Thoughts on buying Chinese knives

I bet china can automate faster and cheaper then the US can.

I'll vote for innovate.
 
Yeah, Taiwan's stuff has been looking pretty good these days... but I still try to avoid it, even though I appreciate the value to cost. China does nothing for me, but I'm not really their target market.
 
Boker's Magnum series is made in Tiawan.IMO one of the best $15-$25 knives out there.

China has zero quality as far as I've ever seen.It's all about putting out the maximum amount,at the lowest cost.There is no pride in craftsmanship in that country anymore.
 
Many in the Boker Magnum line are made in China. And yes, the ones I've seen are really not bad at all.

China quality is a function of what consumers buy. When companies contract for junk, they make junk. When they contract for quality, they make quality. It's no different than anywhere else, really.
 
MType and Hyper from Boker are made in China, and the quality control is "up to snuff" like it is w/the Byrds.
 
I have a custom-made D2 karambit lying on my belly. It has Micarta handles and it is of 1/4" full tang construction. Ox leather sheath. Holds and takes a great edge. While it's a little rough around the edges and the snap scratches the blade, it's a GREAT little knife and it only ran me around $30 US.

China does make a lot of crap (I live in Hong Kong, so I know), but there are a few gems, and things are getting better VERY quicky.
 
because our government forbids people taking knife,our kinfe industry cant develop rapidly.maybe it rusults in making low quality knife.
but China has been open to world.i welcome those guys who think china is not friendly to america to china.i believe they will find most chinese people are good men.you will find a different china of which you thought before.
by the way ,we live under the same sky and on the same earth.you cant regard china as enemy just because we have different belief and make cheap goods.
 
Some Chinese knife factories are improving very quickly and we've found that they can produce very good quality if required to. The "Tenacious" is a Chinese made Spyderco and the quality is very good. 8Cr13MoV isn't VG-10 or S30V, but it is a good steel when properly heat treated.

The difference in labor costs is a result of the exchange rate (Yuan / Dollar), not low wages. Many of the factory workers that I saw had personal cell phones on their work stations.

Yes there is still poverty in China, as there is everywhere in the world, but the situation in China is much improved. We drove from Shanghai to Nanjing in a Chinese made Lexus. (All of the car companies have factories in China).

We showed the USA made BaliYo at the Blade show. (Reaction was very good). However, most of the dealers balked at the price though and said they'd wait for the Chinese version. Many Americans say they want to buy Ameican, but they're not being honest with themselves. When it comes time to pull out their wallets, they go Chinese most of the time.

American knife companies make knives in China because that is what Americans demand. Even many Taiwan companies are using Chinese knife factories because the Taiwan exchange rate is much higher and the Taiwan knives are expensive.

As the Chinese Yuan gets stronger (18% in the past year), the markets will again change.

Still best for Americans to buy American when ever you can. Our economy and work force needs domestic manufacturing. We're too large of a country to be a trading nation only.

sal

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"The opposite of war isn't peace, it's trade"
 
epoluo said:
because our government forbids people taking knife,our kinfe industry cant develop rapidly.maybe it rusults in making low quality knife.
but China has been open to world.i welcome those guys who think china is not friendly to america to china.i believe they will find most chinese people are good men.you will find a different china of which you thought before.
by the way ,we live under the same sky and on the same earth.you cant regard china as enemy just because we have different belief and make cheap goods.
Click to expand...

brother, no one with half a brain dislikes anyone just because what country they're from or because they practice a different religion. At least no one worth being concerned about that is.
 
epoluo said:
because our government forbids people taking knife,our kinfe industry cant develop rapidly.maybe it rusults in making low quality knife.
but China has been open to world.i welcome those guys who think china is not friendly to america to china.i believe they will find most chinese people are good men.you will find a different china of which you thought before.
by the way ,we live under the same sky and on the same earth.you cant regard china as enemy just because we have different belief and make cheap goods.
Click to expand...

I would not take it personally , I think most angst is directed at the Government and not the people of China.
Besides everyone on here buys Chinese products all the time , cell phones , your PC you are using to browse this forum , etc...

If anything - the quality of a few brands has gone up considerably , Rough Rider and Marbles both have quite nice knives , especially for the price. Byrds , Bokers ,CRKT , the Benchmade Mini-Pika is made in China is one hell of a entry level folder.

I thought capatilists believe that competition is great ? :) :cool:
 
A lot of things have changed since this thread started, back in February of 2002....
 
Knife Outlet said:
I just finished discontinuing the Kershaw Vapor from our website after learning that it is now made in red China. I've been trying to get our website completely clean of Chinese products and I think we're almost there. there may be a few China products left but not many and we still have over 3000 products left to sell. (I don't include Taiwan with red China. I consider Taiwan a friend fo the U.S.)

But I think I'm in a small minority of people who think China is at least a competitor if not an enemy of the U.S. and Americans shouldn't buy Chinese products. It appears most of the rest of the country feels fine about it. How do you feel?
Click to expand...


I don't care if China were to come out with the best product in the world, if there is a choice made in the USA, Japan or most other places I would choose it. By the way I know that I don't have toi worry about China putting out the best product part because 90% of what they make is garbage.

I am being honest about this; I do and would always pay five times or more the cost to buy other than China made.

Your second paragraph is almost how I feel. China is at least an enemy of the U.S. and Americans shouldn't buy Chinese products if there is any alternative.
 
The issue of Chinese products came up in my family especially in the context of baby toys, clothes, furniture, etc, since time and again the lack of oversight and the overwhelming drive to make a buck at any cost compels them to produce substandard and/or dangerous items (including architectural and civil engineering undertakings).

It seems people and animals don't rate highly in that culture, so thanks but no thanks. If at all possible, American products for this family.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ds-spectator-sport-China-DOESNT-want-see.html
 
For a long time I've always tried to buy American when I can... I'm only 14, so I saved up for a long time and bought an American knife that is still my favorite - A Benchmade Griptillian 551.

But just a week ago I was in a convenience store and saw... WHAT??? a SPYDERCO!!! In a GAS STATION!!! I wanted to see if it was a fake... so I bought it... 41 bucks... not bad.

Took it home... MADE IN CHINA?? Of course this knife turned out to be the Tenacious... but the quality is amazing.

So the bottom line is when someone like Mr. Glesser is overseeing manufacturing in China, good quality products can be made. Quality seems to come from the top down... and I think Sal Glesser is the best top man in the knife industry.
 
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