- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
- Messages
- 2,351
I went to a local county gun show over the weekend. I used to go fairly regularly but have not been to one in years so when I saw it was this weekend and had the time; I decided to go check it out. The show was noticeably smaller than ones I have attended in the past but it was very crowded. As I maneuvered my way through the crowded aisles, I came upon a seller with several cases of knives. The first thing that caught my eye was a waved Spyderco Endura (its been on my want list for a while). I asked the seller if I could check it out and how much he wanted for it. As he handed it to me he said I have it marked at $50 but Id take $45. This one had an orange handle and while I do like orange quite a bit, I was thinking more along the lines of black. As I examined the knife, I noticed that the edge seemed a little dinged up and there appeared to be some small scratches on the blade. I thought that perhaps the $45 price tag was because the knife was used. Since the orange wasnt my thing I continued to look through his cases. Almost immediately I noticed a ZT 0770 and, since I didnt own a ZT and a few extra pennies in my pocket I decided to check it out. When I turned it over I saw the price tag for $70.00 and the seller said I can do that for $65 cheap outdoorsfan said what a deal but logical outdoorsfan said somethings not right but the cheap won out and I bought my first ZT box and all.
As I continued through the show I came upon another seller that had quite a few knives as well, including 7-8 different ZTs. I looked over his table and came to a section that had a small handwritten sign that said clones a Spyderco Southard Flipper for $70, Paramilitary for $40, PM2 for $30 logical outdoorsfan said told you so. These clone knives were remarkable. The action on the Southard was buttery smooth the PM2 looked like the others Ive seen down to almost every detail. I had heard of these fakes before but seeing them really made me understand the lengths these unscrupulous manufacturers go to replicate these knives. Everything was there down to perfectly reproduced packaging and certificates of authenticity.
I had a long conversation and ended up buying a sweet ZT 0620 CF Emerson Tanto. It was a great deal from an authorized Kershaw dealer but not quite close to the $150 ish dollars off retail the 0770 was. I promptly returned to the first seller and told him I wanted my money back. With a bit of huffing and puffing he obliged but I wonder how many people did he dupe that day? He had a myriad of blades and manufacturers an Izula for $20 a TOPS necker for $15 if only they were real I would have died and gone to heaven.
Have any of you guys ever seen these clones (a.k.a. fakes)? Ever bought one? Thoughts on those that sell them, both without telling the buyer and those that do acknowledge theyre not real?
BTW super happy with my first real ZT!
As I continued through the show I came upon another seller that had quite a few knives as well, including 7-8 different ZTs. I looked over his table and came to a section that had a small handwritten sign that said clones a Spyderco Southard Flipper for $70, Paramilitary for $40, PM2 for $30 logical outdoorsfan said told you so. These clone knives were remarkable. The action on the Southard was buttery smooth the PM2 looked like the others Ive seen down to almost every detail. I had heard of these fakes before but seeing them really made me understand the lengths these unscrupulous manufacturers go to replicate these knives. Everything was there down to perfectly reproduced packaging and certificates of authenticity.
I had a long conversation and ended up buying a sweet ZT 0620 CF Emerson Tanto. It was a great deal from an authorized Kershaw dealer but not quite close to the $150 ish dollars off retail the 0770 was. I promptly returned to the first seller and told him I wanted my money back. With a bit of huffing and puffing he obliged but I wonder how many people did he dupe that day? He had a myriad of blades and manufacturers an Izula for $20 a TOPS necker for $15 if only they were real I would have died and gone to heaven.
Have any of you guys ever seen these clones (a.k.a. fakes)? Ever bought one? Thoughts on those that sell them, both without telling the buyer and those that do acknowledge theyre not real?
BTW super happy with my first real ZT!
