Chinese knives

[b yond]

I can see the value in having some inexpensive Chinese-made knives on-hand. As long as they're sharp and safe to use that is.

 

[rexbo]

I view the higher end Chinese knifes as an excellent value and of good quality, but being massed produced via almost entirely by machine in a full factory setting I don't see them as bringing anything "else" to the table. Simply put I don't see them as something to collect, any sort of possible investment.

 

[James Y]

Personally, I don't consider Taichung, Taiwan-made knives as made in China, whether or not the mainland Chinese consider it a part of China. I lived in Taiwan for nearly a decade.

Like anything, if the quality is held to a high standard, then high quality products, including knives, can be made in China or anywhere else with the capacity to do so. By the same token, crap can come from anywhere. I've had some really poor knives made right here in the U.S.A. As well as outstanding ones.

Jim

 

[panoz77]

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 .

Love this knife, I'm going to pick one up, thanks for posting.

 

[AF]

There's some impressive stuff coming from Reate and Kizer and others I imagine. That said, I think ZT represents pretty compelling value when considering a ti framelock. Reate in particular doesn't seem to offer as much value especially considering the lack of US warranty.
Look at the new ZT0920. Compare that to a Reate Horizon D. The Reate costs $160 more. For that money you get a machined clip, decorative backspacer, ceramic bearings and detent. Doesn't seem worth it.

 

[James Y]

There's some impressive stuff coming from Reate and Kizer and others I imagine. That said, I think ZT represents pretty compelling value when considering a ti framelock. Reate in particular doesn't seem to offer as much value especially considering the lack of US warranty.
Look at the new ZT0920. Compare that to a Reate Horizon D. The Reate costs $160 more. For that money you get a machined clip and ceramic bearings and detent. Doesn't seem worth it.

The U.S. warranty thing is a huge factor for me. I may never choose nor need to use it, but I like the fact that the warranty is there.

Jim

 

[davek14]

Every time I vote or pay taxes !

The problem in this discussion is where does the line get drawn. It really seems to be different for everyone. Some dont care if a design is borrowed as long as no counterfeit logos are used. Others say nope, if it copies anything its not ok. Problem with the later is so much copying is going on in the whole world of knives that its hard to just point the finger at china and cry foul. Especially when paid dealers of this forum sell clones and certain knife companies of this forum copy designs all the time. Boker being a HUGE offender in that regard. Microtech is another. Supposedly brous has taken ip as well. I just see too much forgiveness to companies not based in china to sit there and put all the blame on them. My viewpoint is its not even illegal to buy counterfeit goods for personal use. I personally dont like counterfeits. But i also dont subscribe to the idea that if you make a knife you can tell another person they cant make a knife that looks like that. If that was the case ninety percent of people starting as knifemakers would be chastised for ripping off randall and loveless.

If you cant legally protect it with IP laws then its not actually IP. Some just go so far with it if its a chinese knife but you bring up other instances and its nothing but crickets chirping because there is no rational defense for why its ok for some and not others. But even if i fly to china and buy a counterfeit knife i can bring it back and use it and no law was broken. My knife hobby is not my life. Its a hobby. Knifemakers, dealers and manufacturers are not my personal friends i feel an obligation to defend or go to bat for. They provide a product that i am buying. No relationship is taking place. So just buy what I like. If I choose to buy a clone instead of the genuine article its because i have no plan and never did of buying the original. So they werent getting a sale either way. But even then its a design that has no legal protection for a reason. And with no logos or other actual protected IP i dont see any harm in people enjoying a product they bough for personal use.

good posts

 

[Vinifera]

So what you are saying is, you support thieves, if its a knock off of some sorts?

sorry that i dont like letter openers, i still stand by it.

How do you define "thief"? If the maker is not violating copyright law (which I assume you equate to "thievery") is that stealing? If the manufacturer makes a "knock-off" which is not a counterfeit, i.e. placing "Spyderco" or "Benchmark" on the blade when not made by those companies but merely a knife which resembles a knife made by those companies with no copyright violation, how is that stealing or thievery? I note the subject is Chinese knives. Is this not xenophobic? Why limit the comments to Chinese knives?

Does manufacturing a Samsung smartphone made in South Korea constitute thievery or stealing from Apple? Terminology is important and to see these words bandied about without any reference to legal standards is very unfortunate and only leads to opinions and statements without any basis in fact. The purchaser is free to make whatever decision he or she choose to make in purchasing a product (including the origin of the product and how similar it is to other products) but to make statements regarding "theft" absent a violation of law is absurd.

 

[GasMan1]

None of the guys I work with are "knife guys" and they think if a knife doesn't have the USA stamp on it can't be a quality blade. I don't have alot of examples to show them to convince them otherwise but I normally edc a small traditional knife and this Sage. One coworker told me "for a Taiwanese made knife it looks pretty good." I was like, thank you? I think.

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[DocJD]

Love this knife, I'm going to pick one up, thanks for posting.

You are so VERY welcome panoz77 !

I have a current review , mostly photos , of the "Dreadnaught" on the knife review forum . Had zero comments . So it's nice to hear from you .

 

[Hackenslash]

Here are few i have on hand that i can share. The popped zit knife is ugly but really well made.

I have that "popped zit knife" except I call it Patient Zero, lol. It's made by a company called TwoJ and I've only seen one other model from them before. Tell you what, that knife is spooky good, especially considering the sub $100 price. I'll be watching for more from TwoJ. It's right on par with some knives that cost twice as much...

 

[DocJD]

I have that "popped zit knife" except I call it Patient Zero, lol. It's made by a company called TwoJ and I've only seen one other model from them before. Tell you what, that knife is spooky good, especially considering the sub $100 price. I'll be watching for more from TwoJ. It's right on par with some knives that cost twice as much...

"Patient Zero" would have been right at home at USAMRIID !

 

[W. Anderson]

I view the higher end Chinese knifes as an excellent value and of good quality, but being massed produced via almost entirely by machine in a full factory setting I don't see them as bringing anything "else" to the table. Simply put I don't see them as something to collect, any sort of possible investment.

Yes, but will they cut?

Certainly.

 

[mwhich50]

Personally, I don't consider Taichung, Taiwan-made knives as made in China, whether or not the mainland Chinese consider it a part of China. I lived in Taiwan for nearly a decade.

Like anything, if the quality is held to a high standard, then high quality products, including knives, can be made in China or anywhere else with the capacity to do so. By the same token, crap can come from anywhere. I've had some really poor knives made right here in the U.S.A. As well as outstanding ones.

Jim

I also don't consider Taiwan to be part of China........yet. Taiwanese value knife quality is very high. I am not too crazy about Chinese knives, and will continue to pass on purchasing them. I have some "made in China" knives from Boker, Spyderco, Kershaw, and CRKT. I like to use them instead of my "nice" knives, and I also give them as gifts/barter.

 

[evilgreg]

Yes, but will they cut?

Certainly.

Wait, you actually use these things?

 

[GermanyChris]

I think very few would argue that the Chinese knives being talked about in this thread are low quality but the quality of something isn't the single thing that people think about when purchasing. Warranty has been brought up here which is important, customer service is also important, can I call and get spare parts or perhaps a blade all of these things are considerations when making a purchase. I don't buy Chinese anything if at all possible because when I have an option I'd rather buy American or European I'm not anti Chinese im pro neighbor if I can do my little part to keep my neighbors in jobs then l is well.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[W. Anderson]

Jeeze, its just a knife...

Buy the best you can at the price you can afford. For some of us that means Chinese...you're still using Arabian oil...

 

[Aias]

Ha! Good point.

 

[W. Anderson]

With that said, I find most of the designs offered by WE, Kizer, Rike, Vespa, etc to be bland. Nice titanium bro, but it still kind of looks like a Kershaw...

Dang do they flip though...

 

[colin.p]

The problem in this discussion is where does the line get drawn. It really seems to be different for everyone. Some dont care if a design is borrowed as long as no counterfeit logos are used. Others say nope, if it copies anything its not ok. Problem with the later is so much copying is going on in the whole world of knives that its hard to just point the finger at china and cry foul. Especially when paid dealers of this forum sell clones and certain knife companies of this forum copy designs all the time. Boker being a HUGE offender in that regard. Microtech is another. Supposedly brous has taken ip as well. I just see too much forgiveness to companies not based in china to sit there and put all the blame on them. My viewpoint is its not even illegal to buy counterfeit goods for personal use. I personally dont like counterfeits. But i also dont subscribe to the idea that if you make a knife you can tell another person they cant make a knife that looks like that. If that was the case ninety percent of people starting as knifemakers would be chastised for ripping off randall and loveless.

If you cant legally protect it with IP laws then its not actually IP. Some just go so far with it if its a chinese knife but you bring up other instances and its nothing but crickets chirping because there is no rational defense for why its ok for some and not others. But even if i fly to china and buy a counterfeit knife i can bring it back and use it and no law was broken. My knife hobby is not my life. Its a hobby. Knifemakers, dealers and manufacturers are not my personal friends i feel an obligation to defend or go to bat for. They provide a product that i am buying. No relationship is taking place. So just buy what I like. If I choose to buy a clone instead of the genuine article its because i have no plan and never did of buying the original. So they werent getting a sale either way. But even then its a design that has no legal protection for a reason. And with no logos or other actual protected IP i dont see any harm in people enjoying a product they bough for personal use.

Too bad there isn't a "like" or "me too" button on this forum. I agree with your post and since I'm in Canada, all knives are foreign to me (well we do have some manufactured here, but they are few and far between). So I have no dog in this fight.