Blade Magazine - Letter to the Editor

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Quiet said:
I think the issue many have is that he makes this statement in its entirety, and specifically "My knives are, were, and always will be 100 percent made in the USA". This is outright a falsehood. Sure, he might claim that Kershaw is an American company, and thus not what he was referring to, except for the fact that he indeed entered into a business agreement with Kershaw for them to produce a line of knives with his designs, all of which were made in China. That's not something he would have discovered after the fact, and disagreed with. He was certainly aware from the jump where this run of these knives would be made. So, it makes his comments in this article look like lies on their face, and hypocritical grandstanding at worst. Additionally, his comment: "Please do not ever be taken in by "Designed in America, built overseas" was rich, considering that multiple sites advertised those Kershaws as exactly that!

Of course, he could always attempt some semantics BS like "Well, I meant MY knives, like, Emerson Knives knives." Even then, other products that are direct from Emerson have been posted in here already that were made elsewhere. Sooooooo......(giant air shrug). Factually, the guy had no problem making extra cash selling his designs to a company who would have made it absolutely clear where they were going to be made. He could have passed when this was made clear during the contract discussion phase, but didn't. Guess he really needed the money back then.

Concluding, I don't take issue with the overall message, though I disagree with various elements of it. It's the poor attempt at revisionist history in front of an audience that's aware of past products he's sold that are in outright contradiction to what he's attempting to push or state unequivocally, and worse, portray himself as here. It's disingenuous, but candidly, it doesn't surprise me one bit.
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Well stated. Thank you.
 
I expect we'll be waiting for a long time for a response- I don't get the impression Emerson is particularly active in the forums.
 
This thread has been a great read for different viewpoints. :thumbsup:

In spirit, I am with EE, though pragmatically I am going to buy them soul-less Chinese knives - "Made in America" is just unaffordable!
 
The vast majority will never vote to pay more. It’s not in peoples best interest short term. This must be done politically. They have to make the tax on imports so high, that it is cheaper to buy within the US. I really don’t see another way. Lobbying for a small corner to “spend more” won’t make a difference.
 
pa knifeguy said:
Why in my Emerson ball cap purchased from their website made in China?
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You know the answer to that. The narrative is one of convenience. Of all the millions and millions of dollars other product not manufactured in the US, knives are just a drop in the bucket, and very limited manufacturing skill set to protect.

Emerson’s hit-and-run China shaming is driving at a demographic that likes to hear that opinion echoed back. The fact is there’s plenty of things being manufactured in this country which are much harder to make than a knife. Single crystal jet engine turbine blades, for instance.

I like to buy things made in the USA- it gives me pride- but do I care where my toilet paper roll holder comes from? Not really. I’m just paying 3.89 so I dont have to make one myself. We’re passionate about knives, but I’d guess there’s a huge part of the population that doesn’t care where their knives come from, either.
 
Most people aren't aware of Emerson knives. They can't swing the price for the factory offerings. Emerson is in a limited market and will remain that way until a $60.00 CQC-7 appears for the masses. I appreciate his sentiments, but his prices don't match what most can/will spend to open boxes, cut string, and sharpen a hot dog stick.
 
Ernie musta had a bad blade show. But that’s not surprising, seeing he’s selling G10/154cm knives in designs that haven’t really changed in years for $250+. Also he only sells knives off his website. Chinese firms have new materials, fresh designs and lower prices plus their knives are available at several purveyors at several prices for the same model.

I’ve been reading ernie’s hyperbole for years and now he’s old and really losing it…how can he forget the products with his name on them that are made overseas? I was shocked when I saw my first one, I thought he must have fully sold out, with this “editorial,” now it seems he’s delusional.
 
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I love my Emerson knives and will likely spend more money on more of them. If his statement was meant to bring more attention to the ever growing industry of cloning models and selling them to American consumers then I agree. I personally will spend extra on American products just because it makes me more confident in the product. But I also feel there is a huge difference between a company like Spyderco manufacturing some products in their own Tawain based facility compared to someone selling a knife intended to look like a Benchmade Bugout for only $20. All major manufacturers have branched out overseas at some point. Hell Kershaw makes fewer models marketed as "Made in America" than they do Chinese made models. Benchmade used to have a Red Class that was Chinese made Benchmades. Spyderco has bird models and the Tenacious line of knives that were Chinese.
 
"Honestly speaking in my humble opinion without being sentimental and judgmental and of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my opinion, but rather looking into this serious matter without perspective distinction and views. I honestly think and believe that I have nothing to say."
 
The result is a direct consequence of our own actions. It is a timely discussion now that tariffs are being brought up.

Yes, China is a predatory state, but their success has been driven by our choices, and those go far beyond the final purchase decision.

It is we who decided in favor of:
1) pollution reduction
2) recognition of labor unions
3) against the use of nuclear energy
4) against the production of additional oil resources
5) against the use of coal
6) in favor of the Americans with Disability Act
7) in favor of the Affordable Care Act
8) in favor of a vast swamp of DEI requirements
9) in favor of extensive environmental impact studies
10) in favor of NAFTA
11) in favor of CHINA’s MFN status
12) extended design patents rights to the point that little new can be created.
Etc. etc. etc.

China remains a dangerous trading partner, who cares little about trade patents, copywrite, or trademarks. Their products standards are questionable and often misrepresented to the point of being dangerous. Their home labor practices are brutal. But, they are playing and exploiting the rules we have allowed them. We made it near impossible to build new factories, we artificially increased the cost of energy, we made our labor pool inefficient and uncompetitive, we chose to reward economic exploitation over capitalism (as in the creation of real capital infrastructure). We perverted generation of our own kids and allowed them to be fed a steady diet of distorted civic myths, climate nonsense, and other destabilizing nonsense, and we chose to allow our media to lie to us about it so we could live out our fantasy.

The production of goods is a real world endeavor. There are winners and losers and no one gets a participation award. In the end either the product work or fails on its own and no amount of diversity or inclusion will change that. It is a world that pollutes, where workers sometimes get injured, that requires competitively priced energy and raw materials and is managed by STEM and trained hands rather than feelings and opinions. In is largely alien to what most of us experience today. That is the nature of the choice. If we make the right choice we can once again see the rise of national wealth, progress and genius, over the social “influencers” we worship at present.

N2s
 
David Mary said:
EngrSorenson EngrSorenson what parts do you see differently from him?
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We’ll never undercut Chinese manufacturing because we will never care as little as they do about pollution or people, and I’m good with that.

I come from a long line of West Virginia coal miners who could have taught not2sharp not2sharp about the actual cost of inequality, and I pray we never let that happen again. (But boy, labor was cheap!) My concern is China’s doing that to their people, not that it costs us more to avoid it.

Also, crapping on the Americans with Disabilities Act is pretty bold. What’s next, child labor laws and OSHA?
 
Population is why China will out produce the rest of the world. Can't make stuff without workers.

Top ten US Cities. NYC 8.8 million, LA 3.8 million, Chicago 2.7 million, Houston 2.3 million, Phoenix 1.6 million, Philadelphia 1.6 million, San Antonio 1.4 million, San Diego 1.3 million, Dallas 1.3 million, Jacksonville 1 million.

Top ten Chinese Cities. Shanghai 21 million, Beijing 18 million, Shenzen 17 million, Guangzhuo 16 million, Chengdu 13 million, Tianjin 11 million, Wuhan 10 million, Dongguan 9 million, Chongqing 9 million, Xi'an 9 million.
 
Danke42 said:
Population is why China will out produce the rest of the world. Can't make stuff without workers.

Top ten US Cities. NYC 8.8 million, LA 3.8 million, Chicago 2.7 million, Houston 2.3 million, Phoenix 1.6 million, Philadelphia 1.6 million, San Antonio 1.4 million, San Diego 1.3 million, Dallas 1.3 million, Jacksonville 1 million.

Top ten Chinese Cities. Shanghai 21 million, Beijing 18 million, Shenzen 17 million, Guangzhuo 16 million, Chengdu 13 million, Tianjin 11 million, Wuhan 10 million, Dongguan 9 million, Chongqing 9 million, Xi'an 9 million.
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Don’t forget that they’re all expendable over there, too!
 
EngrSorenson said:
We’ll never undercut Chinese manufacturing because we will never care as little as they do about pollution or people, and I’m good with that.

I come from a long line of West Virginia coal miners who could have taught not2sharp not2sharp about the actual cost of inequality, and I pray we never let that happen again. (But boy, labor was cheap!) My concern is China’s doing that to their people, not that it costs us more to avoid it.

Also, crapping on the Americans with Disabilities Act is pretty bold. What’s next, child labor laws and OSHA?
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The ADA should be crapped on. It has gone far beyond access ramps and bathroom stall to impact every aspect of our nation at an enormous cost. It has been one of the biggest gifts to predatory law firms everywhere. It is unfair to claim a lack of sympathy for the infirm, we know we will all get there eventually; but a reasonable mind needs to ask at what costs?

Emotions do not move the world forward, respect does. Your disability does impose a duty on everyone else to change the world to annul your limitations. It is beyond our power to do so, but it makes many feel good to try and it makes others enormously wealthy to have you make the stupid choice to undertake the impossible. A successful society allows all the opportunity to contribute their talents, but only a stupid society ignores the normal distribution of that talent to insist on egalitarian results.

We have allowed ourselves to behaved stupidly for as long as our economy allowed. We have reached the end of our collective pocketbook and can choose to change our ways or fail in that spectacular way that always leads to war, plagues, starvation and mass deaths. For our sake, for our children’s sake, I advocate the return to rationality. If and when we regain our economic footing we can hope to again find a surplus, technology and means to squandered on new feel good projects. Until, then we need to recognize our own limitations.

N2s
 
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