China re-visited

Snotwad said:
After loosing boo-coo sleep over could I live with a "made in China" Buck knife, I finally just took it back. Figuring that I swap it out for a "Cadet" I got to looking and thought I'd better put my money where my heart is and support Buck's USA operation. Bottom line, I got a Stockman, a Cadet, a Companion, and a Lancer. Happy with my addiction, I'm now sleeping soundly and contemplating what will be next.
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Good call. I think like you, I don't begrudge Buck the right to produce their products where they see fit. But I'm just not going to be buying a Chinese Buck knife.

I understand that 99% of the other products I buy and use these days are made in China. To me, that's all the more reason to buy American when I can. I hold my pocketknives to a different standard than I do my sneakers or blender or keyboard. Guess that's why I'm a knife knut, not a sneaker nut.
 
Yes, we all have products somewhere in our homes that were made in China.
But a man's knife is not just another appliance or just another knick-knack.
A man's knife is something special.

A young boy will get many toys and trinkets during his childhood (things the father probably didn't give a second though to), but when he is given his very first knife he instantly knows that the knife is not just another toy....it is something special.
It's not just a tool to cut things....it's a symbol that the boy's father believes that the child is mature enough to accept the responsibility of carrying his very own knife.
Again, a man's knife is something special.

I just cannot make myself carry a knife made in China.
 
allenC said:
Yes, we all have products somewhere in our homes that were made in China.
But a man's knife is not just another appliance or just another knick-knack.
A man's knife is something special.

A young boy will get many toys and trinkets during his childhood (things the father probably didn't give a second though to), but when he is given his very first knife he instantly knows that the knife is not just another toy....it is something special.
It's not just a tool to cut things....it's a symbol that the boy's father believes that the child is mature enough to accept the responsibility of carrying his very own knife.
Again, a man's knife is something special.

I just cannot make myself carry a knife made in China.
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Well put, allenC. :thumbup:
 
I also avoid buying chinese when it is possible. In the case of knives it is indeed possible to do so. I don't know much about business but to me it would seem to cheapen people's impression of your company by allowing chinese goods with your brand on it to be sold.
Isn't reputation more important? I guess they make so much profit on the chinese garbage it doesn't matter what it does to their reputation.
 
FWIW, I have a few of the Chinese-made Bucks, and they're very nice for what they are. They are not "garbage". 99.999% of the general public could not care less where a knife is made. They want a knife, they go to the store and buy the one that looks nice and has the best price. The Chinese-made Bucks are made for those people, not for you and me here on Bladeforums. They are there so Buck can keep up their bottom line, so they can stay in business and continue to make American versions for us.

If you don't want a Chinese-made knife, you don't have to buy one. In Buck's case, you have the option of buying American versions of some of their knives, and paying a premium for that. I see no problem with them making knives in China, or with anyone who feels comfortable buying and carrying them.

That said, I've never carried any of my Chinese-made bucks. I have them because they're interesting and I'm a collector. In my pocket today? An American Buck 301 (awesome) and a Tidioute Scout (also American). As the global economy evens out, and as the American dollar continues to drop vs. foreign currencies, we will start to see more domestically made products.
 
Buck_110 said:
In all honesty, for the price the Chinese made Buck stamped knives sell for, what do you think you're truly getting? There's no such thing as a bargain...you get what you pay for. In this case, it's Chinese made knives with the Buck name stamped into the tang of the blade and/or a Buck emblem glued onto one of the scales.
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I don't believe they're that much cheaper that it's unreasonable to expect a good quality product.

If Buck can sell 110s for $26, a $20 MiC stockman or $15 mini-trapper is not out of the question.

Benchmade and Spyderco can sell good quality MiC knives, I see no reason why Buck cannot do the same.

I don't believe Buck is putting their name on garbage.
 
I've got some Chinese baby formula I'd like to swap out for a china buck knife? Any takers? Anybody get it?
 
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Buck_110 said:
More domestic production in general would be a great thing. I just don't see it happening though. It's easier for big business to import products and not worry about health plans, labor laws, emissions output, etc.
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IMHO, the single most favorable factor in returning production to the US is the continuing escalating costs of shipping, and that will be assisted by increasing inflationary pressure in China which will drive up their production costs as well. I sincerely believe that it's a "done deal" as soon as the current contract expires!!
 
Tin Sue said:
IMHO, the single most favorable factor in returning production to the US is the continuing escalating costs of shipping, and that will be assisted by increasing inflationary pressure in China which will drive up their production costs as well. I sincerely believe that it's a "done deal" as soon as the current contract expires!!
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hummm... i agree with T'Sue...
and the increasing cost of things from china will only expedite the process..
besides ...CJ said it was going to be done... :D;)
 
It bothers me we send so much business to a country that would gleefully cut all of our throats (or nuke us) if given half the chance.
 
Buck_110 said:
I do! Compare the slipjoints of yesterday that were made by Camillus and Schrade that Buck put their name on with those coming from China today.
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Perhaps you would care to enlighten us with some comparison photos?
 
I own both a HiLo and Northshore - neither has gotten any use -but they did get me into TNT's ( a great knife). Back to the point - fit and finish on the two PRC made Bucks is excellent. How good is the blade steel? I don't know? Consensus of experienced users and producers is pretty solid for the BOS stamp being worth something.
If I were the Buck family/company - I'd be more concerned about two fairly common problems with Chinese ( both PRC and ROC) business practice :1.) Consistent quality control - especially in "invisible" aspects of the product.2.) The knock-off problem. The classic knock off experience is to develop and engineer a product here (US) - work thru getting set up for production in China - again either PRC or ROC -and quit possibly have the absolutely identical knock off hit the market here before you have even seen the first of your item hit the dock . I'm not talking about reverse engineering - the same production facility that's making yours - is making 'em for anyone else who wants to order a couple of containers or so.Friends who have found themselves in this situation report two responses :1.) WE didn't do it. This is despite overwhelming evidence in terms of things like mold marks, tool marks , etc. - that they did. 2.) So what are you complaining about - what did you expect?
Basically - if you give a design or process to the Chinese to build or use- you no longer have exclusive ownership of that design or process.
 
aside from the fact that cheap pos knives have also been made in the usa(origin does not guarantee quality or lack of)it sounds like some of you dont trust bucks quality control..cant speak for others but i trust bucks q.c. and business ethics...
 
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