Chinese knives

[evilgreg]

Wait! Put down your torches and pitchforks, I mean the good kind. I just realized that I'm carrying a lot of Chinese knives of one type or another lately, due to a new round of acquisitions being mostly made in China.

I like a bunch of American Chinese knives, here are a couple I really like (yes, I know that the Southard is made in Taiwan, but China considers it part of China and so it squeaks in on a technicality):

Spyderco Southard & Todd Begg Steelcraft Mini Bodega

Russian Chinese knives are great too, here are a couple of favorites:

CKF S.S.E & CKF Ratata (both customized by Stasbiker)

I have some German Chinese knives too:

Boker Plus Kwaiken & Boker Plus Urban Trapper

And I can't forget the Chinese Chinese knives:

Stedemon Shy (original version) & Kizer Laconico Gemini

The rotation of knives I carry most is up to being something like half Chinese made at this point, at least in terms of some or all of the manufacturing.

Compared to five years ago, that's a big shift for me. Has anyone else found they're carrying more Chinese knives these days?

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Nope. Nothing against Chinese manufacturers, they just aren't making the knives I want. When one of the higher end Chinese companies begins to prioritize actual cutting geometry and performance over anodized titanium, fancy millwork and perfectly tuned flipping action, that may change. But for as long as their business model emulates ZT rather than Spyderco I doubt I'll pick many up.

 

[powerslave]

Most of what I bought in last two years is made in china.

 

[evilgreg]

Nope. Nothing against Chinese manufacturers, they just aren't making the knives I want. When one of the higher end Chinese companies begins to prioritize actual cutting geometry and performance over anodized titanium, fancy millwork and perfectly tuned flipping action, that may change. But for as long as their business model emulates ZT rather than Spyderco I doubt I'll pick many up.

There are a wide range of Chinese produced knives, though, including some that cut very well.

Some of the knives I posted above are actually great cutters. The CKF Ratata, CKF S.S.E and Kizer Gemini, for example are all fairly thin at the edge and are great slicers.

The Southard's blade is too thick to be ideal, but with the hollow grind even it is a surprisingly good performer.

 

[Mo2]

China just needs to stop making clones, copies, homage etc. the cheaper knives are also using sub par mystery materials.

these knives you mention are good, great and getting better. but not as a whole. a huge handful of them are excellent.

my personal favs are from Reate, WE, Rike for high quality. the other brands are mid quality. maxace I have not tried but way too expensive from the prices I've seen, however good quality from what everyone is saying. unsure why they cost more than we knives in almost every case.

Edit: The knives from Boker and CRKT and the sorts, are very low quality letter openers. i wouldnt touch them with a 10 foot pole. others have different opinions, but i have bought them and will never buy them again or even remotely recommend them.

 

[Ad58]

I own Reates, Kizers and WE knives. They are all pretty darned good! I especially like WE knives, because they use M390 steel now. Take a look at their integral, the WE knife 702, which sells for around the $300,-. Integral knife, full titanium, M390 Steel balde, ceramic ball bearings which ride on steel washers; who could ask for more?
On the other hand they also offer their budget line, with D2 steel blades, G10 handles, nested liners, ceramic ball bearings for around the $100,-. You just can't go wrong with one of those, they are amazing!

I also own ZT's, Bucks and Spyderco's.

 

[22-rimfire]

My last Chinese made knife was a couple Rough Riders slippies. Little interest in modern Chinese made blades.

 

[Cutlover]

China just needs to stop making clones, copies, homage etc. the cheaper knives are also using sub par mystery materials.

these knives you mention are good, great and getting better. but not as a whole. a huge handful of them are excellent.

my personal favs are from Reate, WE, Rike for high quality. the other brands are mid quality. maxace I have not tried but way too expensive from the prices I've seen, however good quality from what everyone is saying. unsure why they cost more than we knives in almost every case.

Good idea. Why don't you go ahead and tell China to stop making clones. They are all the same, speak to one and you speak to all right?

Next time, try not to be so ignorant, and evaluate each company on an individual basis, just like you would with American knife companies. Give them the benefit of the doubt. If that company does indeed make knock offs, THEN they deserve to be ridiculed.

 

[evilgreg]

Good idea. Why don't you go ahead and tell China to stop making clones. They are all the same, speak to one and you speak to all right?

Next time, try not to be so ignorant, and evaluate each company on an individual basis, just like you would with American knife companies.

What, you mean one of the largest countries in the world by population, economy, and military might isn't just one big monolithic company?

Give them the benefit of the doubt. If that company does indeed make knock offs, THEN they deserve to be ridiculed.

Why did you have to bring Microtech into this?

 

[22-rimfire]

I know that some of the Chinese knives are pretty good. Glad you are posting your interest.

 

[evilgreg]

Most of what I bought in last two years is made in china.

Me too. It wasn't intentional, though. It just sort of happened. Companies were offering knives I wanted at prices I was willing to pay and I bought them . . .

 

[W. Anderson]

Not trolling, really not trolling.

I handled Vespa (Higher end Chinese manufacturer) clones of the Microtech Troodon and Halo V.

They're.....quite nice. Confusingly well made from what I can gather (and user reviews also reflect this)

Not saying it isn't stealing...but...

 

[DocJD]

Less than $20 at closeout price . Just Chinese AUS8 but a very well build and fun flipper . Very heavy !

NOT a clone or even a unauthorized copy . Tennessee based company . China factory version of a pricey custom .

Hard to find such a bargain built anywhere but China .

 

[Armadew]

My WE and Kizer knives are some of my favorite recent purchases. I can't wait so see what the future holds for them.

 

[Mo2]

Good idea. Why don't you go ahead and tell China to stop making clones. They are all the same, speak to one and you speak to all right?

Next time, try not to be so ignorant, and evaluate each company on an individual basis, just like you would with American knife companies. Give them the benefit of the doubt. If that company does indeed make knock offs, THEN they deserve to be ridiculed.

your reply doesnt make sense at all. at least not in relation to my post, which i still stand by 100%

 

[GatorFlash1]

I edc a Chinese knife. A Spyderco Gayle Bradley. It is a solid working mans knife, fairly priced.

 

[skyhorse]

One thing I can say is I've never got a Chinese made knife with an as horrible ground edge as some American factory made ones costing almost ten times as much lately.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

There are a wide range of Chinese produced knives, though, including some that cut very well.

Some of the knives I posted above are actually great cutters. The CKF Ratata, CKF S.S.E and Kizer Gemini, for example are all fairly thin at the edge and are great slicers.

The Southard's blade is too thick to be ideal, but with the hollow grind even it is a surprisingly good performer.

And I have a $65 Spyderco in my pocket that will almost certainly outcut every one of them. I hear lots of people claim X is a 'great slicer' only to see fairly average results due to mediocre geometry. There are some really good ones that are made in China, the Exskelibur being one example, but they've remained the exception rather than the rule. As of now I find the vast majority of nicer Chinese made knives seem to place form well above function and, as such, not my cup of tea. Not picking on China here, as there are loads of companies in various countries that do the same, but I haven't yet seen a Chinese company that seems dedicated to building a line of excellent cutting tools.

 

[Mo2]

One thing I can say is I've never got a Chinese made knife with an as horrible ground edge as some American factory made ones costing almost ten times as much lately.

ive had many uneven edges including burnt edges... tho the higher quality ones i have not had any of those issues with. i do see uneven edges on some usa blades. benchmade in particular.

 

[DocJD]

China just needs to stop making clones, copies, homage etc. the cheaper knives are also using sub par mystery materials.

these knives you mention are good, great and getting better. but not as a whole. a huge handful of them are excellent.

my personal favs are from Reate, WE, Rike for high quality. the other brands are mid quality. maxace I have not tried but way too expensive from the prices I've seen, however good quality from what everyone is saying. unsure why they cost more than we knives in almost every case.

Edit: The knives from Boker and CRKT and the sorts, are very low quality letter openers. i wouldnt touch them with a 10 foot pole. others have different opinions, but i have bought them and will never buy them again or even remotely recommend them.

Hey Mo ! You need to get real . And your witch hunting , elitist cohort ( Larry and Curley) .

Lots of knife lovers / collectors simply cannot afford to live up to your standards .

Outright counterfeits are fraud and a consumer ripoff . Any knife that's clearly and accurately branded and legal to purchase is a matter of personal choice and economics . NOT YOUR BUSINESS !

Functionally speaking most China made Boker , CRKT , Spyderco , Kershaw , Cold Steel , etc . are just fine .

"They weel cut , They weel keel ! " The new "yellow peril " is bananas , not China .