The Chinese are coming.

[averageguy]

Coming right along as evidenced by this hunter.

 

[rev_jch]

They have been for a while now. As far as quality, Ive noticed the "F & F" is getting better on a very slect few, but the blade steel is still usually still junk (400, 420).

 

[Knifeclerk]

Yes sir, that's a right pretty knife you've got there. Do you have any specs on it? And how much is it?
-KC

 

[Marty Jones]

Check out the two Spyderco imports on the Pass around forum

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

Yes but do we really need them? I have nothing against imported goods as a whole but when we make first class knives here in the US, what's the point? OK, maybe you can save a few bucks on a Chinese knife but the extra money spent on a good US knife usually yields better craftsmanship and better materials.

I just think we have to draw the line at some point and say no more imports and support American companies and American workers.

 

[Shing]

Looks like a Toyota to me!

 

[golok]

I am impressed.

 

[Cosmic Superchunk]

Kershaw and Gerber have a few knives made in China like the Vapors and Paraframes. I think the Kershaw Vapor is a decent "cheapie" folder, but I never liked the Gerber Paraframes. Spyderco now has the Byrd line of folders which from what I've read appear to be decent inexpensive folders as well. Most other China-made knives I've seen are junk and in my opinion China is still the knockoff capital of the world. I own knives made in USA, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Taiwan; however, I tend to stay away from Chinese made knives. I won't even bother with the likes of Master Cutlery, Joy Enterprises (Fury), Maxam or Frost Cutlery for their reputation as knockoff kings.

By the way, has anyone read the Joy Enterprises' ad on the March 2005 issue of Blade Magazine? It's on page 112 where the ad reads: "WARNING: Joy Enterprises Takes it's Trademark Rights Seriously." Apparently, there have been some counterfeit knives being sold under the name FORY and Joy Enterprises is now persuing those who buy and sell these Fory knives and suing them. Interesting, considering Joy Enterprises' past reputation.

 

[Gossman Knives]

I tend to stay away from Chinese made knives. I won't even bother with the likes of Master Cutlery, Joy Enterprises (Fury), Maxam or Frost Cutlery for their reputation as knockoff kings.

By the way, has anyone read the Joy Enterprises' ad on the March 2005 issue of Blade Magazine? It's on page 112 where the ad reads: "WARNING: Joy Enterprises Takes it's Trademark Rights Seriously." Apparently, there have been some counterfeit knives being sold under the name FORY and Joy Enterprises is now persuing those who buy and sell these Fory knives and suing them. Interesting, considering Joy Enterprises' past reputation.

I saw that ad. What a hypocritical statement if I ever read one. :barf: They are one of the biggest rip-off companies out there.
Scott

 

[Shing]

I don't think Chinese knives and other stuff have to be low quality although most of it that comes West is. Its just cheap to produce cheap stuff there because of cheap labour and hardly any welfare costs. US companies use cheap labour to produce low quality goods but that is not a reflection of the country or its people. Anyone who has seen Chinese pottery and other artifacts from before the Revolution knows Chinese craftmanship is a match for any in the world. China is undoubtly going to become a more expensive place to make stuff because people want a better standard of living so its evitable that made in China will become better quality and more expensive.

 

[Bob W]

Eventually as the economy in China improves a domestic Chinese market for higher quality knives will evolve. When it does, so will the Chinese products available for export.

Another thing that needs to happen, an actual Chinese knife company needs to manufacture and export their own knives. Currently (one of the most distasteful aspects of Chinese knives) the real crap knives are actually imported and sold to us by ~American~ companies.

For now, and the foreseeable future, I'm staying clear. Like many knife 'accumulators' I own knives from all over the world. But until the products improve, I'm not buying any junk from Pakistan or China.

-Bob

 

[Droppoints]

....but the blade steel is still usually still junk (400, 420).

You mean like Buck and Cold Steel use for many of their knives.

 

[klattman]

You mean like Buck and Cold Steel use for many of their knives.

There's a HUGE difference in performance between 420, 420J etc, and the 420HC that buck uses. Plus buck's heat treat for getting the most out of the steel is near legendary...

China is, sadly, a place where you can find knock-offs of anything from knives to shoes (I've seen fake adiddas that look exactly like the real thing). And there is no regulation on these false products. Until that changes, I won't support it if I can help it. Stealing a design and intellectual property is absolutely wrong, IMHO.

As far as the Byrd line from Spyderco, it is at least a legitimate agreement and original design, and I do not see a problem with that.

 

[Andy_L]

China is, sadly, a place where you can find knock-offs of anything from knives to shoes (I've seen fake adiddas that look exactly like the real thing).

aren't addidas made in china under the same conditions anyway?

I understand you guys wanting to support US companies. I do the same thing with british stuff. I'm guessing I'm one of a very small number of people on here that doesn't have a knife made in the USA

my chineese knife is really very good. great kitchen knife and very sharpe.
I also have a custom knife made in Hong kong

 

[klattman]

aren't addidas made in china under the same conditions anyway?

I understand you guys wanting to support US companies. I do the same thing with british stuff. I'm guessing I'm one of a very small number of people on here that doesn't have a knife made in the USA

my chineese knife is really very good. great kitchen knife and very sharpe.
I also have a custom knife made in Hong kong

I don't know about the same conditions, but a copyright, trademark and/or patent being violated is different. I have no patience for stealing someone else's design and making it cheaper, and of much poorer quality. It takes away the market for the true product, and the poor quality materials, etc. destroy the reputation of the design. The consumers get a bad product and the designers go belly up, no more new or improved designs.

Some knives from there are getting better and there are good examples of exceptions (The Byrd folders actually look very nice), but the copycats selling you 100 folders for 1.98 a piece are just ruining it for everyone. People who know knives, know better. People who do not, buy these knockoffs and then think all knives are junk, and why would anyone carry a knife?

 

[tonyccw]

Eventually as the economy in China improves a domestic Chinese market for higher quality knives will evolve. When it does, so will the Chinese products available for export.

It's not just the economy. It's the subtracting that occurs. When the Chinese companies realize the necessary level of quality to compete in the US reputably, and also how low the cost can be to produce them, they'll be contenders. We know that the Chinese can already make high quality knives as evident by what I've seen from Hanwei.

 

[thombrogan]

That's a beauty of a knife. Yay, China! Now let's see 'em adopt a free market and representative government.

 

[Danzz]

aren't addidas made in china under the same conditions anyway?

I have a pair of New Balance sneakers that say "Made in USA" on the label. They've lasted me about 4 years so far. Before then I was going through 3rd world country made sneakers in less than half that time. Same thing for pants. Coincidence? I think not. In general USA made consumer items are like twice the price and 4 times the quality.

 

[rev_jch]

I think as a standard, its not a surprise that american made cutlery, is overall, superior to almost anything coming from china.

Personally, the only thing I have against the chinese made cutlery Ive seen, is the quality is poor and many of the designs are "knockoffs". While they do not "adhere" to patent laws, they still are stealing someone elses designs.
Have knife patterns been copied made by many makers, factories over the years? Yes of course, but when you "blantantly" make a knife that looks almost exactly like another, like some of bencmades collaborations, then its wrong,

Some will say that this type of thing is a form of "flattery", perhaps so, but some people who give certain types of "flattery", is........not "flattering" at all.

Just my personal opinion.

 

[Shing]

Sure the Chinese make knockoffs but it the Americans that sell the stuff in the US that tell them what to make.