Overrated knife brands

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Pacu0420

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Just wanted to hear some other's opinions on brands they feel are overrated. Personally I think there are a few. I know I'm probably going to get lambasted for this, but Benchmade and Spyderco are at the top of my list. Let me know what you think.
 
Everything is relative. Before the influx of Chinese competition, the aforementioned US brands were perhaps not overrated. Now if you rate knives by their prices, the US brands become overrated, at least there is an argument to be made. Example: I recently bought my first Spyderco, the Delica, for $85. Nice knife, but it isn't as well constructed as my $50 Civivis. Civivi offers more knife per dollar, at least in my opinion with respect to the Delica. The industry is in flux, and American manufacturers will adjust over time, but for now I can sympathize with the OP. I get what you are saying.
 
ferider said:
Since you joined yesterday, welcome !

Not lambasting you, but can you say more why Benchmade/Spyderco are overrated
ferider said:
Since you joined yesterday, welcome !

Not lambasting you, but can you say more why Benchmade/Spyderco are overrated ?
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Well, I've handled and owned many brands and just don't find them to be any better than a lot of them. (FandF and materials) Mostly I think they are good knives. I'm not saying they suck. It just seems to me that they are riding on their names to charge more. Just yesterday I was checking out a Spyderco (forget what model) in 8cr13mov with terrible action yet the price was $80. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion and I'm not trying to convince anyone. Just whenever I handle either of those brands I can't help but think that I could get a knife with just as good of quality and materials for less.
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Greggy said:
Everything is relative. Before the influx of Chinese competition, the aforementioned US brands were perhaps not overrated. Now if you rate knives by their prices, the US brands become overrated, at least there is an argument to be made. Example: I recently bought my first Spyderco, the Delica, for $85. Nice knife, but it isn't as well constructed as my $50 Civivis. Civivi offers more knife per dollar, at least in my opinion with respect to the Delica. The industry is in flux, and American manufacturers will adjust over time, but for now I can sympathize with the OP. I get what you are saying.
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Just yesterday I was checking out a Spyderco (forget what model) in 8cr13mov with terrible action yet the price was $80.

I can agree with that. But generally it's more nuanced for me. For example for Spyderco, I feel some models are overrated, others I adore.

Regarding brands, these days I avoid brands with questionable business ethics. They are overrated for me, but not for technical reasons or price.

Roland.
 
Sir Drop-em Flat said:
I think we can all see that coming
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Sir Drop-em Flat said:
Welcome,
Don't get too mad at me, but feel that victorinox is sort of over rated just because I've never felt that I've needed one and people seem to love them
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Not mad at all. I actually have a Swiss Army, (Gift from my dad) and I think it's aweful. It goes dull if I even think about cutting something with it. Another brand that I would put in the overrated category.
I liken it to any other product that charges more because of their name. Jeans would be a good example.
 
If you don’t like or use knives, then all brands are overrated. If you do happen to like knives, then the brands you like are relevant and all other brands that everyone else is drawn to are overrated.
 
Yeah, I feel like I am kicking off a firestorm with this thread. But I just had to say it. As I previously mentioned, I don't think they are terrible knives by any means. (Well except for the 8cr Spyderco I was looking at yesterday) But if I'm spending $80 on a knife it should be in something better than 8cr.
 
Pacu0420 said:
Yeah, I feel like I am kicking off a firestorm with this thread. But I just had to say it. As I previously mentioned, I don't think they are terrible knives by any means. (Well except for the 8cr Spyderco I was looking at yesterday) But if I'm spending $80 on a knife it should be in something better than 8cr.
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Well my Delica has VG10. The collector's mentality will belittle that steel, but it is more than good enough. I do not have issues with Spyderco, just that their pricing model has not yet adjusted or evolved. They use a differentiation strategy to separate themselves from the greater market, and that market segment that values US production or US corporate ownership will respond positively. Just not sure if that is an effective longer term marketing strategy. Take Craftsman Tools as an example. History tends to ultimately bury such strategies.
 
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