Should I care that the knife was made in Taiwan?

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
4,761
Specifically my new CRKT M16/11K. Does this really matter from a decent brand like CRKT (my last CRKT, which has performed flawlessly for two years, was also from Taiwan)?
 
Well, why do you think that it should bother you? Yes, there is a stigma attached to tools made over seas. But if it performs up to its expectations, then I don't think there is necissarily any reason to fret over its origin.
But there is also the aspect of supporting American made goods. You are doing a little bit more to empower our workers by buying American. In doing so, you tell manufacturers that you are more concerned with quality over cost.
But maybe that's not your bag either.
The bottom line is you can do/feel how you want.
-KC
 
It may interest you to know that virtually all CRKT knives are made in Taiwan. It was CRKT who taught the Taiwanese manufacturers how to make good knives in the first place. Yes they've made a few in Italy, one that I know of in Switzerland and two recent models in the U.S. But almost all in Taiwan.

Taiwan, at least, is an ally of the U.S. If you want to avoid knives made overseas, then I'd suggest avoiding those made in China. China is not an ally of the U.S. nor is it particularly friendly toward us. Nevertheless the vast majority of knives will be made in China soon enough. Take care.
 
If you support the right of the Taiwanese to leave free of red China's opression, the certainly support their free market economy. But if you believe that Taiwan should be a provence of the People's Republic of China, similar to Mongolia, then you should boycott all Taiwanese goods. A weak Taiwan economy makes it easier for Peking to scare and intimidate their people.
 
My Tawain-made CRKT knives have all been good quality. It wouldn't bother me to buy another.

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
There are lots of good stuff from Taiwan... :D :cool: :D Besides CRKT, there's Benchmade, Camillus and BUCK..

Sam
 
To me it is more a question of ethics and quality than where a knife is made. If the company knocks off designs from other companies or makers then I will definitely not support them. The same is true if they use lousy materials and/or make poor quality knives.
 
My Mountain Bike, and my Serengeti Folder are both made in Taiwan also and I couldn't be happier with either of them. In many ways the stuff made over seas in Taiwan, China and Japan is done on the latest and greatest in the way of CNC machining so it should not surprise anyone that they are top notch quality items.

Sadly manufacturing in the USA has been slowly contracted out over time to the point that not much is left. In that respect, yes you should probably feel bad, for our country but that is all. From the looks of things with GM and Ford both being moved to 'junk' status for stocks our days as a major manufacturer of goods in the world are over. We may as well get used to the idea that everything is made elsewhere. We have become nothing but a consumer nation from all practical standpoints. Unless radical changes take place in the next few years we may not be making much of anything at all anymore because our industrial base has all been moved out of the country.
 
Blades_Two said:
It was CRKT who taught the Taiwanese manufacturers how to make good knives in the first place.
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I wouldn't say that. While it is true that CRKT is the first US company to contract for a higher grade product, Taiwanese cutlery has been pretty decent. I've seen home market knives that are pretty top notch. Just remember, the stuff they made is determined by the company's design spec's. The ability and technology has always been there.

And it may be of interest that the issued dress swords to most of the US Armed Forces are now being produced out of a little factory in Taiwan.
 
After WWII, Japan rebuilt it's economy by making junk and dumping it on the world (those of you who are old enough will remeber the Japanese junk of the 1960s and early 1970s). Over time, Japanese manufacturers increased their quality until they made excellent products. As this happened, Taiwan improved its economy by making junk and dumping it, largely on Japan. In time, Taiwan too increased its quality. Then it was China's turn, and China has now begun turning out high-quality products.

So, some very high quality products are now coming out of Taiwan.

Ironically, the first county in this cycle was the United States! We built up our economy during the early part of the Industrial Revolution by dumping low cost-high quality products on Europe. Maybe in the future we will build up our economy once again by making junk and dumping it on the world!
 
"It was CRKT who taught the Taiwanese manufacturers how to make good knives in the first place."

Both Benchmade and Cold Steel were having products made for them in Taiwan almost two decades ago.
 
I have three knives made in Taiwan. Two CRKT's and a Gerber. None of them impress me and, given the option, I would not buy them again--even at half the original cost.

I have a lot of "stuff" made in Taiwan and China. I don't have any prejudice against these countries or the people who make the goods. All of the stuff I have that is made in Taiwan and China is pretty well made. Except for the knives. Better quality knives are being made in Japan at the same price or at lower prices for comparable products.

But, I will hasten to add, I also own some knives made in the USA that are of poor quality and I would not buy them again either.
 
STR said:
Sadly manufacturing in the USA has been slowly contracted out over time to the point that not much is left.
Click to expand...

Steve,

You're blaming that on Artfully Martial? What'd he do? :eek:

AM,

Only feel bad if you don't like the knives and can't buy new ones. Otherwise, enjoy the goodness the R.O.C. sends your way.
 
You're blaming that on Artfully Martial? What'd he do?
Click to expand...

There is no blame directed at anyone there in anything I wrote, not intentionally anyway. Why or how could it possibly be Artfully Martial's fault or intrepreted as such? I am not sure where you get that from but this is not my intent at all so, should anyone else feel this way or think that know this please: it is simply the facts as I see them regarding our country and not personally directed to anyone or I'd have named names. Truthfully though, who could we blame and is there really a reason to blame anyone? It is hard to put a finger on a who but perhaps the need for profit and reducing cost is the real culprit as to why more and more is being made overseas rather than here.

Artfully Martial asked if he should feel bad because his knife was made in Taiwan and I said yes, but meant that he should feel bad for our country not for having a knife made in Taiwan. Just simply put, it is sad that our industrial/manufacturing base is slowly leaving little by little every year and that is all I meant..

Thanks for bringing it to my attention so I could edit that if that is where you saw it or questioned in your mind my intent or meaning???

Steve
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I realize that outsourcing is a huge economic problem and, for the most part, I try to buy American. Certain things though, like my car and this knife, seemed too good to pass up. I, however, can not yet afford to harbor any big product allegiance. Until I get out college, I'm just going to buy the best "thing" that I can afford. In the mean time, I hope that our economy will find a better balance with the world without greatly hurting the working conditions.
My real concern, though I understand I didn't articulate that very well in the initial question, is "should I be concerned about the quality of my CRKT M16?"

I've done heavy research into many knives, but I hadn't seen anything from CRKT that interested me for this particular need. In the end, I ran into this M16/K11 by accident when looking at Spydercos and I bought it soon later, before I could do serious research into it. I was willing to take that leap, despite being from Taiwan, because the knife I carried that same day (and every day for the last two years prior) was a CRKT Urban Shark, made in Taiwan, and it had performed better than I could have reasonably expected. Said knife, it might interest you, was a gift from bladeforums member and close friend samuraidave.

Point being, while I can still return it (though I do love it) I'd like to know about the quality and reliability of the M16. A reliable knife that isn't perfect for me is preferable to one I can't count on that is.
 
I have Cold Steel knives made in Japan and Taiwan, I have Spydercos made in Japan, I have Gerbers from Taiwan, etc etc. The bottom line, a good knife is a good knife no matter where it is made. The fact is that labour costs are much lower in the East, which is why you can buy your "made in Taiwan" knives at a very competitive price.

Knives made in Japan appear to have a slight edge on those made in Taiwan. I would not buy anything out of China though (S&W), but that's just me... :footinmou
 
I think there are some very well made, high quality knives coming out of Taiwan these days.

Look at the Kabar Dozier series, or the Spyderco Salsa--those are very fine knives and certainly on par with anything coming out of the USA, Germany, or Japan.
And for the same amount of money, they are BETTER than alot of USA made knives.

I love the USA but I also know a well made quality knife when I see one.

I also think CRKT makes excellent knives.
The fit-and-finish is terrific for the price you pay.
There are no unsightly gaps and no ill-fitting pieces.
They are very well made and they have alot of custom-collaborations at an affordable price.
If they were not good knives I doubt that so many custom knife-makers would work with them.

What I don't like about CRKT folders is that they don't use the very best blade-steels and they make way too many liner-locks, which I don't like.

Allen.
 
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