If you lay a Benchmade Series 100 or 200, a Jag and one of the Herbetz's knives side by side and were blindfolded you could't tell them apart by picking them up.
The tooling and designs for this particular style of knife has been floating around the production knife manufacturer's world for years.
When one company can't or won't make a type of knfe any longer, they sell off the tooling and designs to the highest bidder.
The only reason the the prices are what they are is the fact that it is much cheaper for a company to "farm" its production work out to different companies, then it is to do all of the work itself.
What is most likely happening is one company is making all of the blades as the blade shapes and grinds on the blades are identical, and putting different tang stamps on the blade and another company makes all of the handles.
That is why the mold marks on the handles are the same on two different maker's knives.
Jaguar imports the knives into the country in parts to get past the import restrictions.
Ever wonder where their knives are made?
Benchmade is in a class by itself as it does all of its work "IN HOUSE".
Don't be misled by a tang stamp.
I am not saying one is better than another, except for the Benchmade series.
I think their 100 and 200 series knives were held to a higher standard of quality than is found today.
Benchmade still makes the finest production quality Bali-Song in the world today.
But again the key word is "production". That is why a "China Cheapie" costs $5.00, a Jag costs $30.00 and a Benchmade Model 42 costs $150.00 plus.
Until you get into the world of the "Custom Balisong" knives there is not a great deal to select from.
Don't get me wrong, while I make balisong knives, I have a whole drawer full of Jag's and "China Cheapies" that I play with, experiment on, completely destroy to see what makes them tick and enjoy the H*** out of.
Regards to All
ChuckG
[This message has been edited by ChuckG (edited 10-13-2000).]
