Is there info or a way to find out who is who in the made in USA knife scene?

RousingRabbles said:
I haven’t read through all the replies here so I may be reiterating points, but I look at manufacturing origin like blade steel descriptions; A company is going to give the most complete description of perceived positive qualities that they legally can to sell their knives. It may seem shady to some but saying “Knives made in the US” or “manufactured in the US” is not, nor has it ever been a claim for 100% US sourced and made. If a buyer doesn’t understand that then that’s on them, not the maker. So any company that says “Made and sourced entirely in the USA” is just that. If details are omitted, look for the things they’re not saying. The majority of US made knives and goods in general use parts sourced from overseas.

From what I understand, the Hoback controversy was only an issue because people imposed a false belief based on Hobacks vague description but was never explicitly claimed by them. Someone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong though.
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If you mean by "People" the dealers he was shipping the knives to after the made in China stickers were peeled off then sure. Those dealers should have known to conduct background checks.
 
tokerblue said:
This isn't tin foil territory? When has any major US manufacturer ever stamped a US made blade with a steel that it is not?




These are Chinese made blades that had issues. If a company manufactures their blades there, then it's always a possibility you're not getting what is advertised.
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Uhhhhh...I mean, Bark River did it. 🤷‍♂️
 
Quiet said:
Uhhhhh...I mean, Bark River did it. 🤷‍♂️
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What got me on this topic was thinking about the Jake and Brous stuff. Then I got to wondering if even in the 1980's until present times if perhaps there were cases of this and it was never discovered or reported? There seems to be a lot of hidden truths in the knife industry.
 
JAF1973 said:
What got me on this topic was thinking about the Jake and Brous stuff. Then I got to wondering if even in the 1980's until present times if perhaps there were cases of this and it was never discovered or reported? There seems to be a lot of hidden truths in the knife industry.
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That's true, and it's certainly not made better when things come to light, and the loyal fanbase some of these guys have built, circle the wagons and try to deny and obfuscate so that others don't find out their guy is dirty.
 
This is the email I just got from Benchmade.

Thank you for contacting Benchmade,

All of our current knives are built right here in Oregon City, Oregon! Most of our materials are sourced within the US as well, with few exceptions.

Thank you,

Shea T.
Consumer Specialist
Benchmade Knife Company
 
Regarding your quest for a $200-$300 USA made folder, check out American Blade Works Model 1 and the Freeman Knives 451. Availability on these can be spotty, but if you keep an eye out on social media, or here on the exchange, you will find something nice that meets your criteria.


JAF1973 said:
After all this Jake Hoback controversy. Along with Jason Brous, Etc. I was wanting to know if there was any way to find out if companies like Case, Ka-Bar, Ontario, ESEE, Hogue, Zero Tolerance, Kershaw, Spyderco, Benchmade Etc are made in the USA? Partially made in the USA, USA made from foreign parts, Etc...

The reason I bring this up is because I am flat out confused. The majority of my knives are Taiwan, chinese, and european made. But when I have the money. I like to purchase a ZT or Hogue just for reasons of supporting USA made products and trying to keep a few fellow countrymen employed.

I am starting to feel that I cannot trust companies that claim to be 100% made in the USA in light of the recent Hoback controversy. And as far as buying customs go. My budget at best is $200 -$300 which pretty much disqualifies me from a made in the USA custom.

I guess what I am trying to ask is if there is some ways to find out if the made in USA companies I mentioned are legit and ways to verify their sources and claims? Other than taking the word of a company?
I do not mean to bring up a sore subject. But at this point. I need some help on this confusing subject. I am confused and starting to question every company to the point of where I am starting to not enjoy the knife hobby.
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Legendary_Jarl said:
What was the controversy? link?
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When it's not exactly Made in the USA - Hoback

Hoback now admitted they source parts from out of country From ig Sorry for the small text, but it's what the company posted. My immediate thought is what a scummy thing to do in all of your advertising using the claim USA made (sorry missing 100 percent mind you), when it's really more...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Have fun reading!
 
If it says “Made in the USA”, I want the blade ground and heat treated in the US. I want the handles machined and milled in the US. I want it assembled by Americans.

I’m not that concerned if the raw steel came from Japan or Germany. Or, if the raw wood, micarta or G10 came from another country.
 
JAF1973 said:
As far as faking steel performance. It happens quite often. Go watch some Cedrick and other test videos. Good D2 making 300 clean cuts through rope and another knife with supposed D2 making 40 to 80 cuts. So please don't throw me in the tin foil hat territory. Very uncalled for.
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Your questions lead me to believe you’re new to this community, so I’ll point this out for you. Something you’re not taking into consideration as far as steel performance, is edge geometry. You can two knives with identical steels that are ground and sharpened differently, and one may have the potential to outperform the other depending on the task at hand. Don’t go to YouTube looking for definitive results about steel performance, those tests are hardly scientific.
 
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Grayman1984 said:
Your questions lead me to believe you’re new to this community, so I’ll point this out for you. Something you’re not taking into consideration as far as steel performance, is edge geometry. You can two knives with identical steels that are ground and sharpened differently, and one may have the potential to outperform the other depending on the task at hand. Don’t go to YouTube looking for definitive results about steel performance, those tests are hardly scientific.
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Combine differing geometry with variance in heat treatment and you'll soon find there is MUCH nuance to all this.

I will say though that Pete of Cedric and Ada does a really nice job organizing his findings and his methodology; he keeps the data organized not just by steel type, but by specific model of knife, method sharpened before testing, etc. He seems to provide a decent idea of what to expect from specific models.
 
The_Iron_Joe said:
Combine differing geometry with variance in heat treatment and you'll soon find there is MUCH nuance to all this.

I will say though that Pete of Cedric and Ada does a really nice job organizing his findings and his methodology; he keeps the data organized not just by steel type, but by specific model of knife, method sharpened before testing, etc. He seems to provide a decent idea of what to expect from specific models.
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Yes, I forgot to point that out. Like when 3V isn’t really 3V because your production batch heat treatment method couldn’t get the temps right, but you sent the knives out with 3V proudly stamped on the blade anyway? *ahem, Benchmade*

To be fair, they didn’t technically lie. They just labeled the HRC lower than what everyone knew the optimal heat treat for 3V to be, so everyone assumed they made a mistake and just went with it.
 
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Sgt 127 said:
If it says “Made in the USA”, I want the blade ground and heat treated in the US. I want the handles machined and milled in the US. I want it assembled by Americans.

I’m not that concerned if the raw steel came from Japan or Germany. Or, if the raw wood, micarta or G10 came from another country.
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^^^This.
 
Yo Mama said:

When it's not exactly Made in the USA - Hoback

Hoback now admitted they source parts from out of country From ig Sorry for the small text, but it's what the company posted. My immediate thought is what a scummy thing to do in all of your advertising using the claim USA made (sorry missing 100 percent mind you), when it's really more...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Have fun reading!
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Thank you. He's a "Christian" so it figures.
 
Grayman1984 said:
Your questions lead me to believe you’re new to this community, so I’ll point this out for you. Something you’re not taking into consideration as far as steel performance, is edge geometry. You can two knives with identical steels that are ground and sharpened differently, and one may have the potential to outperform the other depending on the task at hand. Don’t go to YouTube looking for definitive results about steel performance, those tests are hardly scientific.
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New yes. My post count alone gives that away. And I got plenty to learn. I also have suspicions as of late. That I hope I can get resolved and put behind me.
However, Cedrick is one of the 10% I halfway trust and respect. Along with 5 minute knives. The only 2 knife reviewers I find worth subbing to.
Cedrick's tests are not scientific. But he does tests with D2 from different manufacturers and will sharpen both blades with the same spec/blade angles before testing on the same medium.
It is because of Cedricks testing that I have issue with overseas D2 being considered true D2. And I also get that perhaps a bad heat treat is the culprit in some (Not all) cases. Like I said. I got a lot to learn. No denying that.
 
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