ESEE-3F Folder with Lion Steel is Canceled!

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PropThePolecat said:
I can understand your gutted and that all your potential customers are even more so, but IMO this thread is very akin to dragging Gianni through the mud. I'd like to hear his side of the story too.

I cant believe that Lionsteel would have gotten so succesful if they backed out of deals every now and then. Thats something that destroys reputations and makes customers go away. Why start now?

Dont know, ive just been raised to always hear both sides of the story before drawing any conclusions.
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And we welcome Gianni's explanation here.
 
In the end I think this will serve Jeff and Co and the end consumer better. Lionsteel seems to just be getting their feet under them. The last thing ESEE needs is for the mass production to outpace quality. This may not happen but we will all see what the future holds for the dpx products. I am certain that you guys will find a new producer willing to take this collaboration on. The buzz around here has been electric: everyone knows this. I bet there are some folks who have The production capability and quality, who are already looking at this new twist and figuring out how they can help.
 
here is what is posted in the lionsteel subforum


GianniLion said:
To inform everyone that we will not produce the Esee Folder.

The main reason is because we are not able to say yes to everyone that wants our help in production.
We have so many backlog orders of LionSteel knives that we are obligated to find a solution.

We trust Esee company and for this reason we do not want make them any losses with delay production shipment problems.
We have honored our promised and make for them the samples for the Shot Show. But before accept the purchase order we must be sure that we will be able to honor also the production schedule that they need.

As everybody know LionSteel task was only to produce the samples, the choise of where to produce was open. No one from either parts has never guaranteed the final production. There is no one production order yet.
For this reason I immediately let to Esee know our production problem and let them choise the best things for their company.

I am sorry to lose this great opportunity but LionSteel is a small company that has quality like is own main focus. We want guarantee to all LionSteel fans the same quality that they are used to find in our knives. we want grow, but step by step.
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R.A.T. said:
Nothing and we're not going to cry over spilled milk. It's a nice folder project and we had it all nailed down...we thought :) We will simply go forward and dig even deeper on USA production. No big deal. Just wanted to bring everyone up to speed here.
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thanks for doing so. good luck on this project for the future.
 
Maybe Rowen needs to tool up to make folders. They seem to be the only ones you can trust.
 
R.A.T. said:
Bottom line is Mike and I are just not geared to deal with any culture that can't deal on a handshake or gets their feelings hurt too easily over some USA made comments.
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Coming from europe I don't think it's a cultural problem when a handshake nothing counts. I think it's a personal problem. For me a handshake counts as a binding legal document but there many stinkers out there (worldwide) with a completely different mindset.
 
We can't deal with that even if he makes the best folder in the business
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Lionsteel makes a good folder, no doubt, but not even close to the best in the business.

Unfortunate that you guys have to deal with this kind of shadiness from such a reputable company. Puts a sour taste in my mouth for sure in regards to Lionsteel. Good luck to them in the future.

You guys at ESEE are top notch, and I have no doubt things will proceed with the folder plans with great success. That is how the grand scheme of things works out for good, honest working people like you guys.

Go for it :thumbup:

Best,

James
 
Jeff, I know this is certainly disappointing, but I think it's a blessing in disguise.

I was one of those who voted not to support a foreign-made ESEE folder, as I feel to strongly that our manufacturing base here in the US has been whittled away by good companies going offshore for one reason or another. I hated to see that happen to such a great company like ESEE. I found it both unbelievable and down right embarrassing that there wasn't a US maker willing to accept a project like the ESEE folder, just more evidence that we need to support US manufacturing even more in my opinion. I know someone will pick this project up because this will be a profitable gig to say the least.

I'm thrilled to hear that Rowen is looking into the ESEE-3F now, and I'm really hoping this comes to fruition. I have spent $1200+ on ESEE knives and gear over the past few years and I have been pleased with every bit of quality and service you guys provide. Thank you for your dedication to quality, performance, and US-made products, and please keep up the good work!

BTW, do you think Mr. Rowen might stamp "Idaho Made" on the ESEE-3F scales? ;)
 
Sad news to hear. But I belive that I will get my Esee-3F folder in top quality whether it´s made in LionSteel or elsewhere.

I just wish you luck in finding reliable partner, cause this folder really needs to get to production :thumbup:!!!
 
My biggest problem with this all was, you shook on it. To me a handshake is more then a piece of paper and says a lot about a man. I have been following this for a while. The whole US made thing sounds like an excuse to walk away from deal cause something better came along for him. It got asked i'n the beginning if people were okay with it not being made in the US. I'm sure there is a lot more to this and it was bs the way they backed out. Esse is an outstanding company and once again I am amazed how you guys stay all nice about deals going south. I would be dropping f bombs to say the least not complementing the guy on his knives. If they wanted to back out he should have told you esse and lion weren't going to be compatible but would honor his agreement for the first 2 thou. Sorry it happened but I'm sure it will work out and I learned another company I won't give my business too
 
this is not at all what i expected to see on here today... that's pretty sad. it seems that they would have at least had some idea of their production limitations, if they are backlogged for a year, last week when they talked to you. seems like that's something that should have been disclosed on his part. sorry you guys are having to deal with this lunacy, but as already mentioned, it may be for the best. kind of like finding out your fiancee is cheating on you instead of finding out your wife is cheating on you. hopefully you guys will find a dependable, quality us maker that can handle the order and do the izula folder too. :) either way, you all have a devoted following here that will probably continue to buy whatever you put out. thanks for letting us know.
 
Alfaholic said:
Unacceptable.
To waste your precious time and effort at SHOT when you could have been negotiating with others is unacceptable and disgusting business practice.:thumbdn:

He should be ashamed of himself. He will never see a Dollar of my money.

The ESEE-3F is a winner Jeff. I hope you find another reputable US manufacturer to make it.
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:thumbup::thumbup: Handshakes aren't like it use to be??? Just say I don't have time is alot easier.
 
Hevy Devy said:
Coming from europe I don't think it's a cultural problem when a handshake nothing counts. I think it's a personal problem. For me a handshake counts as a binding legal document but there many stinkers out there (worldwide) with a completely different mindset.
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and gianni isn't one of them. he produced quite a lot of knives for mckf italian forum, for an italian online store, for a french forum ... everything went well with both. even if this was very small runs sold at really great prices with not much profit to be made. he honnored all the deals in time and there wasn't even a handshake, just talks on forums and emails. my guess is either he is really way too busy and didn't see it coming or there is another, more personal problem or misunderstanding.

and btw, i don't know gianni in any way, havent dealt with him, perhaps exchanged a few comments on french forum. i don't work for lionsteel ... :D
 
I really had no dog in this fight either, but I want to say a Word and a Handshake mean everything to me. Screw the Culture thing. That was just a shitty thing to do...I wish you guys the best with finding a company that you can be trustworthy with. I'm sure you will make this happen. Gives me a new excuse to buy another knife!
 
I have also been raised that a handshake and a mans word means a whole lot more then a signed piece of paper. I hope this Esee folder project gets worked out with a US supplier. I am wanting one of these as soon as all the details can be worked out with a US company. Best of luck on getting these out as I know alot of people on here and everywhere are wanting them.
 
Whatever the timeline, if Gianni made the deal with ESEE then discovered that he was going to be getting big orders from his current clients and he knew he couldn’t do both, he had to choose. If it was either take on a new project or continue producing the current stuff that had gotten Lion Steel to where they are, then that’s probably a wise choice.

Now the issue is that everyone thought the deal was made and the deed was done, but that wasn’t the case.

Hopefully this thread won’t turn in to a bunch of bashing and pissing and moaning. It’s to let us know what is going and what happened.
 
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