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

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Sharp & Fiery said:
How can cars have soul? Just hunks of metal as well. Heck, they named a car the “Soul.” How can music have soul? Just words and notes. Except we have “soul” music.

I get where your coming from and the nitpick on the word I used. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. ;)

If ya don’t get it, ya don’t get it. Won’t hold it against ya. ;

I agree with the rest.
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I guess I know what are trying to say. You are neither the first nor the only who said knives have soul and for that reason, I did not specifically quoted you though I welcome your response. I just don't feel it is a correct use of the word itself. Just like the example that D DMG gave, I think people have been confusing "sentimental value" or "psychological attachment" or "perceived value" (or something in that nature), which is what people feel about knives, with "soul," which should be what knives as objects possess (though again I do not think knives have soul). In that line, no - cars do not have soul either IMO.
 
sharp_edge said:
I guess I know what are trying to say. You are neither the first nor the only who said knives have soul and for that reason, I did not specifically quoted you though I welcome your response. I just don't feel it is a correct use of the word itself. Just like the example that D DMG gave, I think people have been confusing "sentimental value" or "psychological attachment" or "perceived value" (or something in that nature), which is what people feel about knives, with "soul," which should be what knives as objects possess (though again I do not think knives have soul). In that line, no - cars do not have soul either IMO.
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:) Thanks for the response. :)

If I could go edit my original response I would change the word “soul” with “wow factor.” Which is what I meant. It’s got the “vibes” that get you stoked about a certain knife ya know.

Civivi’s don’t do it for me…but to each their own. :)
 
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance had this same argument over the world "quality".

I think that would work well in this conversation.
 
Monofletch said:
I thought Taiwan was a republic of China.

They do make knives there! Pretty good ones!
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DMG said:
Taiwan is a republic of China the same way the Ukraine is a part of Russia.
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Basically, yes. But to clarify the terminology, Taiwan is in fact an independent, sovereign, democratic nation officially called the "Republic of China." The People's Republic of China (mainland China) disputes the independence and sovereignty of Taiwan, claiming to be the only legitimate government of both mainland China and Taiwan. This situation is indeed somewhat similar to that in which Putin claims that Ukraine is part of Russia.

I used to live in Taiwan when I was a child. The Taiwanese people are fervently capitalist and even more fervently anticommunist.

Much more information can be found on Wikipedia.
 
I had to put a limit on what I collect. There is nothing wrong with some global knives, per se; however, I can't collect everything. I have a few but primarily US made knives and then primarily Buck.
 
As far as I'm concerned...
Every Civivi and WE knife looks like a Chinese knife, made with Chinese made material (to me). Once you've handled/bought/sourced Chinese made products, they all have the same look to them. If you are OK with that look, cool, I'm not.
Nice knives are luxury products, if I'm buying a luxury product, I have expectations. These knives do not meet those expectations (to me).
If you are looking for a cheap knife, buy whatever. I no longer buy cheap knives because I see no benefit.
If the only reason a knife is "better" is because it's "cheaper", well, congrats?
 
eli1o said:
As far as I'm concerned...
Every Civivi and WE knife looks like a Chinese knife, made with Chinese made material (to me). Once you've handled/bought/sourced Chinese made products, they all have the same look to them. If you are OK with that look, cool, I'm not.
Nice knives are luxury products, if I'm buying a luxury product, I have expectations. These knives do not meet those expectations (to me).
If you are looking for a cheap knife, buy whatever. I no longer buy cheap knives because I see no benefit.
If the only reason a knife is "better" is because it's "cheaper", well, congrats?
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I don’t agree. I have luxury knives ($1500) and budget knives ($20) and they are different; but budget USA made knives and budget Chinese knives are usually on a similar level to me. My WE Vision R feels like a high quality knife, regardless of country. My Demko AD 20.5 smooth Ti scales also feels high quality to me - not like a cheap knife. Not luxury but not cheap like made by blah blah country.

But I handled brand new Buck 110 and 112 automatic knives today that were not nearly as well made (non-centered blades and rough edges on bolsters) as the Sencut flipper knife that I had with me today. And Chinese made phones like iPhone 13 Pro Max are high quality and don’t feel like any country.
 
Monofletch said:
"You like tomato and I like tomahto”
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Except the differences between mainland China and Taiwan can’t be boiled down to “tomato tomahto”. Here’s maybe not the place to educate you on the differences, but they are easy to research.

Anyway, “soul” might not be the best way to put it, but I do agree with the sentiment that by and large, the Chinese knife designs I see are largely uninspired and seem like sterile attempts at making the next knife design. Like they were drawn by someone who was tasked at drawing a knife instead of someone who is passionate about knives.
 
XJ-linux said:
I hear some cars have soul. Some say the Chevy Nova does, for example, but I just don't see it.

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Lol! Was just at my local body shop/restoration place Friday as I was in a hit and run accident Tuesday. They had a 1971 Nova they had just finished restoring. All black, gorgeous! Original 350ci with 4spd.

Back on topic.


I disagree with the idea that WE/Civivi and other Chinese brands look inherently Chinese. While the Elijah Isham designed models are immediately identifiable, otherwise they greatly vary.

I will say that the anodized Ti flipper framelock is definitely a trend for those companies, they make much much more than those.
 
DocJekl said:
I don’t agree. I have luxury knives ($1500) and budget knives ($20) and they are different; but budget USA made knives and budget Chinese knives are usually on a similar level to me. My WE Vision R feels like a high quality knife, regardless of country. My Demko AD 20.5 smooth Ti scales also feels high quality to me - not like a cheap knife. Not luxury but not cheap like made by blah blah country.

But I handled brand new Buck 110 and 112 automatic knives today that were not nearly as well made (non-centered blades and rough edges on bolsters) as the Sencut flipper knife that I had with me today. And Chinese made phones like iPhone 13 Pro Max are high quality and don’t feel like any country.
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I don’t think a finely finished exterior is 100% indicative of a higher quality knife. Those Bucks you were looking at will outlast the Sencut in real world use.

iPhones have had problems with bending and they are incredibly fragile. Everyone I know with an iPhone has cracked the screen, some even with cases on them.
 
K.O.D. said:
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.
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Me, from now on.. when a new knife arrives in the mail:

shang-tsung-your-soul-is-mine.gif
 
I got in on this thread a few days late and haven't read through it yet except your first post, but I wanted to recommend Kizer knives. I've only owned 2 Civivi's, a really inexpensive plastic handled one, and their Terzuola fixed blade, but from my experience with those two knives, Kizer is even better quality. You're right though, ridiculous quality for the money spent. Kizers ti framelocks are awesome with exceptional fit and finish. They're less expensive knives in micarta and g10 are just as good in the fit and finish department though too which consistently blows my mind.
 
I've found the Taichung knives to have impeccable quality from Spyderco. Better than Golden or Seki in my experience, after a handful of each.

Taiwanese knives have Seoul.
 
Talking about folding knives made in China, I'd like to try out a WE knife framelock with >3.7" blade and ti handle for ~$200 with simple and streamlined design (I don't like overly complicated/busy designs with lots of curves like those Begg knives). Does this knife exist?
 
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