Chinese knives

James Y said:
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
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It isn't so much that I will use the warranty, but I want a company that I can reliably and predictably contact if there is a problem. Usually doesn't come up, but it happens. I view most Chinese knives as disposable knives. But the higher end stuff is too expensive to put into that category. So the ability to contact is very important. Metal scales also keep me from seriously considering most Chinese made modern knives regardless of the price.
 
GermanyChris said:
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.

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Remind me again, in which American state does HTC make that Pixel phone? Was that Taiwan or mainland China?

Also, if you drive a car or own a computer or any of lots of other things, you're probably buying products either made in China or made with at least some Chinese parts.

Some of the knives I listed in my first post in this thread are still the products of American companies like Spyderco and Todd Begg or benefit American designers (e.g. Kizer Laconico Gemini or other Kizer models designed by American knife makers) even if they're manufactured in China.
 
The 5 knives "made in china" which find themselves situationally mixed into my regular rotation.

Boker+ Urban Trapper
Kizer 4421a1
Kershaw Scrambler
CRKT Free Range
Boker+ Coye Ridgeback

*I also own a ganzo 727 in acu-camo I keep in my acu backpack, as well as a 712 i purchased because I loved the large persian style blade, but didn't have $300+ at the time to purchase a Spyderco Mamba I was eyeballing. I know how many folks feel about them, but they are decent enough knives, especially for the pricepoint.
 
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evilgreg said:
Remind me again, in which American state does HTC make that Pixel phone? Was that Taiwan or mainland China?

Also, if you drive a car or own a computer or any of lots of other things, you're probably buying products either made in China or made with at least some Chinese parts.

Some of the knives I listed in my first post in this thread are still the products of American companies like Spyderco and Todd Begg or benefit American designers (e.g. Kizer Laconico Gemini or other Kizer models designed by American knife makers) even if they're manufactured in China.
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Taiwan.

Notice I said if I had an option.

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22-rimfire said:
It isn't so much that I will use the warranty, but I want a company that I can reliably and predictably contact if there is a problem. Usually doesn't come up, but it happens. I view most Chinese knives as disposable knives. But the higher end stuff is too expensive to put into that category. So the ability to contact is very important.
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This. Exactly. I've held back on the few Kizer and WE knives that have caught my eye specifically for this reason. If they had an established solid customer service arm, my opinion might change... but a large scale CS program costs a fair amount of $$$, and I'm pretty sure that would be reflected in the price.
 
22-rimfire said:
It isn't so much that I will use the warranty, but I want a company that I can reliably and predictably contact if there is a problem. Usually doesn't come up, but it happens. I view most Chinese knives as disposable knives. But the higher end stuff is too expensive to put into that category. So the ability to contact is very important. Metal scales also keep me from seriously considering most Chinese made modern knives regardless of the price.
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I have many chinese knives bought directly from china. Never had a problem getting parts sent to me. Sure it costs a little more to send something back if you have to but i simply havent experienced any of the problems people claim about chinese knives and lack of guarantees or warranties.
 
evilgreg said:
Remind me again, in which American state does HTC make that Pixel phone? Was that Taiwan or mainland China?

Also, if you drive a car or own a computer or any of lots of other things, you're probably buying products either made in China or made with at least some Chinese parts.

Some of the knives I listed in my first post in this thread are still the products of American companies like Spyderco and Todd Begg or benefit American designers (e.g. Kizer Laconico Gemini or other Kizer models designed by American knife makers) even if they're manufactured in China.
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Another thing people dont seem to realize is some manufacturers like buck even use the swiss watch method of claiming country of origin. Where parts are made over sees and shipped to the states where the parts are finished and assembled to make a "made in the usa" product. Anyone can got to the joti industries website and look at their portfolio pictures and see a whole lot of buck parts for knives claiming to be usa made. Some might say "how do you know its really a buck part?" Well if they arent buck parts then spderco uses a factory that also makes clones so it's a crap saneich any way you slice it.
 
While skimming through this thread, it struck me that one of my new favorite brands outsources most of their knives to be made in China. Cold Steel. After experience with several different folders from Cold Steel in the last couple of years, with their new design modifications and upgraded blade steels, my feeling is their is no way they aren t high quality production pieces. And at incredible prices.
One of my old favorite brands, Spyderco has some of their best knives produced in Taiwan. And Spyderco has solid value knives produced in China.
Price, materials, and build quality help me decide my knife purchases more than country of origin.
 
Until this passed year I wanted nothing to do with Chinese made knives. I associated all of them with clones and very cheap stuff.
Then I saw CKF, Kizer and WE. Made me stop and think.
I now have a Sukhoi 2.0, a Kizer Corto & Nomad and a WE 603 & 606. Not one of them disappointed me in the least.
Extremely well made for fair prices. The WE knives are absolutely amazing flippers with some of the best action I have felt.
They are making some nice stuff.
JMO
Joe
 
It does come down to how often you will use your knife, if you collect, and/or if you trust it with your life.

Chinese will always make knock-offs. It's a business.
 
wildfxp said:
It does come down to how often you will use your knife, if you collect, and/or if you trust it with your life.

Chinese will always make knock-offs. It's a business.
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Which knife in my original post do you consider a knock-off? Is it the Spyderco Southard or the Todd Begg Mini Bodega? Maybe it's the Russians, what are the CKF Ratata and CKF S.S.E. knock offs of, exactly? I didn't post about any knock offs . . . :confused:
 
palonej said:
Until this passed year I wanted nothing to do with Chinese made knives. I associated all of them with clones and very cheap stuff.
Then I saw CKF, Kizer and WE. Made me stop and think.
I now have a Sukhoi 2.0, a Kizer Corto & Nomad and a WE 603 & 606. Not one of them disappointed me in the least.
Extremely well made for fair prices. The WE knives are absolutely amazing flippers with some of the best action I have felt.
They are making some nice stuff.
JMO
Joe
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I have several WeKnife's and Kizer's and still they haven't disappointed me. Rather the opposite, they have impressed me. Got the 702 B in today, and even though I am not a huge integral fan due to maintaince, it is a really gorgeous knife with a great steel. Will carry it for a few weeks and see how it performs, but if performs anything like my other We's, then I will be a happy camper. I am a CR knives collector but We and Kizer are as well finding their way into my collection.
 
PURPLEDC said:
I have the same one. But i had my handles bead blasted. Im a huge purple fan. But mine was a little too much on the pink side for my liking. Crazy bearing system too but interesting to say the least.
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Not provoking anything but isn't that Vespa a ZT 0450/0452 with holes in the handle? The profile looks hauntingly familiar. Purple, I know you're familiar with both knives, are there some differences?
 
Hackenslash said:
Not provoking anything but isn't that Vespa a ZT 0450/0452 with holes in the handle? The profile looks hauntingly familiar. Purple, I know you're familiar with both knives, are there some differences?
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its a clone of a sinkevich custom knife. im sure he's happy to see these (sarcasm). please guys stop sharing clone stuff on the forums. we dont want to advocate steeling of IP's.
 
I have some great Chinese blades!

The top, a maxace, has outstanding fit, finish and insanely smooth operation. The next down, a kizer has the most stunning handles I've seen in person as far as titanium and machining and fantastically smooth operation.

The bottom two, real steel, are both beautiful slicers. The flipper is smooth and the backlock swings free when compressed.

No play or fit and finish issues at all only any of these knives.
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These are some knives I have enjoyed made in China for American companies.
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As far as supporting American companies, that is a value I have, but I understand that many people feel they can't afford the extra cost that often means. As for myself, I don't think my purchase of a few Chinese blades means I don't support American made knives.
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It seems to me that people go with a Chinese knife because they can get the features and materials they want at a good price.
I don't really have much interest in Chinese knives because I'm not all about materials and features.
My case sodbuster, Victorinox tinker, Buck 482, and other inexpensive knives work for me. They're cheap enough that Chinese companies can't make a comparable knife for less.
 
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Hackenslash said:
Not provoking anything but isn't that Vespa a ZT 0450/0452 with holes in the handle? The profile looks hauntingly familiar. Purple, I know you're familiar with both knives, are there some differences?
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Well you have to remember that the 0452 is a design by Dmitry sinkevich. It is based on his Coordinal model. That's essentially what the knife in that pic is a direct copy of one of his coordinal customs he calls the "leaf pattern". It is the same size as the 0452 but its not a clone of the ZT but rather his custom work. There are some differences. The Vespa has a unique bearing system that has I believe between 32 and 36 loose balls per side that are held in place with brass washers that retain the bearings but they sit in it loose and are not captive. The knife has no markings on it at all. They did not try to replicate Dmitrys serial numbers, glow in the dark inlays or any of his logos. It also has a stone wash m390 blade where I believe Dmitry does a much more intricate hand rubbed satin. I'm not excusing the knife though. Its definitely a direct rip off of his work. But it also doesn't try to counterfeit his trademarks or any patents that I know of. So far Dmitry has let shirogorov and ZT use the Coordinal design with permission. The Vespa as far as I know is not authorized. But technically not illegal either.
 
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