Knock-Off's

Strider

Strider

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
2,337
I was just looking at the knives for sale on E-Bay as is my daily habit.Master Knives already has a copy of the Terouzola StarMate.Looking further there is what seems to be an exact replica of a MT SO/COM. Also spotted a knock off of a Klotzi wharncliff. I understand all about knock offs or copies but how can they have the Starmate when Spyder Co hasn't even put it out yet. If you see this Sal maybe you could comment on these weasel's
Bob
 
Talked to Bob Taylor yesterday and the original Hobbit/Warrior/AlMar was knocked of before the real knife went into production. Seems TaiWan can move pretty darn quick. I have mixed feelings about knock-offs and I am not sure if they actually do more harm than good.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
www.wowinc.com





 
Talking about the Warrior (not the Hobbit).....I recently saw a full-size knockoff in a Dive shop (in the process of closing down). Talk about crap !
The hooks on the spine had been translated into a totally useless sawback and the blade was a highly polished stainless. Dunno the grade.....didn't bother to look but I will bet it was 420J or worse. Taiwan or Chinese made....not sure.
But the grabber was the Name on the box : Hunting Knife. Hunting what ?



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Brian W E
ICQ #21525343


 
$$'s from unsuspecting people who know nothing about quality knives and buy a blade just because it looks cool?

Just a thought.
wink.gif


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Mouse Assassins inc.

 
Oh yea??? Well I saw a Microtech Halo knock off at a gun show a couple years ago! J-U-N-K!! Need I say more?
 
I don't see "knock offs" to be a threat to anyone in the knife world. After all we all know a knock off is just that!

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I have to kind of take exception to that last post.
Yes, knock-offs are a threat, if only because 95% of knife buyers don't know the difference, and they buy that junk, it won't cut, it breaks, it totally pisses them off, and they blame everyone, not just the knock-off maker, and just quit buying. Not much of a way for a custom maker or manufacturer to benefit from that. I've tried to convince guys that have went through that to buy a good knife, (not even my own) and it was like beating my head against a wall

madpoet
 
I purchased a couple of these last month. First time ever (just had to see for myself). The knock offs were of the full size m/t socom. The blade is aus-8 and very sharp, handles good cast, lock...how do I say...hokey...some kind of polished or plated material. I haven't taken them apart yet. Might remake the lock on them for fun. So, except for the lock they work well. Will I ever grab one of these and think I've got one of my Microtechs, Not Even a remote chance. If you like to play and tinker it's a good deal. Just remember the price about 1/8 the price of the real thing. And do I regret buying these..NO..will I buy more..NO. that's enough for me.
 
Last year I was part of crew at a booth pushing hand-made knives at a huge fishing show in Long Beach, California. At that show there were lots of $500 fishing reels, and folks selling expeditions to remote places in Alaska, and other signs of discretionary income. There was only one other booth with knives. That was some guys who were selling knives in the $15-$25 range (i.e. Taiwan, not People's Republic), including knock-offs and arguably original designs. While I was standing there, I heard some stranger say to another, "Boy, these knives are expensive!"

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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com

 
I can't find the Master Knive's knock off of the StarMate on E-Bay..anyone?

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A man doesn't automatically get my respect, he has to get down in the dirt and beg for it.
 
I have tried buying a few new knives on eBay and have always been greatly disappointed, even considering the extremely low expectations I had for them. When you see what looks like a good sharp picture there showing what appears to be a nice black anodized finish, it turns out to be cheap black paint, with chips around the edges, and sprayed onto metal still showing all the scars and scratches from fabrication.

If you really want it you can find better quality knock-offs in the Smoky Mountain Knife Works catalog for less money and with a satisfaction warranty. No more of that eBay ROSTFREI junk for me!
frown.gif

 
ROSTFREI's are Philippine-made but even I wouldn't trust these even if I'm Filipino.

I'd like to know if the Taiwan made (I presume) Spyderco knock-offs from Smoky Mountains are reliable enough for one-time last-ditch slash and thrust work? I'm specially interested with their Civilian copy.
 
The term ROSTFREI is the German word for "Rust Free". It appears on many Taiwan and Chinese blades simply because many of there blades are shipped to Europe and the term is more widely known there. It does not denote the country of origin. Sad thing is some dealers rub off the "Made In Taiwan" and then show only the Rosfrei and say it is made in Germany
frown.gif


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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
www.wowinc.com




 
I have never had a problem with knock offs as long as they do not pretend to be the real thing. Sometimes I really just can not afford the "Real Thing" and the Master Knives I have bought are not bad and in some ways have made me want the "Real Thing" even more. Kind of like an apetiser.

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Dave
Scuba Doo
 
Mike, thanks for the correction on the ROSTFREI info. That's what I like about forums like this, I get to learn from people like you and debunk some junk!
 
A designer spends a great deal of time and effort to create a design. They refine it, sometimes patent it, tool up to build it, advertise it so you know it exists.

The designer tries to build it right so you will enjoy and appreciate it. Now, just when the market wants the result of this designers hard work, an unknown company steels the design, steels the research, copies the tooling, steels the advertising and offers a cheap copy at 1/10th the price (with good margins).

This unknown company doesn't even put their name on it. They don't want you to know who ripped them. They didn't try to do anything right. They got your bread! The only thing they were intersted in!

When you buy the copy, you hurt the original designer. The guy that set out to make something good for you. And you support the thief. There is something wrong here. If you knew how many designers and inventors stopped creating because of this cycle? Do you have any idea how many poentially great designs have been lost?

This whole formum is based on the passion that knife nuts have for the designs and inventions created by the original designers. Are you selling them out? and for what? Try to see the big, long term picture. Sorry for the rant.
sal
 
Sal
Well said. To justify buying junk cause the price is right doesn't cut it.I also think you are right on target as to why this forum exists. I firmly believe that the majority of posters here would not buy ripp-offs for the ethical reasons involved. If for no other reason they should also be avoided for the shoddy two-bit mechandise that they are.In other aspects of consumerism how many people here know of others who purchased Knock-offs of say expensive watches only to have there wrists turn green and the time keeping mechanisms break with in a couple of weeks or days even.Just my added ramblings.
Bob
 
What are the real implications of people buying these things? I know a number of people that think spending over $25 on a knife is "ludicrous". Many times they have no idea what they bought is a knock-off. I don't think people on this forum are going to buy knock-off because, it's a different market all together.
It happens all the time and it's not always a bad thing. I'll just bet not everyone out there is using IBM computer. Even big boys do it like S&W (Sigma), where did that get em'.
I beleive in a free market. If someone truly takes your idea take them to court. I just don't see the knife trade is any different then any other trade out there. You know knife manufacturers watch each other, if one company comes up with a great idea just watch, it'll migrate.
Just how much of someone elses idea is taken before we call it a knock-off.
 
Clocker
You own a knife co.you collaborate with a well known custom maker on a design,you both agree on a knife.Now you go about it from the manufacturing process you arange for the steel and scales and all the materials needed plus the machinery to implament it being made.You start showing the protypes around and take out ads in the various publications and also tables at the big shows.Now all this doesn't happen over night and just when you are about to introduce the new knife to the public you find out some jerk has beat you to it and put out a cheap imitation of your knife at a fraction of the cost. All your planning and work just went south not to mention the cost invested in the whole deal. Now I ask if you don't find this practice pretty sneaky and low to ride someone elses coat tail and steal his idea?You can talk free market all you want but that doesn't justify sucky buisness practices and ethics
Bob
 
Bob
I agree, such a crime would suck. I've worked with many projects in which the first thing done is to get a patent pending, so there could be legal recourse. Sucky buisness practices and ethics don't have to happen to have a free market. My point is that what I've seen as knock-offs can't truly be compared. Quality is the big difference. It's like the million's of tons of import tools that are in this country. They were junk and they are junk. I use tools everyday and nothing compares to the real thing. They may look alike but that's where it stops (oh,sometimes it makes for a good laugh).

Have a great weekend!!!
 
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