If a knife is very expensive you will choose to buy fake?

[Karda]

A little perspective is in order. I suspect that half the people in this thread who put on a big sad face because someone buys a $12 Sanrenmu are the same ones posting in the skin forum at BF, or are supporting the porn industry where pathetic, abused women's lives are destroyed, or are sneaking their girlfriend to the abortion clinic early on a Saturday morning, or are cheating the taxpayers by failing to report sales tax on their internet purchases. To you, the guy with the $40 Chinese knife in his pocket is a douche bag. To me, the its the one who surfs internet porn while his wife isn't home and has a Hinderer in his pocket. Everything is relative. Is the guy with the Sanremu a douche? Maybe. But how much more so the guy in the mirror.

At least the things you listed are original work, not ripoffs of someone elses hard endeavors.
Hardly a valid comparison and totally off topic.

 

[Ankerson]

Following international patent and trademark laws is not standing on a soapbox. It is just doing what is right. I don't preach, but I do practice.

But is everything else that you do or done in your life perfect and right 100% of the time?

Don't answer that as it was just making a point.....

 

[Karda]

Lets discuss the topic instead of each other and remain on it folks.........

 

[Ankerson]

I would say in general I don't blame and or look at the companies for making the knives, but I do look at the end customers who buy them because without them there wouldn't be a demand for the products in the 1st place.

All the companies are doing is providing products that people want.

I am not saying that it's the right thing to do morally or legally, but the market is there for the products.

In the end it's between the legal departments of the companies involved because that's what their jobs are.

 

[Ken44]

A little perspective is in order. I suspect that half the people in this thread who put on a big sad face because someone buys a $12 Sanrenmu are the same ones posting in the skin forum at BF, or are supporting the porn industry where pathetic, abused women's lives are destroyed, or are sneaking their girlfriend to the abortion clinic early on a Saturday morning, or are cheating the taxpayers by failing to report sales tax on their internet purchases. To you, the guy with the $40 Chinese knife in his pocket is a douche bag. To me, the its the one who surfs internet porn while his wife isn't home and has a Hinderer in his pocket. Everything is relative. Is the guy with the Sanremu a douche? Maybe. But how much more so the guy in the mirror.

This thread is about knives, and that is all this thread should be about IMO.

Lets please keep this about knives only, and leave abortion, porn, taxes and all things except knives out of this.

The OP asked a simple question. If a knife is very expensive will you choose to buy fake?

No, I would not buy a fake knife.

 

[Shotgun]

Frankly it's never crossed my mind to buy a fake. I don't really understand why people buy them. So, no for me.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

You are making huge assumptions about my life and how I live it. That disappoints me. I won't buy fakes. Read into that what you will.

But is everything else that you do or done in your life perfect and right 100% of the time?

Don't answer that as it was just making a point.....

 

[The Logical One]

There are fake Ferrari's, fake LV wallets/handbags, fake knives. The way I see it is, all the fake merchandise caters to a very specific type of people. The same people who would go out and buy something that's fake and use it out in public with no shame, are not the same ones who would buy the real deal to begin with.

Personally for me I like nice things that happen to be expensive, not just because something is expensive. It sounds stupid but there are plenty of people out there who likes something simply because it's expensive reason being they equate it with status and quality.

IMO there are plenty of $60-200 knives out there that are GREAT. If I can't afford a sebenza or hinderer I would have no problem enjoying a less expensive knife.

 

[Freman Bloodglaive]

Someone suggested the Kershaw Cryo as a substitute for a Hinderer? I would have suggested the Buck Vantage Pro S30V. It's one of those knives where all the money went into the blade, and that's a design ethos I can get behind. Sharing handle components with the cheaper models (the 420HC compares on price to the best Chinese models, and good on Buck for taking them on rather than complaining about it) keeps the overall cost down.

No skin in this game myself. I'm not an American and I tend to buy stuff based on how it looks, but there are good reasonably priced models from American manufacturers rather than go for either ridiculously priced high end knives, or their Chinese emulators.

To the original poster, take a leaf from Buck. Invest in good steel (9Cr13MoV minimum), don't directly copy another knife although I think everyone can accept that there is nothing new under the sun, so you'll have features that are shared with other knives. Make sure your build quality is good. To break into the American market you may have to approach a US brand to carry your knives (like Boker and Schrade are doing for Enlan) but ensure that they incorporate your brand as well (manufactured by "insert brand here") so you start to get recognition.

 

[Ankerson]

You are making huge assumptions about my life and how I live it. That disappoints me. I won't buy fakes. Read into that what you will.

Not assuming anything and wouldn't, but nobody is perfect and that is a fact.

 

[stabman]

A little perspective is in order. I suspect that half the people in this thread who put on a big sad face because someone buys a $12 Sanrenmu are the same ones posting in the skin forum at BF, or are supporting the porn industry where pathetic, abused women's lives are destroyed, or are sneaking their girlfriend to the abortion clinic early on a Saturday morning, or are cheating the taxpayers by failing to report sales tax on their internet purchases.

And my avatar is a Komodo dragon.
Irrelevant? So was that post.

 

[stabman]

nobody is perfect and that is a fact.

I am.

And I don't buy rip-off knives.:thumbup:

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Strawman fallacy. And an Ad Hominem to boot. I never said, nor implied, that I was perfect or even good. Just that I don't buy fakes. Other people can do what they want.

Not assuming anything and wouldn't, but nobody is perfect and that is a fact.

 

[bld522]

I never said, nor implied, that I was perfect or even good.

Perhaps not, but your avatar is both perfect AND good.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I miss your forehead, which reminded me of David McCallum as a highly evolved being in Outer Limits. Now THAT was perfect.

Perhaps not, but your avatar is both perfect AND good.

 

[bld522]

Is this better?

 

[PURPLEDC]

The same people who would go out and buy something that's fake and use it out in public with no shame, are not the same ones who would buy the real deal to begin with.

Cant really say that about everyone. I know myself I will buy whatever I like as long as it doesnt have manufacturer logos used illegally. And even then i may buy it and pimp it so that the makers mark is removed. But I will still buy higher end knives as well. There is no one "stereotypical" person who will or wont buy a replica or copy knife. I really think there are way too many assumptions in this entire thread. Bottom line unless you are a person who WOULD buy a replica or counterfeit knife you really cant speak to their intentions or motives. Just as I couldnt simply assume that people who wont buy them are simply snobs. Because that would be an unfair assumption.

And my avatar is a Komodo dragon.
Irrelevant? So was that post.

I cant say for certain but It would appear that his point is that its very easy for people to judge someone who would buy these kinds of knives and think ill of them. But we all have to remember that there isnt a single perfect person and that probably many people who may be perfect in the world of knife morals may lack them in different and probably more important areas. Its probably just a reminder not to judge others too harshly unless we are willing to judge ourselves.

 

[bld522]

I really think there are way too many assumptions in this entire thread. Bottom line unless you are a person who WOULD buy a replica or counterfeit knife you really cant speak to their intentions or motives.

Thank you. I couldn't have said it better. As someone who has seriously considered buying a replica or counterfeit knife, I can say that my reasons for doing so would be diametrically opposed to most of the assertions that have been voiced in this thread. For instance, the last thing I'd do is attempt to pass a counterfeit knife off as real. In fact, no one would likely ever see it but me. And I'd either give it away or throw it away before I'd sell it. How does that square with the notions a lot of folks have expressed here regarding why someone would buy a counterfeit knife?

Here's what I think. I think some people are afraid that a counterfeit knife could be so well made that it represents a real threat to the original at a fraction of the original's cost. And in order to protect the investment they've made in their own collections, they'd rather attack it sight unseen than get one and find out for themselves. I suspect it's fear, not ethics, that's the real driver here.

 

[Dorito Monk]

For me, it depends on what you include in the 'fake' category. If you just mean those chinese knockoffs that people try to pawn off as the real deal to scam a few bucks out of people, then the answer is No. If you include all of the knockoff / homage / reproduction / copy knives that are out there, that's another thing entirely. I can think of a few examples of knives that I wouldn't buy originals of because they're prohibitively expensive, but still really like the designs.

The price tags on Randall-made knives will pretty much prevent me from ever buying one (unless I either win the lottery or I make a fortune in the Meth business), but I do really like the looks of them, so I might end up buying a Blackjack some day (which are very obviously knockoffs of the Randalls, but are much more affordable). Damn those are nice looking knives. I'd even look into Cold Steel's knockoff version of the Hackmann puukko, too, if I could find one at a decent price.

Lately, I've been looking for a decent example of this classic pattern:

I always associate this pattern with Marbles knives, but from looking around, it seems like decent examples of these Marbles knives go for huge chunks of change. There are tons of other makers from back in the day that make similar designs, though, like Kinfolks, Case, and Western, and some of these other makers seem to go un-noticed on auction sites (thus commanding lower prices). I'm totally going to look into some of these other companies if I can't find a Marbles version for a price I'm willing to pay, regardless of who the original maker of this design was.

Come to think of it, I nearly bought a knockoff Grohmann a little while ago from a custom maker (might have been someone right here on Bladeforums, but I can't remember). I own a few real Grohmanns and, although I like them and am all for small knife companies like that, their steel leaves a lot to be desired. I wanted something that would hold an edge for a reasonable length of time. If you want something that looks like a Grohmann but aren't happy with Grohmann's steel choice, your only option is to look at customs.

So, yeah, I can definitely think of some situations where I'd buy a knockoff/reproduction/homage knife. Like I said, that doesn't include the cheap chinese fakes being marketed as the real deal, but it does include a whole lot of American makers who borrow a suspicious amount of designs from other makers...

 

[Nerfin]

Very interesting read so far, lots of valid points and passionate responses. I read all ten pages.

If a knife is very expensive you will choose to buy fake? Short answer - No I would not choose to buy fake. I would save up for the real knife, even if it was expensive.

A question that I kept asking myself while reading was: Could I be fooled into thinking that the "fake" knife is real? Probably. In that case if I choose to buy the knife and it was fake I would I feel like I was deceived, ripped off and cheated.

Fake knives of Chinese origin are to be expected, and we shouldn't be surprised. China has a thriving counterfeit culture which ranges from copying cities from around the world, to knock off brands to fake "Apple Stores". It seems China simply refuses to accept and respect the Western viewpoint of protecting intellectual property. We can make a choice to support their viewpoint with our dollars and it is a personal choice.

There may be a other ways of seeing why copying is so prevalent from China. The first may be that copying is a long-established tradition. It's paying tribute to what is considered important, and students learn the art by copying the Masters. So in certain respects the Masters should feel flattered that they are worth copying.

Another way perhaps is that copying is a sign of their dominance and power, as once they have made copies that are at least as good as the originals then they where never meant to be copies, but meant to surpass the originals. That is when everyone needs to step up their game regardless of what is manufactured, including knives.