shout-out in support of 'Idaho Made'

kidcongo

kidcongo

Joined
Jan 12, 2013
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3,195
The 'Idaho Made' gets a lot of bad press, so I just wanted to state that I really like it, and think it adds class to the knives. I don't live in Idaho, but I have travelled there, and remember the state as a special place. I recall my parents took me there on a road trip when I was very young, and I think a good amount of my love of the outdoors, and of rugged landscapes was formed on that trip. I have been back a couple times since then and hope to return again.

In these days everything is becoming so global and generic that I think its cool, interesting, and even ballsy, to have something clearly labelled as being from a smaller geographic area that just Made in USA etc. The darn knives are made in Idaho, and I can think if nothing else in my home, or possesion, that is. I carry a CRK all day long, and in so doing probably think about Idaho more often than I would otherwise.

I think its great Chris Reeve is proud of his backyard, and is making no bones about where he does business. That's refreshing. Meanwhile half of corporate America is looking to relocate head office to some other country to avoid taxes.
 
I agree with you 100%, I think personal pride in where you choose to live and make your mark upon the world is a great thing.
 
How beautiful a place is or how much pride one has in a particular place, for what ever reason, has zero to do with how out of place the "Idaho Made" engraving looks on the knives and how out of the blue it came. I don't like it and I never will, I'm still a huge fan of CRK and will continue to be regardles of the small things I don't like. They make the best production knives one can buy and you can't complain about that. I'll also add that this horse has been dust for a long time now and is really not worth trying to ride.....
 
Haze said:
How beautiful a place is or how much pride one has in a particular place, for what ever reason, has zero to do with how out of place the "Idaho Made" engraving looks on the knives and how out of the blue it came. I don't like it and I never will, I'm still a huge fan of CRK and will continue to be regardles of the small things I don't like. They make the best production knives one can buy and you can't complain about that. I'll also add that this horse has been dust for a long time now and is really not worth trying to ride.....
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Certainly not trying to bore you or flog a dead horse. If anyone has ever said anything good about the Idaho Made, maybe I missed it. Respectfully Haze, your opinion further adds to the negative, which I agree is totally overdone. I just wanted to add my two bits of positivety about it to help balance things out. Sorry if it stirs up bad memories, but give a fella a chance to state his case! :)
 
There are arguments for both sides here as with any subject. I'm just giving my opinion. We're all mates here as far as I'm concerend and I'm sure we can all talk freely and still keep it that way. :)
 
I'm on the fense on this one as it bothered me at first, but now I don't even notice it. If I had to vote, I'd vote against.
 
Like the concept, but not the design. I actually don't notice it much.
It seems to mean a lot to Chris, so I am sure he appreciates your support.
I also have a potato from Idaho :)
 
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I don't know, makes it kind of unique I guess. Better than some items out there marked "Made in the USA" when they aren't.
 
"shout-out in support of 'Idaho Made'" ...means no need to beat a dead horse if you don't like "Idaho" on a CRK.

I do. Kind of nice for people from Idaho to know the world may think of CRK instead of potatoes when they see the name :)
 
I am in UT and for some odd reason, I consider ID as somewhat of my "baby brother" state. There is something innocent and sweet about the state. I have family there and have been up many, many times and it is a wonderful place that is clean, pure, and simple, yet has many excellent uses and contributions to the country--much like CRK themselves. So, the Idaho Made mark gives me a sense of pride for my excellent northern neighbors as well as prose for being so close to the master maker himself.
 
I like it. I think Chris is making a statement, of all the places he could have moved to he chose Boise, Idaho. And he is letting people know. Not in a loud boisterous just a small little mark on his product. No middle of the road for Mr. Reeve. And as some have said it does not say made is USA but made it Idaho, surely this was a very conscious decision, like all of Chris Reeve's designs. A lot of makers have their logo or name on the blade where is can be seen big time, and that is fine, but the Chris Reeve logo and made in Idaho are pretty subtle.
 
There was a time when made in Solingen meant something. As we know, that is the region where the best German knives were made.
Made in Idaho does not conjure up images of a great cutlery center, and as knives of the world go, it's a meaningless statement.
 
all I can say for my side, "it's the ONLY thing I liked about my now traded crk 25". Loved the style of the I and to add the O, well that was very special. But no where in the known universe has the letter M stirred more emotion. CRK the Masters, praise be unto them..
 
pvicenzi said:
There was a time when made in Solingen meant something. As we know, that is the region where the best German knives were made.
Made in Idaho does not conjure up images of a great cutlery center, and as knives of the world go, it's a meaningless statement.
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Maybe in the future it will mean more to more people. Someone has to be first, as they were in that area of Germany. Perhaps 'Idaho Made' was added to the knives in the spirit of that knifemaking tradition in a way, like Solingen, or Seki City, or Golden, or of late, Taichung. Anyways, I like it. It adds to my enjoyment of the knife, but can absolutely respect it bugs others. Certainly CRK offers a lot of 'Stars and Bars' products for the national patriots, so I think its cool he has local pride as well.
 
I've been using and carrying CRK knives for 5 years. When the announcement was made about the I M 'stamp' was made I wasn't happy. I still don't like it and

try to buy mostly older CRKs without the I M. I like the older CRKs better than the newer ones. IMO the back scale looks much better without the I M.
 
About forty years ago my next door neighbor built some knives and he always put our town name on all of them ( Lawndale ) and did the same when he moved .Chris Reeve has done a lot of good for Idaho and I am proud to see our Idaho name on his great knives . Wild Bill Star Idaho
 
I have a Sebenza and a Unumzann with the Idaho made. It's one of the reasons I spent my money on a CRK.
It's also a great conversation starter when showing some one a CRK. Before spending four times more on a knife then I ever had, I did a lot of research CRK.
Video tours of the crk shop, forums, and checking them out at a knife shop.

CRK hit all the right spots for me. innovation, industry leader, customer service, iron clad warranty and unapologetic strive for perfection.
Wouldn't have it any other way.
 
Well until the IM stamp was on the knife the only marking was the beautiful CR logo, I liked that a lot, not just because my initials are RC and it kind of gave it a personalized custom feel but because I've grown tired of the oversized company logos, blade steel stamps, made in markings, etc.
I carry my knife for personal satisfaction of ownership and to perform daily tasks, not to be a billboard for company X or to reminisce about a location that's printed on the product. It's not too different for me when I see girls that are much to young wearing pants that say delicious or some other bs on the bum, a butt should no more be a billboard than my knife should be and both have value beyond their markings and advertising.

If I can find one that doesn't have it I will get it over one that does, that said, my main EDC for 8 months or so is a Large Insingo that has it and I barely notice it anymore.
My feelings on the subject aside, I can understand why the creator of so many fine products would want to mark them with the name of his adopted home. Wether it's that, to help fight against forgery, because he isn't happy with current US politics, or because he's the boss and he just felt like it doesn't matter to me- I'll be a life long supporter of his company and designs because to me they are the best and a minor IM stamp is far classier than having a humongous company name in tacticool bold print running the length of the blade.

Rant over, thanks for reading it.
 
pvicenzi said:
There was a time when made in Solingen meant something. As we know, that is the region where the best German knives were made.
Made in Idaho does not conjure up images of a great cutlery center, and as knives of the world go, it's a meaningless statement.
Click to expand...

It isn't meaningless to the knifemakers who are located there. We have good guys all over the US. These three big names are located in Idaho.

CRK - Boise ID
Buck - Post Falls ID
TOPS - Idaho Falls ID
 
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