.
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Benchmade tests their knives for strength and used to brag on their Axis Lock and the auto version of the Axis Lock. They had a series of knives named "Advanced Folding Combat Knife" and I don't know of anyone who's used one and thought it to be rinky-dinky or for only light use. I'd bet on a Benchmade with an Axis Lock over every liner lock CRKT has made in terms of reliability and strength including the gents knives featuring that lock (I've cut through a steel shed with my 921 Switchback gents knife and the knife still locks up fine).
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you do realize that Benchmade automatics are issue items to the US military and have national stock numbers.
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Let me be clear IMO Spyderco knives made in the USA are the best production knives available. Spyderco knives made in Japan are a close second. I have no opinion on Chinese knives. I have been collecting and using knives for 30 years and have never considered knives made in China. We are forced to buy many Chinese products, but knives made in China is one I do not have too.
I have no idea where you heard that or how you formed that opinion, but I can tell you 99% of the population really doesn't give a crap about where you are from. The supplier you mentioned would do the same thing if he were to deal domestically, it's a case of non-existant moral standard rather than hatrate for americans.
And for people state political reasons, china is more capitalism than u.s. now days.
jdm61
itinerant metal pounder
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An argument could be made that ANY knife that intentionally breaks in half for ease of storage or carrry is a compromise, no matter how good the QC is
IMHO
For Benchmade, the US is better than foriegn production.
For Buck, I'd say the US is about equal to their chinese production for equivalent knives (i.e. slipjoints.)
For Spyderco, I'd say their best Japanese (i.e. Moki) clearly tops their best american, but their mid range american is equal to midrange japanese, with the byrd line at the bottom.
For schrade, american tops chinese.
For Benchmade, the US is better than foriegn production.
For Buck, I'd say the US is about equal to their chinese production for equivalent knives (i.e. slipjoints.)
For Spyderco, I'd say their best Japanese (i.e. Moki) clearly tops their best american, but their mid range american is equal to midrange japanese, with the byrd line at the bottom.
For schrade, american tops chinese.
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Not s*** per se, but definitely crappier than other knives.
Not everyone can legally carry a fixed blade due to possible weapon connotations and not everyone finds them to be easy to carry.
They'd be a lot easier to carry, though, if a certain maker of hunters and bowies; who favors W2 tool steel; would sell more of his knives on the For Sale By Maker forum instead of tormenting us with Gallery pictures.
That's not a guarantee of quality or suitability.
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true, not a guarantee, but they did get tested before being chosen. So even if BM buys patents, pays makers' royalties, sets up new tooling, advertises, and manufactures knives that they apparently never test for 'strength', someone did test them for use by service members. How rigorous their use is isn't something I would make a blanket statement about, I can't be as certain of the uniformity of application.
Even though you can never baton any Benchmade, least while you are in your right mind.
Even though you can never baton any Benchmade, least while you are in your right mind.
jdm61
itinerant metal pounder
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LOL....sorry, but the few I have sold on the forums so far have been snapped up on British Blades because the weak dollar makes ANYTHING from the US seem cheap over in the UK.Not s*** per se, but definitely crappier than other knives.
Not everyone can legally carry a fixed blade due to possible weapon connotations and not everyone finds them to be easy to carry.
They'd be a lot easier to carry, though, if a certain maker of hunters and bowies; who favors W2 tool steel; would sell more of his knives on the For Sale By Maker forum instead of tormenting us with Gallery pictures.
That's not a guarantee of quality or suitability.
I'll have some up in the near future:thumbup:- Joined
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Whiskey Tango Hotel is that all about? I didn't say you can't baton with them or that they weren't tested or weren't strong; just that "well, the military uses them" is not the most useful statement. The military also had Al Gore and John Kerry amongst their ranks, so mistakes can and do happen.
If that's directed towards the original poster, he's apparently never had the joys of using Benchmade goodness. No need to get all sour about it is there?
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not sour, though munching on some dark chocolate has made me bitter (especially with what I paid for this Tuscan concoction)
And I have to disagree, in any discussion of super ultra hard use self defense chopping implements of ruggedness, "well, the military uses them" is perfectly valid.
And I have to disagree, in any discussion of super ultra hard use self defense chopping implements of ruggedness, "well, the military uses them" is perfectly valid.
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I was joking on that one. You made the comment about 'Uranus' and I made the comment about knives from there being 'S***'. ("you know, I don't buy their knives because I hate trying to get that stinky brown preservative off of them ...")
Bad joke, I know, but IMHO, this whole argument is academic. I'm not trying to take one side or the other here; the fact is, we have to face the fact that industry is changing, worldwide.
China isn't all about slave labor, either. The hardware outfit I used to work for brought in a line from a mfr. in China, and we sent reps over there for several weeks to see their operation. One rep stated that it was as clean/cleaner than anything in the U.S. And, if the workers aren't happy, they can quit and go work elsewhere. (They rarely do, though.) About once a year, the U.S. warehouses pull random samples and test them, HARD. The product from China was/is easily equal to anything we carried from the U.S. or Europe.
I'll buy a 'made in China' knife, but I won't buy a Chinese (or any other mfr.) made product that's a ripoff of someone else's design.
thx - cpr
Sal Glesser
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Thanx Brownshoe.
This is an interersting thread. Started by Confederate who bought two knives from one maker and was ready to judge the world of manufacturing.
I think the question will ultimately get down to:
Who is making the knife (has put their name on it)?
Do they have your trust?
We've tested makers from many countries and many within individual countries. You can find good makers (and poor ones) in many areas of the world. Generalizing is no longer valid. The world is too small, information readily available, learning is doned very quickly.
What's in a name?
trust.
in my opinion.
sal
This is an interersting thread. Started by Confederate who bought two knives from one maker and was ready to judge the world of manufacturing.
I think the question will ultimately get down to:
Who is making the knife (has put their name on it)?
Do they have your trust?
We've tested makers from many countries and many within individual countries. You can find good makers (and poor ones) in many areas of the world. Generalizing is no longer valid. The world is too small, information readily available, learning is doned very quickly.
What's in a name?
trust.
in my opinion.
sal