Is OEM the same as counterfeit when it comes to knives

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DougL

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I was looking at an online auction site, and a seller from China is selling brand name fixed blades for about one third the going rate of the same brand name knife in a retail store or of most other online sellers on that same site. I immediately figured he was selling counterfeit knives. I asked him outright if they were genuine or counterfeit, and he responded that they were OEM. That didn't help me much, because I wasn't sure what OEM meant, and I wanted an answer to my question as to whether these knives were genuine or counterfeit. From some online research, I think I determined that OEM may not be counterfeit, but may be made by the same factory as the genuine article but not packaged like the same item sold as regular retail. I saw many references to computer software and hardware, but nothing about knives, though I figure, the same rules should apply. It didn't seem like they were describing counterfeits. Can anyone give me some more information about OEM and how it applies to big name knife brands? Is OEM just fancy terminology for counterfeit? what am I missing here, if anything? I am not so familiar with what's allowed here in terms of naming websites or brand names so I am leaving that info out for now (I'm not being cagey), but if someone knowledgeable on this forum lets me know it's okay to give the specifics, I'd be happy to do so.
Thanks,
DougL
 
DougL said:
I was looking at an online auction site, and a seller from China is selling brand name fixed blades for about one third the going rate of the same brand name knife in a retail store or of most other online sellers on that same site. I immediately figured he was selling counterfeit knives. I asked him outright if they were genuine or counterfeit, and he responded that they were OEM. That didn't help me much, because I wasn't sure what OEM meant, and I wanted an answer to my question as to whether these knives were genuine or counterfeit. From some online research, I think I determined that OEM may not be counterfeit, but may be made by the same factory as the genuine article but not packaged like the same item sold as regular retail. I saw many references to computer software and hardware, but nothing about knives, though I figure, the same rules should apply. It didn't seem like they were describing counterfeits. Can anyone give me some more information about OEM and how it applies to big name knife brands? Is OEM just fancy terminology for counterfeit? what am I missing here, if anything? I am not so familiar with what's allowed here in terms of naming websites or brand names so I am leaving that info out for now (I'm not being cagey), but if someone knowledgeable on this forum lets me know it's okay to give the specifics, I'd be happy to do so.
Thanks,
DougL
Click to expand...
No those are fakes.

The seller is lying to you.

That's how they roll.
 
DougL said:
I was looking at an online auction site, and a seller from China is selling brand name fixed blades for about one third the going rate of the same brand name knife in a retail store or of most other online sellers on that same site. I immediately figured he was selling counterfeit knives. I asked him outright if they were genuine or counterfeit, and he responded that they were OEM. That didn't help me much, because I wasn't sure what OEM meant, and I wanted an answer to my question as to whether these knives were genuine or counterfeit. From some online research, I think I determined that OEM may not be counterfeit, but may be made by the same factory as the genuine article but not packaged like the same item sold as regular retail. I saw many references to computer software and hardware, but nothing about knives, though I figure, the same rules should apply. It didn't seem like they were describing counterfeits. Can anyone give me some more information about OEM and how it applies to big name knife brands? Is OEM just fancy terminology for counterfeit? what am I missing here, if anything? I am not so familiar with what's allowed here in terms of naming websites or brand names so I am leaving that info out for now (I'm not being cagey), but if someone knowledgeable on this forum lets me know it's okay to give the specifics, I'd be happy to do so.
Thanks,
DougL
Click to expand...
OEM means "Original Equipment Manufacturer". Mostly used in automotive parts manufacturing.
Sound pretty sketchy to me for brand name knives.
 
jbmonkey said:
use that term in hvacr industry on parts also......
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Yes, its more of an "authorized" manufacturing thing. Making parts for another company's product. I don't see why the knife industry would be making that distinction.
I mean, the knife is either a Gerber (for example), or its not.
 
Setting aside the ethical concerns and just looking at the actual question, this sounds like it's roughly the same thing as computer accessories/parts.

Want some new mouse feet for your Razer mouse? You can pay (wild guess) $15 for the official Razer-branded feet, or you can go on Ebay and pay $5 for unbranded OEM feet that the seller claims are made in the same factory, with the same materials, and to the same specs as the official ones. If they don't fit, or suck, you're out of luck.

With a knife, it sounds like you're getting -- theoretically -- an unbranded knife the seller claims is built to the same specs as the real thing, possibly with the same materials, in the same factory (that's the OEM part; they're saying they build knives for Brand X, and this one is the same just unbranded), for less money. You're also getting none of the warranty support, customer service, or confidence that comes with buying the real thing, and I'd be willing to be "same parts and materials" is iffy at best and quality is likely much lower.
 
I would completely disregard his OEM comment. The knives are fakes. They look like the originals but that's it. There is no reason to believe that they're made in the same factory or are "generic" versions. Avoid.
 
A person offering you an unbelievable deal says: “This is an unbelievable deal!”

A person trying to rip you off says: “This is an unbelievable deal!”

If you can’t spot the difference in the product, assume the person is trying to rip you off.
 
OEM insinuates that the manufacturer has been authorized by the design owner to make and sell the product, albeit without branding. I can guarantee that the designer of these knives has never authorized the manufacturer to sell these knives.

In the knife world "OEM" has become a shadowy way to designate clones and homage pieces. There are some instances where "OEM" is a legitimate product; ink jet printer cartridges are an example that comes to mind. That kind of OEM relationship doesn't exist in the knife world, to my knowledge.

These knives are clones and should be avoided.
 
"OEM", or "Original Equipment Manufacturer", typically refers to the actual factory that produces a good. For example, if Kershaw contracted out knives to be produced in "Factory ABC", then Factory ABC could claim to be the OEM of said knife (though almost certainly couldn't legally sell them as such on their own, depending on the contract terms).

This sounds like the seller is lying to you and are selling a counterfeit piece.
 
They literally lie that they are the OEM for that brand. To make people believe that they are real. But 99.9% that is false. I get emails from all the manufacturers in China from bearings to guitars and car parts. Everyone says they are an OEM.

They are trying to say they make spyderco knives for spyderco or brembo brakes for brembo but they want to make 'insert product' for you. Its all fake. It's what they are used to saying to gain business.
 
I bought an Ontario RAT 1 in an auction in an unusual color. When I received it, the handle and blade materials seemed appropriate. There was no chamfering on any of the edges, and "Taiwan" and "Knives" were spelled wrong on the blade. I wrote a message informing the seller in China that I wanted my money back because it was a knockoff. He sent me a message informing me that it wasn't fake, that it was an OEM. He told me I didn't need to send it back, and he refunded my money anyway.
 
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What everybody else has said. Fake.

The usual does apply; 1, if something is too good to be true .. 2. You get what you pay for.

Some times, the seller slaps the pic of an original knife with the right logo etc in the sales ad. The one you get is a fake.

Last but not least, the knife might not be up to the standard of the original one - if not outright dangerous to use.
 
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OEM has nothing to do with counterfeit. OEM means that one company produces something for another or they produce something and sell it to other companies that sell it to the final customer
. The term is used in alot of areas, electronics come to mind for me. In the knife area I know that Millit refers to the stuff it does for SK etc. as OEM.
That said the seller may very well be the producer of the genuine product but selling it without the original contractors permission.
 
SV-97 said:
OEM has nothing to do with counterfeit. OEM means that one company produces something for another or they produce something and sell it to other companies that sell it to the final customer
. The term is used in alot of areas, electronics come to mind for me. In the knife area I know that Millit refers to the stuff it does for SK etc. as OEM.
That said the seller may very well be the producer of the genuine product but selling it without the original contractors permission.
Click to expand...

Or far more likely, the seller is using the term OEM to mislead.
A couple posts up, someone mentions buying an "OEM" Ontario Rat 1 that came from a Chinese seller. The real knife is made in Taiwan.
 
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Kootaga13 said:
In life, and knives are no different, you get what you pay for.
You don't pay for much, you don't get much.
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Unless the knife in question is a Rough Rider traditional pattern.

I've not tried one of their "modern" knives or fixed blades, so I can't comment on them. :)
 
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