Chinese junk or what?

T

Tobacco_Spit

Joined
Oct 20, 2006
Messages
215
I was a bit embarrassed to admit that I bought a flea market knife for 5 bucks. This knife had no country of origin on it and was labeled Sanrenmu. I always stay away from junk knives but this one used, was not junk looking. Anyways when I went home I punched up Sanrenmu on the net and found their site [LINK REMOVED] the steel they use is 8Cr13MoV. The fit and finish was super tight on this knife model 721 and even the screws were not stripped as in some cheap knives. It takes a sharp edge and I hear that you can buy them for 10 bucks new. I did not think I would be here espousing the virtues of Chinese made blades, but this company must be an exception or what?
 
Last edited:
Hi,

By law imports are supposed to be marked with country of origin. I sometimes think that doesn't always happen.

The Chinese can make some pretty decent blades if you want to pay for it. I think 8Cr13MoV is an OK steel for a folder. Not the best maybe, but far from the worst. If you like the knife, be happy. Don't worry about where it was made.

dalee
 
Its hard to be happy for a 5 buck chinese import dalee. But hey for 5 whole dollars, can't even buy a pack of smokes for that.
 
Seriously, I remember when Chinese products were catching up for unbelievable prices. Looks like they might have cought up a while ago...
 
Any company trying to copy a Sebenza is just not worth your time or trouble. :barf:

However, look up Bryd knives.....they have a great bang for the buck and are a subset of Spyderco. :)
 
Yeah, the knockoff deal does not really jive well with me either, but aside from the copies or the loss of jobs, can these guys that produced the knife I bought, really make something with this fit n finish for 10 bucks using the same steel as the byrd line??

The byrd line is definitely a good deal for the money, in fact I have some.
 
Tobacco_Spit said:
I was a bit embarrassed to admit that I bought a flea market knife for 5 bucks. This knife had no country of origin on it and was labeled Sanrenmu. I always stay away from junk knives but this one used, was not junk looking. Anyways when I went home I punched up Sanrenmu on the net and found their site http://www.srmknives.com/product.asp the steel they use is 8Cr13MoV. The fit and finish was super tight on this knife model 721 and even the screws were not stripped as in some cheap knives. It takes a sharp edge and I hear that you can buy them for 10 bucks new. I did not think I would be here espousing the virtues of Chinese made blades, but this company must be an exception or what?
Click to expand...

Several companies have found that Chinese companies can hold good manufacturing tolerances.

Boeing
Airbus
PPG
Akzo Nobel
Bohler

All these companies have plants in China.

If they can hold aerospace tolerances, I figure they can make good knives. Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, and Buck have apparently figured the same.
 
The one Sanrenmu knife I saw was decent. Fit and finish was flawless. Edge bevel was even, though like most off the shelf knives, relatively thick and not particularly acute. I think it was the 721 model, a Wharncliffe framelock with a hole in the blade, presumably for one hand opening.

Copy or not, it's a good value for the seven or eight bucks they cost. China makes good knives and bad knives. They make whatever the customer is willing to pay for.
 
The quality of Chinese goods depends solely on what specs the importer sets for the products. ALL computers and technology is manufactured in China nowadays,from $10 radios to $3000 Apple Computers (+ iPods & iPhones) Sony flatscreens, and just about everything else nowadays.
We used to slam "Made in Japan" -now their automobiles have kicked our @sses... and most of their factories have been moved to China.

Same goes for knives. As for Spyderco's Byrd line of knives, they're made in China aren't they?
 
Most of the China made knives I see are straight up knock-offs of someone elses product and that is the only thing that bothers me. The knife you have is even based on another knife sold by "Timberline" the Alary... I believe the Chinese manufacturers that are making knives for USA based knife companies such as Buck / BM / Spyderco and the rest are doing a swell job. But you really have to pay attention or you could get griffted buying a conterfiet...

Sanrenmu 721:

chinesecopy.jpg


Timberlin Alary:

32075L.jpg
 
If you do google this forum, I have posted on several threads that I own 3 Sanrenmu, sold at local book/sporting store. AFAIK, they are the only Chinese cutlery that carries their own brand and do folding 'tactical' knives.

That indicates: striving to fulfill a certain standard (which turns out to be true). This is different from other copycat that puts CRKT, Benchmade, etc. on their knives.

The steel is good enough for EDC, I have model 611, IIRC, a framelock model, with blade about 3.2". I thinned the edge (following recent thinning edge trend ;) ) and it performs ok for daily (opening tinfoil package, shaving - I do shave with them, fruit and veggies cutter/peeler). Occasional strop on cardboard and jeans maintain the edge good enough to go for weeks.
 
Last edited:
Well, they sure make a lot of knock-offs...


2008812162223833.jpg

ger7167.jpg


(Ironically, this is a knock-off of a $15.00 knife)


200861321590221.jpg

513869_d.jpg



2008617153747749.jpg

CRKTKissFolderNet.jpg



200881216175619.jpg

84290345.zpXPah26.jpg



2008812174138388.jpg

noze_v12.jpg
 
Last edited:
Well the knockoff factor does turn me off, even though my 721 is a very well priced beater, I do not want to support Sanrenmu no matter what amazing value it might be...With the skill of making some pretty well put together knives, ya think they could promote their own creations more!

TS
 
Knockoffs are a fact of life in just about every field. Getting precious about it makes no sense, especially when knockoffs are a good thing for the consumer and ultimately, the knife industry as a whole. And when the knockoffs are actually good.
 
shecky said:
Knockoffs are a fact of life in just about every field. Getting precious about it makes no sense, especially when knockoffs are a good thing for the consumer and ultimately, the knife industry as a whole. And when the knockoffs are actually good.
Click to expand...

Please do illuminate us on how knockoffs are a good thing for the knife industry.
 
Guyon said:
Please do illuminate us on how knockoffs are a good thing for the knife industry.
Click to expand...

If the zillion Buck 110 clones haven't put Buck out of business, then I'd guess lesser-known knockoffs won't do any considerable damage at least. It'll certainly alarm the more protectionist folk though. The only benefit I can think of with the knock-offs would be that perhaps they allow folk who can't afford to spring for the real McCoy to participate in the broader world of "knife consumption".
 
C.S. Graves said:
If the zillion Buck 110 clones haven't put Buck out of business, then I'd guess lesser-known knockoffs won't do any considerable damage at least. It'll certainly alarm the more protectionist folk though. The only benefit I can think of with the knock-offs would be that perhaps they allow folk who can't afford to spring for the real McCoy to participate in the broader world of "knife consumption".
Click to expand...

How does buying a Yugo, give you an idea what it is like to drive a Corvette? 'Knockoffs' are nothing less than design theft and as such, should be shunned. To support such companies, is saying that it is OK to steal designs and manufacture cheap junk, IMO.
 
I would like to point out that clicking that link triggered my anti-virus software, so I would strongly suggest editing the link out. Also, all of you who have previously visited that page, do update yous anti-virus software and check your comp.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top