High end clones...what are your thoughts?

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Sisusari

Sisusari

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As I've grown my collection, I continue to want a Shirogorov. But, they're expensive, and its difficult to rationalize the price for a single knife. Now, obviously there are a ton of clones of popular knife designs, some of which only rip off the design, some of which even feature stolen logos, etc. What are all of your thoughts on clones? What are good sources for clones? How can people be careful of getting ripped off?
 
Sisusari said:
How can people be careful of getting ripped off?
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Really? You want to buy a design that someone ripped off, but you don't want to also get ripped off by them.

It's simple: don't deal with people whose business is ripping off others, and your odds of getting ripped off go way down.
 
I guess my question was more, is it worth it to try a clone before deciding whether or not to put the money down for an authentic one, or are they too different that a clone wouldn't really be comparable. I don't have any clones myself, but on other sites they seem fairly common.
 
Sisusari said:
I guess my question was more, is it worth it to try a clone before deciding whether or not to put the money down for an authentic one, or are they too different that a clone wouldn't really be comparable. I don't have any clones myself, but on other sites they seem fairly common.
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No, there is no reason to buy a clone.
 
Never met a comparable clone yet.

I wanted to check out a ZT, a few members here offered to let me borrow theirs to check them out.

Bottom line is a clone no matter how good it looks is never as good as the original, save your nickels and dimes and buy the real deal or see if someone will let you try one out.
 
Dearest OP - You are going to get chewed up and spit out for asking that question (especially the part about "what are good sources..."). With very few exceptions, folks around here feel very strongly about the subject, and nearly unanimously believe that "clones" are irredeemably damaging to the hobby. I tend to agree, but mostly because I object to stealing another person's or company's intellectual property. Instead of buying a clone of a knife you can't afford, perhaps it would be better if you bought the most expensive knives you like and can afford, and work your way up the ladder (so to speak), if that's your goal.
 
meh ... the only reason to buy a high-end clone or ripoff of a high-end *anything* is wanting to fool others into thinking you've got something you really don't.
 
Nope nope nope.
You'll never get anywhere near the feel or performance of the real thing.....so why do it?
Joe
 
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Ankerson said:
No, there is no reason to buy a clone.
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For spare parts to original and expensive knife when company doesn't support you. And in such case it's my last knife from that company.

There was time I was strongly against clones but now I don't judge someone who bought clone but still I don't buy clones.
 
Seems like Spark made it very clear in the Rules Section about clones and counterfeits, they do not belong in Blade Forums so why are you asking where there are good sources to buy them.
 
ourgon said:
For spare parts to original and expensive knife when company doesn't support you. And in such case it's my last knife from that company.

There was time I was strongly against clones but now I don't judge someone who bought clone but still I don't buy clones.
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Wow. If (and that is a big "if") your "clone's" parts fit the original, then it seems your "clone" is a "counterfeit."

Even worse and more inexcusable.
 
Clones are harmful to the industry and designers in a number of ways, and will not give you an experience similar to owning a 'real' version of any given clone. For someone who is at all detail oriented, small nuances of difference between a clone and the knife being copied can indeed make or break the desire to own the original. Could be weight, minute changes in design or texturing or build quality, or even performance, edge quality only a part of that.

Let me put it this way; a few days ago, I had an acquaintance approach me and ask me to make him a knife, which turns out to be an exact copy of a design he saw online, something which he didn't want to pay the full price for, as he knew it would be cheaper through me since I'm not entirely established.

If I had gone through with it and made the knife exactly as he wanted it, I would be at fault for ripping off someone's design. What about the original designer? He'd never see a dime from this guy. Hardly fair. Besides all that, if you were to buy a high end Microtech ripoff, for example, would you be able to send it in for warranty work, should something break or fail? I highly doubt that you'd even be tempted to buy a second one, if you bought the "high end" ripoff at half the price of the original.

Save yourself money in the long run, don't support shady business practices, and find some way to get the knife you want in hand, if you want to feel out your decision first.
 
TravisH said:
meh ... the only reason to buy a high-end clone or ripoff of a high-end *anything* is wanting to fool others into thinking you've got something you really don't.
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Absolutely, its a deception. Fake knife, watch, pen, anything = fake person.
 
Use the search function OP , these threads never end well and you won't find the answer your looking for . It's ironic the fear of being ripped off ,when your ripping off the knife company when you buy a clone.
 
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