Such a controversial subject.
Two years ago I would have agreed %100 , now I am not so sure.
Sometimes you have to ask folks a question , would you buy a knife if it was made in Germany or France ? How about Sweden ? Of course you would , probably without hesitation.
Now I do not want to make this post political (when it's actually a thread about something I understand little aout - economics) but I could understand not wanting to buy anything from a country ruled by communists , that I can understand but then how can you possibly avoid buying anything that is made in China ?
You can't.
Go to Wallymart and check tags on where thier prodcuts are made , you'll find the bulk of them are made in China the rest in other third world locales.
How about your car or truck ? Bought them in the last ten years then chances are fat that many of the parts used in your "American made" vehicle are made in the Republic by low paid workers.
The keyboard that you will use to reply to this , is made in China , as is the bulk of the parts inside your PC , TV , microwave , iPod , GPS , your stereo , your DVD player , your washer and or dryer...... I think we got the point rebeltf !!
I remember being young , it was a cardinal sin to buy anything that was "made in Japan" - anyone recall the term "rice burner" ? We all know how silly this is of course , Japanese bladesmiths are among some of the most respected knife makers on this planet but , at one time was there a valid reason behind this idea ? Or was it post WW2 syndrome from fighting Japan... I do not know.
I do know what kills American companies from producing like they used to and that is the allmighty dollar. I think we all know that and , yes of course it can be done here but it can even more easily so be undone such as the case of so many old American knife companies either 'selling out' or closing doors completely.
You can blame the damned unions for most of that and then the often times outright greed of many American workers/consumers for some as well , don't lay all the blame on our Government or on the Chinese.
The above though , is an arguement in itself and what would be the point since nobody likes to stand up and accept blame , even if it is partial.
All that said , I can understand why many of the folks ( especially in this part forum where slippies are like the last vestige of pure Americana as opposed to say , tacticals ).
You hold a well made slipjoint in your hand and admire the stag or bone , the snap of the blades , you imagine your grandfather gutting a Rainbow with it for an early campfire supper , or digging that splinter out of your hand when you were a dumb squirt - Slipjoints just bleed Americana....
So I bought a Marbles 3 blade pattern about 4 months back , when I took it out of the box I was shocked at the heft of the knife, it did not 'feel' cheap , it surely did not feel like a $20 knife.
The good impressions kept coming as I opened and closed each blade to check for any play , nope not a bit.
I examined the entire knife for any factory defects or scratches , gouges , misprints or any mark of a cheap POS knife and could find not a one.
What I did find was a
very well made slipjoint that I carry a couple days a week. The blades were all shaving sharp out of the box , the imistag not only very nicely done as far as imitating stag goes , but nicely polished and beautifully colored.
All in all the knife is a beauty and I would be lying to you if I said any different.
Yea , it sucks to see a long time , traditionally American company have thier products made in any foriegn country but honestly, what are you gonna do ? There is no "message" you're going to send to anyone by not buying thier products , there are millions of others who will gladly take your spot , American companies will continue to put out excellent products hopefully , and it is this sort of global competition that encourages those companies to do so.
:thumbup:
Enjoy your day.
