US Army brand knives, by Taylor Cutlery, made in China

Tim Galyean said:
I had nothing to do with the Taylor brand knife. The thing that disgusts me about this knife is not the fact that it is a copy (That is what Taylor does, no getting around that), it is the fact that the U.S. Army name has been whored out and just slapped on anything. Taylor probably does not even know it is a copy of my design, they go to some factory in China that already has all the knives copied and ready for production, and the Taylor guys pick the ones they want to buy.
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Sorry to hear about that Tim. I figured that's what it was all about.
They do like a lot of other companies here, just pick from a big display of what they want and their name gets slapped on it.

Is there anything you can do since Taylor's offices are here?

Pitiful.
 
All I know, is that Taylor cutlery has some crappy copies. They destroyed Old Timer. Should be stamped "Red Army" and left in China.
 
Or perhaps in this case People's Liberation Army-brand knives would be a more fitting name? :D
 
This gets worse by the second. Luckily this probably won't be the next big lineup of knives in the industry, so hopefully it will simply come and go.
 
I'm trying very hard not to post what I really think here. For now, I'll just say that this thread made me:
1. buy one of Tim's designs and
2. despise the current Army "star" logo and digital camouflage.

I see that star (and the digital camo) on T-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, underwear, water bottles, keychains, car seat covers, socks, bathrobes, and the list goes on. But now, knives? Knives made in China? Rip-off knives made in China? I'm really hoping that some new E-1 doesn't go to the PX and buy one of these, thinking it's a good knife; that's always been the Spyderco Native or standard Kabar.
 
JNieporte said:
I'm trying very hard not to post what I really think here. For now, I'll just say that this thread made me:
1. buy one of Tim's designs and
2. despise the current Army "star" logo and digital camouflage.

I see that star (and the digital camo) on T-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, underwear, water bottles, keychains, car seat covers, socks, bathrobes, and the list goes on. But now, knives? Knives made in China? Rip-off knives made in China? I'm really hoping that some new E-1 doesn't go to the PX and buy one of these, thinking it's a good knife; that's always been the Spyderco Native or standard Kabar.
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Who knows. Sadly that may be the case with recruits. A friend of mine is in the AF ROTC and his dream knife is a kabar and has this rinky-dink POS folder in his car that he likes.

Tim Galyean's knife is sweet though. Will have to check them out. I think that is the only positive thing to rip-offs, we get get informed of the phony product and shown what's real. For me, it usually winds up being something I've never seen before.
 
Those knives are pretty awful, and its a shame they associated it with the US army :barf:. But if they put them in PX's they will probably sell rather well. For the general us soldier that doesn't know much about knives might like them. They have US army on it, in camo, black blades, "cool":rolleyes: designs, and are heavy (did anyone else notice how heavy the folders were? the one said 9oz!!:eek:)
 
Here's My two cents as a former FO (forward observer) with the 157th infantry. First off its always a disappointment to see any service's colors and logos on equipment made in other countries and China as always is a bit of a slap in the face with their reputation for cranking out shoddy stuff. When I served I always carried a Benchmade or in a pinch Kershaw for folders and Benchmade or a Buck for my fixed blades. I used to look down my nose at Gerber and Smith and Wesson although in their defense the handle:blade connection has been a lot more solid lately on their folders and a Gerber "combat" knife has replaced my beloved Nimravus as my fixed blade of choice just due to practicality. Having said that the US army knives made by Tayor aren't meant to be used by Military Personnel or even to represent the Army. They are meant for civilians who would like to use a tool that shows their support of the army and as such the standard can only be held so high. My EDC is still my 950 rift from my service days and for the foreseeable will be. I must admit that in between my SOG's and Kershaws, Benchmade's etc one of these US Army knives sits in my collection (sorry if thats awkwardly worded). From the times that I have used it and from my cutlery knowledge its an alright blade, for a civilian EDC. I see these knives for what they are, a (cheap) way for us citizens to show they support the troops in a way that they can use daily.
 
The knives are junk. That army star logo is lame...most soldiers probably don't even know what the real US Army seal even looks like, which in my opinion has more class than anything the Army's PR people have been using in their pop campaigns of the last 35 years or so. I know the Drill Sgts had better know what it looks like!
The only soldier I'd ever bestowe one of those knives on would have to be in the opposing military. I'm amazed the Army gave permission to use their name just to drum up a little advertising.
 
Just pointing out the profits from the junk knives (which, are, at the end of the day unfortunately junk) Net profit goes to soldier mental health and rehab programs. As to the Seal I really am glad that I don't see it on merchandise or clothing. That would cheapen it. Would rather see the star go out on every P.O.S in Wal Mart then The Seal on a single t shirt.
 
Good causes don't require cheap mechandise. I'm an Army vet...sell me a cheap key ring that was US made and cost a buck to make for $15 to support a good cause...I'm easy like that. Put the US seal on it that the Army tried to pass off as theirs, then...anything but that stupid star.
 
This is ridiculous, US Army knives made in China... good lord, guard the name a little better. From now on I will never buy another knife from China or Taiwan. I have a buddy coming back from boot camp (NOT for the Army but for the Marine Corps) and he's getting one of my Customs when he gets back to the homestead in 4 weeks, so I know he'll have a good knife on him and not some Chinese made hunk o' crap.
 
The star does fall a bit short... I'd like to see "This We Will Defend." on more. Personally I have too many friends and brothers tn those programs to critique the source of their funding too deeply, but to each his own.
 
Hey, I am from China. I visited the US last year on a business trip and was trying to buy something US made as souvenirs. I bought a buck 110, a craftsman plier and screw-drive set. I spent long time looking through the market shelfs. I think it's also sad that companies move manufacturing to China for cheaper labor cost and polluting our environment. I still remember the days in 80s, when I was younger, the sky was blue, and dragon flies were flying everywhere in the summer.
btw, it's my first post, and I also have a Mcusta knife, and a spyderco native ii.
 
There used to be a rule that anything issued to US Service people had to be made in America, the thinking was that we already make the best equipment, so why would we go elsewhere. Now, that rule has changed to where the equipment just has to be sold by an American company, where it was actually made doesn't come into play anymore. Someday we'll use AK's because some clown in procurement got a swingin' deal.
 
te1140 said:
Hey, I am from China. I visited the US last year on a business trip and was trying to buy something US made as souvenirs. I bought a buck 110, a craftsman plier and screw-drive set. I spent long time looking through the market shelfs. I think it's also sad that companies move manufacturing to China for cheaper labor cost and polluting our environment. I still remember the days in 80s, when I was younger, the sky was blue, and dragon flies were flying everywhere in the summer.
btw, it's my first post, and I also have a Mcusta knife, and a spyderco native ii.
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And China is fully capable of putting out as high of a quality of product as the contractor demands. The biggest reason why we see so many crappy products coming from China and other low-labor-cost countries is because the company contracting the work just doesn't care about anything but dollar signs and wants it done as cheap as possible. If they asked for world-class products they'd get them. :o
 
I bet Roman Legionaires carried "imported" gear from the very fringes of the Empire circa the fall of said empire.
 
Tyronethepro said:
This is ridiculous, US Army knives made in China... good lord, guard the name a little better. From now on I will never buy another knife from China or Taiwan. I have a buddy coming back from boot camp (NOT for the Army but for the Marine Corps) and he's getting one of my Customs when he gets back to the homestead in 4 weeks, so I know he'll have a good knife on him and not some Chinese made hunk o' crap.
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Let's not confuse those that don't know better by calling them US Army knives as they are NOT! They are cheap knives that have U.S. Army logos on them. They are not issue, and they do not have a National Stock Number. Maybe someone can correct me, but I don't think the military can legally procure knives made outside the U.S.

Unfortunately the logos and branding can be liscensed to whoever they see fit. :barf:
 
Mountain Mike said:
Let's not confuse those that don't know better by calling them US Army knives as they are NOT! They are cheap knives that have U.S. Army logos on them. They are not issue, and they do not have a National Stock Number. Maybe someone can correct me, but I don't think the military can legally procure knives made outside the U.S.

Unfortunately the logos and branding can be liscensed to whoever they see fit. :barf:
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Are there any US army knives? Those which are issue and have the National Stock Number? I am in fact curious.

As for the "knives specially made for US Army and Special Forces": soon it will be difficult to find the one which is not. Since that small lie brigs such a good publicity and boost sales... And it is not even a lie - so what if it has nothing to do with the army procurement! Anybody could design and produce a knife hoping that US Army will like it so much that it will change its policy and make its personnel to use exclusively that particular model. You may fail, but you can develop and produce the knife for US Army - even if it did not ask you to, and did not buy a single one. US Army does not care much about knives anyway. ;)
 
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