Taiwan vs US

[ibute21]

My observation of quality is in the order of: Taiwan > US > Japan

This has been my experience and is also my personal opinion.

 

[A.P.F.]

have you ever held a gayle bradley ? gentleman's folder ?? that's not the first word that comes to my mind to describe it.

Yes indeed, I own one and while it is without question built like a tank, I feel that it is still a 'Gent's' folder due to it's polish and class. The GB is arguably a nicer looking folder than the Military, but better made? I am not prepared to sign on to that conclusion.

 

[nottoosharp]

My God I must be getting old, I've always considered anything made in Tiawan to be a total piece of crap. Little plastic trinkets and deformed looking toxic toys.

That's what's wrong with our country today, we hardly make anything anymore and import everything. We have been the greatest country in the world for a long time for many reasons, and alot of it was the skill and craftsman ship we put into products we produced.

It pisses me off this is even a topic:grumpy:

 

[RevDevil]

My God I must be getting old, I've always considered anything made in Tiawan to be a total piece of crap. Little plastic trinkets and deformed looking toxic toys.

That's what's wrong with our country today, we hardly make anything anymore and import everything. We have been the greatest country in the world for a long time for many reasons, and alot of it was the skill and craftsman ship we put into products we produced.

It pisses me off this is even a topic:grumpy:

Global Economy

 

[EZ Bake]

My God I must be getting old, I've always considered anything made in Tiawan to be a total piece of crap. Little plastic trinkets and deformed looking toxic toys.

That's what's wrong with our country today, we hardly make anything anymore and import everything. We have been the greatest country in the world for a long time for many reasons, and alot of it was the skill and craftsman ship we put into products we produced.

It pisses me off this is even a topic:grumpy:

I wasn't going to respond to this post at first, but you might want to show a little respect to the folks on this international message board who happen to reside outside of the US. The USA is only around 235 years old if you go back to when the Declaration was signed (we're not to July 4th yet), and there are countries who have been contributing to the knife and blade community for hundreds of years prior to that - many of those countries handed down skills and virtues of craftsmanship to immigrants who came over to the USA and began the industry in this country.

Its ok to have an opinion, but to call "anything made in" a particular country "a total piece of crap" is pretty disrespectful.

 

[RevDevil]

I wasn't going to respond to this post at first, but you might want to show a little respect to the folks on this international message board who happen to reside outside of the US. The USA is only around 235 years old if you go back to when the Declaration was signed (we're not to July 4th yet), and there are countries who have been contributing to the knife and blade community for hundreds of years prior to that - many of those countries handed down skills and virtues of craftsmanship to immigrants who came over to the USA and began the industry in this country.

Its ok to have an opinion, but to call "anything made in" a particular country "a total piece of crap" is pretty disrespectful.

:thumbup: Well stated EZB

 

[ibute21]

I wasn't going to respond to this post at first, but you might want to show a little respect to the folks on this international message board who happen to reside outside of the US. The USA is only around 235 years old if you go back to when the Declaration was signed (we're not to July 4th yet), and there are countries who have been contributing to the knife and blade community for hundreds of years prior to that - many of those countries handed down skills and virtues of craftsmanship to immigrants who came over to the USA and began the industry in this country.

Its ok to have an opinion, but to call "anything made in" a particular country "a total piece of crap" is pretty disrespectful.

+1 well put.

 

[neuron]

I wasn't going to respond to this post at first, but you might want to show a little respect to the folks on this international message board who happen to reside outside of the US. The USA is only around 235 years old if you go back to when the Declaration was signed (we're not to July 4th yet), and there are countries who have been contributing to the knife and blade community for hundreds of years prior to that - many of those countries handed down skills and virtues of craftsmanship to immigrants who came over to the USA and began the industry in this country.

Its ok to have an opinion, but to call "anything made in" a particular country "a total piece of crap" is pretty disrespectful.

+2 on this. Given how ill-informed and disrespectful to non-US workers his post is, his username -- "nottoosharp" -- seems quite appropriate.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

Last I checked, Taiwan was a multiparty democracy.

 

[singularity35]

And besides that, if the Gayle Bradley, Sage series, Navaja, etc. are total "pieces of crap", I wouldn't know what he'd consider a nice knife.

 

[xtestifyx]

+2 on this. Given how ill-informed and disrespectful to non-US workers as his post is, his username -- "nottoosharp" -- seems quite appropriate.

Thanks for the laugh!

You can't call your country the greatest country in the world unless you've contributed and learned about all the others.

My signature line makes sense in this case

 

[Ankerson]

Global Economy

That term makes my blood boil, blood pressure skyrocket and makes me see red.......

By anyway I think I remember Sal posted that the Wages and lifestyle in Taiwan are comparable to the US and the main reason why Spyderco has knives made over there is because they need to so they can keep up with demand.

 

[timberweasel]

My God I must be getting old, I've always considered anything made in Tiawan to be a total piece of crap. Little plastic trinkets and deformed looking toxic toys.

I know what you mean. I remember a time when “Made in Taiwan” was a euphemism for “poorly made and unsafe rubbish.” The sentiment seems to be firmly entrenched in our North American minds despite the fact that times have changed. While I’m sure Taiwan still produces a vast cornucopia of low-grade exports, the Spyderco facilities in Taichung turn out some of the best manufactured pocket knives on the planet, period. Everything is ‘top-drawer’: high-quality materials, impeccable fit & finish, excellent value for the price.

But old habits and ideas die hard, and the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. One has only to handle a Spyderco made in Taichung to see the truth for themselves. Pick up a Sage or a Gayle Bradley and you will see what I mean.

That's what's wrong with our country today, we hardly make anything anymore and import everything.

I think this is a common lament in many modern countries where ‘disposable convenience’ is valued. ‘New-and-Shiny’ seems to trump ‘durable quality’ in our society these days. Just look at Wal-Mart, Dollar Stores, junk furniture, fast food… the list goes on and on. This attraction is very sad, and the reality is unsustainable. I get it. But I’ll also say that not all imports are bad. Let’s look at it another way: would you enjoy driving a Porsche any less due to the fact that it’s made in Germany and not in your hometown? Probably not. This is how I enjoy my Taichung Spydies.

We have been the greatest country in the world for a long time for many reasons, and alot of it was the skill and craftsman ship we put into products we produced.

:thumbup: I didn’t realise that you are a fellow Canadian!

 

[EZ Bake]

:thumbup: I didn’t realise that you are a fellow Canadian!

Hahaha - best comment in the whole thread.

Back on topic - my first of two new US-made Spydies is on its way to my house. It should be here today (Para 2), so I'll actually be semi-qualified (as an armchair quarterback) to comment on this topic

I've so far only owned Japanese and Taiwan Spyderco knives, so this will be my first USA, Earth model.

 

[edgeobserver]

It seems to me that it depends on the knife... I've never had much prejudice over where something is made.. Back in the day Made in Japan meant it was cheap but during the 80's and 90's they made the best electronics. Apple computers are made in Taiwan.. why not other quality gear? With that, I only currently own 2 Spyderco's. One para-military 2 and one Chinese carbon fiber. The Para-2 is made really well but the holes drilled on the handles on the Lum look like crap... go figure.

In the future I will still buy a knife because I like the knife over where it is made..

 

[MikeyD]

Everybody has made very valid points and I enjoy reading this thread. My sage 2 is hands down the nicest spyderco I've ever handled/owned. Could it be I got a good one? Maybe. Either way I love all spydie knives just have had better experience (ie fit/finish) with Taiwan models personally. Oh and gentelemans folder is the LAST thing I think of when I pick up a gayle bradley call me crazy.

 

[hardheart]

Oh and gentelemans folder is the LAST thing I think of when I pick up a gayle bradley call me crazy.

crazy is in good company
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showpost.php?p=498308&postcount=7
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showpost.php?p=540290&postcount=13

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=445

He’s a Texan who started making custom knives in 1988 and when customers discovered his handmades, his reputation mushroomed, tagging him as a knifemaker who focused on building exceptional knives for hard-use.

Bradley knives aren’t for fingernail cleaners or showmen but for use down on the ground – getting gritty and dirty.

The C134 Gayle Bradley Folder pulls together his reputational forte; anteing up a hard-use folder design to which Spyderco added an exotic and premium blade steel and an unexpected touch of gentrification.

The handle is twill carbon fiber with a Michael Walker LinerLock® for safe, secure lock up while adding a refined, gentlemanly appearance.

 

[EZ Bake]

Here's a question that I'm sure has been answered before - Why does Sal put his signature on Japanese and US-made knives, but not on the Taiwan models (or is it just an issue of the models I've owned)?

So far, no Sal-stamp on the Gayle Bradley, the Sage 1, the Perrin PPT, but his mark is on the Caly 3 and the Para 2. Is that just an issue of the Taiwan models I've owned being collaborations with other designers or what?

 

[neuron]

So far, no Sal-stamp on the Gayle Bradley, the Sage 1, the Perrin PPT, but his mark is on the Caly 3 and the Para 2. Is that just an issue of the Taiwan models I've owned being collaborations with other designers or what?

Pretty sure that's what it is. The GB and Perrin are (obviously) collaborations with the eponymous designers. As for the Sage series, my guess is that Sal doesn't put his stamp on them because the whole point of the series is to honor the innovations of other designers (Michael Walker for the Sage 1, Chris Reeve for the Sage 2, Blackie Collins for the Sage 3).

 

[The Deacon]

Here's a question that I'm sure has been answered before - Why does Sal put his signature on Japanese and US-made knives, but not on the Taiwan models (or is it just an issue of the models I've owned)?

So far, no Sal-stamp on the Gayle Bradley, the Sage 1, the Perrin PPT, but his mark is on the Caly 3 and the Para 2. Is that just an issue of the Taiwan models I've owned being collaborations with other designers or what?