Does it matter to you?

[Diomedes Industries]

I agree Rick, I shop local (groceries) for this reason - but I know that it is nearly impossible to not buy things from other places.

The only country of origin I won't buy from is Canada - have you seen some of those people on this board. SCARY!

TF

 

[u812]

Here is what I wonder. How many of those that claim to never want to buy imported steel, shop at Wal-Mart, have a clue where their clothing comes from, or know where their vehicle was manufactured at?

TF

Thats my point.
There are so many things I have to buy that are cheap junk because I can not find any better in a store that I buy very high quality whenever I can.
I remember running down to the Wal Mart not long ago to pick up a manual can opener.They did not have any except 3 models made in China.I bought the best one of those and it would not open a can for crap.I would have no problem paying extra for really good quality made in the US,Japan or any other country that makes good stuff that also takes care of the workers they have and does not use prison,child labor or a work force that makes around .10 per hour.
Many younger people do not have a clue how much the country is losing to all these China imports.I got out of school 22 years ago and there was 4 big mills in the county.Now there is none,not only in this county but in many of the counties in east Tn.
I see a knife like jewelery,I buy the best I can afford,take care of it and use it for a very long time.
Sorry for the little rant,hope I got my feeling across,I have an understanding of what is killing our jobs here in the US but I do not have a good hold on how to write it out.

 

[shecky]

Uhm, no its not a handout if you get a product that is worth $200 in return. How about you re-read your first sentence!

Your last sentence should be, 'If so, the purchase is based on both its merits and your ethical consideration of the supply/manufacturing chain involved'.

How would ethics come into play? Almost nobody is privy to the ethical considerations of a knifemaker, despite the declarations often made from the outside. Unless you equate ethics with nationality.

If your choice is based on nationality, it's a handout. Your prerogative for sure. But let's not try to justify moving goalpost judgments about things such as ethics, based on the piece of dirt a knife maker's shop sits on.

 

[Shotgun]

I agree Rick, I shop local (groceries) for this reason - but I know that it is nearly impossible to not buy things from other places.

The only country of origin I won't buy from is Canada - have you seen some of those people on this board. SCARY!

TF

Oh my god the kanucks! [shivers]

To be honest I don't really care if it's a quality product but then again I don't like that some of my stuff has the country of manufacture stamped on it. Not that I care where it came from, it just looks tacky to have a half deep stamp on my Trail Hawk for instance. More of an aesthetic thing really.
Like someone said earlier, those that really cared where their stuff was made from would be walking around naked because I don't think I've bought any clothing that didn't come from Asia.

 

[GRIM 62]

I buy American when I can,does'nt always work out that way.

 

[Calebklyne]

The only country of origin I won't buy from is Canada - have you seen some of those people on this board. SCARY!

TF

dont forget we bite too!

i like to support small business when i can but if i can get a good product from overseas or a large corporation i will often buy it if there is no comparible product from home

To be honest if you think your friends or family lost their job because you frequent walmart from time to time then you need to consider that in order for those companies to stop making/buying things from outside the country 80% of people would need to boycot them and stop shopping there, and another reason jobs are sent over there or they bring foreign labour here is because the majority of americans/canadians cost way too much to employ. While it is overly frustrating sometimes and maybe doesnt seem fair if everything we bought was made domestically we probably would not be able to live the lives and have the things we can afford today

 

[d_filgate]

Spending $200 on a bushcraft knife is a lot of money to plunk down.
Hopefully, you are thinking of getting a custom made for you, and hopefully,
that custom is made in North America. Both the U.S and Canada have really,
really, really good knife makers.
Hopefully, you are supporting the little guy and helping the North American industry
to grow.

 

[Toucan Oasis]

If you were in the market to buy a new fixed blade, say a Bushcrafter, and you were going to spend around $200.00 would it matter to you where it was made?

Ive been pondering this for several days and I'm kinda on the fence.

I could care less as long as it's hand made.
I just hate the idea of making a fatcat fatter, after abandoning Americans, by buying something made with $2 an hour labor.
If the backpack, a pair of boots, or a knife was $200 with $12 dollar labor how can it still be $200 with a $1.40 labor in Vietnam or Bangladesh ? Easy. Greed.

When I need another knife, or most anything else, I have a slew of websites of knife makers and other craftsman, all over the world, bookmarked.I prefer for the worker to get my dollars. Not some CEO and his cronies.
Most of those bookmarks are USA good ole boys. A few Europeans and South Americans too.

 

[Rick Marchand]

...I don't really care if it's a quality product but then again I don't like that some of my stuff has the country of manufacture stamped on it. Not that I care where it came from,....

Sending single items, I can get away with it... but lets say I ship 25 firekits to the USA... I am REQUIRED to have a country of origin stamp/sticker on each item or I could get into a big hassle with customs.

So sometimes its not an option.... that said I would never engrave anything on my blades.... a sticker is all that is needed.

Rick

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Rick usually puts 'Hencho en Mexico' on his blades - just to throw the feds off his scent.

TF

 

[pitdog]

I wouldn't splash $200 on a production knife no matter where it was made but if we have a maker on this forum who lives in China and forges his blades then for sure I'd buy one !

Too many great custom makers here to lay $200 down on a mass produced knife ! JMO !

 

[Ramm9]

If you were in the market to buy a new fixed blade, say a Bushcrafter, and you were going to spend around $200.00 would it matter to you where it was made?

Yeah, I wouldn't trust an Indian or Pakistani Bushcrafter...

 

[u812]

I wouldn't splash $200 on a production knife no matter where it was made but if we have a maker on this forum who lives in China and forges his blades then for sure I'd buy one !

Too many great custom makers here to lay $200 down on a mass produced knife ! JMO !

Now that is different.
If it is a custom maker and not a huge corporate operation I would not mind buying from anyone from anywhere.
I love Paul Chen's work.