Current OEM Manufacturers?

Tigerfan

Tigerfan

Joined
Jan 9, 2016
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Starting to get weary of the modern knife scene. Feeling nostalgic and wanting to spend more time learning about traditionals. I have a handful of Queens, Case, GEC, etc, but I am woefully behind after a few years of not trying to keep up with changes. For a lazy guy wanting to get a restart, is there anybody that keeps a list of current OEM's and the trade names they produce? Thanks!
 
You already have a good start with Case and GEC. I would recommend Böker. Well made knives, generally falling between Case and GEC in both quality and price. Make sure you get one that has the word Solingen on the shield or tang stamp; those are German-made. Without Solingen it has DNA from other parts of the world.
 
I think the question is who actually makes knives vs who just sells knives made by somebody else, and which manufacturer makes what for who....
For example, GEC is a manufacturer that produces knives. Northwoods is a brand name used by a retailer that sells knives made under contract by somebody else. Queen has made Northwoods knives in the past, and recently GEC is the vendor of choice.
 
JohnDF said:
For American manufacturers,
I think all we have are Utica, Bear and Sons, Buck, Case, and GEC.
Did I miss anybody?
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Allegedly SARG makes knifes in the USA, or maybe they are made under contract by someone else in the USA?
Colonial allegedly produces some automatic "Paratrooper" knives in the USA, as well, but they are mum on where the manufacturing plant is, or if they are contract knives.
Utica/Kut Master isn't making any traditional knives at this time, according to what is available on their website. :(
 
What about Bluegrass Cutlery? I know that some of theirs are chinese, but don't they still make some of theirs in Ohio, or wherever they are located?
 
hornetguy said:
What about Bluegrass Cutlery? I know that some of theirs are chinese, but don't they still make some of theirs in Ohio, or wherever they are located?
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I'm pretty sure that Bluegrass Cutlery was more of a retailer. Queen made most of their stuff at one time.
 
Buck currently makes the Remington bullet knives, though only lockbacks are made, and Utica still manufactures the electricians knife for Klein.

Theres gotta be some contract production taking place with the current colonial situation because I've still seen no evidence of an actual factory in Prov RI existing, but It's still a bit of a mystery.
 
Utica still makes some nice traditionals on Noyes Street in Utica.
Colonial says their Mark II Navies are made in Warwick RI. Or did say so last I looked.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Buck currently makes the Remington bullet knives, though only lockbacks are made, and Utica still manufactures the electricians knife for Klein.

Theres gotta be some contract production taking place with the current colonial situation because I've still seen no evidence of an actual factory in Prov RI existing, but It's still a bit of a mystery.
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In the last few AG Russell catalogs there are white micarta and a green micarta 301 frame bullet knives. I think the white one has a sterling silver shield.
 
Tigerfan said:
Original equipment manufacturer. Asking who is still left standing actually making true traditional patterns and what brand names they produce.
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Hickory n steel said:
current colonial situation because I've still seen no evidence of an actual factory in Prov RI existing, but It's still a bit of a mystery.
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scrteened porch said:
Colonial says their Mark II Navies are made in Warwick RI. Or did say so last I looked.
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I got a little tangled here, sorry.
 
OEM is an apt descriptor of GEC. GEC makes parts for knives (Hess), produces knives under their own brand name (GEC), under other brand names (Northfield), and also makes knives for other brands like Schrade and Bulldog. The key part is the ‘M’ for manufacturer.
 
An OEM is the original manufacturer of an item, regardless of whose name is on the item. For example, a lot of Buck 300 series knives where actually manufactured by Camillus. Thus the OEM was Camillus.
 
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