How popular these knives are in USA?

S

sharpen it

Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
46
Hello guys, I'm a Chinese fan, I like Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, Cold-Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, Kershaw, Gerber, Ontario, ESEE, Chris Reeve, Microtech... In China, these toys are very expensive, and we fans are really like them so much, although people usually think we are crazy to spend so much money on them, because they think these knives are not necessary for everyday life.

I'd like to know, in USA, will people go to buy Spyderco, Benchmade and so on for everyday use, or only blade fans buy them? Are you have some cheaper (maybe not so famous) knives for people, not for only fans?
 
I'd say that mostly only knife fans will buy these brands. Most non-knife people I see are carrying Gerber or something cheap. Or they're carrying a Kershaw from Walmart.
 
Usually, when non knife people need a knife they'll pick one up from WalMart or Target. In rare cases, there are people who own an old Spyderco or Benchmade because they bought it a long time ago.
 
sharpen it said:
Hello guys, I'm a Chinese fan, I like Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, Cold-Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, Kershaw, Gerber, Ontario, ESEE, Chris Reeve, Microtech... In China, these toys are very expensive, and we fans are really like them so much, although people usually think we are crazy to spend so much money on them, because they think these knives are not necessary for everyday life.

I'd like to know, in USA, will people go to buy Spyderco, Benchmade and so on for everyday use, or only blade fans buy them? Are you have some cheaper (maybe not so famous) knives for people, not for only fans?
Click to expand...






You shouldnt worry about our knives being expensive over in China. Your buddies will just make you a FAKE copy of them:barf::mad:
 
jeepin said:
You shouldnt worry about our knives being expensive over in China. Your buddies will just make you a FAKE copy of them:barf::mad:
Click to expand...

Come on, it's not this guy/girls fault.

It would be nice to hear from someone from China, who like quality knives, what their opinion is on the Chinese fakes.
 
Bucks or SAKs are probably the most common over the past 20 years, but as one of the other poster's inferred above, the emergence of gerbers and kershaws in large box stores has probably tipped the balance.
 
I think most people here who are nit knife fans don't know about the companies that make knives that we blade people love.
In the older generation, like my Dad and Grandfather, most men carry the old fashioned kind of knives such as slipjoints or Jack knives as my Dad might call them. Case and Barlow are examples of these.
 
sharpen it said:
Hello guys, I'm a Chinese fan, I like Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, Cold-Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, Kershaw, Gerber, Ontario, ESEE, Chris Reeve, Microtech... In China, these toys are very expensive, and we fans are really like them so much, although people usually think we are crazy to spend so much money on them, because they think these knives are not necessary for everyday life.I'd like to know, in USA, will people go to buy Spyderco, Benchmade and so on for everyday use, or only blade fans buy them? Are you have some cheaper (maybe not so famous) knives for people, not for only fans?
Click to expand...
I believe due to the money system that things that are expensive to you are not expensive to us. That's not always the problem though, people not knowing and our culture advancements have made the blade a weapon instead of a tool so it is now feared. You might find a spyderco or benchmade on someone that believes in quality tools but most often its what we call "gas station knives" or I am seeing a lot of folding box cutters, AKA super knife.
 
I think non knife people only buy expensive kitchen knives and perhaps something of quality if they hunt, hike etc. Otherwise I guess they just pick something up, like a Mora or something.
 
Really only knife guys carry brands other than Buck and Gerber where I live , I also see SAKs,leatherman and kershaw becoming more popular. I take notice when I see someone with another brand because it is rare(like Benchmade or Spyderco). Some of the police in my area seem to carry better quality brand name knives but I would think that is common . I would like to politely ask you what you think of the knockoff/copy knives being made in your country ?
 
Its like a lot of things, what was once for a select group becomes mainstream once they start manufacturing for the big box stores. Look at NorthFace as an example.
Used to be hardcore hiker/mountain climber gear - Now every 11 year old girl has a NorthFace jacket from Dick's Sporting Goods.
Dicks sells Kershaw, Gerber, Buck, Ka-Bar and SOG etc. Will they ever get Spyderco? Dunno.
 
Thalestin said:
Yeah, because your buddy will buy them.
Click to expand...

^This^

The Chinese (among others) currently build what we demand, at the price points we demand. Is it entirely fair to criticize the Chinese for manufacturing items of a certain quality or authenticity, when they are merely meeting the specifications demanded by our countrymen?
 
I don't feel Kershaw or Spyderco have "sold out" by selling to big box stores. If anything it seems Kershaws quality is improving every year. I hope it keeps up.
 
sharpen it said:
Hello guys, I'm a Chinese fan, I like Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, Cold-Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, Kershaw, Gerber, Ontario, ESEE, Chris Reeve, Microtech... In China, these toys are very expensive, and we fans are really like them so much, although people usually think we are crazy to spend so much money on them, because they think these knives are not necessary for everyday life.

I'd like to know, in USA, will people go to buy Spyderco, Benchmade and so on for everyday use, or only blade fans buy them? Are you have some cheaper (maybe not so famous) knives for people, not for only fans?
Click to expand...
With all differences aside, you mentioned some popular brands, and depending on the quality or “fit and finish” the prices go up. I typically stay away from Gerber myself because I don’t care for their mainstream knives that sell at these large stores here; but on the other hand, I’ll buy knives from China too, it just depends on taking a knife (or anything for that matter) for what it is.

I recently got a Japanese knife (Al Mar) and I’m unsure of what it says on the box/knife. I had posted it right before I saw your thread, but interpreters are hard to come by.

Here’s the link to my Al Mar thread.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/908881-Japanese-interpreter-wanted-for-an-Al-Mar
 
Most non knife people will own something like a SAK or leatherman as their main blade. Most regular folks I know think a knife costing over $50 let alone
one thats over $100 is a little crazy.
 
Some non knife people I know have heard of Spyderco and know they are good quality, once in awhile there are 1 or 2 that EDC one. Never Chris Reeve and Microtech etc., only us nutjobs willing to pay that much (and understand why there are more expensive)..? :)
 
thebrain said:
Really only knife guys carry brands other than Buck and Gerber where I live , I also see SAKs,leatherman and kershaw becoming more popular. I take notice when I see someone with another brand because it is rare(like Benchmade or Spyderco). Some of the police in my area seem to carry better quality brand name knives but I would think that is common . I would like to politely ask you what you think of the knockoff/copy knives being made in your country ?
Click to expand...

I'm surprised the knockoff knives are so "famous" in this forum, we have two prime Chinese forums on blade, one strictly forbid talking about knockoff knives, the other have no existing writings for that, but we also talk those rarely.

As a Chines adage says: one cent more, one step to the quality, we fans all know it. A real blade fan must have some quality knives, and can take the difference between knockoffs and qualitys.

Many people indeed go to knockoff knives, usually they are non knife people, they know nothing about knives. Or maybe he's a blade fan, but sometimes just want to find something to use, and don't want to pay much money. Or maybe he just like the perfect design of famous knives... It's hard to say, knockoff knives have very different levels, of course, they are all the same illegal and shameful.

As I said, quality knives are very expensive in China, for example, the money paid for an Endura4 can afford one month's meal (maybe more) in city, and a general white collar's salary (a month, not one year) perhaps can't afford a Senbenza. So most of Chinese blade fans all start from knockoff ones, and on one fine day, will go to quality ones. How many Spyderco, Benchmade... can buy, and whether can afford a Chris Reeve, Microtech, Mad Dog... completely depend on individual finance.
 
A friend got a microtech K/O and he doesn't want to believe me that it's a knockoff. He wants to go on believing that a stranger he met in a bar would give him a 400 dollar knife.
 
I detect saturation intelligence wicking itself into the sponge one post at a time :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top