Reminds me of when I was a 13 year old riding my Kawasaki dirtbike to the trails in the early 80's. Saw a guy on a Harley and waved to him. He flipped me off. Ha!
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Bladeforums for snobs? I don't think so.
- Thread starter Yo Mama
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Reminds me of when I was a 13 year old riding my Kawasaki dirtbike to the trails in the early 80's. Saw a guy on a Harley and waved to him. He flipped me off. Ha!
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I'm a bit puzzled as to why you would be surprised that I am being candid in my view of cheap, cheaply made imported knives. Listen, I love Spyderco's Taiwan-made offerings. Love 'em. In fact, I have a few American-brand-but-made-in-Taiwan knives, all of which have been great. But Mtechs and S&Ws are made as cheaply as possible in China, adhering to no quality standards whatsoever. You want to know why people trash talk these products? Because most people here have been to knife or gun shows or flea markets and seen a table full of these crap knives being touted as quality when a quick inspection shows they are nothing of the kind. When I was a kid, ANY knife was cool. Woooooowwww, check this oddly shaped blade out! SWEET! Oh man, check out this Mtech:
I gotta get me some of that!!! Gots FLAMES ON THE BLADE! SICK! (Mods, I just pulled a pic of one of the first ridiculous Mtechs I saw, I am not intending that people should visit the website or to purchase a product there)
Then I got older, and started being able to discern quality or the lack thereof in products, and I never bought one of those cheap flea market specials ever again. It is what it is. I have been fortunate in my life to have attained a level of income which allows me to buy some pretty great knives. I have Spydercos that were made in Golden, CO that I wouldn't trade an entire table of cheapo knives for. You ask whether it's possible that some of these Mtechs/S&Ws might possibly, just maybe have some decent heat-treat or steel. Hey, maybe one or two of them do! But why would you waste time or money trying to find a good one among all of the countless ones that are terrible (or worse, unsafe)? Why not just save up another ten bucks or so, and get a knife that is from a company whose reputation is based on the fact that their products are quality?
I guess at the end of the day, my view on this matter would be: buy what you like, and if it's a super cheap import knife, that's perfectly fine. Just don't be upset when others who would rather spend more money for guaranteed quality look down on that decision. I understand that not everyone has the money that others have. I don't generally go into the Customs for Sale section, I don't have that kind of money myself! But that doesn't mean that we just somehow are overlooking all these qualities that knives made by underpaid foreign workers building items at the lowest price-point possible have. If I had an MTech or S&W knife today, only thing I can think I'd use it for would be to stir paint with, and then throw it out with the paint can when I was done.
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goldie
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Yup,i get no waves on my shadow sabre from mostly the more hardcore harley riders.Give me a break !Now if a guy had a pocket clip & i noticed it & asked what he had,if he pulled out an mtech,s & w or whatever,i wouldnt care,it was just cool to see a fellow knife enthusiast...
Munzer
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How do you follow up such an eloquent and well thought post.
What a bunch of d-baggery bull$hit.
-But Mtechs and S&Ws are made as cheaply as possible in China, adhering to no quality standards whatsoever
-Just don't be upset when others who would rather spend more money for guaranteed quality look down on that decision
-If I had an MTech or S&W knife today, only thing I can think I'd use it for would be to stir paint with, and then throw it out with the paint can when I was done.
Who died and made you the Sheriff of Qualityville, USA. We get it, you no likey el cheapos. But man, the flames on that blade are the shiznit!
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What's pathetic is that you think I'm a d-bag because I don't like cheap Chinese made crap knives. I haven't called anyone in this thread a single name, or made inferences to their personal character based on knives they like.
No, it takes a guy with 32 posts to get that party going. Enjoy your cheap crap knives, hero. Rock on.
Honestly, I don't care either way. I have an Mtech fixed blade that has held up to abuse I would have never put an American made blade through, because I literally tried to break it and couldn't.
The truth is that the majority of the knife market collects. Look through the picture threads. 65% of the knives here have never been tested to the point it makes a difference regardless of who made it or where. If I had a $5 bill for every knife that someone claimed they had put to good use that didn't have a single scuff and still had perfect factory striations, I could buy dozens of knives and not even have the time to use them all.
It's all about the user's defined use. If you just cut the threads off your clothes and skin apples, an Mtech or Opinel will be great, on varying levels. If you're cutting radiator hoses in a junkyard or cutting thick plastic shipping strapping in a warehouse all day, the extra money for a Zero Tolerance or Benchmade just might make more sense.
We all use and collect knives for different reasons. I own knives ranging from $15 to $700, with an average cost of around $150. I like hard use knives and all of mine get a dose, except for two which are special edition Kershaws which also happen to be my cheapest and lightest duty US made blades. Different strokes.....
The truth is that the majority of the knife market collects. Look through the picture threads. 65% of the knives here have never been tested to the point it makes a difference regardless of who made it or where. If I had a $5 bill for every knife that someone claimed they had put to good use that didn't have a single scuff and still had perfect factory striations, I could buy dozens of knives and not even have the time to use them all.
It's all about the user's defined use. If you just cut the threads off your clothes and skin apples, an Mtech or Opinel will be great, on varying levels. If you're cutting radiator hoses in a junkyard or cutting thick plastic shipping strapping in a warehouse all day, the extra money for a Zero Tolerance or Benchmade just might make more sense.
We all use and collect knives for different reasons. I own knives ranging from $15 to $700, with an average cost of around $150. I like hard use knives and all of mine get a dose, except for two which are special edition Kershaws which also happen to be my cheapest and lightest duty US made blades. Different strokes.....
Yo Mama
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What's pathetic is that you think I'm a d-bag because I don't like cheap Chinese made crap knives. I haven't called anyone in this thread a single name, or made inferences to their personal character based on knives they like.
No, it takes a guy with 32 posts to get that party going. Enjoy your cheap crap knives, hero. Rock on.
You are purposefully changing the subject, yet again. IT'S NOT ABOUT CHEAP KNIVES. Can you hear me now? Maybe to much money between the ears has you deaf to any discussion.
Thread counts are meaningless, nice to throw it around though, makes you feel better? With your 667 posts in six months, how have you shown to be of value for the community? I don't expect you to answer, you have that steak to eat instead of the McDonalds dollar menu.
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I'm sorry, what?
Another thread, I said:
"What's wrong with S&W or MTech? My first 2 blades were a S&W SWAT II, and some unknown Mtech model. Both were solid performers, the SWAT II has beat out many more expensive blades. I've done things to that SWAT II that make me cringe, and it kept going. "
reply was:
Also, btw, this came out of a statement that:
So let's have it. Is BF only for "special" knives, or what? Is there a club list somewhere, or are we here to talk about blades that work well?
How many of you buy an expensive blade and don't care that you're getting what steel is advertised? Seriously? Come on.
Both of these blades have been SOLID.
What's not about cheap knives again? I'm sorry, what was that? What?
Please stop being stupid, it's getting boring.
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And Quiet goes on ignore....finally living up to his name.
pvicenzi
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Lots of different ways of looking at things. Buy the knives you want, but don't get upset if you start a discusion and other people don't like your choices. I think it is great that we have the choices we do. So many great knives at so many price points.
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I love it when people announce that they're putting others on ignore. It's like a child taking their ball and flouncing out of the room. "Well, I'mmmmm LEAVING. So there!"
If I've offended you, I'm glad you've utilized forum tools (there for this exact purpose). That way, I don't have to worry before I post. "Now...will this irritate SurpriseGoat?" It helps us both out. :thumbup:
Munzer
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What's pathetic is that you think I'm a d-bag because I don't like cheap Chinese made crap knives. I haven't called anyone in this thread a single name, or made inferences to their personal character based on knives they like.
No, it takes a guy with 32 posts to get that party going. Enjoy your cheap crap knives, hero. Rock on.
No, I did not call you a name. I referred to your comments as d-baggery bull$hit.
If you have been in the MTech and S&W plants and have seen first thing that they adhere to no quality standards whatsoever, please provide it.
Having to state that others should accept peoples criticism is a joke, and if somehow me only having 32 posts somehow invalidates my 30 years of being a knife enthusiast and user, well then I guess you really are the Sheriff. Consider me awed by your 667 posts.
The Chinese (both mainland and Taiwan) factories can build quality products at prices comparable to American, Japanese, etc. companies. The catch is the Chinese factories seem to have a lower minimum quality standard, so they can go much cheaper and much lower quality then their competitors. It depends heavily on who's running QC (quality control) at the factory. Spyderco, Buck, or Kershaw will hold standards comparable to the rest of their lines. Taylor Brands don't seem to have much in the way of QC.
I have one of their overbuilt folders (Smith & Wesson CK43BS Bullseye) that lives in my toolbox. The blade steel isn't half bad for a working knife. Not much in the way of edge retention, but it sharpens easily. The rest of the knife is junk. I've already dented the blade stop pin under normal use and stripped out a number of the torx screws trying to get the knife apart to clean.
To the OP: I'm guessing from your posts that you're quite a bit younger then me. The ironic thing is our knife budgets are probably about the same (<$30). There are good knives made in the USA and/or by reputable brands. You won't find collectors' knives at this price (Swiss Army excepted), but you will find solid, reliable, working knives. You purchased low quality knives (assumedly) not really knowing more then a lay person. As you learn more, you will be able to distinguish between low quality and good value working knives (Buck, Case, Kabar, Stanley, Klien, some Gerbers, some CRKTs, Kershaw, Opinel, Mora, etc). When in doubt, ask questions. There will always be fanboys, but enough 'honest' people here to answer your questions.
I have one of their overbuilt folders (Smith & Wesson CK43BS Bullseye) that lives in my toolbox. The blade steel isn't half bad for a working knife. Not much in the way of edge retention, but it sharpens easily. The rest of the knife is junk. I've already dented the blade stop pin under normal use and stripped out a number of the torx screws trying to get the knife apart to clean.
To the OP: I'm guessing from your posts that you're quite a bit younger then me. The ironic thing is our knife budgets are probably about the same (<$30). There are good knives made in the USA and/or by reputable brands. You won't find collectors' knives at this price (Swiss Army excepted), but you will find solid, reliable, working knives. You purchased low quality knives (assumedly) not really knowing more then a lay person. As you learn more, you will be able to distinguish between low quality and good value working knives (Buck, Case, Kabar, Stanley, Klien, some Gerbers, some CRKTs, Kershaw, Opinel, Mora, etc). When in doubt, ask questions. There will always be fanboys, but enough 'honest' people here to answer your questions.
Yo Mama
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You are turning it into a cheap knife argument. Just because I reference 2 cheap knives, does not make this my argument. My argument is that it's stupid to say buy a 350 dollar knife with unknown ht and steel, but stay away from S&W and Mtech because they are cheap.
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I don't think the forum is for snobs, but there are some here. I really don't care though. I like what I like and that's the end of it. As for cheap knives, buy whatever you want. Don't really care about that either. I have an old S&W I bought years ago and it is still going strong. Got another one a few months back and immediately tossed it because I am accustomed to 10 fingers not 9.
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Listen guy, enjoy your cheaply made MTech and S&W knives. I can't say I've ever been to their plants, because I've never been to China, and they aren't Mtech and S&W plants anyway. They're factories where exceptionally cheap, poorly made "knives" are produced, and then sold under any number of labels. Mtech and S&W factories. God, what a laugh.
I have owned multiple MTechs when I was younger, they were all trash. I regularly attend gunshows and there's always a guy with a big table of them right to the right of the door every time. I've picked them up and held new Mtech (and S&W's) and yep, still trash.
Man, I have not seen this many folks take something personally in awhile.
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