There's been a lot of talk within the knife community about a changing of the guard regarding knife manufacturers, and I think that we're seeing this now with the success WE Knife/Civivi is having along with Kizer. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that these manufacturers were not even in the conversation. Clearly, that is not the case now, and I don't think it's hyperbole to put WE Knife/Civivi up there with the big boys now, such as Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck and Cold Steel. So, the question really is why is this happening? Well, there are several reasons for this phenomenon, and two (2) of the most significant reasons are attention to detail/quality control and cost.
We all know that inflation is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about, but who wants to spend hundreds of dollars on an American made knife, when they can get a Chinese manufactured knife, with better quality control, tight tolerances, fit and finish, etc., than you can with the top U.S. knife manufacturers. Look, I'm all for buy American, but I'm not spending twice as much money on an American made knife that costs twice as much as a Civivi knife that is better than the American product. This whole thing is crazy, I know, but the reality of economics affects everything, even the knife community.
I'm bothered by this, but you cannot expect anything more than an honest appraisal of the product itself - people want value for their money. The only measure that really matters to the consumer is value for their money, and they're not getting it in America right now; and, if they can't get it here in the States, then they will be more than happy to purchase from China and other countries. I want to emphasize that the problem is twofold: cost and quality. Quite frankly, Civivi knives are winning in both areas. You can like it or lump it, but that's just the way it is.
We all know that inflation is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about, but who wants to spend hundreds of dollars on an American made knife, when they can get a Chinese manufactured knife, with better quality control, tight tolerances, fit and finish, etc., than you can with the top U.S. knife manufacturers. Look, I'm all for buy American, but I'm not spending twice as much money on an American made knife that costs twice as much as a Civivi knife that is better than the American product. This whole thing is crazy, I know, but the reality of economics affects everything, even the knife community.
I'm bothered by this, but you cannot expect anything more than an honest appraisal of the product itself - people want value for their money. The only measure that really matters to the consumer is value for their money, and they're not getting it in America right now; and, if they can't get it here in the States, then they will be more than happy to purchase from China and other countries. I want to emphasize that the problem is twofold: cost and quality. Quite frankly, Civivi knives are winning in both areas. You can like it or lump it, but that's just the way it is.
