Made in Taiwan

L

LUW

Joined
Nov 24, 2009
Messages
675
Just wanted to see how you guys feel about this, if I'm too much of an oddball. Though I'm old enough, been around the knife business for quite some time (at least a couple of decades) and I'm fairly wise (or at least like to think of myself as not being too dumb :p), I can't help myself but look down at a blade or tool that is made in Taiwan or China :rolleyes:.

Yes, I know that what really counts is materials and manufacturing standards and NOT where a tool is made/assembled, but I just can't get pass this prejudice against country of origin when it comes to factory pieces
hittinghead.gif
. Even if the blade is from a notorious brand like BM or Spyderco (my all time favorite knife brands), if it's not made in the US or Europe I can't avoid not loosing some of my initial interest in the knife. Not that I won't get the knife just because of country of origin, but it is a let down for me.

Stupid or last silly, I'm aware of that, but I can't help it. Anyone else like that or should I look for professional help?
 
Taiwan, China, Germany, USA, etc. -I don't care.

If it was well made, I'd buy it ... even if it was made in Brazil. ;)
 
I always try to focus in who made it rather then where its made.

That being said my perfect world would have the knives made domestically.
 
I try to stick with made in USA stuff, especially tools.
That being said, I have some Japanese made spyderco and they are very well made and. Have a made in Taiwan sage 2 and if it didn't say Taiwan on the blade I would never guessed, the fit and finish is perfect on it. China on the other hand in my experience is usually junk.
 
I don't mind the company in question trying to save a few bucks by going overseas but....they should also produce a top notch American made version with better materials. SOG's super bowie talks to me a lot but 175.00ish for an AUS 8 leather handled knife is too expensive considering what other companies can do when they go overseas. I don't like it but its the new American way!!??!
TC
 
I prefer that they are made here in the USA, but I do purchase knives made elsewhere. I have found that the knives from Taiwan are very good. The knives from China have been hit or miss in my opinion.

Tom
 
Taiwan is a cosmopolitan, westernized, pro-America democracy. As I have noted elsewhere, I have some knowledge of Taiwan arising from my father-in-law's many business trips to Taipei. Taiwan is ok with me.

I am happy to buy from Taiwan, Japan, etc.

I try to avoid China where possible, as they have nukes pointed at us.
 
I don't support buying from China but I will admit that I carry my Spyderco Tenacious all day everyday and love it.
 
Whatever you feel is correct.

There are lots of preferences/prejudices I hold for knives. For example, I really dislike writing on the blade portion of a knife (S.W.A.T., Military, etc.) I also refuse to buy knives that are painted or coated with something that does not *add* to the durability (spray paint may reduce rust, but not if it rubs off easily). I will probably never buy a knife that has bone on it (and definitely not one with a skull). I think "commemorative" is a term that should be used for plates and not knives...but that is just me.

These aversions probably sound silly to some, but they are my (dis)preference. I can totally understand someone that has a similar problem with certain countries of origin.

Carry/buy/use what you like...it is not wrong!
 
Where a knife is made doesn't really matter to me, what matters is who makes the knife. I just bought a Benchmade 10700 Nagara made in China, and it's a great knife.
 
If given an alternative at a equal price I do not buy anything from Pennsylvania unless its from the Amish.
 
Hi LUW -

I support my country, and try to only buy made in USA stuff.

I will occasionally buy German, but as a rule, if it is not USA made I am not buying it.

It has more to do with me just feeling like I am helping employ people in my country rather than any perceived quality issue.

best regards -

mqqn
 
powernoodle said:
I try to avoid China where possible, as they have nukes pointed at us.
Click to expand...

:| Alarmist much?

I don't care where something is made, so long as that something is of acceptable quality. I don't live in the USA either, though, so I guess I don't have any sort of patriotic duty to boost the American economy, nor any sort of prejudice towards buying things from other countries. I'll be importing it regardless of if it's Chinese or American manufacture, so it doesn't really matter to me :).
 
I focus completely on the quality of the product, regardless of the country of manufacture.

In fact, I tend to be more wary of products made in the US. American car companies aren't almost completely insolvent because they make a great product. They have been making sbstandard products that can't compete in the global market place and make almost no money on a vehicle because of ridiculous union pay demands. If you think it will improve now that the government owns them you are kidding yourself.

Custom knife makers and smaller operations that focus solely on quality rather than quantity that are based in the US get my support. However, most US companies that pump out mass produced items are pretty poor compared to japanese or Taiwanese products in my experience.

As far as China goes, the reason they sell so much product is the insatiable American demand for cheap goods. Walmart thrives for a reason. Blame your fellow Americans.
 
American knife buyers are in interesting bunch in that a good portion buy for nationalistic reasons. Some buy for perceived quality issues. Most buy a knife first, country of origin having little if any effect.

Discrimination on the basis of country of origin usually exhibits all kinds of broken logic, but it is the prerogative of the free market consumer none the less. The USA and Europe have no special powers when it comes to quality. When they were the major manufacturing centers of the world, the US and EU made plenty of crappy knives and goods in general. The difference is that first world wages these days mostly exclude low end products, which have moved to places where they can be economically produced. What's even more remarkable is that the manufacturing playing field has leveled quite a bit. Asian manufacturers are using tooling and procedures that are just as good, in some cases even surpassing, those in the US and EU. Knife making does not depend on secret guild skilled knowledge, but instead, mass production techniques that are easily transported across borders to follow the labor. The result if higher quality at lower prices than ever before.
 
Looking at the knives that I have that I'll pick among to carry on any given day or use (Camping, etc), the bulk of my knives are made in the U.S. I believe there's only 3 made in Japan (A ZDP Delica & 2 different Salt folders), & a couple slip-joints made in Germany.

I only have 1 knife made in China, but it was given to me & I don't use it (A Byrd G-10 Cara Cara).

I prefer to buy U.S. made knives, but if there's something really nice that isn't, I may get it, but it's more on a case by case than anything else. For example, I really like to get a Spyderco Sage II (Made in Taiwan) & have had a Sage I.

I think most U.S. members probably won't try to buy Chinese made knives. They might have some, but probably won't go out of their way & I think it needs to be an interesting design (For most, not all, as $ can be the ultimate factor).
 
Based on the four Sage's I have, I'm delighted to own any Taiwan made Spyderco. All four have had dead center blades, top notch F&F and very nice action.
 
shecky said:
American knife buyers are in interesting bunch in that a good portion buy for nationalistic reasons. Some buy for perceived quality issues. Most buy a knife first, country of origin having little if any effect.

Discrimination on the basis of country of origin usually exhibits all kinds of broken logic, but it is the prerogative of the free market consumer none the less. The USA and Europe have no special powers when it comes to quality. When they were the major manufacturing centers of the world, the US and EU made plenty of crappy knives and goods in general. The difference is that first world wages these days mostly exclude low end products, which have moved to places where they can be economically produced. What's even more remarkable is that the manufacturing playing field has leveled quite a bit. Asian manufacturers are using tooling and procedures that are just as good, in some cases even surpassing, those in the US and EU. Knife making does not depend on secret guild skilled knowledge, but instead, mass production techniques that are easily transported across borders to follow the labor. The result if higher quality at lower prices than ever before.
Click to expand...

Very well said.

You'll get a lot more enjoyment out of the knife if you consider quality, materials and design first and don't worry about that tiny little "MADE IN XXXXXX" stamp.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top