"Horizon" 2014 new knives Lightning quick opening, from china Reate custom knives inc

For $350 and you call it a custom, it isn't clear yet whether the quality/detail/tolerances proves to justify and even exceed the cost... Should perhaps target a lower pricepoint with another model to attract interest. New company AND have to overcome political biases...There are custom/mid tech makers based all over the place not just here in the US. Some of their knives go for crazy prices on the secondary market here. Will this company be able to shake the stigma? Time will tell.
 
A Justice said:
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, they're also custom - you can't throw out comparisons to Spyderco and ZT knives.
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Manufacturers from China have tried to market their factory knives as Customs before.
I hope he isn't trying to do that here, but it kinda sounds like it. Thats why I asked him.
Mid-tech at best, but I don't think these are true customs.

I also wonder if the materials used to make these knives from China(from companies we've never heard of) is really what they claim. I guess I'm a skeptical person by nature though, so I may be wrong to wonder that. Can't help it though.
Maybe he can do a pass-around so a few members can test one out.
 
A Justice said:
He has said it a few times.

"custom knife is by ReaTe Knives design.
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Because he said it a few times?? So if it is a custom what changes can you make to the knife?:confused: I call BS on the custom part. This looks to be just another CNC China knife except it's expensive.
 
I love the knife,but the price is a real dealbreaker for me. I currently own & have paid less for the following knives ; DDR madd maxx dagger,Umnumzaan,Star tac ,Star-benza,Socom Delta,Crawford Carnivore & Kasper,ti nives,Speed tech,Grayman dua,Brous division & T4,ZT0600,to name a few. I dont think this knife is so light years ahead of some of what i have currently that i would pay 350.00 for it. i thought the purpose of it being made in china would be a much lower price for similar materials.It also has many similarities as the kershaw piston ,as far as blade & handle shape.....
 
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Ken44 said:
I also wonder if the materials used to make these knives from China(from companies we've never heard of) is really what they claim. I guess I'm a skeptical person by nature though, so I may be wrong to wonder that. Can't help it though.
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Wondered the same thing myself. But I didn't want to be the first to say it, lest I should be flamed for two things instead of one. Well, I can be second.
 
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Dont anyone panic,im sure theres plenty of numskulls who will pay 350 for it.:D
 
I know that people like to throw around different definitions for Custom, Mid-tech, etc., but generally customs are defined as small batch sizes and detailed quality control on an individual basis. If they are finishing the parts on every single piece for an exacting fit and finish, the knives fall into the category that people with a Knifemaker subscription here sell at. It doesn't matter what technology he's using if he's running a small shop with only one or two employees and is personally fitting every knife - and if you read his posts, that seems to be the case.

A knife does not need to be a one of a kind to be considered a custom, and it doesn't have to be a special order. Most custom makers will make several examples of a model, but there are exactly the same.

If he has 5-10 employees and there is a single person on the assembly line fitting each knife, it would be a mid-tech.

Think of Todd Begg - even though he made lots of Bodegas, they were custom knives for a long time until he expanded his operation - now they are usually considered mid techs. Same for US makers that people are paying 600$ for their knives right now - if it's a 1 man shop, they're usually considered customs and they get the high price.
 
Google definition of a custom knife:

"custom knife
web definitions

A knife made to a customer's specifications."

Not like Google is the final word on anything, but that seems to be the general consensus of the definition.
 
Many things are still unclear. Maybe he meant custom level quality, like someone else said he may be lost in translation. Also, he hasn't denied if you can indeed order knives to your individual specifications... We're doing a lot of speculating.
 
goldie said:
I thought the purpose of it being made in china would be a much lower price for similar materials.
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That would be the case if it were Kershaw or another US manufacturer that outsourced a knife to China. Doesn't work quite the same when it's a Chinese based company.
 
That is true. In this case all the money goes back to China.

Bigfatts said:
That would be the case if it were Kershaw or another US manufacturer that outsourced a knife to China. Doesn't work quite the same when it's a Chinese based company.
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Outstanding questions:

IS it custom, or not?
Is the $350 for the M390 version, or for the S35VN version?
Does it have a warranty?
How does the F&F compare to other knives?

Those 4 questions (and answers) will decide if this is a good value or over priced.
 
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mmarkh said:
Where are they made?
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mmarkh said:
Oops should have read the whole thread. I'll pass
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mmarkh said:
Yes I do.
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mmarkh said:
Because he said it a few times?? So if it is a custom what changes can you make to the knife?:confused: I call BS on the custom part. This looks to be just another CNC China knife except it's expensive.
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mmarkh said:
That is true. In this case all the money goes back to China.
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In a political sense, if you are against patronizing a Chinese company, then more power to you. But in a business sense in relating to him and his products It's a Chinese knife, theres nothing wrong with the maker getting paid. Same as if you buy a Rockstead, or Shirogorov or other foreign knives.


Interesting how your posts progressed from wanting to know more about it to outright criticism once you find out where it's made. You're really going out of your way to discredit the guy. From your comments, I take it that you are throwing shade at this guy's introduction thread for political reasons and not the knife.
 
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These threads have come up before from various manufacturers in China claiming their knife was a Custom piece. They never were. The people that's been around awhile know this.
 
If that's the case they must have a disconnect with the meaning. I do tend to think that these are midtechs also but the high price makes me consider other ideas since that's def no chump change for them.
 
It shame to see so many people voice negative opinions and condemn this man to failure before anyone has even held one of his knives.
 
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