Do you care where your 150$+ knife is made ?? I do...

[RBid]

Without going down the rabbit hole too much, but it's because of a lot of reasons. One of those is that American workers want to be paid livable wages. It's a craft that requires skill (learned) and ability (natural talents). That costs money. China has a much larger labor pool to tap into and has an artificially devalued currency to make it even more inviting for offshore investments in manufacturing. Compound this with investment in high technology that does not require the laborious handfitting of generations past, and you end up with a very nice knife at a substantial savings.

Taking the big bad communist boogeyman out of the equation, it works out well for a lot of people from a purely capitalist point of view. The US manufacturer can produce high quality product at an affordable price. The Chinese worker finds themselves in good, steady work. The knife buyer spends less money for comparable quality. Manufacturer= Worker= Buyer= Happy. Divorced from politics, that's successful capitalism.

Wait, that doesn't seem full on fair, right? Capitalism shouldn't be so black and white. What about the American worker? What about the manufacturer who either produces stateside or is now competing with a reputable Chinese competitor or worse a Chinese competitor who uses gray market tactics to counter compete with the US manufacturers designs? Well, now we have stumbled upon on one of the reasons for those "evil" MAP policies everyone likes to growl "Let the market decide!" through frothy gritted teeth.

It's a global economy. History has proven that isolation to globalism works against economic growth. China is top dog in manufacturing because they have lots of capital in the forms of LOTS of workers and a government that will stack the deck to retain what they can. The thing is that its not sustainable forever. Chinese wages are going up. Chinese standards of living are increasing. Devaluing the currency isn't working and the country has shown the worst growth period in over a decade. At some point, the market WILL decide.

That said, I'm about quality. I buy a lot of ZT knives. That's not so much because of their county of origin but because they cost a lot of money and I can handle them locally first before I buy. I have NO problem with a Chinese Spyderco. I will also say that much of Boker's Chinese line is comparable if not superior to their German stuff. So for me, it's not about price. If a particular item is made better in China than in Connecticut, I'm going to by the Chinese version. A price savings is just gravy. I'm not in this hobby to save money.

That was refreshing to read. Thank you.

 

[aleforme]

As long as the company is a "respectable" company, I don't have an issue buying from said company regardless of country.

Lately I've been buying knives more from smaller individual makers and companies. I would rather support them as opposed to larger corporations when I'm able regardless of country of origin.

I just get more satisfaction buying from an individual. Being able speak and communicate with the actual person making the knives is very cool. People like Brian Nadeau, Chuck Richards, and Walter Wells come to mind. They are all super nice guys and have no problem talking knives with you. And their customer service is outstanding. There are many others but these just came to mind for me.

 

[katanas]

These threads always go down the same road; buy American or? (even though many members are NOT American). Then the Chinese bashing starts . The Chinese taught the Japanese to make katana, they are not new nor amateur at blade making; they do have a history of reverse engineering which is offensive to Americans but it IS their culture. The OP asked a simple question which deserves a simple answer without disparaging another country/culture. If members posted comments about other members as they do about the Chinese, many would be given infractions. I DO NOT like counterfeits from ANY country (including USA-and they exist) but I will NOT condemn a people (a government has people in it) for a practice of some companies (I will condemn the companies if applicable) or of their culture. Buy what you want and avoid what you wish but try to remember that everyone is NOT American. My .03

 

[Comeuppance]

Maybe for giant corporations.

When I buy a Busse, Dawson, CRK, RMJ it goes to them and pays their workers and it’s not a drop in the bucket. When a WE blade is purchased from blade HQ. then yes you are correct and their profit goes to them. It’s not a clear cut thing.

Now let’s talk about Gillette razors!!!!! Just kidding please don’t.

I still don't see a notable difference here. They're still people who need money for life, so the size or nationality of the company is irrelevant. Even if you bought directly from a Chinese manufacturer, you're still essentially giving money to import/export workers, local and international postal and shipping workers, oil and gas companies, web designers, graphic designers, photographers, programmers, industrial equipment manufacturers, raw materials manufacturers, utility companies... The list goes on and on.

Where your money ends up is not as direct as you might like to think. Even if you buy a $450 knife from CRK, all of their related expenses, taxes, and etc means you have made an almost inconsequential contribution towards the pool from which they pay employees. It's likely within the same kind of rounding error of what you would contribute towards a BladeHQ employee.

Really, the only time you're making a direct payment in support of a knifemaker's work is when you buy a hand-made knife directly from the maker... Which is hardly comparable to buying a mass-produced knife from any country.

It's just bad logic. It's false patriotism that still fails to account for how trade economies work. If you buy domestically, most of your money will go towards processes and materials that involve international trade - often with China. Machines, raw materials, shipping materials, computers, phones, pre-made parts, etc.

If you're buying from a company, you're 100% complicit in international trade. Full stop. The entire economy depends on it, and it reaches deep into everything you do. The farmer you buy eggs from at the local market uses a vehicle with imported parts, uses a chinese-manufactured phone to keep in touch with people and check their mail, bought a Sanyo TV, and indirectly pays overseas oil companies by paying their bills and filling up their vehicle. "Buying American" has been a myth since before the phrase was uttered.

 

[007Airman]

I typically go American but if it's an American company having stuff made elsewhere I'm ok with that as long as the product has a super warranty.

 

[DB_Cruiser]

I voted no. I don't really care too much where a knife (or anything else, for that matter) was made. In my opinion, we live in a global economy and there are human beings everywhere who need to provide for their families. If a company makes something I want or need and they're conducting business in fair, ethical way, I will probably buy based on that alone rather than what part of the world that company is located. As long as I am free to make my choice I have no issue with anyone else making a different choice.

 

[Chucktabulous]

I'll buy whatever fits my needs best, regardless of where its made.
I'd rather buy U.S. made, but if we don't make what I want then I'm looking elsewhere.

 

[plumberroy]

I have several years experience keeping machines that heat treat drive train parts running . From that experience I know we would not use Chinese steel that did not have chemical and physical test done in a U.S. lab. Because many times the steel was what they said it was . I have a friend that makes a six figure income analyzing the cost of manufacturing stuff. He tells me the lack of safety regulations and environmental protections is where the biggest cost savings is for Chinese and other 3rd world countries. I will not buy a product moved from country that originated it to China . That goes for other than U.S. i.e. ambassador fishing reels some Fiskars products and the used to be American knives. Without getting too political I won't buy things made in some states

 

[bubbaskyjacker]

I still don't see a notable difference here. They're still people who need money for life, so the size or nationality of the company is irrelevant. Even if you bought directly from a Chinese manufacturer, you're still essentially giving money to import/export workers, local and international postal and shipping workers, oil and gas companies, web designers, graphic designers, photographers, programmers, industrial equipment manufacturers, raw materials manufacturers, utility companies... The list goes on and on.

Where your money ends up is not as direct as you might like to think. Even if you buy a $450 knife from CRK, all of their related expenses, taxes, and etc means you have made an almost inconsequential contribution towards the pool from which they pay employees. It's likely within the same kind of rounding error of what you would contribute towards a BladeHQ employee.

Really, the only time you're making a direct payment in support of a knifemaker's work is when you buy a hand-made knife directly from the maker... Which is hardly comparable to buying a mass-produced knife from any country.

It's just bad logic. It's false patriotism that still fails to account for how trade economies work. If you buy domestically, most of your money will go towards processes and materials that involve international trade - often with China. Machines, raw materials, shipping materials, computers, phones, pre-made parts, etc.

If you're buying from a company, you're 100% complicit in international trade. Full stop. The entire economy depends on it, and it reaches deep into everything you do. The farmer you buy eggs from at the local market uses a vehicle with imported parts, uses a chinese-manufactured phone to keep in touch with people and check their mail, bought a Sanyo TV, and indirectly pays overseas oil companies by paying their bills and filling up their vehicle. "Buying American" has been a myth since before the phrase was uttered.

This is the funniest thing I have seen all day. Your going way too deep and I can pick apart everything and every conversation , idea , theory if I wanted to. Who the eff is talking about trade economies ? Sit down go away.

I’ll be sure to let these companies know that my purchase of their products make NO difference to their employees or company. Especially the ones I listed which are small.

Since you know so much, what Company are you running ? Please tell me how when some one buys a service or product how that doesn’t impact aka employ the employee. How the heck do you pay employees or purchase goods if my product purchases are insignificant????????? When I said funniest I meant ignorant.

I should contact sears to let them know if they want to get out bankruptcy they just need to stop selling things , because the money from sales is so insignificant.

You sir may go away and play economics another place.

 

[bubbaskyjacker]

I’m locking this thread because people don’t know how to answer a question without breaking down trade economies - how oil may come from somewhere , some other ignorant thought that matters none, and my favorite - buying a knife from a an American company does not impact the employee aka pay them

Good news 6/10 care where their knives come from.

4/10 just want good knives no matter where they come from.

Win win.