Classic Folder Brands vs. Civivi and WE - Is it just me?

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I've been looking at these knives. They sell them on the Cutlery Corner as well. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Maybe I should try one. If it's good I'll get two of them.
 
It’s telling that Ray Laconico chose WE to license his designs.

A couple of years ago in these pages these was a mega thread on the MassDrop Laconico Keen reportedly made by WE. I bought two at the original price and I side with the majority on that thread. The quality is outstanding.

I also have an original Laconico EZC for comparison.

I will add that the Monterey Bay Knives Kizer (?)-licensed designs are not as well made in either fit or finish. I have three of those releases.
 
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I do understand the guys that try not to buy Chinese made knives. Both Reate and WE have offices in the US. And they both have excellent customer service- not that you will need it.

And NONE of my premium WE knives have ever required me to suffer through a “break in” period. They are perfect out of the box. Some US companies can’t say that…..
 
Sharp & Fiery said:
I haven’t. I’ve handled them. Smooth but don’t feel like quality to me. They feel more like fidget spinners. Cool materials, but without “soul.”

To each their own. I don’t look down on people who like them. Gotta enjoy what ya enjoy.

I do like my Snecx Vision R by WE, but it has no soul. I’ll change that though. ;)
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I've never really thought of knives as having "soul." I've never woken in the middle of the night to any of them grooving to Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye.

Cars on the other hand, for sure. Electric cars have no soul in my opinion. If I can't hear the engine rev, feel the vibration of the motor, its dead to me. I drive a hybrid, and I feel like it dies every time it goes into electric mode. But, 38mpg right now is worth the trade off.

On a more serious note, back on topic, I own 1 WE and 3 Civivis. They all came centered, good to great action, even grinds, no flaws at all. While I also prefer not to buy from the PRC, its hard when the product is so good.
 
Chronovore Chronovore

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You are and everyone else here. They are also entitled to buy what they want for whatever reason or react to posts any way they want.

You have found a way, yet again, to insert your feelings on china made knives. I did not bring any politics into my posts whatsoever.
This is not sticking to the object of the thread title.

K.O.D. K.O.D.

“Soul” in a knife can be the action(smooth reliable), the sound it makes when it “locks” up, the materials it uses, or something that makes it stand out from the rest. Just my opinion for my taste and take on it.

Also, totally agree with you on cars. :)
 
I have a civivi, it looks nice and works.

I don't carry it and the doesn't have the solid feel of imo better knives I have available.

I believe reate has a gravity knife that I really want though. I'll try to resist, they may have me on that one if I see it available.
 
Monofletch said:
And NONE of my premium WE knives have ever required me to suffer through a “break in” period. They are perfect out of the box. Some US companies can’t say that…..
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I found the same thing. Mine (both Civivi and WE) had zero lockstick, perfect centering, smooth actions and didn't require disassembly/cleaning or cycling of the action to break-in.
 
marchone said:
It’s telling that Ray Laconico chose WE to license his designs.

A couple of years ago in these pages these was a mega thread on the MassDrop Laconico Keen reportedly made by WE. I bought two at the original price and I side with the majority on that thread. The quality is outstanding.

I also have an original Laconico EZC for comparison.

I will add that the Monterey Bay Knives Kizer (?)-licensed designs are not as well made in either fit or finish. I have three of those releases.
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Did MBK ever say which of their knives were by Kizer? I have my suspicions based on build quality, but not sure.
 
Just a few random thoughts before this gets really pissy and shut down.

Can a knife have "soul". Nope. It is a pile of metal and other inanimate objects made into a tool or play pretty. But... maybe it can to the user. If I had a knife made by a maker that I KNEW personally and he made it just for me, well... then we may have something. I do think that the closest knives I have to having that feeling were the knives that were handed down to me from grandad, to my dad, to me. I have my grandfather's Barlow knife, estimated to have been purchased around the 1930s. Grandad fought in WWI, had his family (my Dad) at the start of the Great Depression, and was too old to go back to war so he worked in war factory in WWII.

He was an avid hunter, an obsessed fisherman, and this was his favorite knife. It doesn't even have a manufacturer's name on it. The saw marks on the scales are rubbed smooth, the plain steel bolsters are a little pitted but pocket polished, and the blade is no doubt smaller than when it started. But I like to carry that knife from time to time and think about all the places it has been, all the tasks it might have performed, and think of Grandad dropping that one in his pocket before leaving the house. He died at my current age of 66, and I never really knew him that well. So I feel in some strange way kind of connected to him when I carry that knife.

As for the other canker, I try to buy locally when I can, then state, then federal. Not always possible. Besides, we ALL sold our soul to others long ago, whether you want to believe it or not. With so much foreign investment and development money flowing in either direction these days, I don't think anyone can really say for sure who owns what and how. And there is two sides to the Chinese issue. Some say we exploit them, some say they exploit us.

What always surprised me is the number of American designers that put their names on products that came from the countries that have been out enemies, or enemies of the state. And strangely, there are those that are completely delighted when they get a new Russian knife. Read the news much, fellas? I like the idea that the xenophobic remarks are banished to the political area on BF where some honestly think they can make a difference by enlightening those around them with their personal views.
 
I sold my civivis, they're okay. Just over the mid range chinese flipper tab, flippers, not my preferred way of opening a knife
They're just flooding the market and aren't that special to me, to me, so don't get upset ;)
 
Chronovore said:
Then why look at this thread in the first place, or bother to type a response on your Chinese device?

Seriously, some people just love to take these weak, low-effort, and ultimately meaningless stands as if they are actually accomplishing something. It's as if they don't understand how the current market or economic situation became the case, what factors caused it, or what factors might make even the tiniest difference towards changing it. If you want to do something besides farting up threads on quality knives, head on over to the political forum and we can have a real conversation about it. That also goes for D DMG , Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery , and anyone else applauding such vapid comments.
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Save your lectures for the political forums.
 
jeffsenpai said:
Did MBK ever say which of their knives were by Kizer? I have my suspicions based on build quality, but not sure.
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I read the early titanium MBK EZC and large EZC were Kizer. Those are the ones I have. The later friction EZC with carbon fiber scales appear to be a different manufacturer. I’m happy to be corrected.
 
midnight flyer said:
And strangely, there are those that are completely delighted when they get a new Russian knife. Read the news much, fellas?
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I get that there is a political angle to this...as a child of the Cold War, there is no way I am buying a Russki knife. While the Russian blades may be nice, their cost is astounding. I'd expect perfection from them at those prices.

I don't expect perfection from a sub-$250 off-shore brand, but it seems to be what I am finding based on my limited experience.

This has upset my worldview--from 20 years of collecting--that good folders cost good money, and come from a small set of producers in the US, Japan and maybe Italy.
 
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