Chinese Knife Companies

RamZar

RamZar

Gold Member
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Mar 3, 2013
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PLEASE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IF YOU MEAN TO BASH CHINESE MADE KNIVES.

Looking only at Chinese Knife Companies making knives in China under their own name.

I'm most familiar with:

  • Reate
  • Kizer

Any thoughts on:

  • Stedemon
  • Proelia
  • Nemesis

Any others come to mind?
 
Sanrenmu and Enlan make some great knives. Harnds looks good but I haven't handled any yet.

Everyone that's a USA company other than higher end rack grade and custom brands have knives made in China and many of the companies mentioned make them for the big names here. This isn't a bash, but 5 years and more ago I would have never bought a Chinese made knife. Today, their QC is so much better, materials are on par or better than domestic raw materials. It is what it is. I didn't want to buy Chinese knives when I recently replaced some worn out knives but they offer some great stuff at very affordable prices.
 
brancron said:
I've never personally handled a Stedemon, but apparently they're super high quality. If you can stand Jim Skelton, here's his review of the Stedemon Bastion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1lKeVGOc4w

They have a newer model (the "SHY") that's a Knife Center exclusive: http://www.knifecenter.com/brand/541/stedemon-knife-company

I wish they made something smaller, though.
Click to expand...

The Stedemon SHY Integral Folder is what got me to start this thread. The handle is made from a solid/integral/monoblock piece of 6061-T6 Aluminum and includes a lock bar insert. Also, it seems to have a fairly narrow profile and weighs just 4.2 ounces with a 3.75" blade of S35VN.

SKCSHYFGRYn.jpg

SKCSHYFGRYna.jpg

SKCSHYFGRYnb.jpg

SKCSHYFGRYnc.jpg

SKCSHYFBLKnta.jpg
 
ATwistedStaple said:
You're just full of useful information these days! Anyone have a Realsteel Griffin?
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I have a couple of Real Steel Knives. PurpleDC is correct, partly, in that they just re-brand other knives...mostly SanRenMu. In fact, I kinda think that RSK might be the "upscale" division of SanRenMu.

I have their E77 and E79 which are both identical to SRM models...EXCEPT...the RSK models have true locking mechanisms whereas the SRM are friction lock only.

I also have their E963 which is an enlarged SRM clone...and can honestly be found a lot cheaper without a RSK label. It's really not that great a knife.

As far as I can tell their H6 Blue Sheep is an original design. I have one and like it a lot. It's kind of like a RAT1 on steroids. It's well worth a look if you like the RAT and probably a better knife. I think this is the knife that might get them on the map if they can ever get it out at a reasonable $35-45 price point.

My last RSK is the Stinger in gold anodized that I was able to pick up for WELL below MSRP. I think it's also an original design too and seems to be a well made knife...at least in the $75-150 Kizer range, nowhere near the MSRP.

It looks like they have some cool designs coming out and, like all the RSK's, I expect them to be well made. The problem is they're very hard to find in the US. Apparently they market mostly to Europe, in fact if you look for reviews, most are done in German or Russian. The few distributors that sell in the US mostly sell at MSRP, and that's way too high for these knives. If they ever get a serious distributor Stateside, they might be a knife maker to be reckoned with.

I'd post some pictures but most of my knives are packed up and far away from me!
 
brancron said:
Who makes them? I know nothing about the company.
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I really dont know how to describe what real steel does. Basically they seem to find knives they like and laser etch their logo on them and resell them. For instance their "megladon" model is actually a carson tech labs boiling. The griffin as actuall also a carson lab griffin. The stingers (designed by rick lala of korth fame) were available direct from china for a short time before they started putting their name on them. What I dont know is why they change the name of some knives and not others. The way I see them is something like DPX gear or mil-tac. But with those companies they actually provide a basic design or at least modify and existing design to fit their needs. With real steel every single product they sell can be found elsewhere under a different and usually original name.
 
brancron said:
I've never personally handled a Stedemon, but apparently they're super high quality. If you can stand Jim Skelton, here's his review of the Stedemon Bastion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1lKeVGOc4w

They have a newer model (the "SHY") that's a Knife Center exclusive: http://www.knifecenter.com/brand/541/stedemon-knife-company

I wish they made something smaller, though.
Click to expand...

There are rumors that those bastions are actually made by Reate. Not sure if that is true. Wouldnt surprise me. They seem to be the go to guys for anyone who just designs stuff.
 
One that has really impressed me is the Harnds Viper, reviewed at length by BFC member UnknownVT here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1132664-Harnds-CK6015-Viper

If the handle was a little thinner, I think it'd be nearly perfect in an EDC role, but the combination of G10 and steel liners ends up being a little beefy for pants pocket carry at work. However, as a general purpose camping/hiking knife to pair with a bigger fixed blade, I really like it. I've only used it for campsite food prep so far, but I wouldn't hesitate using it for all sorts of other purposes.

I also like my Ganzo 716 a lot, but it falls more along the tactical end of the spectrum, so it only rarely sees any pocket time, and no use beyond general office tasks.
 
I'm also waiting for someone to do a review on the SHY. For that much money, I'd like to see if the fit and finish is worth the asking price.
 
That G.E. Chen fellow is doing some good work in the production semi-custom field, too. He seems to be a real enthusiast about making good knives, and I like his early designs.
 
Chinese knives...

Not that long ago, those two words in the same sentence would have sent chills down our spines. Nowadays, it takes on an entirely different meaning...

Many still cannot fathom supporting a company that isn't USA based, mostly due to some deep emotional hatred they hold onto for unexplained (or unreasonably explained) reasons. Ignore those guys... China can make a great knife, much like how an idiot can bake an excellent cake. There is a large enough market for high-end knives that a foreign country can "catch on" to what makes a great knife.

One that has particularly caught my attention is Carson Tech Labs. They have always seemed to have had very innovative ideas that didn't borderline the term "knockoff". The CTL I own (Boiling) is an excellent knife, and is worth far more than they're priced. I think if enough people gave some of these overseas knives a try, they'd be pleasantly surprised!
 
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