Nowdays it usually does not matter where a blade is heat treated once you pass say the $65 price point. China is now capable of producing amazing things but thats usually due to western investment(like from Kershaw)and these western companies invest quite a bit in equipment for Chinese operations. Then again Ive bought 2 Chinese Kershaws and they were horrible. They may have the nice new machines but the people running them and the people screwing the knives together at the end either just dont care, are mentally incapacitated somehow or are drunk. My Cryo 1 had the male and female ends of the pivot sticking out both sides of the knife by a couple millimeters per side. NONE of the body screw were tight whatsoever. When I tried to open the knife it would only open 3/4 the way. I took it apart and soon learned the torsion bar from another model had been installed instead.
Injection 3.0. Great handle and frame well done. Blade well coated with company name and model number in the right place but the edge on it is warped and wasted right out the box. As for heat treat just as long as whoever is operating the equipment knows what they are doing then the heat treat should be fine. Going by my own experience I doubt that it is. Thats just one Chinese case though. Kizer knives are likely the nicest Chinese made knifes you can buy. All their equipment is new and they actually train their employees and their employees must meet required standards. I am positive Kizer kicks out average to above average heat treats.
Taiwan-the Taichung factory is amazing. The Spydercos that come out of it are flawless. Its a lock the heat treats on the Taichung Spydies are perfect.
Boker-Boker makes knives in China, Taiwan and Germany. Their Chinese stuff seems to be very well done but I still give Boker China a 50/50 chance of passing a poor heat treat. Taiwan is a lock for being done right. Their Solingen Germany plant SHOULD be perfect.
Puma makes knives in Germany and China. Here you should be pretty safe when it comes to well heat treated blades as their Chinese made stuff use blades made and then shipped from Germany.
Linder makes knives in Germany and "world wide". I went to their site but cannot find what countries those are.
To answer your question YES the Solingen made knives is, or should be, better than Chinese and Argentine blades. Unless you can find another high end Chinese knife maker like Kizer buying Chinese is a shot in the dark every time nearly. A knife being made in Solingen that does not meet specs doesnt get passed. Good luck...
