Chinese made knives - in the future...

I'm glad that some of you have so much to add to this discussion with "I ain't buyin' no Chyneez nyfe...Merica'!".

Anyways, I think that some Chinese makers have upped their levels of quality to that of some US manufacturers. Some are even better than certain US made brands. However, there doesn't seem to be any monetary savings, since many Chinese knives are fetching $300-500 quite often now.

What I do see, are more "bells and whistles" being featured on some of these knives that some US makers aren't doing for a similar price: multi-row bearings, ceramic ball clips, intricate machining patterns, and some other stuff. Take a look at the Reate-made Bodega, that's a whole lotta knife for the price, but for nearly $500 it should be!

The only thing I really worry about is major warranty service being needed and how one will go about doing so. Some Chinese makers include extra hardware with their knives, and send out spare parts at the owners request so that's good. I'm unsure about something that might not be fixed so easily though (I.e. Sending your knife back to China) and what shipping might cost, along with taxes and duties, etc...
 
I'm a fan of Colt and Rough Rider traditional knives. Generally good quality at a low price, and they have some handle and blade combinations that aren't commonly seen from domestic knife manufacturers.
 
jazub said:
In the future? I think the Chinese knives will all have lasers.

...
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At this point, anything is possible ...
cnhaoke$622141648.jpg
 
marcinek said:
Chinese makers will continue to make things (including knives) that make them money.

Just like everybody else.

There is no "grand scheme" going on other than that.

It's worth adding, I think, that I have the utmost respect for those folks who only buy Made in the USA, and tell us so on their Made in the USA computers and smart phones.
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I see what you did there.

I agree.
 
[video=youtube;KGOhAAFZKPE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGOhAAFZKPE[/video]

I own 6 Chinese knives. I say quality over nationality.
 
I look forward to buying higher quality Chinese made knives in the future, to be honest. I love Kizer and it would be cool to see other companies like them and Reate.
 
Obviously it's the warranty that turns people off. But how many people put a $500 dollar Chinese knife in their pocket before they head to work.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I say quality over nationality.
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Ditto. :cool::thumbup:

As far as customer service/warranty stuff, I also agree that it's only a matter of time before we see stateside authorized service centers for a number of Chinese knife makers, as soon as they reach a point where they deem it worthwhile (for example, reaching a certain level of sales).
 
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For some of us not buying Chinese is less a quality, or yay America issue. There are so few things made here that when given the choice between buying something made here and keeping folks working and not I choose to keep folks employed. Second grumbling about labor participation, unemployment, and free trade are one of past times and it'd be a hypocritical to not by US made if given the opportunity.
 
It will be interesting to see this unfold. If they become popular enough to justify stateside warrant you would think clones would flood the market complicating things. If there is and absence of clones does it tell you something about the makers?
 
Not to get all 'Murica on everybody, but as long as there's manufacturing workers unemployed in this country, I will not knowingly buy another Chinese knife..... Nothing against the Chinese in general, but I really think we need to start taking care of our own a little better.
 
Urban redneck said:
Not to get all 'Murica on everybody, but as long as there's manufacturing workers unemployed in this country, I will not knowingly buy another Chinese knife..... Nothing against the Chinese in general, but I really think we need to start taking care of our own a little better.
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This post smells like politics...
 
I haven't seen a Chinese made knife I was willing to spend hundreds of dollars on.
I saw a Chinese made knife I was willing to spend $140 on, so I did.

What will the future bring?
Who knows.
 
Sosa said:
It will be interesting to see this unfold. If they become popular enough to justify stateside warrant you would think clones would flood the market complicating things. If there is and absence of clones does it tell you something about the makers?
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? ?
 
Nice topic to kick around but some have pointed out, impossible to tell or predict. One scenario might be that Chinese Makers may attempt to challenge the top end US makers by establishing a warranty service system in the US. That no foreign maker has been able to do this, or revenue justified doing so in the past 50/60 years is rather telling though. The only exception of course is Japan's KAI with it's close relationship with Peter Kershaw. Which causes me to think that the probability is much higher that Chinese Makers will try to "buy into" the US market by purchasing g an established US Knife Company.
 
I know some high quality knives are coming out of China. I just wish those jobs went to Americans. Nothing makes me feel better than seeing "made in the USA" on a blade.
 
KenHash said:
That no foreign maker has been able to do this, or revenue justified doing so in the past 50/60 years is rather telling though. The only exception of course is Japan's KAI with it's close relationship with Peter Kershaw. Which causes me to think that the probability is much higher that Chinese Makers will try to "buy into" the US market by purchasing g an established US Knife Company.
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Good point. That's an interesting possibility too.
 
Blues Bender said:
Urban redneck said:
Not to get all 'Murica on everybody, but as long as there's manufacturing workers unemployed in this country, I will not knowingly buy another Chinese knife..... Nothing against the Chinese in general, but I really think we need to start taking care of our own a little better.
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This post smells like politics...
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And this one from you earlier in this very thread somehow doesn't smell like politics?
Blues Bender said:
I'm glad that some of you have so much to add to this discussion with "I ain't buyin' no Chyneez nyfe...Merica'!".
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You are the one who brought it up and into this thread.

Pot, meet Kettle...
 
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