"Production" models = Handmade?

[Ghostmeat]

So... Noob question here. Maybe? I collect lot of American made folders. Striders, Emersons, ZT, domestic Spydercos etc.

I know the answer to this question will vary wildly by make, but are models described as "production" models assembled or built by hand? I am guessing the blades are not hand-ground, but at some point are human hands used to piece the knife together?

Or does "production" mean everything, from start to finish, done by a machine?

How much humanity is in my SMF or my 0551? Hah!


Gm.

 

[Ghostmeat]

Aargh... I should have named the thread "American made production models..."!

 

[yablanowitz]

There is a good deal of automation in the machining processes, but most of the actual assembly is done by hand.