Tranlation Needed: "Made in the USA of USA and Imported Parts"

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pinnah

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Subject line says it all pretty much.

When I see this on Buck packaging, does this mean that that blade may or may not be US made even if the blade is US stamped?
 
The knives are made in the US, but if you look at the sheath, you'll see that they are most likely made in Mexico. I'm guessing this is what your talking about. Which knife in particular, are you talking about?
 
That has been hashed over in the past but it doesn't say which parts.

I have several versions if the Bantam that say that on the box and they don't come with sheaths. I'd put my money on the handle being the imported part but perhaps it's just the rivets, ect.

I seriously doubt that Buck would stoop to marking imported blades with USA.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-in-the-USA-Built-in-the-USA-or-imported-quot
 
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At least they are saying what they do on the packaging now. When they were making the Bucktool, the parts were made in the USA but were then shipped to Mexico and assembled there. There was no mention of that on the box or paperwork that came with them.
 
Plumberdv said:
That has been hashed over in the past but it doesn't say which parts.

I have several versions if the Bantam that say that on the box and they don't come with sheaths. I'd put my money on the handle being the imported part but perhaps it's just the rivets, ect.

I seriously doubt that Buck would stoop to marking imported blades with USA.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-in-the-USA-Built-in-the-USA-or-imported-quot
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It's a very weird issue and I understand in asking the question there is really no hope of a clear definitive answer. It's sort of like trying to figure out which parts of a vehicle get stamped with a VIN and which do not and why. Add to this the issue of internationalized supply chains and boundaries get fuzzy.

Given that blades are replaceable and that frames are what generally persist over a knife's useable lifespan (we regularly talk about a rebladed such and such knife), I could see a case to be made that a knife with a US made frame and imported blade would be considered to be US made with a combination of US and imported parts. I'm not suggesting that or advocating that. Just saying I could the case to be made.

This raises a more difficult issue for me and Buck's future. Does Buck want to be another Boker? By which I mean, does Buck want to provide every kind of knife for every kind of buyer? If so, then we need to be at peace with Buck becoming an international brand with international buyers and international manufacturing facilities. Or does Buck want the Buck brand to be thought of as a cultural icon, in much the same way that Victorinox is associated with Switzerland, Opinel is with France and Mora is with Sweden?

Both legitimate paths to take. But very different implications on product lines and sourcing.
 
my 2 cent is that they have left over thermoplastic handles from the chinese bantams and they are using up old stock.
 
What does it mean?

EASY.

It means anything Buck wants it to mean. Now and in the future. And they don't have to tell us anything about it.

So, to avoid suspicion, they should just not use statements like that.

That was easy.
 
While it WOULD be nice it they said what parts are imported, at least they are being honest about the fact that some parts are not made in the USA. IMHO, the statement should stay in order to be honest about the origin even if it doesn't specify the parts.

I don't know why Buck seems to skirt the issue (of which parts) every time it comes up. The only firm answer is that it's not the blade. So what are they? The handle/frame, the rivets or clip or everything EXCEPT the blade?? Is it a state secret?
 
excerpted from FTC guidelines...


are appropriately clear and prominent.
Within these guidelines, the form the qualified claim takes
is up to the marketer. A marketer may make any qualified
claim about the U.S. content of its products as long as the
claim is truthful and substantiated. Qualified claims, for
example, may be general, indicating simply the existence of
unspecified foreign content (e.g., “Made in USA of U.S. and
imported parts”) or they may be specific, indicating the
amount of U.S. content (e.g., “60% U.S. content”), the parts
or materials that are imported (e.g., “Made in USA from
imported leather”), or the particular foreign country from
which the parts come (“Made in USA from French components”).

Where a qualified claim takes the form of a general U.S.
origin claim accompanied by qualifying information about
foreign content (e.g., “Made in USA of U.S. and imported
parts” or “Manufactured in U.S. with Indonesian materials”),
the Commission believes that consumers are likely to understand
such a claim to mean that, whatever foreign materials
or parts the product contains, the last assembly, processing,
or finishing of the product occurred in the United States.


it could mean, like BG stated, whatever Buck wants it to mean...they are being very honest telling us that some part, or parts are imported, but that the last major transformation occured domestically...
 
Changing printed copy (and even electronic) copy is expensive. Certainly cheaper today thanks to just-in-time printing and so forth, but there are still a lot of hoops to go through to put words on packages.

Given this, I can understand the appeal of having a single set of words that could be put on anything if there is a chance that some or any imported part is used.
 
I find it interesting that the Buck mods haven't commented. I believe they shed some light into the "cancer causing" packaging statement, but mum seems the word on this topic. Especially interesting when Buck seemed vocal in making the point that they were bringing some of their overseas line back to the states. I do understand that some component parts may out of necessity or economy be made overseas, but it would seem simple enough for someone to clarify that here. Trade secret? Buck has always been one of my favorite knife brands, but one of things that attracts me to them the most is, that they are Made in the U.S.A. I've stopped buying Gerber, and Leatherman because they've stopped stamping their tools as made in the U.S. I'll do the same with Buck, if Buck follows suit. I'm not against buying non U.S. made knives. I've got of bunch of Seki City Sydercos, Victorinox, even a Chinese Buck. What puts me off is not knowing.

By the way, so that no one thinks that this is my first post, I had to re-register...My old handle was Doug S.
 
dmattaponi said:
I find it interesting that the Buck mods haven't commented. I believe they shed some light into the "cancer causing" packaging statement, but mum seems the word on this topic.
Click to expand...

But......they have the right to remain silent.

:)
 
Joe Houser did respond sort of in this old thread (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...-imported-quot) and J Hubbard gave the info in this current thread that the blades are not the imported parts. Mr. Hubbard is Buck's manager for USA products, so he would know.

To me, the blades MAKE the knife, the other parts are just in supporting roles.
Click to expand...

Plumberdv,

Thanks for the info, and link. I'll check it out. I did see where Mr. Hubbard provided info on the blades (which I do appreciate).

But......they have the right to remain silent.
Click to expand...

Yes, they do, but as I'm sure you already know, that won't exactly endear them to those of us who would like to know a little more about what we are buying from them.
 
dmattaponi said:
Plumberdv,

Thanks for the info, and link. I'll check it out. I did see where Mr. Hubbard provided info on the blades (which I do appreciate).



Yes, they do, but as I'm sure you already know, that won't exactly endear them to those of us who would like to know a little more about what we are buying from them.
Click to expand...

Well, I'd like to know myself just out of curiosity but the knowlege of which parts are imported wouldn't affect my decision about buying one in any way. As long as I know where the blade comes from, I'm fine. In fact, I have and enjoy quite a few that are 100% imported. As long as they're Bucks, I'm fine with them.
 
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