I got a knife from China a few weeks ago from a New Jersey importer.

[jbmonkey]

Here's the CH. The online description says 9cr18mov, not D2:

The CH one looks exactly like this Kubey one:

Which looks just like this Two Sun:

So who is copying whom?

likely all made in the same factory for those "brands." not sure copying is involved but could be way wrong, maybe one "brand" designed it and are mad at the others.

 

[Hackenslash]

Here's the CH. The online description says 9cr18mov, not D2:

The CH one looks exactly like this Kubey one:

Which looks just like this Two Sun:

So who is copying whom?

Actually there are some subtle differences with the Two Sun knife; blade has a top swedge, no scale relief where a thumb stud would be and the flipper tab to name a few. But, they all seem to share the exact same profile. I guess that brings me to the next question. Do these share a common production facility or a common designer?

I like the one CH knife I own but now I have to wonder if buying a CH doesn't support a cloner.

 

[chiral.grolim]

Here's the CH. The online description says 9cr18mov, not D2:
...
The CH one looks exactly like this Kubey one:
...
Which looks just like this Two Sun:
...
So who is copying whom?

I'd never heard of any of these companies until now, so i looked them up quick. It seems that Kubey is just a knife retailer like Ruko, they don't make knives but rather brand them or help pay for production (think Taylor Brands). I could not figure out if Two Sun or CH were OEM companies, competitors, or just brands like Kubey. Is it possible that the TwoSun version is made by the same people making the CH version or that there is a licensing agreement between them? The hardware, flipper, and index region are of different design, and the CH looks far more refined imho... If one is a copy/rip-off, I'd vote for the CH as the original.

 

[Fanglekai]

I googled the CH knife and found a youtube video that talked about it being similar to Two Sun. Another search brought up the Kubey. They're all very similar, with the Two Sun having some differences. I have no idea if it's all one company or three companies and someone is copying or what the situation is. Maybe someone has an explanation, because I sure don't know.

 

[Natlek]

Really. I cant seem to find the seller you are speaking of. But i am finding sellers who even have it listed as d2 and 9cr18mov in the same page. And what bothers me is there is no designation on the blade of which steel was used. Plus the fact this brand claims zdp on a $70 knife has me weary. Some of these brands out of china i have seen and believe their claims. Ch has not won me over at all.

So if the steel is ZDP knive should cost 500 $ ? And 500 $ is proof that the steel is ZDP ? Awesome

 

[craytab]

So if the steel is ZDP knive should cost 500 $ ? And 500 $ is proof that the steel is ZDP ? Awesome

Is that what he said or is that what you infer? Plenty of ZDP knives don't cost anywhere near $500. What is your point?

Also *knife.

 

[arrowhd]

Looks like the CH model is called the "Longwind".

 

[Natlek]

Is that what he said or is that what you infer? Plenty of ZDP knives don't cost anywhere near $500. What is your point?

Also *knife.

My point is that you can not know which steel is based on price of knive

As a huge fan of chinese knives I still have to call bs on them. A few sellers try to flub the steel and claim D2. After a few people complain usually its revealed to be 9cr18mov. But to be fair the terms D2 and 440c are just generic terms that any steel can qualify as if certain elements are present in the right quantities. So to say its 100% d2 isnt lie but by most standards and opinions not completely accurate either. But just looking at this knife on the chinese websites quite a few sellers list this exact knife as a 9cr18mov blade. I would post a link but its a selling website. I have been told we can do this for informational purposes such as in this case but id rather not given my known neutral stance with clones. This brand also sells a knife claiming to be zdp-189 for $79. And that is very hard for me to believe.

 

[craytab]

My point is that you can not know which steel is based on price of knive

If it is a titanium frame lock with a big thick slab of ZDP 189 that ships from an unknown company in China it is likely not a *knife made from ZDP-189. Top tip!

 

[NJBillK]

My point is that you can not know which steel is based on price of knive

Ok, so Do You believe that the knife being mentioned in that post Is made of zdp-189 and it would have a quality HT on the alloy?
I am not asking if you know whether it is or not, but do you Think it is?

Please make your decision based on price alone, using your experience with knife manufacturers and knives as as a whole as your reference point.

 

[JohnWesley]

I have seen that CH knives come in different steels. I am almost certain that mine is D2 based on how well the edge holds up compared to 9cr18mov knives I own. It has not needed sharpening yet, which will tell me pretty quickly if it is D2 or 9cr18mov. I have seen those others, the Two Sun is definitely lower quality to the CH, I am not sure about the Kubey, which appear to be popular in europe.

 

[Fanglekai]

I have seen that CH knives come in different steels. I am almost certain that mine is D2 based on how well the edge holds up compared to 9cr18mov knives I own. It has not needed sharpening yet, which will tell me pretty quickly if it is D2 or 9cr18mov. I have seen those others, the Two Sun is definitely lower quality to the CH, I am not sure about the Kubey, which appear to be popular in europe.

Would you mind posting some pictures of your CH?

 

[Natlek]

Ok, so Do You believe that the knife being mentioned in that post Is made of zdp-189 and it would have a quality HT on the alloy?
I am not asking gif yu know whether it is or not, but do yu Think it is?

Please make your decision based on price alone, using your experience with knife manufacturers and knives as as a whole as your reference point.

Well , I belive . If you can bye for $ 100 this ........... https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...d-zdp-189-satin-plain-blade-green-frn-handles

 

[NJBillK]

Your right, but a few points:
isn't making some injection molded FRN cheaper than milling Ti slabs?
Just in machinery alone this would be the case. Especially since any damaged or malformed FRN scales can be melted and remolded.

Wouldn't the R&D alone make the framelock mechanism and interface not worth it to sell the knife for $75?
-----
All of that said, you still have yet to directly answer my questions.

 

[PURPLEDC]

So if the steel is ZDP knive should cost 500 $ ? And 500 $ is proof that the steel is ZDP ? Awesome

I never said that. But your post is proof that you will be snarky for no reason and will make things up on the fly and put words in peoples mouths. Awesome is right. You might want to work on that. Especially if you expect a legitimate response.

 

[PURPLEDC]

Well , I belive . If you can bye for $ 100 this ........... https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...d-zdp-189-satin-plain-blade-green-frn-handles

Hhhhhmmmm, large company that sources and ships their own steel, has the proper connections to acquire zdp in quantity which isnt exactly easy to come by, injection molds a handle and also has a long standing reputation for legitimacy and honesty and whos factory has the experience to machine and heat treat that steel.......... yeah i totally see how these scenarios are identical.

Now at the end of the day i said the claim by ch made me weary. And i find it hard to believe. That is exactly what i said and exactly what I meant by it. I didnt say it was for sure false and i didnt say it was for sure based on its price alone. My concern is that there is hardly any gap in price between their models no matter what material is being claimed and yes that to me is a warning sign. Again not definitive of anything. If you feel differently fine. But dont come at me simply because I am suspicious of them.

 

[Hackenslash]

I don't have it available now but at one time I had a price sheet for various size billets of stainless from a known manufacturer, I think maybe CPM. What surprised me was how little price difference there was between "entry level" stainless and premium stainless...like S110V was only a little more than S30V. The price only really jumped going to laminates or things like Damasteel or Devin Thomas Damascus.

Where a stainless steel grade affects the cost of a knife the most is the complexity of the grind on some of the harder to work with steels.

If a manufacturer can make a knife with S30V for $70, they can make it with S110V for $80 given a simple grind (like FFG). There's no magical price point for ZDP-189 either.

Now all you knife makers who know way more than me can pop in and tell me how wrong my assumptions are, lol.

 

[craytab]

Well , I belive . If you can bye for $ 100 this ........... https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...d-zdp-189-satin-plain-blade-green-frn-handles

Bye is right....as in bye bye, you've lost all credibility......

 

[jill jackson]

Some of the cost is wear on equipment. It's a big deal in replacement of tooling used to make the blades and time involved.

 

[Ratman79]

Bye is right....as in bye bye, you've lost all credibility......

my thought exactly!