Taiwan vs US

M

MikeyD

Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
1,128
I'm gonna go ahead and say that MY personal opinion is the Taiwan made spydercos have a better fit and finish than the US made ones. That's my honest opinion. What do you guys think? Just curious and bored.
 
That's true. But the gb and sage series are superb compared to my milllies and paras.
 
The US-made Spydercos are no slouches in terms of F&F, but IMHO the Taiwan ones blow them -- and, it should be said, every other knife in the same price range -- away in terms of having consistently superb F&F.
 
how about you add seki japan to your list and lets really get this thread rolling :D, I have yet to own a U.S. made spydie but I'm sure I will eventually, but I agree my sage is awesome in every way..
 
I haven't been able to find a thing to fault on the two or three USA made Military's I've owned but I sure don't see how any knife could be more flawless than the Taiwan Sages. Spyderco is one company I never worry about fit and finish with.
 
I can find flaws in all militaries I've ever owned wether it be para 1 2 or reg military. The Taiwan models NEVER A FLAW.
 
I concede that the foreign produced Spyderco knives, at least those specific to the Taiwan and Japanese producers are very finely made knives. But I am quite prideful in America, being the country I live in (maybe even foolishly in this day and age, sometimes I wonder) therefore I choose to support the knives made in America and not those made elsewhere.

I personally would choose an American made knife that isn't flawless (truthfully I can always find flaws in anything, just you have to remember always what's worth ignoring and not) over one that is potentially built more finely.

It may be stupid, and I can admit to that, but something about it holds strong in me. Maybe it's disappointment in other industries that produce overseas what used to be made so well on our own land that brings out this feeling.

For what it's worth you can't go wrong with Spyderco really.
 
^^^ i concur. i've handled taiwan models and they felt good. that said i prefer my golden spydeco's
 
I understand what your saying and that's cool. I personally preffer those made with a little more attention to detail. Idc if it's made in Libya.
 
Having owned both US and Taiwanese Spydies, I've never had any with flaws or defects. Maybe I'm just lucky, or maybe Spyderco just knows how to build a knife. Either way I'm sold.
 
The maker Spyderco uses in Taichung Taiwan, is most definitely capable of world class work. Thing is, there is not one single knife in the Spyderco lineup that's produced in both Golden and Taiwan or, for that matter, in any two locations where Spyderco makes knives, so truly meaningful comparison is impossible. Compare an FRN C41 Native with a Sage I, and the Sage wins hands down. Compare a Ti Military with an Sage II and the winner would be much harder to pick. Personally, I don't base my purchase decisions on where a Spyderco was made. I base them on whether the design appeals to me and, more importantly, on whether I think it will work well for me in terms of ergonomics. To date, that has meant most of what I carry come from Japan. Up until the Chaparral, which I predict will be a winner when it finally becomes available there hasn't been a midlock from Taiwan. As for Golden, the only midlock they've put out this century has been the Native.
 
Only Taiwan spydie I own is a Chicago , and while it's a cool knife I really don't think the f&f is superb to the us or Japanese spydies . IMO the Japanese spydies made by Moki have the best fit and finish of everything i have handled !!
78c219e7.jpg
 
I don't base my decision on where they are made either I own and have owned plenty of Colorado spydercos and love them. I'm just stating that I think all the knives out of taiwan or atleast the ones marked Taiwan on the blade have better fit and finish than ANY Colorado made knives. Just my opinion.
 
Whether the designs be different or not. Honestly I truly think if say the military line was produced in taiwan they'd have a better fit and finish ie blade centering, detent, tolerances etc etc. Again just my honest opinion. Why? Because like I said everything out of there has been perfect to me so far.
 
I am amazed that this thread has stayed civil- so lets keep it going!

I like both but would agree that the Taiwanese stuff "seems" to have better F&F.
 
I had been hesitant of the Taiwan made knives at first but I really want a ppt now and iv yet to hear anything negative about them !!!
 
Just ordered a Para2 so I can sample the US made models, but so far, my Taiwan models have not disappointed. My Sage 1 was flawless and the action was like an oiled ball-bearing on glass. Same with the Gayle Bradley.

My Caly3 (Japan-made) was not like that at all. I understand that it was a different design being a lock-back and it had no bushings to maintain its thin profile, but still - it was very rough when I got it and after working it for a while, I took it apart, cleaned it and lubed with quality lube and it was much better, but still not quite like the liner-lock Sage 1 (again, noting that the difference in design comes into play here).

So far, my Perrin PPT (another Taiwan made model) is pretty much flawless other than one tiny little spot by the relief cut on the outside of the lock-bar. It's just a tiny rough spot on the outside edge of the lock-bar, and it took me a while to even notice it, but it looks like a tooling mark. Other than that tiny mark, its been perfect. The action isn't as nice as that of my Sage1 (which might be in part due to the lock-bar putting more stress on the ball-detent than the liner of the Sage did), but its much better than the Caly3's was.

I'm no country-of-origin hater though :D I plan on getting another Japan-made model soon enough and depending on how this Para2 goes, probably another US-made one after that.

You know... I got into knives because they were supposedly cheaper than guns. So far, I've not found that to be the case :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top