US made

Grouping products by country of origin is a bad idea, unless you're concerned about politics or nationalism. The premise is broken from the start. It's a matter of economics, not international borders.

At one time, all the crappy knives sold in America were not Chinese, but American and European. As American and European labor rose in value, those knives could not survive the marketplace using such valuable labor. So production moved elsewhere to places where labor had less value. Japan, Taiwan, China.

China's labor is still quite cheap. However, China's industry is relatively modern and driven by demand in places like the US. As a result, China is able to produce much better goods than they might have fifty years ago, but still at low cost. Technology has leveled the playing field to a large extent. Nowadays, the only reason a crappy knife might come from China is because few people in the West are willing to pay for a very good Chinese knife at a price comparable to a decent American made knife. China's low cost labor is better utilized making lower end goods. Similarly, America's high cost labor is better utilized making pricier goods. With technology closing the gap.
 
My first new cars were a '70 Audi 100LS, a '73 Alfa Romeo Berlina, and a '76 Fiat 131. I've bought new Chrysler products since '84 - and been much happier - especially with my latest, an '05 Jeep Liberty. I try to buy US-made everything - call it 'national pride' or whatever. It's getting more difficult every day - it is a global economy. Of course, that is carried a bit further in my Spydie Natives - they say Golden, CO, USA, EARTH!

It's hard to find US-made SAKs, of course, so I have a few folders from there - and some German fixed blades. Maybe a couple from Japan and Taiwan, too. I did have a huge and rough copy of a Buck 110 that was made in Stainless, Pakistan... but I still can't find that on a map!

Stainz
 
I try to buy mostly american made knives lately. (mostly) :D

With the cars, I believe the line is seriously blurred when the foreign companies cars are manufactured here and parts for domestic cars are made in mexico. Or like the Pontiac Vibe that is essentially a toyota with a different body and interior.

That being said. Every day lately I am carrying one SAK or another. And a made in Taiwan Wharcom that has outstanding quality. It was also designed by one hell of a nice guy named Chad Los Banos who is American, and I want to support him. If there is a rock solid design out there that has no real competition I have a hard time saying no.

If you see the world in Black and White, you are missing out on alot of it.
^
I'm putting that in my sig line!
 
I view USA-made as a plus, but country of origin does not dissuade me from making a knife purchase. Quality is quality in my eyes.
 
For me quality is the key, I have found that in knives from all over. Same can be said for lack of quality also.
 
I prefer to buy USA made knives and don't mind Imports as in a Victorinox.

It's more about the Country they come from. I worry, by enriching countries like China, I only help a country that very well could turn on us and fry my children in their beds with a Nuke, that I helped them pay for.

Where I don't have the same worry when I am buying a KaBar that is made in Taiwan.

Just Voting with my Dollars.
 
akadave2 said:
Any preferences for country of manufacture out there? I try to buy US as much as possible...even though I drive a Japanese car..made in the US but still...

I feel that knives made in Japan are every bit as good as those made in the US for the most part. Probably have better QC to boot. Aside from Japan and some of the other European countries I dont have much confidence in other countries cutlery. Am I wrong?
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Yes.

Taiwan make pretty good knives for Boker. You will be pleasantly surprised.
 
555 said:
I prefer to buy USA made knives and don't mind Imports as in a Victorinox.

It's more about the Country they come from. I worry, by enriching countries like China, I only help a country that very well could turn on us and fry my children in their beds with a Nuke, that I helped them pay for.

Where I don't have the same worry when I am buying a KaBar that is made in Taiwan.

Just Voting with my Dollars.
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There is a far greater possibility that you will be harmed by your own country.

All those taxes that you pay go towards the New-World-Order agenda and they use it provide you with poisoned water, food, air, they destroy the economy, agriculture create a police state, send armed forces to die abroad (poison them too) over lies and for their own profit. They take away your rights and freedoms, blast you with propaganda and brain washing, teach nonsense in schools, preach and promote eugenics, supress innovative technology (like water powereed cars developed decades ago), rob you of all you money, work to create pressures on family to break it, install puppet presidents cut from the same cloth, lie about other countries, indulge in torture, persectuion, genocide abroad and to top it all off they murder thousands like on 911 just for fun ALL to achieve their heinous agenda.

AND YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT CHINA! LOL

Having said all that the knives I am MOST impressed with come from U.S.A.

P.S. I can provide EVIDENCE to back up every claim in this post. I DARE you to contest it!:D
 
I like to try everything that's out there as my budget will allow.The China made knives i buy are 99% American companies.Buck,Spyderco Byrd,Benchmade,Rough Rider,ect.. all have terrific knives made there.
 
topspeclt said:
There is a far greater possibility that you will be harmed by your own country.

All those taxes that you pay go towards the New-World-Order agenda and they use it provide you with poisoned water, food, air, they destroy the economy, agriculture create a police state, send armed forces to die abroad (poison them too) over lies and for their own profit. They take away your rights and freedoms, blast you with propaganda and brain washing, teach nonsense in schools, preach and promote eugenics, supress innovative technology (like water powereed cars developed decades ago), rob you of all you money, work to create pressures on family to break it, install puppet presidents cut from the same cloth, lie about other countries, indulge in torture, persectuion, genocide abroad and to top it all off they murder thousands like on 911 just for fun ALL to achieve their heinous agenda.

AND YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT CHINA! LOL

Having said all that the knives I am MOST impressed with come from U.S.A.

P.S. I can provide EVIDENCE to back up every claim in this post. I DARE you to contest it!:D
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And as a UK gent you have first-hand experience with what tax dollars do. Police state indeed. T.S. Elliot had it right-- "Not with a bang, but a whimper."

This kind of commentary belongs in Whine & Cheese, not the General forum. ;)

Getting back on topic there are some Chinese establishments whose business I am proud to support. Paul Chen of Hanwei is a humble and genuine individual with a real passion for his work. Same with his son Ron. Likewise as a tea enthusiast I have a certain amount of pride for supporting Kam of FunAlliance by purchasing my YiXing teapots through him and helping to keep the art form alive.
 
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FortyTwoBlades said:
And as a UK gent you have first-hand experience with what tax dollars do. Police state indeed. Rudyard Kipling had it right-- "Not with a bang, but a whimper."

This kind of commentary belongs in Whine & Cheese, not the General forum. ;)
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Yes, it is as bad (probably much worse) in the UK. Nice Kipling quote!

555 said:
I worry, by enriching countries like China, I only help a country that very well could turn on us and fry my children in their beds with a Nuke, that I helped them pay for.
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I added that rant in response to the poster who likes to mix up their politics and knife buying and scaremongering that their knife buying may result in nuke-fried pork Chinese style. When you start down that path then there is NO REFUGE whatsoever.
 
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topspeclt said:
Yes, it is as bad (probably much worse) in the UK. Nice Kipling quote!

I added that rant in response to the poster who likes to mix up their politics and knife buying and scaremongering that they will be nuke-fried by Chinese style. When you start down that path then there is NO REFUGE whatsoever.
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Not true, Voting with your Dollars is power.
Just look at what happens when people stop spending.
And before our President of the 90's opened the door with trade, with China, their products were few.

It's just looking at life in the bigger picture, for those who can not see the forest for the Trees.
 
I perfer US made knives. I've been happy with the quality and the pride of ownership. I have a few knives made in Japan and the quality is high, no complaints. I have a few Taiwan made blades and the quality is good but they seem to be made of lesser materials from what I've seen, same with China.

I played with a Benchmade Vex the other day and was very impressed with it's quality and might consider picking one up for when I need a less expensive folder. Hate the thought of losing a $100+ knife in the woods.

I've owned Japanese cars and they are, in my opinion, superior to US models in design and quality. I have 2 GM trucks now and they will be replaced with "bailout free" models when they go, be it Toyota, Ford or Nissan.

My Handgun of choice is Austrian, shotgun of choice is american as is my rifle.

I avoid chinese made products as much as possible due to my political beliefs but it's all but impossible to avoid them completely.
 
My fav knives are made in Japan,my French Douk-Douk isn't bad and the Taiwan stuff is decent,have a Austrian Glock knife and a German knife or two.

So-Japanese knives are best with that crazy Douk-Douk a close second :D

BTW I have two "Made in USA" Case knives-both needed a file taken to the handles before I could use them.....
 
555 said:
It's more about the Country they come from. I worry, by enriching countries like China, I only help a country that very well could turn on us and fry my children in their beds with a Nuke, that I helped them pay for.
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The best way to avoid this is by making China your trading partner. If you think this is a bad thing, you have to go back further than the 90s to the guy who opened up relations with China. China's goods have made for a great deal of prosperity, not only for China, but the US, too. This is the bigger picture, beyond obsolete hatreds and scare tactics.

The US has no particularly special knowledge or technology regarding knives. Some of it's greatest innovations in mass production are practiced globally, allowing just about anywhere to produce comparable products.
 
555 said:
Not true, Voting with your Dollars is power.
Just look at what happens when people stop spending.
And before our President of the 90's opened the door with trade, with China, their products were few.

It's just looking at life in the bigger picture, for those who can not see the forest for the Trees.
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What's not true? I AGREE voting with your Dollars is POWER but does that mean you are gonna stop paying taxes too? It is the US that chose to off-shore their manufacturing so I question your target under your crosshairs in terms of priority.

Yep, the US moved most of their production overseas so they can compete and give more competetive prices.
 
[sniff, sniff]
I smell something, like I stepped in some Political Arena and now it's stuck to my shoe.

-------------

Just wanted to toss out a huge thumbs-up for several knife brands and their various origins: Opinel knives (made in France), the CRKT KISS, Stiff KISS, and Grey Ghost (made in Taiwan), Gerber Silver Knights (Japan), AG Russell (USA, Germany, Japan), recent Case purchases (USA), Xikar fixed blade (China), Victorinox and Wenger (Switzerland) Mora and Karesuando (Sweden), Helle (Norway), Ahti (Finland), Schrade Old Timers (USA), Schatt and Morgan (USA), Buck fixed blades (USA), Benchmade (USA).

Here's a counter thumbs-down: Much of the old Imperial line (USA and Ireland), KaBar folder (Hong Kong), no-name lockback (Pakistan), vintage Okapi (Germany), a Queen button lock that fell apart (USA), older Spyderco knives with wobbly blades (USA and Japan)...

I'm convinced there is not much correlation between country of origin and quality...
 
3 Kershaws, 5 Sebbies, 2 Emersons, 1 Korth, 1 MTech, 1 BladeTech and the rest are American made Customs. I like to spend my $$ in the US but will bend to buy a quality product from friendly trade partners. I really like the German made products and Japanese made. I'm always putting my feelers out their to see what I can find.

mnyshrpknvs
 
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