Kershaw man looking for a spyderco.....

Thats true......just seems like alot of money for a knife when they are only paying someone in Tiawan 1.50hr to make it!!!!! Kershaw does have there line in China but those knives are all under 50 bucks atleast, numbers on that knife dont add up lol That gives me alot more to think about b4 buying
 
yoko said:
I can understand that , but sadly if you think about it kershaw/zt is in essence owned buy a foreign company (sorry if I'm wrong) that employs and builds knives in America, then you have spyderco that is an American company with some production knives that are made in Taiwan
Or a foreign built GM or Ford, lines are so blurred now a days
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That and I think people often equate Taiwan with China when, despite China's belief to the contrary, they are not the same thing at all. China is a Communist Regime with some free market thrown in, Taiwan is democracy with a highly skilled and educated work force. Take a look at a Southard in person and any doubts that it was made by someone who knows their stuff and took extreme care in what they did simply go away.
 
northend816 said:
Thats true......just seems like alot of money for a knife when they are only paying someone in Tiawan 1.50hr to make it!!!!! Kershaw does have there line in China but those knives are all under 50 bucks atleast, numbers on that knife dont add up lol That gives me alot more to think about b4 buying
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Should mention to that I strongly doubt they are paying the workers $1.50/hr in Taiwan. The average hourly pay for a factory worker in Taiwan is about $6.50/hr or so. Roughly 7 times the salary of a Chinese worker. And not much lower than the average of $8-$9 /hr here in the US. Sorry for the constant replies. My wife is Chinese and does a lot of import/export work here in the US so this kind of stuff has kind of rubbed off on me.

Correction: Wife just told me average in Taiwan is actually like $7.50
 
Thanks for that info........i learned more in that post than in all of high school put together. Its good to hear they are making ok wages for their work in the factories in Tiawan. It does seem to be a beautiful knife but if im going to pay hundreds on a knife i want it to be made in America thats just how i am.There are way to many people out of work on the home front to be putting money in someone elses pocket half way around the world. Even if it isnt an American company its putting americans to work. Now arent most Spyderco knives made in colorado or something????????
 
Yes most are made in golden Colorado
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northend816 said:
i just looked at the southard......looks nice but has big price tag lol is it made in Taiwan???????? seen it written on blade. if so thats way to much for a non american made knife!!!!! wouldnt think on spending that when i could back American workers by getting a ZT
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A lot of people will tell you this but the taichung taiwan knives have astounding quality. If you are hesitating because you want to support US labor than by all means go ahead, but if you are hesitating because you think they are not worth it, than you are making a mistake.
 
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I too want American made knives, I've hesitated from buying a Southard for the same reasons as you but I don't know I'll be able to resist the domino (even though id love to see golden markings on it)
 
Yoko, I don't know if you could say that MOST Spydies are made in Golden. They manufacture in four places that I know of. The Byrds and value line Spydies (Tenacious family) are made in China, some are made in Taichung Taiwan, some are made in Seki City Japan, and some are made in Golden. Personally, I think that the Taichung and Seki Spydies are as good quality as those being released from Golden. Although..... I really love a knife that proclaims that it was produced on Earth! :D
 
ZT560, USA assembled, foreign steel, KAI (Japanese company)

Southard, foreign assembled, USA steel, Spyderco (USA)

Both great colaboration knives, but the USA preference for one over the other doesn't hold.
 
northend816 said:
i just looked at the southard......looks nice but has big price tag lol is it made in Taiwan???????? seen it written on blade. if so thats way to much for a non american made knife!!!!! wouldnt think on spending that when i could back American workers by getting a ZT
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Agreed. The Southard is overpriced. Don't get me wrong, I am a free-market capitalist and believe in the best product for the money, regardless of country of origin, but I agree.

That being said, I suggest a Manix 2. If you like the stoutness and "feel" of a ZT or some of the larger US made Kershaw's then you will definitely appreciate the build quality of the Manix.

For what it's worth I would take my Black Manix 2 over my Rake (or any other Kershaw I own, or any ZT my friends own) by miles. MILES. Then again the cutting edge of the Rake is more comparable to the Manix XL, in which case the opinion stands, because I love the Manix XL just as much :p

Get one, you'll see what I mean.

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YMMV but I feel like a winner everytime I think about how much I spent for the Southard, $223 shipped. Brad Southard's custom flippers go for $500 and up and there doesnt seem to be any drop off in quality with the Spyderco Southard. I've handled over ten Southards now in stock in my area and they are all exactly the same in regards to lockup. The fit and finish is consistent in all that I've held and it equals that of midtechs and customs at twice its price.

I would recommend it to any knife enthusiast.
 
i see ur point but one is helping the american work force more than the other.....im talking people having a job hear in america not companies putting money in their pocket. i see it different in a way
 
im really looking for something in the 75 dollar range......dont want to spend to much on first spyderco and maybe end up not liking them
 
northend816 said:
i like bigger knives, G-10 handles, non- serrated, and something i can get open fast.
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Manix 2 XL, big, beefy, and depending on how adept you are with a thumb flick, opens fast.
norhtend816 said:
i just looked at the southard......looks nice but has big price tag lol is it made in Taiwan?
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norhtend816 said:
but if im going to pay hundreds on a knife i want it to be made in America thats just how i am.
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You can't afford a Southard, no shame in that. The Southard is the real deal when it comes to a high end production flipper. Notice I said high end, you get what you pay for. Comparing my Southard to my US made ZT 560 it's not even close, the Southard is much more precise and solid in its deployment. If you want a big Spydie under a $120 then a Manix 2 XL won't disappoint. If you want the best production flipper on the market then I'd recommend a Southard.

Jibbles said:
Agreed. The Southard is overpriced.
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Curious on how you formed that opinion. Have you handled a Southard?
 
How about this Dragonfly i see in the exchange???? looks like a good knife with G-10 handles i like.......any feedback on it?
 
If you want a fast opening larger knife that has G-10 scales and sells for about $75, you want the Manix 2. It fits all of your criteria. And it's a Golden made knife.
 
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