USA vs CHINA Shrade 70t Cutting Test to Destruction

Thanks for that test information. I have never questioned what was a better knife. I lot of my reasoning was just personal. Your testing sure gives a lot of proof.
As to what are the China made knives? Taylor Cutlery is a well know international maker. As you heard earlier, Schrade went bankrupt. They were actually closed and the company was being disolved. Taylor Cutlery bought not only the name but the patents for all Schrade knives. What Taylor is doing is perfectly legal and, in my humble view, ethical. The knives they make are clearly marked Taylor Cutlery on the boxes. The blades are stamped China. (At least all I have seen). If there are sellers who are trying to cover these facts, well shame on them.
I am pointing this out to say that if Taylor wanted to do it they could make the same knife with the same materials and, save the skills used to assemble them, they would be identical.
The situation being as it is now in the world, the buyer has to be even more informed and aware of what they are purchasing than ever before. We all remember when no one bought a Japanese car because they were all just cheap junk. No one can fairly say that now.
I guess that just begs the question of, will China be another Japan and increase the quality of the products they make? My guess is yes, but we can known for now that the USA made Schrade knives are for sure still the better product.
Great Test, Thanks much for shareing it.
Ed

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MDG said:
Tim,
People keep saying that the chinese product will improve. Maybe it will and maybe it won't. The japanese product only improved after they imported quality control systems into their manufacturers. China has been making cheap knockoffs for so long they will have problems turning their industry around.
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Not supporting the Chinese/Taylor "Schrades" a bit here, as Tim's tests here show the quality deficiency compared to the original. But as for the quality improving, I think it may be a matter of time. I do a lot of woodworking, and as anybody in that line knows, most of the machinery manufacturing has been outsourced to China and Taiwan in recent years. For a good while, there was no comparison between them and the USA made machines. However, as time has gone by, the imported machines have improved dramatically (at least those with well-known brand names have). But keep in mind that there is much more money invested in a woodworking machine than in most imported knives, so who knows? They may not make enough money to justify the investment in better quality. Only time will tell.
 
Thanks all for your responses and comments, I woke this morning to check the forum and have been impressed with the number of possitive responces.

It was alot of work but it probably isnt as much work as would be involved in everyone trying to convince with many pages those occasional members who with little knowledge question if the China and USA Schrades are similar products.

Give it a few months, wait till this Thread dissapears from view and someone will more than likely put a post on forum asking why we dont we all buy China Schrades???

Then instead of pages of replies and posts we will just be able to post a link to this thread and that should satisfy them !!! I hope ??? Probably some of the dissenters will still want to flog a dead horse even after being informed but at least it will be easier to see what there intentions are in posting.

I definitely dont want to end disscusion on it but a little more background knowledge would surely help.
Kind Regards to all
Tim
 
Tim,I can tell you this poor horse has had more lives than a cat but your right.It will pop up again and get whipped.Thanks for the great post and please all you Schraders hang in there.Remember sooner or later it'll get worse.:eek:
 
I just realized that the above post was number 700.When I joined I figured if I made 200 I'd be lucky.Thanks for your support guys.Now back to this great thread.Arnold
 
:eek: Man.. Just caught this thread and have to say 'What an impressive test!'

Love the idea of pushing both makes to the point of destruction, and documenting with all the photos as well. Excellent work!

I don't think my USA 70T will ever see 1/10th the punishment of either of those in its entire life, but it's nice to know what it takes to hurt one.
 
G'Day Tim,Was that son of yours watching whilst you carried out the tests and if so did you point out alternative uses for the knives like peeling his apple?? Excellent tests and lot of effort put into it. Loved that email too......Hoo Roo
 
Hi Bob,
I partially agree with Codger on the steel of the Old Timer 7OT Cave Bear as the first one I've ever bought was '+ stamped' representing stainless...and I always thought they were too.However two indicators that versions with the 1095 Carbon Steel blades exist...

*I've bought a few over the years in both three and four pin models with carbon steel....the light black patina gave it away.

*I do have a PDF of a Schrade USA catalog from 1992 indicating the 7OT had a carbon steel blade

It is possible that Schrade only ran the 1095 carbon steel for a few years then went to stainless. Let's be honest when do you come across a carbon steel lockback(sarcastically speaking of course)...those are very rare and a treat to use.
 
in looking at price lists and also trying to remember some info gleaned on here. 1979 to '80 were the 4 pin 7 OT's. these had the carbon steel blade for sure since i have one and it has a lovely patina. Schrade then dropped the production of the pattern until 1991 where it is listed as "new" and the photos shows three pins. these were also carbon steel blades. this lasted for about 4 years and then changed to stainless steel as described in their 1995 price list. like all things Schrade the carbon blades might have lasted longer as they used up their stock. the stainless blades do the the "+" on them.
 
Codger_64 said:
True Schrade knives have not been manufactured since 2004. In October of that year the company was dissolved in bankruptcy auction and the NAME was bought by Taylor Cutlery. Taylor Cutlery contracted with unnamed Chinese mainland factories to produce cheap copies of genuine Schrade knives and stamp the name SCHRADE on them. Taylor owns the name and can do as he pleases with it, so in that sense, it is lawful commerce. Taylor imports and sells these Chinese copies. Taylor is not a manufacturer, but a seller of cheap imported knives. The company owner is, I have read, one of the wealthiest men in the modern knife industry and did not get that way by selling expensive knives. Or manufacturing them.

Michael
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Hi Codger,

Really true Schrade knives are being made now in Ct. USA. I'm sure my great grandfather, George, as well as uncleHenry and Albert Baer are rolling over in their graves.

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Codger_64 said:
Don't let Stewart Taylor hear you say that. Hopefully you are not putting "Schrade" on them. Stewart owns that registered trademark. :)
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Codger, I only make about 60 pieces a year. My mark is Wm. Schrade B'PORT CT. Do you think he reads Blade Forums?
 
William Schrade said:
Codger, I only make about 60 pieces a year. My mark is Wm. Schrade B'PORT CT. Do you think he reads Blade Forums?
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Spies! Everywhere there are spies! :D No actually I was alluding to the near early death of Canal Street Cutlery. It was nearly stillborn when they announced the new cutlery name to be Walden Knife Company. They forthwith received a terse letter from the barristers of TBLLC telling them that they could not use the name of that town, even though they had begun setting up in the old Schrade Walden manufactory building there.

So when are you going to make a small upswept skinner pattern? You know the design I am referring to, don't be coy! :)

Oh, and congrats on finding yourself a niche in the old family tradition! I wish you sucess! :thumbup:
 
Tongueriver, Thanks for the compliment. I started a year and a half ago but wanted to do it since I was a kid. Some of the handle and bolster material came from the old George Schrade Knife Co. Hope I'm not kicking a bee hive. Know what I mean?
 
We do not mind if those bees fly William. The hive has been kicked before... The knives look quite nice. Would love to see some close up photos.
 
thawk said:
We do not mind if those bees fly William. The hive has been kicked before... The knives look quite nice. Would love to see some close up photos.
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Thank you thawk, Google William Schrade Custom Cutlery. These are my first dozen or so knives. I've come a long way since then thanks to Blade Forums and other forums. The page hasn't been updated in almost 2 years.
Bill
 
Codge, if Taylor owns the town name Walden conversely does he also own U.S.A. as that was used as well?.and what about the word knife?...where's the consistency?..or did Canal back off rather than take him on?...how UnAustralian.......Hoo Roo
 
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