Trouble buying a Sage 2/Country of Origin

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BMCGear

BMCGear

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Bought a Pm2 and really enjoyed it but it's a bit bigger/bulkier than I'd like for a dedicated EDC. The Sage 2 looks close to perfect to me. Sebenza like with better ergos. For some reason I struggle with the idea of carrying a made in Taiwan knife. I know that Taiwan Spyderco's are considered top tier. I have always tried to support American manufacturing and jobs. What are your thoughts on this? Let's keep it civil.
 
Taiwan is like a modern Western country situated in Asia that's in the picture on your side of the strategic map.

Should be no issue with giving them some good vibes.
 
The Sage 2 is a great knife...but if you want to limit your Spyerco purchases to those produced in Golden, CO, that's your choice.
Maybe I'll buy a few more (I noticed that the retail price is higher than it was a couple months ago - maybe supplies are dwindling)
 
That's a personal decision. Many of my favorite Spydercos are made in Taichung. Sage 2 is very nice.
 
Would it help to frame it like this? Profits from purchasing a Spyderco knife, regardless of country of manufacture, go to Spyderco, which employs Americans.

All the materials are American, and shipped to Taiwan (which has more in common culturally with Japan than China), and machined/assembled there and QC'd there and at Golden (if I recall correctly) before distribution.

On the other side of the coin, the equipment you're using to view this forum is likely made, or comprised of components manufactured and assembled overseas, and most people don't seem to have a problem with that.
 
This has been discussed millions of times and I've responded on many of them so I'll add in a few different things that I haven't that in the past. It's good to by USA made anytime you can but even doing that isn't so cut and dry anymore especially in the knife world. OP, you're a big Benchmade guy, Benchmade is owned and founded by a Filipino. ZT is a Japanese company.

Taiwan's sovereignty is in our best interest and if we were to go to war, it would be on their side. Also, they have fair labor laws that mirror ours.

You don't have to buy the Sage if it bothers you as much as Fords made in Mexico, Iphones made in China, TV's made inKorea, Levis jeans made in Honduras, Nintendos made in Japan... Save your money...and your conscience.
 
hoimin said:
Would it help to frame it like this? Profits from purchasing a Spyderco knife, regardless of country of manufacture, go to Spyderco, which employs Americans.

All the materials are American, and shipped to Taiwan (which has more in common culturally with Japan than China), and machined/assembled there and QC'd there and at Golden (if I recall correctly) before distribution.

On the other side of the coin, the equipment you're using to view this forum is likely made, or comprised of components manufactured and assembled overseas, and most people don't seem to have a problem with that.
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Yes, that is how I'm trying to look at it. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with this either; in my head I just have a hard time justifying not carrying a knife made in the USA. And I get what you're saying about my PC, my phone, etc. I try my best to support things made in the US when they are available. Which is why I have the phone that I have.

Stays Sharp said:
This has been discussed millions of times and I've responded on many of them so I'll add in a few different things that I haven't that in the past. It's good to by USA made anytime you can but even doing that isn't so cut and dry anymore especially in the knife world. OP, you're a big Benchmade guy, Benchmade is owned and founded by a Filipino. ZT is a Japanese company.

Taiwan's sovereignty is in our best interest and if we were to go to war, it would be on their side. Also, they have fair labor laws that mirror ours.

You don't have to buy the Sage if it bothers you as much as Fords made in Mexico, Iphones made in China, TV's made inKorea, Levis jeans made in Honduras, Nintendos made in Japan... Save your money...and your conscience.
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I completely get what you're saying about the other brands.
 
Sage series is definitely in Spyderco's top tier in terms of quality. The design is American, the blade steel is American, and the company that stands behind it is American. The Sage 2's titanium probably comes from elsewhere, but so does the titanium used in most knives marked "Made in the USA".

Buy it, or don't buy it. There's always the fluted ti Native V and the ti Military to consider if country of origin is your prime criteria.
 
Give it a try! Sage 2 has become one of my absolute favorite knives in my collection. So good, I bought another one. I respect made in USA also but you will miss out on some awesome quality Spydercos if you only stick to Golden produced.
 
I'm of the feeling that the origin of the company matters much less than the place of manufacture. But Sal has personally been over there and toured the factory several times, and said it was nothing like China, his reason for making it there was they were the only knife maker who could handle the workload Spyderco wanted as well as produce the fit and finish expected. He had inquired at several factories before Taichung but only that one was able to meet the requirements.

As far as I'm concerned, if a company wants to produce quality with skilled workers, paid a wage to encourage quality, then the fact that its in a country not known for quality is MORE reason to buy their product. I want to encourage that kind of manufacturing over making cheap junk.
 
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Seneca18 said:
Give it a try! Sage 2 has become one of my absolute favorite knives in my collection. So good, I bought another one. I respect made in USA also but you will miss out on some awesome quality Spydercos if you only stick to Golden produced.
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This.
 
Regardless of where they're made, the sage line are top tier knives. I've had both a sage 1 and sage 2 and they were both fantastic quality for the price. I say get one if you're interested. I'd also like to add that spyderco's taichung factory carries just as much quality as their factory in Golden, CO.
 
I feel buying high quality foreign-made items, with honest pricing that affords a decent wage to the foreign factory workers or craftspeople, is an example of how global trade should work. This sort of back-and-forth improves everyone's lot. When you buy a good quality Taiwanese knife, and pay good money for it, you are evening the playing field with domestic production. Some of the top tier Spydercos rival Chris Reeve knives, BOTH in quality and PRICE. That puts things in the realm of "may the best man win", which is a fair competition. It is only when you buy disposable shite from Asia, for 1/100 of the price it should cost, that you are doing a disservice to your countrymen.

The fly in the ointment is whether you believe that the people working at the foreign shop are treated ethically. Knowing a bit about the history of Spyderco, I would assume there is no sweat-shop, child labour, or slavery involved. Those situations do not tend to produce high quality products anyway.
 
^
I've been to Taiwan twice now. First time on business, and decided to slide by a second time as part of a vacation. Good people, good food. I can tell you first hand that it is nothing like China (been there too) in terms of labor laws so rest assured. They have labor laws that mirror the west.
 
PeteyTwoPointOne said:
Seems like I read that the world's largest Titanium sources are in Russia....
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Depends on where you look. I've read that too, but I've also seen China, Australia, and South Africa listed as the largest producers of titanium. Of course, some of them may be places where "titanium ore" is mined, and others may be places where it's refined into titanium alloys. In any event, even when it does appear on one of those lists, the USA never seems to be high on it.

As for the OP's dilemma:

One solution might be to buy a used one, they seem to show up on the BF Exchange pretty regularly. That way, assuming you buy from a US seller, you're not "sending money overseas", you're putting it in the pocket of a fellow Ameerican. Then, if you decide that, despite the Sage 2's quality and ergonomics, you just can't live with that TAICHUNG, TAIWAN tang stamp, you can probably recoup you investment.
 
kidcongo said:
I feel buying high quality foreign-made items, with honest pricing that affords a decent wage to the foreign factory workers or craftspeople, is an example of how global trade should work. This sort of back-and-forth improves everyone's lot. When you buy a good quality Taiwanese knife, and pay good money for it, you are evening the playing field with domestic production. Some of the top tier Spydercos rival Chris Reeve knives, BOTH in quality and PRICE. That puts things in the realm of "may the best man win", which is a fair competition. It is only when you buy disposable shite from Asia, for 1/100 of the price it should cost, that you are doing a disservice to your countrymen.

The fly in the ointment is whether you believe that the people working at the foreign shop are treated ethically. Knowing a bit about the history of Spyderco, I would assume there is no sweat-shop, child labour, or slavery involved. Those situations do not tend to produce high quality products anyway.
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Bingo
 
I appreciate everyone's input. I don't think I'm going to buy a Sage2 at this time but I believe I will be buying a Sage 1 or Chaparral. :)
 
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