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taylor/seto /manila folders ?
- Thread starter TJ_dude
- Start date
TJ, I believe that Smith & Wesson was having Taylor produce their auto's. So, I think they are still around. I don't know if they still make bali's. I would suspect they don't. I recently read in another post that they are still widely available in Japan. Whether that's true or not I don't know. You'd think that someone would still be importing them somehow or another if they were still available, right? I honestly don't know for sure. I'm almost positive they are still around though.
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Steve
(Third Mate for hire!)
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Steve
(Third Mate for hire!)
Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
Taylor is a going concern. They do mostly advertising/promotional and house-branded knives such as the aforementioned S&W and also NASCAR. They've got a website that you can find with a search engine. I've got the URL somewhere, but you can find it faster than I can. But, all of their products are imported. When balisongs became illegal to import, they dropped 'em.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
[This message has been edited by Gollnick (edited 05-03-2001).]
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
[This message has been edited by Gollnick (edited 05-03-2001).]
Seto still makes butterfly knives. But Taylor does not import them anymore, because of all the problems with US Customs. Taylor is still a major customer of the Seto knife company. As far as I know, James Taylor is still alive. He responded to a letter I sent him about 15 years ago, when he was the owner of the Case knife company. He is a real nice guy. The Manila folder he imported from the Philippines. Thanks, JohnR7
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2001
- Messages
- 216
Because U.S. Customs (which controls what can/cannot be imported),says that balisongs are illegal.Therefore,it's a no go.
It's too bad that some of the old companies don't have the money to set up a complete shop here in the states,then we'd see a lot more styles/brands/qualities of balisongs again.
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*The* Lunatic Puppy
It wasn't me...It was my *good* twin..
My "inner puppy" made me do it..
It's too bad that some of the old companies don't have the money to set up a complete shop here in the states,then we'd see a lot more styles/brands/qualities of balisongs again.
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*The* Lunatic Puppy
It wasn't me...It was my *good* twin..
My "inner puppy" made me do it..
Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
Balisong knives are not high on Custom's "wanted list." If they find 'em, well, they might confiscate 'em. But, they're really not looking for 'em. They're looking for explosives, serious weapons, WMD, that sort of thing. They're looking for drugs, illegal agricultural materials (especially these days with Hoof and Mouth concerns), and trade in endangered species. Several dealers have told me that about 20% of the balisongs they try to import are intercepted. They view this as a cost of doing business. These things are so cheap and the margin is so high that a 20% loss due to customs is still profitable.
Now, some others, Jags, for example, come into the US in pieces. It's not illegal to import balisong parts. Then, they're assembled in the US. The problem here is that the folks who import them don't want to invest in the machinery to set good pins. They also don't want to start running a "machine shop" with all of the OSHA and Union concerns that that brings with it. So, they use soft, brass pins (even if they're chrome-plated) which they can set with a couple of blows from a common hammer.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
Now, some others, Jags, for example, come into the US in pieces. It's not illegal to import balisong parts. Then, they're assembled in the US. The problem here is that the folks who import them don't want to invest in the machinery to set good pins. They also don't want to start running a "machine shop" with all of the OSHA and Union concerns that that brings with it. So, they use soft, brass pins (even if they're chrome-plated) which they can set with a couple of blows from a common hammer.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
Yeah, but you don't even see them on the overseas dealers websites. Manila folders, that is. Why wouldn't overseas dealers carry them. Ooh, ooh, an even better question... if they are still produced, then an overseas dealer probably could get them right? I think that if a certain couple of somebodies (dealers overseas) would be able to get them, they wouldn't be able to sell them fast enough. But that's why I don't think they are made anymore...because you don't see other dealers carrying them.
Anyone have info?
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Steve
(Third Mate for hire!)
Anyone have info?
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Steve
(Third Mate for hire!)
>>you don't even see them on the overseas dealers websites. Manila folders
The Manila folders are made in the Philippines. They are not made in a factory, but they are made by craftsman who are more like blacksmiths, or custom knife makers.
That is why if you can find someone with a computer in the Philippines, they can have one custom made for you. So you could get say a kris blade with horn inserts one foot is size or whatever you want.
The Manila folders are made in the Philippines. They are not made in a factory, but they are made by craftsman who are more like blacksmiths, or custom knife makers.
That is why if you can find someone with a computer in the Philippines, they can have one custom made for you. So you could get say a kris blade with horn inserts one foot is size or whatever you want.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2001
- Messages
- 205
I just received a new in the box manila folder never flipped was in storage many years ,on the box it says "TAYLOR MANILA FOLDER HANDMADE"
and on the blade it has a tang stamp of "TAYLOR/SETO SURGICAL JAPAN " which leads me to beleive they where made in Japan if its on the tang stamp ????
TJ
and on the blade it has a tang stamp of "TAYLOR/SETO SURGICAL JAPAN " which leads me to beleive they where made in Japan if its on the tang stamp ????
TJ
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2001
- Messages
- 2,353
I think that JohnR7 has them confused with FHM's that are made with Manila latches? (maybe) I'm almost sure that Taylor/Seto Manila Folders are made in Seki, Japan. Or were once.
I can't vouch for now.
Pretty sweet knives, though. They just don't make them like that anymore, even the "customs" I see comming out of the Philippines.
[This message has been edited by blade_420 (edited 05-04-2001).]
I can't vouch for now.
Pretty sweet knives, though. They just don't make them like that anymore, even the "customs" I see comming out of the Philippines.
[This message has been edited by blade_420 (edited 05-04-2001).]
why would something be illegal to import but not illegal to make in the US? Chinese balisongs arent faulty in a deadly way (well nder normal circumstances. Im sure doing some complex movements at a high rate of speed and having a pin break isnt safe) BM is definitely a major US company and anyone in the knife comunity knows they make the 42.
Nate
Nate
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2001
- Messages
- 216
They're not illegal to make in the states.But most companies don't have the funds or the incentive to set up a large shop to make all the parts here.As far as why they're not illegal to make here,the laws of U.S. Customs and those of the Federal/State Governments differ quite a lot.
A lot of all the laws tend to conflict with each other anyway..so it's difficult to understand it all.
The Taylor/Seto Manila Folder *blades* were made in Japan.I'm not sure about the handles themselves.The handmade Manila Folders from the Philippines are different in many ways..they just get called by the same name.
If someone were to set up a shop that would just assemble all the balisong parts with good pins,that company could make a lot of money,since there are enough balisong makers out there that they could deal with.This would ensure a lot of different brands/styles/quallities of balisongs coming back into the states again..creating a more competitive market again,which would be a good thing.If I had the money to do it,I would look into doing it myself.
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*The* Lunatic Puppy
It wasn't me...It was my *good* twin..
My "inner puppy" made me do it..
[This message has been edited by MacCanine (edited 05-05-2001).]
A lot of all the laws tend to conflict with each other anyway..so it's difficult to understand it all.
The Taylor/Seto Manila Folder *blades* were made in Japan.I'm not sure about the handles themselves.The handmade Manila Folders from the Philippines are different in many ways..they just get called by the same name.
If someone were to set up a shop that would just assemble all the balisong parts with good pins,that company could make a lot of money,since there are enough balisong makers out there that they could deal with.This would ensure a lot of different brands/styles/quallities of balisongs coming back into the states again..creating a more competitive market again,which would be a good thing.If I had the money to do it,I would look into doing it myself.
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*The* Lunatic Puppy
It wasn't me...It was my *good* twin..
My "inner puppy" made me do it..
[This message has been edited by MacCanine (edited 05-05-2001).]
Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
Taylor is an American company that just imports knives and markets them. They do not, as far as I know, directly market under their own name anymore. All they do is OEM and co-branded.
OEM is when one company makes something under a different company's name. In Taylor's case, they don't even make the knives, they just arrange to have them made by offshore manufacturers and then import them. So, Taylor OEMs knives for Smith and Wesson. The knives are sold by S&W directly and through S&W dealers. The knives bear S&W's name and logo. But, S&W didn't make them. They had nothing to do with them. S&W gave Taylor some sort of input. That may be a 3D CAD model, a fully-dimensioned mechanical drawing, a designer's sketch, or just rough outline. It may be a page ripped out of a Benchmade catalog. Taylor then fills in the details on that design as necessary. They may then go back to S&W and say, "This feature here is all very nice, but it's gonna run the cost way up. If we did this just a little differently, it'd be almost as neat, but not nearly as expensive." Thus Taylor, a company with years of experience in manufacturing knives, can help S&W arrive at an optimal design. Then Taylor can utilize their vast network of sources and connections to arrange manufacturing. They supervise the operations. Negotiate the vaugeries of customs, etc. All S&W has to do is sell the knives. It's a good arrangement.
Co-Brand is when you put your name next to someone elses. It's usually done when the customer wants to offer his customers a knife, but the customer doesn't expect his own name to sell a knive. This is what Taylor does with Nascar. Nascar thinks that a Nascar souvenir knife along with all the tee shirts and caps and such. But, aside from the fact that Nascar knows nothing about designing or manufacturing knives. They do know that the Nascar name alone won't sell the knife. So, they turn to Taylor. Taylor helps them with the design, takes care of all of the arrangments to get the knife made and imported, etc. And, it's marked "Nascar by Taylor" so that people will see the Taylor name and think it's a good knife.
Now, Seto is a very famous Japanese knife maker. Seto would like to sell knives into the US, but they don't feel like they know the US market, they don't have a US operation, and they don't feel like their name is strong enough in the US. So, they have, in the past (I don't think they are now but I could be mistaken) cobrand with Taylor.
That's where Taylor/Seto came from. Seto made the knives in Japan, and Taylor imported them into the US and sold them here.
I do not know this for sure, but I have been told that Japan recently outlawed the manufacture of balisongs in Japan.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
OEM is when one company makes something under a different company's name. In Taylor's case, they don't even make the knives, they just arrange to have them made by offshore manufacturers and then import them. So, Taylor OEMs knives for Smith and Wesson. The knives are sold by S&W directly and through S&W dealers. The knives bear S&W's name and logo. But, S&W didn't make them. They had nothing to do with them. S&W gave Taylor some sort of input. That may be a 3D CAD model, a fully-dimensioned mechanical drawing, a designer's sketch, or just rough outline. It may be a page ripped out of a Benchmade catalog. Taylor then fills in the details on that design as necessary. They may then go back to S&W and say, "This feature here is all very nice, but it's gonna run the cost way up. If we did this just a little differently, it'd be almost as neat, but not nearly as expensive." Thus Taylor, a company with years of experience in manufacturing knives, can help S&W arrive at an optimal design. Then Taylor can utilize their vast network of sources and connections to arrange manufacturing. They supervise the operations. Negotiate the vaugeries of customs, etc. All S&W has to do is sell the knives. It's a good arrangement.
Co-Brand is when you put your name next to someone elses. It's usually done when the customer wants to offer his customers a knife, but the customer doesn't expect his own name to sell a knive. This is what Taylor does with Nascar. Nascar thinks that a Nascar souvenir knife along with all the tee shirts and caps and such. But, aside from the fact that Nascar knows nothing about designing or manufacturing knives. They do know that the Nascar name alone won't sell the knife. So, they turn to Taylor. Taylor helps them with the design, takes care of all of the arrangments to get the knife made and imported, etc. And, it's marked "Nascar by Taylor" so that people will see the Taylor name and think it's a good knife.
Now, Seto is a very famous Japanese knife maker. Seto would like to sell knives into the US, but they don't feel like they know the US market, they don't have a US operation, and they don't feel like their name is strong enough in the US. So, they have, in the past (I don't think they are now but I could be mistaken) cobrand with Taylor.
That's where Taylor/Seto came from. Seto made the knives in Japan, and Taylor imported them into the US and sold them here.
I do not know this for sure, but I have been told that Japan recently outlawed the manufacture of balisongs in Japan.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com