Knives Made in China thoughts?

It's a tough deal - China is the place to have something built - They are getting their space program together while we are closing ours down. I don't know what they’re not building.

I never have been a big Union guy - But I'm not anti-union either. I have belonged to a couple unions in my life - but of all the companies to move their manufacturing out of the USA I think everyone of them were Union companies? Does this say anything? Big goverment telling Boeing they can't open shop in SC? - Because of the weather people are being ask to conserve electricty because there is a shortage but big brother wants us to plug in electric cars? Our President told the auto makers yesterday he expects 57 MPG avg. for cars sold in a few years while he drives around in a vehicle thats lucky to get 4 MPG - I just don't understand every thing I know.

I quoted a guy this morning 75 bucks to hand engrave a folder - not chuck it up in a vice & push some buttons on a computer laser - hand draw the pattern & then hand cut it - 75 bucks - Nice guy but he passed on it saying he didn't think it would cost that much - 30 minutes later I put gas in my pickup & it cost me 70 bucks at Sam’s Gas &i had to pump it myself.

Just a sign of the times - I'm 65 years old - might have another 10 years left in me, who knows? If I get to the point I can't drive my Corvette or buy the gas or set at the engraving bench I would just as soon check out - I just feel sorry for our kids & grand kids - Not going to be an easy road ahead. The US has changed - people have changed - the past couple years has really hurt our Homeland - I think it can recover but not so sure it will be in my life time.
 
Most of my Chinese knives are garbage, but were given to me and were of the no-name bucket at the register variety. However I do have a Buck Trio that I did not realize was made in China until after buying it, it is a fine knife. While I suppose the Chinese are fully capable of making good knives I choose to buy US(mostly), European, and Japanese produced blades. Of my knives there are only a few that see all of the actual work. I am knife COLLECTOR first and foremost and I just don't want to spend good money on Chinese produced knives and am not going to collect them, I just don't see them having the future or resale value of something like a Case, Boker, or Benchmade. I equate it to my thoughts on handguns, there's nothing wrong with a Glock they're great pistols, but they just don't have the lasting resale value of a custom 1911. I would maybe buy Chinese produced knives as users, but for a few dollars more I can usually buy the US Produced Case or Buck, or Japanese produced Spyderco I really wanted to start with.
 
Tom Hudson said:
It's a tough deal - China is the place to have something built - They are getting their space program together while we are closing ours down. I don't know what they’re not building.

I never have been a big Union guy - But I'm not anti-union either. I have belonged to a couple unions in my life - but of all the companies to move their manufacturing out of the USA I think everyone of them were Union companies? Does this say anything? Big goverment telling Boeing they can't open shop in SC? - Because of the weather people are being ask to conserve electricty because there is a shortage but big brother wants us to plug in electric cars? Our President told the auto makers yesterday he expects 57 MPG avg. for cars sold in a few years while he drives around in a vehicle thats lucky to get 4 MPG - I just don't understand every thing I know.

I quoted a guy this morning 75 bucks to hand engrave a folder - not chuck it up in a vice & push some buttons on a computer laser - hand draw the pattern & then hand cut it - 75 bucks - Nice guy but he passed on it saying he didn't think it would cost that much - 30 minutes later I put gas in my pickup & it cost me 70 bucks at Sam’s Gas &i had to pump it myself.

Just a sign of the times - I'm 65 years old - might have another 10 years left in me, who knows? If I get to the point I can't drive my Corvette or buy the gas or set at the engraving bench I would just as soon check out - I just feel sorry for our kids & grand kids - Not going to be an easy road ahead. The US has changed - people have changed - the past couple years has really hurt our Homeland - I think it can recover but not so sure it will be in my life time.
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Very well said.

Times sure have changed and for the worse.
 
I really don't understand why people will buy knives made in Japan & not buy knives made in China - China is turning out some very nice knives - sure they make some junk but so does the US & Japan - Look at this 3 blade canoe pattern, mother of pearl Rough Rider - Made in China
760_455_csupload_32171482.jpg
 
Tom Hudson said:
It's a tough deal - China is the place to have something built - They are getting their space program together while we are closing ours down. I don't know what they’re not building.

I never have been a big Union guy - But I'm not anti-union either. I have belonged to a couple unions in my life - but of all the companies to move their manufacturing out of the USA I think everyone of them were Union companies? Does this say anything? Big goverment telling Boeing they can't open shop in SC? - Because of the weather people are being ask to conserve electricty because there is a shortage but big brother wants us to plug in electric cars? Our President told the auto makers yesterday he expects 57 MPG avg. for cars sold in a few years while he drives around in a vehicle thats lucky to get 4 MPG - I just don't understand every thing I know.
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Here's how it works: manufacturing moves to the lowest-cost area that can provide the semi-skilled workers to do the work and the transportation to do the distribution. The Northeast (where I live) used to be that place because it had the developed ports and the rail connections. Once the interstate highway system fully developed and south continued its evolution into a less agrarian-based economy, manufacturing became cheaper there and towns like Albany, Worcester, Trenton and on down in the Northeast lost jobs south -- which was also a place where unions hadn't had a chance to organize. But as the developing world developed, the necessary workers and transport moved offshore, and the jobs followed the low-cost provider (as they always will). In 20 years, as the standard of living and production costs rise in China, the Chinese may be wondering why all the factory jobs have moved to Laos and Mongolia (as they're already moving to Thailand and elsewhere). It's not about patriotism or politics or moral decay or anything like that. It's just business.

So if a manufacturer can get a knife made in China for $10 and get it back to the US for distribution for another $5, that will beat having it made in the US for $20 every time. Or at least until manufacturing and shipping costs make that way of doing business more expensive than another.
 
I bought Chinese knives as a kid, mostly because they were cheap and "flashy" but they all proved to be inferior in function and design, I never had any issues with my buck, case, and benchmade knives that they work and lasted exemplary. I will go out of my way to purchase American made or even familiar Western European made knives. Yet on a final note I do believe China does have the capability of producing fine knives and blades and I am eager to see which direction they take in doing so but until then I'll stay buying American.
 
Robert.B said:
Do you sell any of those that you've put your touch to? that is insanely nice work!!!
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The sad thing is that engraving is how it comes from the factory for $10...including shipping, padded envelope, pearl, engraving, everything...
 
Ag Russell is a paid vendor here - Very respected gentleman - why not ask AG what direction China has taken in the knife world -
 
excuse me? I really don't know where people get their information sometimes - could you please direct me to a link where I can buy these hand engraved knives - sure would save me a lot of time & I will be able to lower my prices!
397762825.jpg
 
Mtell1 said:
The sad thing is that engraving is how it comes from the factory for $10...including shipping, padded envelope, pearl, engraving, everything...
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Facepalm....

No, the don't come engraved unless you buy them off Tom Hudson. The filework, yes, that's how they come from the factory. But the engraving is handwork. And Tom works very hard at them.
 
LX_Emergency said:
Facepalm....

No, the don't come engraved unless you buy them off Tom Hudson. The filework, yes, that's how they come from the factory. But the engraving is handwork. And Tom works very hard at them.
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Sorry, I didnt know he engraves $10 knives, I thought they came from the factory like that. :foot:

:Faceplam:

And to Tom...you just posted a picture of the knife, how I was I supposed to know if you hand-engraved it or it came like that from the factory? You didn't say something like "here is a modification I did." Again sorry for the misunderstanding.
 
Spydiefan04 said:
Most of my Chinese knives are garbage, but were given to me and were of the no-name bucket at the register variety. However I do have a Buck Trio that I did not realize was made in China until after buying it, it is a fine knife. While I suppose the Chinese are fully capable of making good knives I choose to buy US(mostly), European, and Japanese produced blades. Of my knives there are only a few that see all of the actual work. I am knife COLLECTOR first and foremost and I just don't want to spend good money on Chinese produced knives and am not going to collect them, I just don't see them having the future or resale value of something like a Case, Boker, or Benchmade. I equate it to my thoughts on handguns, there's nothing wrong with a Glock they're great pistols, but they just don't have the lasting resale value of a custom 1911. I would maybe buy Chinese produced knives as users, but for a few dollars more I can usually buy the US Produced Case or Buck, or Japanese produced Spyderco I really wanted to start with.
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i don't know where you live, but where i am a glock holds it's value. so much so it makes no sense to buy one used. unless you want a gen 1 or 2, for some reason.

the biggest problem with made in china is people assume across the board....not you, but the average person. so if they bought a flea market chinese folder and it broke they assume everything is going to be garbage. had they bought an srm or higher quality knife...as their first chinese made folder it would be a different take. getting over the misconception of everything made somewhere is good or bad is hard for some people. i call them old dogs cause they refuse to handle new tricks.
 
Tom Hudson said:
I really don't understand why people will buy knives made in Japan & not buy knives made in China - China is turning out some very nice knives - sure they make some junk but so does the US & Japan - Look at this 3 blade canoe pattern, mother of pearl Rough Rider - Made in China
760_455_csupload_32171482.jpg
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beautiful work, Sir! thanks for sharing.
 
Mtell1 said:
Sorry, I didnt know he engraves $10 knives, I thought they came from the factory like that. :foot:

:Faceplam:

And to Tom...you just posted a picture of the knife, how I was I supposed to know if you hand-engraved it or it came like that from the factory? You didn't say something like "here is a modification I did." Again sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Yes I engrave 10 dollar knives I also engrave 1,000 dollar knives - I have sold several hundred Rough Rider Knives to people who want an affordable family heirloom to pass on to their children or grand-kids - There is also a very large group of knife people out there that collect Rough Rider knives that are made in China - Most of my collector clients stay in the back ground - they don't talk about their collections of rare Colt single actions, 1911's or knives - I have hand engraved a ton of knives made in China & other places from around the world.

For years I hand painted pictures - I paid "LESS" then 10 dollars for the canvas I painted on - so if it's a knife, gun, piece of jewelry, golf club, rear end housing out of a 65 Chevy low rider some folks like their stuff engraved - Engraving sets it apart from the stuff you see every day - just because "YOU" don't like it doesn't mean someone else just might like it!

As far as your statement in your post - It appeared you had done your homework & knew what you were talking about. A person should do a little homework before making any post or at least know what the hell they are talking about.

This is the internet & we still have freedom of speech. - Tom
 
Tom Hudson said:
Yes I engrave 10 dollar knives I also engrave 1,000 dollar knives - I have sold several hundred Rough Rider Knives to people who want an affordable family heirloom to pass on to their children or grand-kids - There is also a very large group of knife people out there that collect Rough Rider knives that are made in China - Most of my collector clients stay in the back ground - they don't talk about their collections of rare Colt single actions, 1911's or knives - I have hand engraved a ton of knives made in China & other places from around the world.

For years I hand painted pictures - I paid "LESS" then 10 dollars for the canvas I painted on - so if it's a knife, gun, piece of jewelry, golf club, rear end housing out of a 65 Chevy low rider some folks like their stuff engraved - Engraving sets it apart from the stuff you see every day - just because "YOU" don't like it doesn't mean someone else just might like it!

As far as your statement in your post - It appeared you had done your homework & knew what you were talking about. A person should do a little homework before making any post or at least know what the hell they are talking about.

This is the internet & we still have freedom of speech. - Tom
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Well like I said I didnt know you engraved the knife...Sorry if everyone else here knows your famous reputation and can instantly recognize your engraving from a little picture on a scanner...I thought they came from the factory like that - I mean you didnt post otherwise or post a before and after. Thread is about Knives Made in China, not post your custom work from people you have never heard of before with no comment so we can guess if you did the work or if the knife came like that.

Anyway I dont come to the internet to argue with people or make people upset so sorry if you take offense or have bad will at me, I just like to post a bit and look at some pictures. The RoughRider knives I have seen on the Traditional Forum look nice, so I thought they all came like that from the factory...
 
I haven't seen an engraved rough rider knife in the traditional forum ever except what Tom may have posted in the past.
 
Mtell1 said:
Sorry, I didnt know he engraves $10 knives, I thought they came from the factory like that. :foot:

:Faceplam:

And to Tom...you just posted a picture of the knife, how I was I supposed to know if you hand-engraved it or it came like that from the factory? You didn't say something like "here is a modification I did." Again sorry for the misunderstanding.
Click to expand...
Maybe next time an ENGRAVER (just look at his tag line for big fat letter of who he is and what he does) posts a knife with engraving on it you try to use that brain of yours for something other than cooling the blood.

I can understand that you don't think RR knives are worth engraving, but not everyone has the same taste in knives remember?
 
LX_Emergency said:
Maybe next time an ENGRAVER (just look at his tag line for big fat letter of who he is and what he does) posts a knife with engraving on it you try to use that brain of yours for something other than cooling the blood.

I can understand that you don't think RR knives are worth engraving, but not everyone has the same taste in knives remember?
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Well he is an engraver, but I thought the knife came like that from the factory okay? Its the year 2011, they have machines to engrave things, not all work in the world is done by hand.

Anyway I already apologized to the guy...
 
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