Bugout price

[SomebodySomewhere]

Deleted.

 

[KenHash]

You’ll have to tell me why it’s important to you to make this distinction. Sure, it’s mostly China we’re talking about, but if labor and other costs rise there, things will just shift to various free trade zones and such elsewhere. In other manufacturing, it’s already a chase between a number of Asian countries vying for American dollars.

China is not "Asia". This is fact well known by politicians, diplomats, those in the military, and businessmen. And to stay on BF topic, businessmen like Sal Glesser, Lynn Thomspon, Les De Asis, AG Russell, Al Mar, Spencer Fraser, Pete Kershaw, etc etc. It's not so important to me, as it is for you to know the distinction.
Some Asian countries can generally manufacture at less cost than the US, and some can not. China's manufacturing boom 2000-2020 has displaced or destroyed manufacturing in many areas in both North America, Europe and the rest of "Asia" as well. But due to the political problems with China, nations around the world are now de-coupling from China.
There is also the issue of ip theft and the rest of "Asia" are just as victimized as North America and Europe.

Historically , countries don't "vy for American dollars". American Companies go to overseas sources to produce a product at less cost. The US knife industry went from USA, to Germany to Japan and now to China. Of these, China is the only one that was clever enough to jump the US Importer/OEM work and challenge the US market with their own brands. So yes, these brands are certainly are "vying" for American dollars. But that is the exception, not the norm.

Just as one should not lump French, German and Swedish companies and products as "European (unless we are talking about a trade bloc), one should not lump products from China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, etc as "Asian".

 

[Quiet]

I've gotta disagree on the materials being dated. Kershaw regularly pumps out "limited editions" with the latest fad blade steel.
While BM has started to change, their "base" steel is still 154CM (talk about dated!).

That aside, I would much rather have a perfectly serviceable "regular" steel like CPM154, for $100, than a "super" steel that chips and is a pain to sharpen, for $250...

As far as quality, unless BM has drastically improved in the last 5 years or so, I would say a US Kershaw is easily equal in quality.

You haven't purchased any recent Benchmades (too expensive, remember?) so how would you know?

 

[SomebodySomewhere]

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