The crappy Chinese knife that just won't quit

[XSrcing]

I bought this thing I don't know years ago for $20. It has survived 2 seasons as a front tire changer and lead mechanic of a Grand American pit crew. 5 years as a automotive mechanic. Random bushcraft sessions (including hacking through sandy drift wood to make a beach shelter). Gutted countless fish. Skinned a couple animals. And helped prepare dinners for several house parties.

I do have a habit of being extremely meticulous about my stuff. I take it apart at least once ever couple of weeks to check for any stress damage, clean and oil the moving parts that contact each other.

I really want something like a large Sebenza, but with this thing still running like a champ, I see no reason to dish out $400 (yet). It is a S&W CK357C "First Production Run" blah blah blah.

Anyone else have something like this?

 

[Sevorius]

The finish seems awfully good for surviving all that. Of the three S&W knives I've owned over the years two had coatings. The first lost more than half its coating while cutting up a refrigerator box into smaller pieces so it would fit into the recycling bin. The second lost all the coating within a centimeter of the edge while whittling a few tent spikes out of sticks. Maybe they're using better quality stuff these days

 

[wongKI]

The thing is that these knives are really hit or miss. I have a Mtech which has survived all the crap I've thrown at it (and thrown it at) but a buddy's (exact same model) gave up and died after similar treatment.

 

[Robert.B]

did you even use it in that time? the finish is too good...that camo rubbish wears off with any use.

 

[XSrcing]

The iPhone camera doesn't show the wear to the coating. scared all over mostly from persuading overheated tires from rims. There is no coating whatsoever remaining on the spine of the blade.

 

[XSrcing]

Oh, an you would be surprised at the ability of Winchester Break Free CLP to protect a blade when several coats are applied.

 

[Fredde90210]

The finish seems awfully good for surviving all that.

:thumbup:

Never have I seen a "Chinese survive" all of that...first time for everything right.

 

[DennisStrickland]

my brothers chinese byrd has scraped mud, pried wire, dug holes & 3 years later keeps coming back for more---cost 18$
dennis

 

[singularity35]

my brothers chinese byrd has scraped mud, pried wire, dug holes & 3 years later keeps coming back for more---cost 18$
dennis

I'd guess that it's not as pristine as the OP's.

 

[richard thurman]

hell $20.00 way too high. at the local gun and knife shows I am selling that knife for $10.00 tax included

 

[Chris Pierce]

I have a knife like that. It's a fury tanto with a cord wrapped handle and a "saw" back. It was the only fixed blade I owned when i was a teenager. I've thrown it, chopped down a trees, battoned a ton before I even knew it was called battoning. And of course it was always the only fixed blade in camp, so I couldn't even tell you what other people have done to it. The original handle wrap fell off when I was throwing it a lot. I found out that you can get the butt to stick if you throw it hard enough. I believe I bought it for $7.95 out of an Atlanta Cutlery catalog.

 

[Reznik572]

"The crappy Chinese knife that just won't quit"

Probably shouldnt be calling it crappy as, it apprantly, has been through a lot and servred well. Maybe edit your title to "The great Chinese knife that just won't quit"

 

[frontline29]

did you even use it in that time? the finish is too good...that camo rubbish wears off with any use.

No doubt! Looks pretty mint for all that hard and extreme use.

This thread looks like an excuse to spam the board with more cheap Chinese's import knife type threads.

 

[A.P.F.]

No doubt! Looks pretty mint for all that hard and extreme use.

This thread looks like an excuse to spam the board with more cheap Chinese's import knife type threads.

I doubt that, Frontline. S&W knives have served as the 'gateway drug' for many knife lovers, however, I am seeing a trend. Some of these Chinese steels are really performing 'as advertised'. Take 8Cr13MoV for instance. It has been used extensively in the Spyderco Byrd line, yet I have not heard any complaints as to toughness or edge holding. The Chinese made Byrds are plain and simply good knives, that arguably represent one of the best values in the knife realm. Many have disparaged the S&W knife line, but I think that it contains many diamonds in the rough.

Whether we like it or not, China is once again coming into it's own as a cutlery manufacturer. It would do us well to remember that China was making fine swords before N.America was even 'discovered'.

 

[MikeC]

I think this kinda like the lemon thing with cars, instead it is in reverse whereby most of the cheap Chinese knives are lemons off the bat, every once in a while a GOOD one gets stamped out and whammo you have post such as this. Just a theory.

 

[longbow]

I have 3 NAVY knives, Chinese made, that actually are very very good. All 3 cost a total of 11 bucks and shipping. These are the same manufacture'ers of the Byrd line for Spyderco. 2 are a dead ringer/copy/etc.etc. of the Paramility and they are outstanding. keepem sharp

 

[AF]

Some people get a lot of satisfaction from owning the cheapest knife that survives extended use. I think most people on BF like owning higher-end knives that not only hold up but are prettier, smoother and hold an edge longer.

 

[XSrcing]

I think that if you take proper care of and don't be absolutely retarded with it, you can make a lesser knife perform as good or better than a high end knife that is owned by an idiot.

I'm not trying to spam with it, and I'm not trying to convince someone to ditch their handmade folders, I was just posting my experience with this knife in particular.

Not every knife that rolls off a production line is the same, and maybe I just got lucky.

 

[XSrcing]

"The crappy Chinese knife that just won't quit"

Probably shouldnt be calling it crappy as, it apprantly, has been through a lot and servred well. Maybe edit your title to "The great Chinese knife that just won't quit"

If I did that I would create a shit storm with people who think I am trying to compare this thing with something like a Sebenza.

That, and I would jinx myself and destroy the knife next time I took it out.

 

[Knife Crazied]

S&W knives have served as the 'gateway drug' for many knife lovers, however, I am seeing a trend. Some of these Chinese steels are really performing 'as advertised'. Take 8Cr13MoV for instance. It has been used extensively in the Spyderco Byrd line, yet I have not heard any complaints as to toughness or edge holding. The Chinese made Byrds are plain and simply good knives, that arguably represent one of the best values in the knife realm. Many have disparaged the S&W knife line, but I think that it contains many diamonds in the rough.

Whether we like it or not, China is once again coming into it's own as a cutlery manufacturer. It would do us well to remember that China was making fine swords before N.America was even 'discovered'.

I'm in almost agreement with you. I feel some knives can roll off the line that can do better then the next to come rollong off.