Looks like Brous is going to China

[marcinek]

Can someone send me a link or something to why people seem to not want to buy Brous knives based on Brous the person?

Again, Google it.

In addition to what @SpySmasher noted, there was his (continued) outrage that "all-knowing keyboard commandos" including some very heavy industry hitters deemed designs like these silly:

There was also quite a bit of dancing around shady heat treats.

In the end, it doesn't seem to matter....his designs have been "badass" enough

to attract customers.

So I sincerely can't imagine why "China" would make a difference as long as he keeps the "badassery," names like "The Coroner," and the bloodspatters coming.

 

[Pilsner]

Again, Google it.

In addition to what @SpySmasher noted, there was his (continued) outrage that "all-knowing keyboard commandos" including some very heavy industry hitters deemed designs like these silly:

There was also quite a bit of dancing around shady heat treats.

In the end, it doesn't seem to matter....his designs have been "badass" enough

to attract customers.

So I sincerely can't imagine why "China" would make a difference as long as he keeps the "badassery," names like "The Coroner," and the bloodspatters coming.

I would say these aren’t so much ‘knives’ as ‘kinfes’.

 

[marcinek]

I would say these aren’t so much ‘knives’ as ‘kinfes’.

He was outraged, at the time, that makers had offered him, a novice "knifemaker" with access to a computer aided milling machine, advice on knife design. Those makers were trying to help a new guy out. I was there. (At another forum.)

He was convinced that knife design was merely milling something that looked like the stuff he did. "Badass." Being able to cut and stuff was not a concern.

Then things went south.

 

[Knicked Digits]

We’ve been seeing chinese brands emerge over the past couple years that are putting out knives that defy the stereotypical Chinese made stigma of cheap and below low quality. It’s still amazes me when I see or hear the comments on China made knives like they’re subpar just because of the country of origin. I work in the manufacturing trade, I’ve been to shops that care about the parts they make and shops that only care about putting product out the door. The same logic appears to apply with China. If you want someone to make you a product and you care about what the end result will look like, you’ll shop around until you find the right business that has all the manufacturing and quality processes that you agree with.

It seems to me that Brous cares about their product and name enough to make sure that they’re going with a good Chinese company. Nothing will ding and tarnish the company name like being compared to cheap, crappy knives, obviously. Plus it’s a smart business move. Make some models in China so they’re more affordable to the general public, non knife knuts, etc. etc. and make other models in the US and keep them upper to high quality. Their top priorities are the customer, bringing in new and keeping the existing satisfied. If a company attempts to stick with one demographic of customer without trying to bring in new ones then it’s gonna have a baaaaaaad time.

In the end, a good knife is a good knife whether it comes from the US, China, Mars, Krypton.... I think it’s time we stop focusing solely on the origin of the manufacturer and start looking at the quality.

 

[halden.doerge]

I've just never seen the appeal of Brous blades before ever. Overpriced D2 with lock stick and shitty grinds. They're just...alll... bad. Like, so bad. I don't know why anyone has bought one ever. I really don't.

 

[B.F.U]

I can't give you a link but I can describe in brief:

A lot of people didn't like the silliness and attitude of Kut Throat Knives. More damningly, he was pretty convincingly accused of ripping off one of his designs. I think it was the Division.

That might help with the Googling.

Thanks for the quick run down!

Sure.

http://bfy.tw/HohW

First, I know almost nothing about Brous other than a friend recently loaned me one of his fixed blades to review and it's an ergonomic nightmare. So I didn't know Kut Throat Knives had anything to do with Brous, or even that it existed.

Second, if you actually go to the "Google it" link you'll see that there are no relevant links to discussions on why people don't like Brous or Kut Throat Knives on at least the first two pages.

So not helpful, as per the usual when people post a "google it" link.

Again, Google it.

In addition to what @SpySmasher noted, there was his (continued) outrage that "all-knowing keyboard commandos" including some very heavy industry hitters deemed designs like these silly:

There was also quite a bit of dancing around shady heat treats.

In the end, it doesn't seem to matter....his designs have been "badass" enough

to attract customers.

So I sincerely can't imagine why "China" would make a difference as long as he keeps the "badassery," names like "The Coroner," and the bloodspatters coming.

He was outraged, at the time, that makers had offered him, a novice "knifemaker" with access to a computer aided milling machine, advice on knife design. Those makers were trying to help a new guy out. I was there. (At another forum.)

He was convinced that knife design was merely milling something that looked like the stuff he did. "Badass." Being able to cut and stuff was not a concern.

Then things went south.

So it sounds like people don't like his designs or consider them practical, and he was unappreciative / dismissive / disrespectful to well regarded members and makers and therefore soured his reputation. Thanks for the great information!

 

[Pilsner]

Thanks for the quick run down!





First, I know almost nothing about Brous other than a friend recently loaned me one of his fixed blades to review and it's an ergonomic nightmare. So I didn't know Kut Throat Knives had anything to do with Brous, or even that it existed.

Second, if you actually go to the "Google it" link you'll see that there are no relevant links to discussions on why people don't like Brous or Kut Throat Knives on at least the first two pages.

So not helpful, as per the usual when people post a "google it" link.





So it sounds like people don't like his designs or consider them practical, and he was unappreciative / dismissive / disrespectful to well regarded members and makers and therefore soured his reputation. Thanks for the great information!

Or you could have just googled it, followed the obvious trail of bread crumbs, and done the work yourself. Instead, you now know a summary of events, albeit a good one.

 

[danbot]

We’ve been seeing chinese brands emerge over the past couple years that are putting out knives that defy the stereotypical Chinese made stigma of cheap and below low quality. It’s still amazes me when I see or hear the comments on China made knives like they’re subpar just because of the country of origin. I work in the manufacturing trade, I’ve been to shops that care about the parts they make and shops that only care about putting product out the door. The same logic appears to apply with China. If you want someone to make you a product and you care about what the end result will look like, you’ll shop around until you find the right business that has all the manufacturing and quality processes that you agree with.

Yes, there are now reputable Chinese companies that are producing high quality knives of original design. Whether or not you like those designs should just be a matter of taste.

It seems to me that Brous cares about their product and name enough to make sure that they’re going with a good Chinese company. Nothing will ding and tarnish the company name like being compared to cheap, crappy knives, obviously. Plus it’s a smart business move. Make some models in China so they’re more affordable to the general public, non knife knuts, etc. etc. and make other models in the US and keep them upper to high quality. Their top priorities are the customer, bringing in new and keeping the existing satisfied. If a company attempts to stick with one demographic of customer without trying to bring in new ones then it’s gonna have a baaaaaaad time.

This is also what Spyderco and Kershaw have done with their "budget" lines of knives.

In the end, a good knife is a good knife whether it comes from the US, China, Mars, Krypton.... I think it’s time we stop focusing solely on the origin of the manufacturer and start looking at the quality.

When it comes to Chinese manufacture, I also consider things from a political standpoint. Things like Human/ workers rights, artificially low currency and a few other things are also of concern to me. Nothing to do with the Chinese people, just politics that I do not wish to reward, which is not an appropriate topic for this sub-forum, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[B.F.U]

Or you could have just googled it, followed the obvious trail of bread crumbs, and done the work yourself. Instead, you now know a summary of events, albeit a good one.

I always forget that forums are NOT a place where people who want to learn more about a specific subject can ask questions that more knowledgeable people can answer to help build the community and spread knowledge and interest in the subject.........

Oh wait

 

[Pilsner]

I always forget that forums are NOT a place where people who want to learn more about a specific subject can ask questions that more knowledgeable people can answer to help build the community and spread knowledge and interest in the subject.........

Oh wait

You were asking about a period of time, involving many layers. You wanted a potted summary, you got one. Congratulations. It is a little different from the specialist advice and information usually offered on forums such as this one.

A little learning is a dangerous thing, so they say.

 

[marcinek]

So it sounds like people don't like his designs or consider them practical, and he was unappreciative / dismissive / disrespectful to well regarded members and makers and therefore soured his reputation. Thanks for the great information!

Pretty much. It's a long story that comes up pretty much every time Brous Blades is mentioned here.

I think most, including myself are tired of telling it, hence the "Google it." suggestions. (searching here would have probably worked also) Nobody wants to beat a dead horse. Well maybe once in a while...

And 1) he sells knives; 2) his fans are going to keep buying them; and 3) some folks don't care about the character of their knife maker anyway.

And, even if didn't act like he did, I think his "badass" design ethos was, and still is, silly.

So China wouldn't matter to me....like I said in the beginning.

Though I'm sure the OP wanted this to be about "what do you think about knives from China." Oh well.

 

[Pilsner]

Pretty much. It's a long story that comes up pretty much every time Brous Blades is mentioned here.

I think most, including myself are tired of telling it, hence the "Google it." suggestions. (searching here would have probably worked also) [...]

Being here since 2013 and with 7,000+ posts, I sorta think he’d have known that, but...

 

[RaulDuke]

Well, if he is having his knives made in China, they aren't really knock-offs are they?

Are you more put off by his new line being made in China or being made with plastic handles?

I meant "knock-offs", as in they are knock-offs of his own designs, as they were originally manufactured with titanium, US-made D2 steel. Not, in that they were produced illicitly.

What makes the line undesirable to ME is not the fact that they're made in China, but that if I were to buy a Brous knife I'd go for one of his that is US-made and made with superior materials, i.e. titanium, carbon fiber, US-D2 steel. I have a couple. That's just because I'm a collector and want to spend money for a premium, US made knife.

I think it's a cool idea and follows in the footsteps of other great knife makers that have off-shored some, but not all of their manufacturing, allowing us the choice.

 

[RaulDuke]

I can't give you a link but I can describe in brief:

A lot of people didn't like the silliness and attitude of Kut Throat Knives. More damningly, he was pretty convincingly accused of ripping off one of his designs. I think it was the Division.

That might help with the Googling.

Thank you, glad to know.

 

[Mo2]

Wait, you're telling me brous blades weren't made in China to begin with?

 

[halden.doerge]

Wait, you're telling me brous blades weren't made in China to begin with?

 

[jceckrosh]

I've just never seen the appeal of Brous blades before ever. Overpriced D2 with lock stick and shitty grinds. They're just...alll... bad. Like, so bad. I don't know why anyone has bought one ever. I really don't.

That.

Wait, you're telling me brous blades weren't made in China to begin with?

And that.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Wait, you're telling me brous blades weren't made in China to begin with?

Completely hypothetically, if a person had been having knives made in China and rebranding them as otherwise and was then put in a position where they were at risk of having that information made public, making an announcement of releasing an economy line of Chinese made knives would be an effective smokescreen.

 

[Yo Mama]

Though I'm sure the OP wanted this to be about "what do you think about knives from China." Oh well.

Kinda. Honestly I detest china made knives but I started the thread more as as a surprise that an American company is now going over to China where as Buck for example has made a concerted effort to limit their china production. Same with Kershaw where we are starting to see a good number of new usa offerings.

I have never had a Brous, but I think it would even make more sense if they were new designs being made in China but instead they decided to just copy the high-dollar versions. Even when Kershaw did the Emerson colab they were somewhat different.

 

[whitty]

Completely hypothetically, if a person had been having knives made in China and rebranding them as otherwise and was then put in a position where they were at risk of having that information made public, making an announcement of releasing an economy line of Chinese made knives would be an effective smokescreen.

Hypothetically that same person could then do a 70% off factory direct sale and throw all their dealers under the bus!