Future of production knives

V

Vince000

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2019
Messages
411
Is anybody concerned that a decade or so from now, virtually all production knives will probably be made in China? Many U.S. knife makers have already moved their entire production lineup to China/overseas (e.g. Pena, Chaves, Cold Steel, etc.) and now folks like Microtech are dabbling more and more in China. The economics of manufacturing just so overwhelmingly favor doing it in China it might be impossible for CRK, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc. continue to compete in the production space down the road... Is it all downhill from here?
 
No. Taiwan, Japan, Italy, and other places that aren't China will still be around.

Spyderco is my favorite maker. I don't think they will cease Japan or US production anytime soon. I think their business model is ideal. China makes the budget Byrd line. Japan does the next tier (Delica, Endura, etc), and higher priced Spydercos are US made.

Spartan Blades branched out into Taiwan to make a more budget friendly knife. My Astor in CTS XHP is fantastic.

People will continue to support CRK, Medford, White River, TRM, etc and US manufacturers. I think the average adult understands a US based manufacturer is going to be more expensive than an overseas made knife.
 
I'm optimistic for US manufacturing. Especially at the higher end. The holy trinity of knives are all US produced. China is succeeding at saturating the market with quality mid tier knives that have no soul, street cred or cult following.
 
Vince000 said:
Is anybody concerned that a decade or so from now, virtually all production knives will probably be made in China? Many U.S. knife makers have already moved their entire production lineup to China/overseas (e.g. Pena, Chaves, Cold Steel, etc.) and now folks like Microtech are dabbling more and more in China. The economics of manufacturing just so overwhelmingly favor doing it in China it might be impossible for CRK, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc. continue to compete in the production space down the road... Is it all downhill from here?
Click to expand...


The future is now, boomer
 
TheArab said:
China/Overseas aren't equal. The Japanese & Taiwanese are known for good quality control. China has issues with quality control, & my experience with American things made in China hasn't been rewarding.
Click to expand...


It sounds like you're buying low end, maybe even no-name OEM manufactured imports and thinking that somehow reflects what actual manufacturers who happen to also be Chinese can put out. It's like buying an unimpressive CRKT or Kershaw and then saying you won't buy a Spartan or a TRM because you haven't had good experience with American knives. It makes no sense.
 
NG VI said:
It sounds like you're buying low end, maybe even no-name OEM manufactured imports and thinking that somehow reflects what actual manufacturers who happen to also be Chinese can put out. It's like buying an unimpressive CRKT or Kershaw and then saying you won't buy a Spartan or a TRM because you haven't had good experience with American knives. It makes no sense.
Click to expand...
Yes & no... Yes, mostly low-mid range imports (which should have some level of quality control). But last I checked, Gerber was still a name in America, no? Their China made knives are :thumbsdown:

No it's not like buying an unimpressive CRKT or Kershaw and then saying you won't buy a Spartan or a TRM because you haven't had good experience with American knives, because I didn't say I wouldn't buy Chinese products. I would, especially those actual Chinese brands i'm seeing around the forum, people seem to be happy with them.

But what other nations have over China, is that even their mid range products have good quality control.

imo
 
As I read through this. I hear a distance whisper!!
Never say Never!! 🤔😮🤔
John ✨
 
My guess, is the cost of skilled workers in US has finally reached a point where if a business does not outsource, it inevitably will fall into the downward spiral of raise price - less sold - higher average cost - have to raise price - even less sold - even higher average cost...
 
TheArab said:
Yes & no... Yes, mostly low-mid range imports (which should have some level of quality control). But last I checked, Gerber was still a name in America, no? Their China made knives are :thumbsdown:

No it's not like buying an unimpressive CRKT or Kershaw and then saying you won't buy a Spartan or a TRM because you haven't had good experience with American knives, because I didn't say I wouldn't buy Chinese products. I would, especially those actual Chinese brands i'm seeing around the forum, people seem to be happy with them.

But what other nations have over China, is that even their mid range products have good quality control.

imo
Click to expand...
From my personal experience, it really depends on specific brands and how they choose to conduct business.

I wonder if your "mid-range" also include Civivi. I definitely see more appraise than complaints about that brand here. Also, I'd say many "high-end" Chinese brands are actually "mid-range" prices.

Meanwhile, the QC of Japan Spydercos and Taiwan Ka-bar / Cold Steels, meh...I'd buy Chinese products for the same money all day every day. They'll definitely be in much better fit and finish, at least from my personal experiences.
 
UNBLF said:
From my personal experience, it really depends on specific brands and how they choose to conduct business.

I wonder if your "mid-range" also include Civivi. I definitely see more appraise than complaints about that brand here. Also, I'd say many "high-end" Chinese brands are actually "mid-range" prices.

Meanwhile, the QC of Japan Spydercos and Taiwan Ka-bar / Cold Steels, meh...I'd buy Chinese products for the same money all day every day. They'll definitely be in much better fit and finish, at least from my personal experiences.
Click to expand...
Hi
It does depend on the brand I guess.
That Civivi i've been eying, I might buy one in the future..

My KA-BARs are made in OLEAN-NY USA, & they're perfect. I'd never buy THAT knife if it's made elsewhere, regardless of where. I had no idea it's also made abroad..
 
No, for a few reasons:

1) There are new American based companies popping up periodically too.

2) The top American manufacturers are stronger than they’ve ever been and show no signs of wanting to change their business model anytime soon.

3) There are several high quality Chinese based manufacturers, so getting hung up on the name of the country something is produced in is missing the forest for the trees. Every single country that has knife manufacturers has great ones and crap ones. If you’re able to dispel outdated notions on quality being country specific, you may find a lot of great knives you would have otherwise overlooked.


Honestly, the biggest shift we're seeing these days aside from established brands shifting production, is knife designers abandoning the need to work with big brands, and starting their own lines with foreign manufacturing. This is not necessarily a good thing or bad thing, but if you consider more options than ever be for produced by quality manufacturers then it’s probably a good thing.
 
I have so many knives, I'll be ok. I don't tend to buy knives from China*, and find it irritating that I essentially have to research every brand I see for sale on the Exchange, because 90% of them are made by We or Reate, and so get crossed off my interest list. Ya know, I remember back when knifemakers were people who made stuff. Now, many of them are just Instafamous dudes who put together some drawings in CAD or wherever, and send 'em off to the Chinese along with a check, and get back a box full of knives they didn't turn so much as a single screw on. This is even happening in the Traditional world as well.

However, it is what it is. Enough people today don't care where their knives come from that neither those manufacturers, nor the makers (and their Instagram fans) who've outsourced their designs to China will miss my knife dollars.

The good news for me is that there are still companies here in the US and elsewhere (like Italy or Switzerland) making knives I enjoy. It'll be fine. :D

* Save it, thanks.
 
I've owned a bunch of Reate and WE knives over the years and have never had a problem with any of them. When I buy a knife made by them I usually don't even think about whether or not its going to be centered or evenly ground, because I know (at least within a reasonable degree of certainty) that they will be QC'd very well. Whenever I buy a ZT/Benchmade/Spyderco I always have inherent QC anxiety because more often than not I know that they will show up with some sort of issue. I do prefer to support American companies when I can though.
 
The future is robotics. Robots can do many tasks from simple machine work to accounting better, faster, and much cheaper than humans. For almost any trade today there exists a computerized machine that can do it better and cheaper. Even cars can be made to drive themselves. It's just a fact.

The big questions I have is if no one has a job who is going to buy all of this manufactured stuff. How will the rich 2 percent control the masses if they don't have jobs to keep them in line.

It's a good question maybe someone knows the answer but I can't figure it out.
 
greater said:
The future is robotics. Robots can do many tasks from simple machine work to accounting better, faster, and much cheaper than humans. For almost any trade today there exists a computerized machine that can do it better and cheaper. Even cars can be made to drive themselves. It's just a fact.

The big questions I have is if no one has a job who is going to buy all of this manufactured stuff. How will the rich 2 percent control the masses if they don't have jobs to keep them in line.

It's a good question maybe someone knows the answer but I can't figure it out.
Click to expand...
I know an answer
All and everything will be free to all
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top