Discussion: Limited Run/Chinese Knives and future warranty

Undefeatable

Undefeatable

Joined
Feb 28, 2015
Messages
371
Hello BladeForums,

So this question has been on my mind for awhile. I am a huge fan of Reate/WE Knives/Bestech. I think they brought the market to another level in terms of expectations of quality for the price. I have a few and love them and consider them as good as some customs I used to own in terms of action, fit and finish, materials, etc...

Having said that, I can't help but think about future warranty things. For example, one of my favorites knives I own is one a limited run Bestech that was designed by someone then made by Bestech. They made a few hundred and that was it. So let's say something happens and I need some warranty work done to it which requires a replacement part. I don't expect them to have spare parts on hand for a knife they made in limited quantities a few years ago, does that mean the knife is scrap if something happens?

Just wanted to get your thoughts on the topic and see if anyone might have any experience with the Chinese OEM models that are long gone in terms of production and warranty work.

Thanks!
 
Not just China .

This is one reason why knives are put in collector status , to preserve them .

Also , buying spares of favorite models .

Very common concern for any discontinued model .
 
(They made a few hundred and that was it) Or they come out with a design and before you know it they move on to the next; this is par for the course for knives made in China.No matter how nice they are,good luck getting parts if ever needed down the road.Try to get a pocket clip for the Reate Horizon C or other discontinued knives made in China.I have a few of them,but im not buying them anymore,for this reason and others.
 
Agreed. I have shifted my thinking. The few Chinese knives I have (one on preorder) are both special edition stuff, so I have sort of made those my "fun" pieces. I got a Small Sebenza 31 a few days ago to act as my EDC/do anything knife since I love the idea of carrying around one knife and using it like hell, and I know no matter what I do to it, I can send it back to CRK and have a functioning knife again. I also love the look of worn and scratched CRK's, they remind me of old leather that has a patina to it.
 
It's most likely the same with most US manufacturers. For example, my original crk Umnumzaan has a different pivot, lock side and show side scales. So if any of those parts needed to be replaced, it would be different than it was when I bought it. I still use it all the time because why not? And that's a model that is still in production. Good luck finding replacement parts for knives that have been discontinued.

I did send in a discontinued ZT that had gotten pretty messed up (it was my dog's fault) and they managed to fix it without changing any parts, so sometimes there is hope.
 
That’s one of the main reasons I have moved my collection away from more expensive folders. Just too many moving parts that wear out. I feel fine about spending a lot on nice fixed blades, as I don’t have to worry about that, and I don’t do goofy stuff with them that would break them. Folders are another story.
 
A reliable maker will make a warranty right with either spare parts they keep in the Bat Cave or with the current equivalent knife.

Just like any modern consumer item with a warranty that's unlimited.
 
I've had the same issues with Italian made knives...Viper, MKM, etc.. Customer service is near non-existent. I finally managed to get hold of one of the product managers at Viper but she explained that they don't ship to customers, only to vendors. So I made arrangements with my vendor to receive the part, in this case Blade HQ. Long story short, 6 months later and I still haven't received the part. Similar story with another Italian vendor. Lesson learned, I now avoid Italian made folders.
 
The thing about China knives is they come out with so many different models and styles its impossible to standardize parts like pivots ,standoffs or backspacers.And from the way they are going, i think this trend is going to continue with them.If you have an older We knife with those star shaped hardware( which i admit i liked and had) and it strips out,good luck replacing it.
 
unwisefool said:
Have you worn some out? Out of curiosity, which knives and which parts?
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No, not at all. Just thinking about the years down the road. They might never wear out, especially well made folders, but I know fixed blades won’t!
 
Danke42 said:
A reliable maker will make a warranty right with either spare parts they keep in the Bat Cave or with the current equivalent knife.

Just like any modern consumer item with a warranty that's unlimited.
Click to expand...
This. ^^^^
Regardless of if domestic, or import.
 
I don't think warranty matters much on a cheaper knife coming out of China considering shipping to China from the U.S. starts are around $50 for a 1lb package.
 
jstn said:
No, not at all. Just thinking about the years down the road. They might never wear out, especially well made folders, but I know fixed blades won’t!
Click to expand...
I've been using mostly one folder for 10 years, and it has at least another 20 years left in it. Probably 50.
 
Undefeatable said:
Agreed. I have shifted my thinking. The few Chinese knives I have (one on preorder) are both special edition stuff, so I have sort of made those my "fun" pieces. I got a Small Sebenza 31 a few days ago to act as my EDC/do anything knife since I love the idea of carrying around one knife and using it like hell, and I know no matter what I do to it, I can send it back to CRK and have a functioning knife again. I also love the look of worn and scratched CRK's, they remind me of old leather that has a patina to it.
Click to expand...

unwisefool said:
It's most likely the same with most US manufacturers. For example, my original crk Umnumzaan has a different pivot, lock side and show side scales. So if any of those parts needed to be replaced, it would be different than it was when I bought it. I still use it all the time because why not? And that's a model that is still in production. Good luck finding replacement parts for knives that have been discontinued.

I did send in a discontinued ZT that had gotten pretty messed up (it was my dog's fault) and they managed to fix it without changing any parts, so sometimes there is hope.
Click to expand...

The contrast between these two posts cracks me up.

Spyderco replaced my dad’s old Salt that had been living on his boat for like 15 years with an updated model. Time marches on, and while companies will do what they can to make it right, more often than not that means replacing with something that isn’t necessarily the same.
 
unwisefool said:
I've been using mostly one folder for 10 years, and it has at least another 20 years left in it. Probably 50.
Click to expand...
That is impressive! I'm sure I am overthinking things, but I'm a little OCD when it comes to my tools. May I ask what folder it is?
 
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