No.
Just no.
I'm going to leave this quote by
@Hackenslash from a previous thread. There really is very little more to say about Ganzo than this..
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I don't know how much it will hurt the sales of the original makers, but we all know that the prices are different, the items are different. So I'm sure someone who is buying a copy, wouldn't buy the original because of the price. And the one who buys the original can do it, and knows why it does. These are 2 different markets for 2 different customers and maybe even 2 different uses.
There are many problems with this point of view.
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These are 2 different markets for 2 different customers.
First, there is only one market and one customer. The market is "knives" and the customer is "knife user". The existence of the second market/customer is a fallacy. In the absence of clone and copycat knives, this synthetic market will not exist. It requires the illegal/immoral action of a producer to create this "second" market. In an environment where knife designs, styles and features have NOT been stolen, the knife consumer will make other choices if they are unwilling or unable to obtain their target knife. Perhaps they'll chose a different knife from the same maker. Perhaps they'll choose an alternate original design from a different maker. Any of these actions honor the labor of legit knife designers and manufacturers. There is one certainty; they won't chose a clone knife, to the detriment of the original maker, if they're not available.
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So I'm sure someone who is buying a copy, wouldn't buy the original because of the price.
Second, how can you be so sure? At this, you can only speak for yourself. There have been many, many threads on this forum of a member asking about a particular knife that they desire. Sometimes they can't get the knife due to price. Sometimes they can't get the knife due to availability. Helpful members will offer the poster suggestions and ideas for an acceptable replacement. Sometimes the poster comes back with news of a replacement purchase. Sometimes they show up with the knife in question after having saved for it. I tend to believe that many of those who purchase a clone knife are unaware the knife is a copy. The cloners rely on ignorance and selfishness to prop up their sales. That's why Blade Forums seems to react like a fire ant nest to the question of clones or copies. Its places like this that can take a stand against the ignorance that abets the sale of clone knives. We usually can't do much about selfishness.
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I don't know how much it will hurt the sales of the original makers
Third, we DO know. At least from a few specific manufacturers. Sal Glesser at Spyderco has been outspoken concerning the damage that copies of Spyderco designs have done to their business. Spyderco continues to spend significant funds litigating against sellers of clone and copy knives, mostly with fairly mixed success. Such is the nature of litigation. Why don't we hear more about other manufacturers and their fight against clones? Well, I have a theory. Take if for what it's worth. Some have accepted that they will lose a certain amount of revenue each year to clones and copies. They book the loss to their bottom line and consider it an "operating expense". Others may be actively involved in a fight and opt to keep it private, perhaps to not publicize the presence of a clone or to comply with court settlements. Either way, it's unacceptable that clones exist. We may never win the fight to eradicate them, but I'm certain Spyderco and others will continue the fight and I'd love to help them in any way I can.
There's probably much more to say concerning your statement, but I don't want you to feel like you're being picked apart. In general, the entire attitude is wrong. There are moral and logical fails embedded all through it:
I want [X]
The price of [X] is greater than I am willing to pay
A [Copy of X] exists at a price that I like
The [Copy of X] is damaging to [X]
I buy the [Copy of X] because what I want is more important than [X]
[X] is diminished due to my actions
There's much flawed entitlement in this logic path. The
bolded words should make it clear without me running on further.
@Ebenvoila , you came here and asked a question about knives. You've gotten a wide range of answers, but even those who say go ahead and buy the Firebird will acknowledge that Ganzo steals designs. Despite the info thrown in your direction, you seem to be seeking rationalization to purchase a Ganzo. I might be wrong, but it feels like you knew what you were going to do before you asked. I'm beginning to question whether you came seeking answers or to stoke a multi-page Ganzo thread that lives on the front page of Blade Forums for a few days. At the end of the day, only you can decide what's right for you. I don't think any of us can say more about this topic at this time. Good luck with your knife purchases.
