Country of origin: what's it worth?

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3D Anvil

3D Anvil

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It's no secret that many of us would prefer to purchase goods manufactured in our own countries (in my case, the USA). For some it's an absolute requirement. I'm not in that camp, but it's definitely a preference. Question is ... what is it worth? Hypothetically speaking, if there were two absolutely identical knives--one made in your home country and the other made in, e.g., China--how much extra would you pay for the home slice?

A. I only buy domestics;
B. I'd pay up to 75% more for home grown;
C. I'd pay up to 50% more;
D. I'd pay up to 30% more;
E. I'd pay up to 10% more;
F. I'm going for the cheaper one regardless;
G. [self-censored political jab] 😁

Just looking at what I actually buy and what I've paid, I guess I fall in the D. 30% category.
 
3D Anvil said:
Hypothetically speaking, if there were two absolutely identical knives--one made in your home country and the other made in, e.g., China
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There is a reason that one knife cost 5 or 10 times fold less !
And they aren't identical !!!

I didn't vote.
 
dogstar said:
We may not always be aware of it, but our dollar is our vote.
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100%. It's funny, some folks complain about Chinese manufacturers raising their prices (hi, WE!). On the one hand, I'm sure they're making an obscene profit due to low labor costs, but on the other hand, it actually makes US manufacturers more competitive.
 
sgt1372 said:
If I like it and the price is "right," I'll buy it.

What matters to me are the design, quality of materials and the quality of construction. I'll pay whatever I think it's "worth" based on those characteristics regardless of the place of origin.
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Well put.

Like the 2022 benchmade lineup. I'll see you on the secondary market benchmade lol.
 
dogstar said:
We may not always be aware of it, but our dollar is our vote.
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^ This is exactly right. It’s also the reason I own very few “made in China” knives.

I have no beef with the Chinese people, but their government is another story. In far too many product categories there is almost no choice but knives is not one of those categories. The US makes some of the best knives on the planet and I will continue to support the US domestic market with the lion share of my $’s spent even if it costs me 10x more.
 
JohnnyGalt JohnnyGalt
et al.
Do not state why. Discussion of politics, economics, etc. belong in a different venue.
Just answer the OPs question.
 
I strongly prefer domestic. Have one knife from Italy and one from Taiwan. None now or ever from China.
 
3D Anvil said:
It's no secret that many of us would prefer to purchase goods manufactured in our own countries (in my case, the USA). For some it's an absolute requirement. I'm not in that camp, but it's definitely a preference. Question is ... what is it worth? Hypothetically speaking, if there were two absolutely identical knives--one made in your home country and the other made in, e.g., China--how much extra would you pay for the home slice?

A. I only buy domestics;
B. I'd pay up to 75% more for home grown;
C. I'd pay up to 50% more;
D. I'd pay up to 30% more;
E. I'd pay up to 10% more;
F. I'm going for the cheaper one regardless;
G. [self-censored political jab] 😁

Just looking at what I actually buy and what I've paid, I guess I fall in the D. 30% category.
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None of the above.

This is pretty close to my approach. But I do give preference to knives made in the US and Europe.
sgt1372 said:
If I like it and the price is "right," I'll buy it.

What matters to me are the design, quality of materials and the quality of construction. I'll pay whatever I think it's "worth" based on those characteristics regardless of the place of origin.
Click to expand...
 
Well the problem with Chinese made knives or even Russian knives is the issue of supporting their tyrannical regimes every time you purchase products from those places. I always search for alternatives.
 
D guy here. I prefer US made knifes simply because the one I like are usually not the bottom line models and quality is on par. Bitter truth is that for the past probably 10 or more years, most of the old, US companies, manufacturing decent, not “cheap” but “inexpensive” products (knives) drastically lowered the quality for one reason or another.
IMO this opened space for outside companies to fill the void with not necessarily better designs but with better quality of manufacturing and materials knives. Those companies are not only Chinese, lots of solid Italian companies are producing great models, few Japanese are still holding the fort, more and more Russian knives are finding their way to the so much desired US market. With this said, none of them can measure with the tsunami of Chinese models flooding the market.
Personally, I can hardly find 5-10 Chinese models that I like. To me it is a matter of design, small elements here and there, stuff that others me. Also I cannot justify paying what they are asking today, given they sold same knife six months ago for 30-40% less. To me it is not about everything becoming more expensive, it’s about marketing policy and I’m fine with it, just I’m one of those people that will vote with my dollars when think it’s necessar.
‘On the question abou the two identical knives, yes, wouldn’t mind pay more for US made product if those 30% doesn’t translate in $300 instead of $30…
I mentioned this example before: I really like Ray Laconico’s simple, clean forms, I think he is very gifted designer.
‘If he isn’t collaborating with Chinese manufacturers I would not probably be able to afford his knife.
‘To me MBK are not really Chinese knives, they are Laconico’s line, not manufactured by him.
‘In this regard, yes, I think in general, combined, the new Chinese companies dumping tons of inexpensive models, lower prices, better or let’s say - new materials, all this drives the prices of the US companies if not necessarily down, at least to a bearable level. My example for this would be probably Spartan blades. There top line is absolutely great as design and execution, top materials, top art work and bearable price. They are other US companies of course, that keep their prices fairly normal but as general rule, I think those are old companies, with traditions and some capital behind their backs. I’d say CRK or maybe Hinderer and such.
‘On the other hand there are tons of new US names, they have awesome products but I think they are following the Chinese model - they’re prices are going up, regardless the fact that they make same model for few years already, the only expense that changed is the price of the materials but this cannot drive the final,product’s Prise $2-$300 up, right ?
 
G. I care more about the brand then where it’s made. That said, after I started buying more expensive knives (ZT, Benchmade, Hinderer, etc) I realized how poor the quality & fit and finish was on Most Chinese-made knives.
 
Yeah, there is a big category that includes US designers who use Chinese OEMs. To be honest, those are generally the Chinese-made knives that I like. There are exceptions, of course, but I usually don't care for the Chinese in-house designs.
 
I can't remember any recent designs that are specifically of Chinese design that really interest me; so it's pretty much a non-issue for me. That said, I always look to purchase US Made first and foremost. Outside of China however, the Russian designers do come up with some incredibly impressive knives.
 
tony281sc2 said:
G. I care more about the brand then where it’s made. That said, after I started buying more expensive knives (ZT, Benchmade, Hinderer, etc) I realized how poor the quality & fit and finish was on Most Chinese-made knives.
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I don't know about that. I think Reate's quality/fit and finish is at least as good as Benchmade and Spyderco. I'd say WE and Bestech are about on the same level as those US companies.
 
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