Chinese clones of customs ?

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Blackbalsam

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Has anyone had one of those fasttech/ebay Sebenzas or Medfords ? They are ALL claiming D2 steel on the knives, even though you can see the blades sometimes stamped S35VN
which makes me think it isnt either.

Anyone with any experience ? Looking for a cheapish sebenza feel without getting the real thing yet.

Thanks !
 
How could chinese factories mass produce D2 with titanium frames and sell them for 36 usd for a profit.

Im guessing the blades are some type of crmov steel.. if anyone knows anything please tell :D
 
Ok so the deal with D2 steel is that there is no one company that makes it. D2 is much like the generic 440 term which can apply to any steel fitting the composition parameters of that given steel. When chinese sites claim d2 most tomes they are using 14-4crmo. Sometimes they will use 9cr18mov and call it d2 even though those two steels have nothing in common. Why bother calling it d2? Its easier and most can identify that steel. Your start tossing alphabet steels and most people have no idea. D2 however is pretty well known it goes down easier. Now many dont understand why they would mark the blade s30v or s35vn if it is some other steel. The simple answer is because they are making a replica. Replicas that are convincing use the same blade markings and honestly i doubt anyone even did the research to know what the terms even mean. It they did hinderer clones wouldnt say CTS-/HP. As far as those using s35vn for real? The only two i know of is kevin john and adai who both manufacture knives under other brand names for the products they make intended for sale in the states.

Blackbalsam said:
How could chinese factories mass produce D2 with titanium frames and sell them for 36 usd for a profit.

Im guessing the blades are some type of crmov steel.. if anyone knows anything please tell :D
Click to expand...

They have nearly 0 r&d since they only slightly tweak a design instead of creating it. Lower pay grades for employees. Also there are no advertising costs and less middle men needing to take a piece of the pie. Even if using the exact same materials the cost will be dramatically lower due to a combination of all those things.
 
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I think the prices on the kizer knives make for a good argument that the higher priced clones "could be" using s35vn or d2.
 
Most of the clones are rather crappy. I've owned and handled many. The Sebenza clone I would definitely stay away from. There are a few reports of people cutting themselves on a closed knife because the blade, when closed, is too close to the edge of the knife. Just rubbing against the knife can cut you.

I have had some good experience with the Kevin John brand of clones though. I have a cloned Strider that is better than many of the authentic knives.
 
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