Taiwan

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I have to disagree with some of what is said here, and this of course is just my opinion from collecting and using knives of many types for about 30+ years. I have over the last 8 to ten years moved from using knives that are production made to mostly custom and high end production (like Chris Reeve, Microtech, Strider, etc.). I have found many Japanese manufactured knives to be of very good quality and I have used and collected quite a few over the years like those from Al Mar, Earlier SOG, Gerber Silver Knights, some Kershaws and a few others. However, I have yet to see a Taiwan, China, India or Pakistan made knife that I would use. I had a SOG Gov-Tac for about a week and sold it and will not buy another Taiwan made knife, period. IMO the quality is noticibly different and I refuse to go there again. Of course there is a big difference in cost, but to me it is worth it in terms of reliability, better performance and the fact that am a bit of a nationalist who is inclined to buy American. This is not just a SOG thing either; as many of the "American" Knife companies have gone the same route.

my gerber mini covert is taiwan made and the lock up on it is just insanely good zero blade play side to side or open to close. Once in a great great while if i am cutting something very heavy like 1 inch rope it will take a little more force than normal to disengage the liner lock. Remember though this nice is a whoppign 6.25 open and is 2.2 oz in weight. It is not made to cut 1inch fiber rope. I dont have one my self but my friend has the big brother (the biggest of them)apple gate fairbane combat folder. He has many many times used it like a throwing knife it is also taiwan made. It still locks up like the day he bought it 5 years ago.
Ive got a pakistan knife here some where i call it a paki bullet as thats the only maker mark it has on it. Its a double blade folding hunter. Very ruffly made but my god that sucker takes a edge and holds it for a very long time. Its the ugliest dang knife you could ever find but well its uglieness is part of the darn things charm.

As for us made knives ive owned a few serious stinkers over the years. Ive got a switch blade here that is made and assebled in the us and i have to piss with that thing all the time. Good steel all around but the fit sucks. Some times the blade will not lock other times it wont stay closed. You can get junk made any where is my point. If you as dissapointed by a gerber there was something seriously wrong with it.