Does Knife Origin Matter to You?

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Slice O Life

Slice O Life

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May 20, 2021
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Hey everyone,

I wanted to start a discussion here on BladeForums about an interesting aspect of knife collecting and purchasing: the origin of the knives we buy. I'm curious to know how much the country of manufacture matters to you when it comes to purchasing a knife.

Do you care where your knives are made? Does it matter if a knife comes from the USA, China, Japan, Taiwan, Pakistan, or any other country? Are you more inclined to support local manufacturing, or are you open to exploring knives from various countries?

I'd also like to delve into a couple of related discussion topics. Firstly, imagine you found a knife with all the features you desire, but it comes from a country you don't particularly like. Would you still buy it because it meets your requirements, or would you prefer to skip it based on your personal preferences?

Conversely, let's say you found a knife made in a country you have a strong affinity for, but it comes with a higher price tag compared to a similar knife made elsewhere. Would you be willing to pay the extra money to support your preferred country's manufacturing, or would you prioritize the features and opt for a more affordable option?

I'm excited to hear your thoughts on these matters. How much does the origin of a knife matter to you? Does it significantly impact your purchasing decisions, or do other factors take precedence? Let's have a thoughtful and engaging conversation about the role of knife origin in our buying choices.
 
It matters entirely, almost.....
I have a small list of countries id buy from. Small.


Only exception would be If I was travelling there and needed a souvenir?
 
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I stopped buying Chinese knives not just because I don't want to support that country but also I've gotten bored with their knives, and production knives in general.

Otherwise, I own knives made in the USA, Taiwan, Russia, and have one being made in the Czech Republic.
 
Let's get this out of the way up front, since we've had this discussion many, many times before...

...keep politics out of the conversation. You can list countries you will or won't buy from...but leave it at that. This is not the forum to discuss human rights, personal freedoms, national policies. or any nuances thereof.

Okay, that's it. Have fun.
 
I'll always buy made in the U.S.A. first and foremost if I can.

If the end product is well made by an off-shore manufacturer (or a U.S. company producing internationally) and reputable, as long as I'm ok with the cost, I'll buy.
 
Yes it matters. I can appreciate knives made anywhere because I enjoy the subject. I own knives made in various countries. But there are a coupleI avoid in principle.
 
Other than SAK, all of my slip joints have to be made in the USA. That’s pretty much my only rule. For example; I really like the Jack Wolf knives, but can’t get past the made in China aspect as far them being slip joints. I have one or two other knives made in China, but can’t do it for that particular type for some reason.
 
My latest purchase comes from South Africa, so I am not a US or nothing guy; but yes county of origin matters to me.

If I found a knife that checked all the boxes and it was made in China I would pass; in fact I have - I skipped the F5.5, EMP Nymble and others for that reason.
 
Yes, it definitely matters to me, for reasons I'm not going to elaborate on.

and...

iu
 
Mostly US made. If I was traveling or knew of a quality smith overseas (I know, there are many excellent ones) and I liked their work I would be good with that.

I don't like the off shores companies who simply exploit US designs and prefer to keep my $$ here whenever possible.
 
No if it's a design I really want, and I can't find a close match from friendlier countries. But I do try to shop more with our allies more.
 
Short answer no, country of origin does not matter to me.

I do try not to buy counterfeits.

Longer answer is that, although country of origin does not matter that much, I have had enough experiences with bad heat treat (in some cases, it seems like no heat treat), that I pay attention to the name on the knife. Some companies that outsource do a better job of checking the finished product than others.
 
pholder said:
Peña would have my business, but no
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Agreed. Same with Sharp By Design.

Part of the problem is so many of these designs are farmed out, there just aren't many (any?) US companies producing knives for other companies like WE and Reate.
 
Two posts moved so far...

...doesn't bode well for longevity,
 
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