New Spyderco Mule Team made in Taiwan?

[goodeyesniper]

an American made typewriter, no doubt.

 

[olpappy]

I've noticed that the knife is manufactured somewhat differently from the USA made models. For instance it appears that the USA Mules are tumbled then the blade grind is made, whereas the MT18 handle seems to be surface ground. I don't know that one is better than the other, they are just different. I've also read that the edge is a bit thinner on the MT18 than on previous mules.

Dang, if I'd have known it was made in Taiwan with a thinner grind I might have considered buying one.....

Txknifefan, I fully understand that Taiwan Spydercos are some of the best the brand has to offer, but I still chose to buy only models made in the US and Japan. No real sensible reason, just a pet peeve of mine. So I'm really careful to check country of origin on most of my knives (in those under 50 dollars or so, I don't care so much).

Japan --- didn't we drop 2 nuclear bombs on them? I guess the least we can do is buy their knives.

 

[Lavan]

"Xenophobic, American mindset."

Yep, and proud of it. Of course it is a new mindset steeped in late 70's American industrial slippage, but we've certainly gone overboard to push imported stuff into more and more areas.

It WILL BE the most expensive "bargain" we have ever made.

Sorry to get political, but this is a blind eyed ignorant acceptance of an essentially destructive situation.

I have some knives from overseas and even....CHINA...:barf::barf: and regrettably it was because that was the ONLY place they were made.

Which makes me a facilitator for poor economic policies.


Off the soapbox and back to cutting my own throat with imports.

 

[Lavan]

Japan --- didn't we drop 2 nuclear bombs on them? I guess the least we can do is buy their knives.

Yes of course. And think about how those knives could have been swell for the AMERICANS in the Bataan death march.

nerve touched here, boss.:foot:

 

[Stays Sharp]

Dang, if I'd have known it was made in Taiwan with a thinner grind I might have considered buying one.....

Yeah it was visibly thinner compared to my other Mules and was later verified by other members' measurements. It's a dandy.

 

[Stays Sharp]

"Xenophobic, American mindset."

Yep, and proud of it. Of course it is a new mindset steeped in late 70's American industrial slippage, but we've certainly gone overboard to push imported stuff into more and more areas.

It WILL BE the most expensive "bargain" we have ever made.

Sorry to get political, but this is a blind eyed ignorant acceptance of an essentially destructive situation.

I have some knives from overseas and even....CHINA...:barf::barf: and regrettably it was because that was the ONLY place they were made.

Which makes me a facilitator for poor economic policies.


Off the soapbox and back to cutting my own throat with imports.

Sooo...exactly what are you gonna do about it? I thought the last sentence answered it.

 

[Lavan]

Yep, it sure did.

Sadly it is a condition that we can't cure.
But we'll sure live to wish we did.

 

[olpappy]

Yes of course. And think about how those knives could have been swell for the AMERICANS in the Bataan death march.

nerve touched here, boss.:foot:

I was trying to point out that one might not want to buy knives from Japan, with whom we fought a war long ago.

One might not want to buy knives from Communist China, due to their record of human rights abuses against their own citizens and genocide in Tibet.


One should have every reason buy knives from Taiwan, which is a democracy to which the US has pledged its support, similar to the US political ties with Israel. It is sad however that since Communist China has so much economic clout and now is a major creditor of US debt, our country has been steadily backing away from supporting Taiwan in its conflicting security interests with mainland China. Really I think US policies have been much too soft on China and ignoring human rights abuses there. China has figured out what wags the dogs tail here, it is all about $$$$$$$$.

Regarding the imports situation, it is ironic that American and European manufacturers have outsourced many of their products to China to save manufacturing costs while also trying to maintain a high quality standard, the result is that now Chinese knifemakers are able to produce higher quality product which will sooner or later compete with the originals. The failure of US companies to keep manufacturing jobs here in the US due to higher short term costs will come back to bite them in the a$$ in the long run, when all the manufacturing goes overseas it won't come back here.

 

[JNewell]

an American made typewriter, no doubt.

...and vehicle, and cellphone, and all the rest...

I was trying to point out that one might not want to buy knives from Japan, with whom we fought a war long ago.

One might not want to buy knives from Communist China, due to their record of human rights abuses against their own citizens and genocide in Tibet.


One should have every reason buy knives from Taiwan, which is a democracy to which the US has pledged its support, similar to the US political ties with Israel. It is sad however that since Communist China has so much economic clout and now is a major creditor of US debt, our country has been steadily backing away from supporting Taiwan in its conflicting security interests with mainland China. Really I think US policies have been much too soft on China and ignoring human rights abuses there. China has figured out what wags the dogs tail here, it is all about $$$$$$$$.

Regarding the imports situation, it is ironic that American and European manufacturers have outsourced many of their products to China to save manufacturing costs while also trying to maintain a high quality standard, the result is that now Chinese knifemakers are able to produce higher quality product which will sooner or later compete with the originals. The failure of US companies to keep manufacturing jobs here in the US due to higher short term costs will come back to bite them in the a$$ in the long run, when all the manufacturing goes overseas it won't come back here.

Yeah, "compete" the way the Japanese automakers have, by completely dominating manufacturers (labor and management both) who don't give a d@mn. When I was young, GM alone sold 2/3 of all cars sold in the US. Today?... We did it to ourselves and we keep doing it over and over and over again.

 

[ceptor781]

Hey guys, I appreciate the passion of what countries we want to do business with as much as the next guy but keep the politics out of it please. All it will do is get the thread locked as it doesn't belong in this subforum.

And also remember, this is Spyderco, an American company that uses offshore suppliers/producers. At the end of the day you are supporting an American family owned business.

 

[James Y]

I was trying to point out that one might not want to buy knives from Japan, with whom we fought a war long ago.

One might not want to buy knives from Communist China, due to their record of human rights abuses against their own citizens and genocide in Tibet.


One should have every reason buy knives from Taiwan, which is a democracy to which the US has pledged its support, similar to the US political ties with Israel. It is sad however that since Communist China has so much economic clout and now is a major creditor of US debt, our country has been steadily backing away from supporting Taiwan in its conflicting security interests with mainland China. Really I think US policies have been much too soft on China and ignoring human rights abuses there. China has figured out what wags the dogs tail here, it is all about $$$$$$$$.

Regarding the imports situation, it is ironic that American and European manufacturers have outsourced many of their products to China to save manufacturing costs while also trying to maintain a high quality standard, the result is that now Chinese knifemakers are able to produce higher quality product which will sooner or later compete with the originals. The failure of US companies to keep manufacturing jobs here in the US due to higher short term costs will come back to bite them in the a$$ in the long run, when all the manufacturing goes overseas it won't come back here.

If no one bought knives from Japan because of resentment due to WW2, then Spyderco as it is today would not exist, including their American-made models.

I might also point out that, much like the U.S., many manufacturing jobs in Japan have been moved to China.

Jim

 

[Lee D]

the way I see it is like this....you bought a knife made in Taiwan, something youre not particularly happy about...BUT, you bought a knife from a company that has a plant here in the states as well, providing jobs for Americans. does that make just a little bit of sense to anyone else?

 

[jazub]

Just sell it and make a few extra bucks while you're at it. Score a USA made fixed blade and be stoked. :thumbup:

 

[HoosierQ]

Why do we do this to ourselves? There are great knives made everywhere. The way Spyderco does business (which is very well) it just wouldn't matter. If the manufacturer couldn't do it, they would not be allowed to do it. I would expect there's somebody over in Pakistan making a good knife! I mean all those people in Pakistan have to cut things too! Now obviously I am not aware of any good Pakistan made knives being exported but I have a nice little pair of trimming scissors that say "Pakistan" and they have been on my sink for years. Not a spot of rust and they work great. I wouldn't expect a Pakistan Spyderco because that country is going to be a nightmare to do business in. But I guarantee you that there are people over there who could do it.

Taiwan? It is one of the most modern countries in the world. I think you'd find Taiwan much more modern than a lot of places that you probably wouldn't hesitate to buy a knife from: France, England for example.

I am very surprised we don't see anything from Korea. Korea is an up and comer big time in firearms. US laws make it a little difficult to import firearms (which I don't understand very well)...it's treaty based stuff. Korea is also an extremely modern country that builds some of the best ships in the world.

I am for buying American for the purpose of "giving and American a job"...go for it and more power to you. But knocking all these other countries, especially Taiwan which has been a staunch ally of the United States for 50 years is just silly...simply because they might be Chinese.

 

[James Y]

^^This is true.^^

I lived on my own in Taiwan (Taipei) for close to a decade. Although I don't currently own any Taiwan-made Spydercos, I would buy one without hesitation. The quality is amazing, and better than that of a great many U.S.-made knives.

Jim

 

[Franciscomv]

Japan --- didn't we drop 2 nuclear bombs on them? I guess the least we can do is buy their knives.

Mate, maybe you didn't notice when you quoted my message, but I'm not from the US.

Like I said, I understand that there are Taiwanese factories putting out fantastic knives, it's just taking me a little while to warm up to the "Taiwan" tang stamp. My reasons are purely subjective and personal, not based on quality.

 

[mmarkh]

I don't understand why they put a hole in a fixed blade. I get it that it's the "Spyderhole" but WTF?:barf: I have one on my Citadel and it's an auto and that confused the heck out of me also.

 

[HwangJino]

Am I the few who want NOTHING stamped on the knife or blade?

I'd prefer it ALL on the box of the knife.

Why I like sebenzas, no marks visible on blade. Wish my southard was the same, I dislike seeing the emblems.

 

[Stays Sharp]

^
Yes the less the better.

I especially hate the limited edition 1 of 1000 and other necessary stuff. Date it was made, serial, Collector's clubs, where it was made, logos that take up the whole blade... It gets too busy. They must do it do advertise so should be good with just one logo, at the most two if it's a collab.

 

[phillipsted]

Gosh... I hate these threads...

TedP