I believe that you’re saying that in your experience, Chinese brands made in China tend to be better than brands from other countries that make all or some of their knives in China. Is that correct?
I don’t have an opinion on that, but I suppose it makes sense that a completely Chinese brand would have extra incentive to represent their country well.
My point was, and still is, that I avoid doing business with ANY knife maker/brand that I feel is dishonest. About anything. There are a few US companies that fall into this category, and I don’t recommend doing business with them. Just like BA-KOR. It seems that they aren’t honest actors, so why buy something like a knife from them, when there are so many high quality, inexpensive knives available from “reputable” companies from China and other countries?
Reputation is important to me.
No, I don't think you are understanding what I'm trying to say. Most Chinese manufactured knives used to be garbage up until like 2-3 years ago. Then, a bunch of brands that ONLY sell knives manufactured in China, meaning they have a dedicated factory in China, greatly increased in quality. Some of them increased their prices as the quality increased. Some of them are still good bargains. These companies are not solely Chinese companies. Many of them are US and European based companies, but all of their knives are manufactured in China from Chinese steel. Odenwolf is a good example. It's a German company. It's a mixture of Chinese companies, and Western-based companies that solely manufacture their knives in China.
A few years ago, these knives were pretty bad. Eafengrow Knives is a good example. They got caught falsely advertising the type of steel in their knives. Someone had the knives tested, and the elemental breakdown of the steel wasn't the same as what was advertised. As these companies have increased the quality of their products, a lot more popular YouTube knife testers have tested them, and they are doing very well despite abusive testing.
On the other hand, the major knife companies that make some of their knives in China, have proven to be garbage. I've purchased about 7 of them, and they were all terrible. What's worse, is that they weren't cheap, because of the brand name. As more of the major knife manufacturers have sold out to GSM Outdoors and other giant conglomerate corporations, the quality has decreases greatly, production is moved to China, the prices stay the same or increase, and the warranties are voided. I own about 7 Cold Steel South African Machetes, maybe more. They have always been incredible machetes. They are listed as 1055HC, but the manufacturer must have the heat treat down to a science, because the steel performs far better than 1055HC should. I cut all the way through a 12" diameter log with my Cold Steel South African Jungle Machete (their best design IMO). There's was zero edge damage. After Cold Steel sold out to GSM Outdoors, the machete designs stayed the same, but manufacturing was moved to China, and the steel type was changed to 65Mn. What's worse, is that Amazon and most of the respected online knife stores still advertise these Cold Steel machetes as being made in South Africa from 1055HC. But when people receive them, the package says 65Mn and Made in China. They've had over 3 years to correct their false advertising, but they haven't. Cold Steel, SOG, and Camillus are all owned by GSM Outdoors now. There are only a few knife companies left that didn't sell out to giant corporations, and even some of those companies manufacturer a lot of their knives in China.
I know that's a lot to read, but it illustrates my point. If you can afford knives the are manufactured in the US, Europe, or Taiwan (Taiwan actually manufacturers some of the best knives), by all means buy them. If you can't afford them, or the knife is for a child you know will just abuse it and not take care of it (like not piling a carbon steel knife), you are better off buying from one of these knife companies that solely manufacture their knives in China from DC53 or Sleipner Steel. You're going to pay less than buying a Chinese manufactured knife from one of the well known name brands, and it will be a higher quality knife.
" to buy knives from seems to be shrinking daily.....
steel type and get away with it.
