Did Kershaw jump the shark with OCC?

The culture of America is to market something that someone else can't get. You could describe it as arrogant, elitist, or whatever. We buy stuff based on branding - to discern quality standards for ourselves, and establish our presence in the social pecking order.

OCC and Kershaw is a good team. Some corporate cultures don't choose as well, like Smith and Wesson and whatever importer is shipping this year. In my opinion, Smith could do better. They machine transmission parts for HD, they should pick a knifemaker who better represents an equivalency.

A branded knife is no better or worse because of it. It's utility value as a tool remains what it is. If anything, the sense of owning something considered rare is a purely internal human feeling to bolster our own sense of self esteem. Marketers just play off our existing nature.

How we allow ourselves to be manipulated is an individual responsibility. Jumping the shark didn't happen here.
 
DeckardB26354 said:
How do these business deals change the image of knifemakers in your view? Or do you just look at it as a necessary part of surviving in these hard times?
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They don't particularly impact me, other than the fact that I won't buy a knife spattered with someone's corporate logo. My personal self-worth is not enhanced by identifying myself with some popular name brand, and I refuse to pay extra for an item in order to provide some company with free advertising. :rolleyes:

At least Kershaw and Benchmade are quality manufacturers of these branded items. It seems most of the other branded knives are shoddy products made by cheap off-shore manufacturers. :thumbdn:
 
Funny how times change. I've ridden for 45 years now. When I think motorcycle/knife the first thing that comes to mind is "Buck 110". The second is "Spyderco Renegade/Blackhawk". Of course in my mind the knife is there for if you want to cut something, not look good in a glass case and the bike is to ride, not look good in the driveway. I don't buy anything with designer labels. I told a guy at work the other day, "Hey, Tommy called and wants his shirt back!"
 
Neither Kershaw or OCC is forcing anyone to purchase the knives, though rednecks may be more influenced (or hypnotized if you will) than most folk. These collaborations are done for one reason, to draw the OCC diehard/collector into the Kershaw product line. Personally, I won't waste my money. Some people are out there right now high-fiving and crushing beer cans over their heads because Paul Sr. is now in the knife business. The knife will look great next to all of their Earnhardt Sr. "collectible" blades with matching tins. Have fun boys. Drink one for me.
 
Seems to me it is much like listening to the radio; if something comes on you don't like, you can turn it off or switch stations. If you don't like branded knives, don't buy them!
 
so long as its a reputable company, who don't deal in or are related to anything particualy distasteful then why not?
particualy if it's a cult brand such as harley.
I would see more of a problem if it was a company who have issues with honesty, or a reputation for turning out utter rubbish.

I don't know anything about the particular company in question (OCC not kershaw) so I can't comment on my feelings on this particular case.
 
Trent Rock said:
Kershaw makes 50,000 "regular" Leeks in 2009
They make 5,000 OCC Leeks in 2009

Which ones will be worth more in 10 years?? ;)

How much more is the MSRP for the OCC LEEk version vs. the regular Leek?

Did they produce the same amount of both models?

Does the OCC version come in a tin signed by Mikey Teutul or come with a biker wallet or anything like that?

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Which one would I prefer?
Probably the one with out the branding
Depends on my mood for the day
It's nice to have a CHOICE though:thumbup:
Maybe I will decide when I am at the counter:confused:

The historical aspect that Esav spoke of is interesting
Never thought of it that way
It is true there branding is part of knife history
Think of all the hardware companies that used the tang stamps as a form advertising in the early 1900's
My 1st knife was a Cub Scout knife so in a sense that was "marketing" for the Cub Scouts, right?

I bought a BUCK 112 with a Chevron logo etched in the bolster the other day
I bought a Blackie Collins designed (I think Gerber made it??) Hoppes Old No. 9Shooters Knife off EBAY one night because the smell of Hoppes No.9 got me nostalgic and I wanted to buy a Hoppes No.9 collectible immediately :eek:
I heard there is a knife with a picture of TuPac out there
Kinda want to get one of those Purina knives
The ones that were like 99 cents in a jar at the old Ace Hardware stores......


The spider web graphic on the OCC leek looks pretty cool...BTW:thumbup:

Good thread
I always wondered what people thought about logos on their knives....
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Dang!!
Kershaw made a Hoppes fixed blade?? :thumbup:
KERHOPPE275.jpg

Only 500 made huh??
Better check my PayPal account.............:cool:
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Awesome post. I think you summed it up about as well as it can be said. :thumbup:
 
Jumping the shark, or selling out would have been if Kershaw had compromised their high standards, quality, and principles in order to put the OCC logo on their knives. The have clearly not done this as the OCC models fit right in with their line up. They are not Chinese made and rubber stamped with logos. They actually are more labor intensive than standard non co-branded knives.

I think OCC should be applauded for realizing the benefit of putting their logo on quality knives instead of just junk that should be a $5 gas station knife.
 
Case XX has done some OCC branding, as well -- in addition to Ford, Johnny Cash, John Deere and a host of others...
 
kneedeep said:
Jumping the shark, or selling out would have been if Kershaw had compromised their high standards, quality, and principles in order to put the OCC logo on their knives. The have clearly not done this as the OCC models fit right in with their line up. They are not Chinese made and rubber stamped with logos. They actually are more labor intensive than standard non co-branded knives.

I think OCC should be applauded for realizing the benefit of putting their logo on quality knives instead of just junk that should be a $5 gas station knife.
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:thumbup:

I applaud any major, quality knife company that will accept corporate branding. Good on them for making a buck without compromising their quality, and hopefully it'll get a few more people interested in knives! :D
 
Among many people who actually own and ride motorcycles, especially "modified" motorcycles, OCC (the show, the personel, and the bikes) is the subject of ridicule. Those half-million dollar tribute bikes, with their doodads and googaws, may appeal to multi-millionaire golfers or 14 year old boys, but not to the great unwashed.

Kershaw would have garnered more "street cred" if they had partnered with someone like Jesse James, and probably as much name recognition.

I bought one of the OCC Leeks because I like the look of it. I didn't buy it because of the OCC connection, but in spite of it.

Maybe have Shinya Kimura design a knife. Actually design it. That would get some serious "cred". Might not sell a lot of knives, but it would definitely be a connection to be proud of.
 
What gets me about this thread is the title.

Merely producing a knife for another company does not qualify as "jumping the shark".

Such activities have been done by knife makers for a century or three, so it is not out of character nor unexpected.

If the knife is good, buy it. If you think OCC is "cool", then buy it. If you don't like the knife and/or think OCC is not desireable, then don't buy it.

I bought a HD Hardtail because the knife appearred to be pretty good (it is), inspite of the Harley affiliation.
 
LOL dunno about 'street cred' partnering with Jesse James, who when asked about who buys his bikes replied (roughly parphrased) "A**holes , with lots of money." I say who cares, if a guy who otherwise wouldn't buys and enjoys a Kershaw blade cause he either enjoys OCC or has an OCC bike. What's the harm? At least they didn't sell out to Fiskars....
 
Darkrider_X said:
At least they didn't sell out to Fiskars....
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I think the Fiskars tribute bike is going to be in the next OCC episode. Gonna have lotsa cool Fiskars product glued on it.

Point me toward a motorcycle or hot rod forum where JJ is treated with the same disdain as the Tuttles, or any, for that matter.
 
I bought a Choppers Inc. Zippo lighter from Billy Lane, a local chopper builder I made a hand tool motorcycle seat for. Actually bought it on the day I swung by his shop to pick up the seat pan. It's history. That whole chopper mania thing is fading, I never bought into it but I did enjoy all the back yard chopper building that was going on.

Jessie is a phenomenally talented welder who has been teaching kids metal working skills. Ask the F.D.N.Y. or the Veterans Association what they think of OCC, Paulie and crew are a joke, a chopperopera. Though I did like the Dixie Chopper Chopper :)
 
Although I am not a fan of OCC in particular, they do build bikes other than corporate rolling logos. They do produce a line of "cheaper" bikes, that are manufactured as more of less assembly line bikes. I do not know waht they cost, not interested. Just saying.

And no, I will not be buying any Kershaw OCC knives.

Now if they made a JYD II with the emblem for the Suzuki M109R on it, I would not have to be convinced to buy one or three.
But we all know that is not going to happen, cause its a "Japanese" bike.
 
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cbxer55 said:
But we all know that is not going to happen, cause its a "jap" bike.
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This thread is quite confusing to me, and quotes like the above don't assist in making it any clearer.

First off, with Kai USA being a Japanese company, I'm borderline offended with the quote.

Are you saying that we wouldn't brand with another organization because they're not an American made brand?

Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Shimano, Diawa, Nintendo, Suzuki etc. are all off the table because why again?
 
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