Copy knives. Where does the line get drawn

KrisOK - that's somewhat true with the Benchmade 950 RIFT and the Ganzo knockoff. What the Benchmade go for? $150 give or take? I know ALOT of guys who would NEVER spend over $100 on a knife. Heck, I know some who wouldn't spend $30 on a knife (which is stupid) Will a knife aficionado buy the Ganzo over the Benchmade? Most probably no. Anyone who is willing to spend $150 on a knife will buy that Benchmade. But those guys who want a knife for $30-60? That Ganzo isn't that bad of a knife. And you can get it for a good bit less than $30.

I can't see Benchmade having sold less of those Rift knives because Ganzo made their copy of it. I know one of my buddies saw the Ganzo I have sitting on my dresser and asked about it, ended up buying the nicer Benchmade. He never would have bought the Benchmade without seeing the Ganzo.

Again. If your super-expensive knife is worth so much more, people will buy it over the cheaper knock-off. The Sebenza example above is a perfect example - I have a self-imposed limit to a knife of $200 also. I REALLY like the custom knives I see on here - but I won't buy one. It's not worth it for me. I can get a knife that will do 99% of what any knife can do for $200 or less. Then again, anything over $200 isn't going to even be in the same LEAGUE as a cheap-o Chinese knife.

What I'm sensing here - and I'm probably going to get stomped on for this - is alot of people in the knife industry feeling really threatened by what they see coming out of China. (better and better knives for SIGNIFICANTLY less than they can sell them for) This more-so than simply being pissed off at someone not being original.

I DO agree with the 'original' argument guys though - I'd love to see some good original designs come out of these Chinese shops. And there are a few really good ones out there I've seen and read about. Instead of pissing all over these companies, why not reach out to them, help push them in a good direction, bring them into the 'knife family' fold instead of exiling them. Maybe even make some money partnering up with them on some original knife designs. (You DO have some original designs, right? If not, you shouldn't be fussing about 'make some new designs' too much)

Seriously though, I've heard this argument on alot of threads and you guys are arguing like a bunch of schoolgirls.

/rant off
 
madbomber1998 said:
KrisOK - that's somewhat true with the Benchmade 950 RIFT and the Ganzo knockoff. What the Benchmade go for? $150 give or take? I know ALOT of guys who would NEVER spend over $100 on a knife. Heck, I know some who wouldn't spend $30 on a knife (which is stupid) Will a knife aficionado buy the Ganzo over the Benchmade? Most probably no. Anyone who is willing to spend $150 on a knife will buy that Benchmade. But those guys who want a knife for $30-60? That Ganzo isn't that bad of a knife. And you can get it for a good bit less than $30.

I can't see Benchmade having sold less of those Rift knives because Ganzo made their copy of it. I know one of my buddies saw the Ganzo I have sitting on my dresser and asked about it, ended up buying the nicer Benchmade. He never would have bought the Benchmade without seeing the Ganzo.

Again. If your super-expensive knife is worth so much more, people will buy it over the cheaper knock-off. The Sebenza example above is a perfect example - I have a self-imposed limit to a knife of $200 also. I REALLY like the custom knives I see on here - but I won't buy one. It's not worth it for me. I can get a knife that will do 99% of what any knife can do for $200 or less. Then again, anything over $200 isn't going to even be in the same LEAGUE as a cheap-o Chinese knife.

What I'm sensing here - and I'm probably going to get stomped on for this - is alot of people in the knife industry feeling really threatened by what they see coming out of China. (better and better knives for SIGNIFICANTLY less than they can sell them for) This more-so than simply being pissed off at someone not being original.

I DO agree with the 'original' argument guys though - I'd love to see some good original designs come out of these Chinese shops. And there are a few really good ones out there I've seen and read about. Instead of pissing all over these companies, why not reach out to them, help push them in a good direction, bring them into the 'knife family' fold instead of exiling them. Maybe even make some money partnering up with them on some original knife designs. (You DO have some original designs, right? If not, you shouldn't be fussing about 'make some new designs' too much)

Seriously though, I've heard this argument on alot of threads and you guys are arguing like a bunch of schoolgirls.

/rant off
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completely agree. But like you say I think feeling threatened and pride in usa manufacturing will prevent many from ever extending that olive branch. Heck look in any thread about "what is your deal breaker" About things you cant accept in a knife and you will find at least 3 out of 5 people who say " I wont buy it if its made in china" and if you ask them why many simply say "because they make crap" but many have not even taken the time to examine the knives china is capable of making. And if they have they seek out a true piece of crap to pigeon hole all chinese knife manufacturing. But you cant judge all chinese knives simply by one or even 10 bad knives they make. Because if thats how things worked here all the knives made in america would be absolute crap because of what Bear MGC makes.
 
I take GREAT price with stuff made in the US. Unfortunately, we're loosing (and have already lost in some industries such as textiles and furniture for the most part) the skilled labor force we need to compete overseas.

I wish it wasn't so :-(
 
Interesting discussion but it reminds me that knife cloning is nothing new. I have an old Buck 110 or earlier identical looking model that was called the "Folding Hunter" if memory serves. Bought while I was in the Navy IIRC and I got out in 1972. I also have a virtually identical looking Schrade USA made knife bought years later. At a glance very similar looking knives with only minor shape differences. In fact the Buck 110 general shape is probably one of the most copied knife shapes ever produced. Case still does similar style knives and Benchmade has done so in their HD line.

On the other hand I HATE counterfeits. I bought a set of used supposed Sony headphones from a Amazon seller an when they arrived I determined that they were Chinese counterfeits. Several web sites listed and showed the differences between the genuine and counterfeit items. I got a full refund with no return of the item required and the seller swore that he was not aware the item was a fake. Personally I would like to see counterfeiting of brand name items start carrying prison sentences in China severe enough to end the business.
 
China won't do that though Tatfiend. And why would they? It only helps their economy, gains their labor force experience, and takes business away from their competitors (the United States)

We expect the rest of the world to play our game with our rules.....
 
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