Those Chinese Knives...

SeppukuSamurai

SeppukuSamurai

Joined
Aug 19, 2014
Messages
1,435
Hey guys,

Recently I've been lucky enough to score a Todd Begg Steelcraft series Kwaiken from the forums here and after receiving the knife yesterday I'm totally impressed. I've owned an offering from pretty much every major production company the USA has to offer and in most cases I've owned several so when I tell you that this Kwaiken made by a Chinese company called Reate is on par if not superior in terms of materials/fit and finish it's not just a reposted e-opinion. I did not pay full retail for this knife and that is probably reflected in my opinion/excitement to some degree but the fact is this knife is absolutely tops in production models I've ever handled. The knife flips open with authority with absolutely no hand movement necessary every single time. The action is incredibly smooth, in fact probably the smoothest of any knife I own. The attention to detail is blatantly obvious. The knife is almost reminiscent of CRK in terms of tolerances/fit and finish but packs way more of a "wow" factor in terms of aesthetics.

Overall I'm just really impressed and thought that I should share that with you guys. I think there is a stigma when it comes to Chinese made products and though that opinion is often reasonable, I feel it should also be noted when that opinion could not be any more wrong. Reate knocked this one out of the park. They've managed to effectively produce a knife with a custom makers name attached using tops materials and incredible machining at a price point I believe surpasses a lot of other offerings I've had pass through my hands.

Nod to Reate and Todd Begg for making this sweet blade happen!
 
I'll admit that I prefer not to buy Chinese knives. It's not an issue of quality, as I'm confident that that many of them are excellent. I just prefer to support companies with American workers.
 
Knave said:
I'll admit that I prefer not to buy Chinese knives. It's not an issue of quality, as I'm confident that that many of them are excellent. I just prefer to support companies with American workers.
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I feel you on wanting to buy american.

However, for me, whoever can make a knife that I want, in the materials I want, and can provide this in a quality package at the best price possible, is who gets my money and it is rarely a usa made knife. I have some benchmades, and american customs. But the majority of my favorites are from china and japan. and taiwan.
 
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I understand completely. I'm not even completely consistent, as I'm willing to buy Japanese.
 
Knave said:
I understand completely. I'm not even completely consistent, as I'm willing to buy Japanese.
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I really like spydercos Taiwan knives, even more than their usa made knives.

I picked up another keizer today. Ti framelock, vg10 damascus blade, for 75$ shipped, and its flawless. I know you don't want chinese but you'll love kizer ;)
 
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Well after staring at it for awhile, I might just have to get one in blackwash. I meant to get a Hinderer as my next expensive purchase, but that bladeshape has me hooked.
 
I'm guessing the knife is expensive right? For me if I'm gonna own a Chinese knife it's gonna be a sub 20$ beater knife, any more than that and it better at least be a low end American made knife ( particularly my tride and true buck 482, if it can't do it I'm not gonna ask a Chinese knife to try ) that knife does look nice and I'm sure it's a decent knife, but my definition of a Chinese knife is " a sub 20$ knife good for looking at as a novelty or for using and abusing until it fails at which point you replace it )
 
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Hickory n steel said:
I'm guessing the knife is expensive right? For me if I'm gonna own a Chinese knife it's gonna be a sub 20$ beater knife, any more than that and it better at least be a low end American made knife ( particularly my tride and true buck 482, if it can't do it I'm not gonna ask a Chinese knife to try )
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what have you got against china? they've been making blades for hundreds of years before america even existed.

Edit: They've actually been making blades for over 2000 years.
 
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Knave said:
I'll admit that I prefer not to buy Chinese knives. It's not an issue of quality, as I'm confident that that many of them are excellent. I just prefer to support companies with American workers.
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Here we go again. :rolleyes: I'll never understand this statement. We live in a global economy, and trade with many other nations. If you buy Todd Begg knife, you are supporting Todd Begg, who employs American workers. To say nothing of the companies he supports who ship the product, import the product, market the product, sell the product, etc, who also employ guess what... American workers.

If everybody all at once stopped buying foreign made products, what would happen to all the American workers who earn their living with the companies that invest in, ship, import, market and sell those products. To say nothing of the American workers who are supplying the materials for the manufacture of the product. Throughout the entire process of getting any product into the consumers hands, there are many American workers involved. From the original concept, all the way down to the retailer.

Not to mention there are many products which America does not even produce. I can understand not wanting to buy products from a specific country do to political or philosophical beliefs, but to say; "I will only by products made in America to support American workers" is , in todays world, unrealistic, and next to impossible.
 
stonproject said:
what have you got against china? they've been making blades for hundreds of years before america even existed.
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They just flood the market with so much more crap than they do quality that it has stained their reputation for production in my eyes ( I will have to see a general rise in overall quality of a much higher percent of Chinese knives for at at least 5yrs straight before my opinion of them can be changed ) I won't spend more on a Chinese knife because that's what I think their quality is worth, as it stands right now. ( if I can get a good American made knife for 21$ why would I look to China )
 
Hickory n steel said:
They just flood the market with so much more crap than they do quality that it has stained their reputation for production in my eyes ( I will have to see a general rise in overall quality of a much higher percent of Chinese knives for at at least 5yrs straight before my opinion of them can be changed ) I won't spend more on a Chinese knife because that's what I think their quality is worth, as it stands right now. ( if I can get a good American made knife for 21$ why would I look to China )
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Lol well keep on keepin on I suppose. More for me!
 
Hickory n steel said:
They just flood the market with so much more crap than they do quality that it has stained their reputation for production in my eyes ( I will have to see a general rise in overall quality of a much higher percent of Chinese knives for at at least 5yrs straight before my opinion of them can be changed ) I won't spend more on a Chinese knife because that's what I think their quality is worth, as it stands right now. ( if I can get a good American made knife for 21$ why would I look to China )
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Just curious, what American made knife can you get for $21?
 
ebidis said:
Here we go again. :rolleyes: I'll never understand this statement. We live in a global economy, and trade with many other nations. If you buy Todd Begg knife, you are supporting Todd Begg, who employs American workers. To say nothing of the companies he supports who ship the product, import the product, market the product, sell the product, etc, who also employ guess what... American workers.

If everybody all at once stopped buying foreign made products, what would happen to all the American workers who earn their living with the companies that invest in, ship, import, market and sell those products. To say nothing of the American workers who are supplying the materials for the manufacture of the product. Throughout the entire process of getting any product into the consumers hands, there are many American workers involved. From the original concept, all the way down to the retailer.

Not to mention there are many products which America does not even produce. I can understand not wanting to buy products from a specific country do to political or philosophical beliefs, but to say; "I will only by products made in America to support American workers" is , in todays world, unrealistic, and next to impossible.
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You are absolutely right we do live in a global economy, step into a Walmart and 99% of the products on the shelves are from China. But, we have seen something here in the knife community that is different. Chinese manufacturers' that sell directly to consumers for premium prices, without any US presence or support. So there is no benefit to American workers. Competition is good for the global economy, and yes imports support jobs here. But when a company does not have a US infrastructure to support quality and warranty issues, I have a hard time rationalizing that this is good for a global economy.
 
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