Ken Onion joined forces with CRKT

It is China or Tiawan. Am not involved in it and am sure if Rob comes on he can post to clear it up. Also if AG says Tiawan am sure that is correct as I am sure he and Goldie got all the info before hand.
Dan
 
Dan Delavan said:
It is China or Taiwan. Am not involved in it and am sure if Rob comes on he can post to clear it up. Also if AG says Taiwan am sure that is correct as I am sure he and Goldie got all the info before hand.
Dan
Click to expand...

Thanks Dan. They're both China BTW, PRC and ROC. ;)

With Ken keeping his eye on the quality, these should be nice knives regardless of where they're made.
 
Daniel said:
Knifecenter is showing them on their site now.
Click to expand...

Knifecenter also shows made in Taiwan. I may have read into it
wrong but Ken seemed insulted when a statement was made that
they could be made in China. Ken's headed to Taiwan and I keep
seeing China brought up. It's a nice looking knife and I've always
been a big fan of Kens designs. I'd just like to know before I spend
$100 + on a knife where it's made......because it's a sweet looking
blade. :thumbup:


PG5768 said:
Thanks Dan. They're both China BTW, PRC and ROC. ;)
Click to expand...
 
svrider3 said:
Knifecenter also shows made in Taiwan. I may have read into it
wrong but Ken seemed insulted when a statement was made that
they could be made in China. Ken's headed to Taiwan and I keep
seeing China brought up. It's a nice looking knife and I've always
been a big fan of Kens designs. I'd just like to know before I spend
$100 + on a knife where it's made......because it's a sweet looking
blade. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

That's perfectly understandable wanting to know the country of origin of any product before you purchase it, especially if it's a production folder costing more than $100. From my take on it Ken sounded pretty offended by the suggestion of a Chinese factory producing these so if I were a betting man I would put my money on Taiwan, of course there have been posts that says other wise so hopefully we will hear from a CRKT representative or Mr. Onion himself soon.
 
hwpaintballer said:
That's perfectly understandable wanting to know the country of origin of any product before you purchase it, especially if it's a production folder costing more than $100. From my take on it Ken sounded pretty offended by the suggestion of a Chinese factory producing these so if I were a betting man I would put my money on Taiwan, of course there have been posts that says other wise so hopefully we will hear from a CRKT representative or Mr. Onion himself soon.
Click to expand...

I hope so. Like I said, it's a sweet looking blade. :thumbup:
 
hwpaintballer said:
That's perfectly understandable wanting to know the country of origin of any product before you purchase it, especially if it's a production folder costing more than $100. From my take on it Ken sounded pretty offended by the suggestion of a Chinese factory producing these so if I were a betting man I would put my money on Taiwan, of course there have been posts that says other wise so hopefully we will hear from a CRKT representative or Mr. Onion himself soon.
Click to expand...

My question through all this though, is if you are making the first IKBS production knife and trying to maintain very high QC with the knife, why not make it in America? I would gladly pay more for a knife if I know that it's made in USA and that it's been monitored the entire time.

CRKT, wouldn't it just be easier to manufacture it here in the USA (Where is your factory? I don't see the location of your main factory on your webpage. EG: Kershaw- Tulatin OR, Spyderco- Golden CO, CRKT- ???) and be able to watch very aspect like a hawk to make sure it's as perfect as you want it? It seems to me that if you can make it in America with you watching it like a hawk even though the production costs would be higher at least you wouldn't be having to scrap half the knives due to lesser QC and disappointed customers?

I'm intrigued by the IKBS but in my opinion (with no knowledge about business practices) it still seems that if you're looking for the best quality being able to do it here under your nose rather than half way around the glob would be a huge benefit.

If I'm wrong correct me. I'm just curious why you're deciding to make such a high profile knife around the world instead of wherever your American factory is here.
 
A_Blade_Afficionado said:
My question through all this though, is if you are making the first IKBS production knife and trying to maintain very high QC with the knife, why not make it in America? I would gladly pay more for a knife if I know that it's made in USA and that it's been monitored the entire time.

CRKT, wouldn't it just be easier to manufacture it here in the USA (Where is your factory? I don't see the location of your main factory on your webpage. EG: Kershaw- Tulatin OR, Spyderco- Golden CO, CRKT- ???) and be able to watch very aspect like a hawk to make sure it's as perfect as you want it? It seems to me that if you can make it in America with you watching it like a hawk even though the production costs would be higher at least you wouldn't be having to scrap half the knives due to lesser QC and disappointed customers?

I'm intrigued by the IKBS but in my opinion (with no knowledge about business practices) it still seems that if you're looking for the best quality being able to do it here under your nose rather than half way around the glob would be a huge benefit.

If I'm wrong correct me. I'm just curious why you're deciding to make such a high profile knife around the world instead of wherever your American factory is here.
Click to expand...

CRKT is in Oregon, for reference. And I'm not sure if they've ever made anything state-side, so they may not have the facilities to do the manufacturing themselves. ;) Taiwan is quickly becoming the third giant in the cutlery biz, so I tend to look on "Made in Taiwan" a favorable thing these days.
 
The CRKT Wild Weasel and Voodoo were made in the USA. Also the M-16-14sfa was US made. They were all 3 contract knives not made by them.
I think they used Arrowhead knives or something like that to make them.
 
Ok, basically the facts are that the current production Ripple is being made in Taiwan not China or some other podunk factory in the middle of somewhere. Why not in the US? CRKT's choice not Ken's.

Ken is on a trip to Taiwan/China to ensure that everything is happening up to his standards. He said before he left that if they can't or won't do it the way he wants he is pulling the plug on all CRKT projects that are under way or in the works.

Believe me Ken Onion is a machinists/CAD-CAM guys worst nightmare. No matter how good you are you will find your skills challenged by Ken's standards. ABA I know for a fact your "US/American" manufacturers who are involved in the "Plaza Ripple" project are finding this out first hand. I'm glad I don't have to cut all those parts.
 
I wonder if Ken made it back? I am still waiting to hear for sure where it is made.

Also I didn't know that there are 2 sizes of this knife. The small one has a 2.7" blade. The knifecenter lists 6 different models. 4 large and 2 small. I sure wish it was made in the good old USA, I would be all over it. It is priced like a US made knife.:confused: You can buy a S30V Kershaw Boa for the same or less.
 
A_Blade_Afficionado said:
My question through all this though, is if you are making the first IKBS production knife and trying to maintain very high QC with the knife, why not make it in America? I would gladly pay more for a knife if I know that it's made in USA and that it's been monitored the entire time.

CRKT, wouldn't it just be easier to manufacture it here in the USA (Where is your factory? I don't see the location of your main factory on your webpage. EG: Kershaw- Tulatin OR, Spyderco- Golden CO, CRKT- ???) and be able to watch very aspect like a hawk to make sure it's as perfect as you want it? It seems to me that if you can make it in America with you watching it like a hawk even though the production costs would be higher at least you wouldn't be having to scrap half the knives due to lesser QC and disappointed customers?

I'm intrigued by the IKBS but in my opinion (with no knowledge about business practices) it still seems that if you're looking for the best quality being able to do it here under your nose rather than half way around the glob would be a huge benefit.

If I'm wrong correct me. I'm just curious why you're deciding to make such a high profile knife around the world instead of wherever your American factory is here.
Click to expand...

First off , I am having a version of this knife made 100% in America. I just rejected the first batch of blades however because they were not ground very well. These will be titanium handles and CPM 154 blades. Les Halpern is working on this project. I also have a stainless handled version of this knife (AG 's site ) that is made in Taiwan. No it is not marked on the knife that it is made in Taiwan and as I understand it there is some new rule that makes it ok to not have the country of origin on the knife it's self but on the packaging. I don't care either way , CRKT didn't feel it was necessary and I'm cool with that .
There may also be an aluminum version of this knife for the economy crowd that will be made in China. However if the quality isn't up to par on them they will not be released and this line will be cancelled.They have not been released as of yet.
I am hoping I can satisify everyone who is interested in this knife . I hope to have your needs represented . You can choose American made , Taiwan and maybe even China if $ is your biggest concern .

I would like to do the bulk of my knives in America however it is difficult to set up for that and very costly. My biggest delema in outsourcing is finding a company to do the blade grinding. I have not found one yet that can do grinding to my standards, a new set of Burgers is around $300,000- $400,000 a little steep for me right now. It will take time to get the bugs worked out on American mfgr and my own brand but I am confident it will happen. In the mean time I hope to keep the wheels rolling,stay active and keep new quality products comming your way.
 
SPXTrader said:
Not bustin' your balls Ken. I love your stuff (still hoping for a Taboo one of these days) and I'd still like the chance to meet you the next time I'm in Hawaii! I just found it interesting that, based on the above comment, there is no mention of country of origin on the knife or package.
Click to expand...
Great , I felt the kick in the balls as I had just said in an earlier thread that it was made in Taiwan. It is also on the packaging.It has my name on it and I am endorsing it .It just felt like I was being called a liar.Glad I was wrong!!
 
I just returned home from a two week stay in China and Taiwan with Doug Flagg and Rod Bremer from CRKT and had a great time. We spent a great deal of time with several factories and had numerous meetings on manufacturing various products. Caught some potential problems early and beat them up a bit on quality issues as well as your,and my concerns.
 
presz said:
I wonder if Ken made it back? I am still waiting to hear for sure where it is made.

Also I didn't know that there are 2 sizes of this knife. The small one has a 2.7" blade. The knifecenter lists 6 different models. 4 large and 2 small. I sure wish it was made in the good old USA, I would be all over it. It is priced like a US made knife.:confused: You can buy a S30V Kershaw Boa for the same or less.
Click to expand...

Taiwan, Taiwan, Taiwan !!!! Also it is true that the Kershaw Boa is approx the same price and it is a great knife. However the Machining on the Ripple is complex and takes time. This knife would still cost more than a Boa to mfgr stateside. Read my earlier post on the American made version if you are interested in one of them.
 
I've gotta say Ken, after seeing Dan's well loved (:p) custom Ripple, the mid-tech might be a good small gents folder to have. Dan told me about the issues, hope it works out, hope to see some news from the later batches of the CRKT Ripple now that some a$$ has been whipped, so to speak.

And just for the record, I'm with Dan, I love the rounded spine, and will gladly volunteer some time and my hands to grind those spines.
 
Yes , there will be a few more offerings soon. So far I think there are five new knives with CRKT. Hope you like them!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top