WE Knives? Another high end Chinese company?

The first WE model of 2017 has hit BladeHQ. Model 701A-F, $118 budget model with D2 blade and G-10 scales.
 
WE has a selection of knives in a very affordable price range. The machinery and bearings matched with ceramic ball detents to go with slick designs make for a pleasing knife to work with. BUT they are still made in China and that can not be ignored. If the features they offer were done here in America the prices of these knives would be double or even triple in cost. I am left wondering what corners have they cut to drive cost down? Subpar heat treating? Lesser quality steel? I dont know but it seems sketchy to me. Im a firm believer in if its too good to be true then it is. I mean why buy a 500+ hundred dollar knife if WE is giving you all the features in a $200--$300 knife? Sorry but something seems off.
 
Eliteone2383 said:
WE has a selection of knives in a very affordable price range. The machinery and bearings matched with ceramic ball detents to go with slick designs make for a pleasing knife to work with. BUT they are still made in China and that can not be ignored.
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Why not? I'm sure you use lots of products containing parts from foreign countries. Do you have a smartphone? An automobile? A computer?

Eliteone2383 said:
If the features they offer were done here in America the prices of these knives would be double or even triple in cost. I am left wondering what corners have they cut to drive cost down? Subpar heat treating? Lesser quality steel? I dont know but it seems sketchy to me. Im a firm believer in if its too good to be true then it is. I mean why buy a 500+ hundred dollar knife if WE is giving you all the features in a $200--$300 knife? Sorry but something seems off.
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The explanation is pretty simple: labor is dramatically less expensive there, and there are far fewer regulatory burdens as well.
 
Eliteone2383 said:
BUT they are still made in China and that can not be ignored.
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Like evilgreg points out, what exactly about them being made in China cannot be ignored? If they were made in Germany or Japan or Spain or Pakistan could that be ignored? What is "special" about China in this case?

It seems, having watched this whole "China" thing over the years, is that savvy knife fans are exactly ignoring "made in China" when it comes to quality knives made there.
 
Eliteone2383 said:
WE has a selection of knives in a very affordable price range. The machinery and bearings matched with ceramic ball detents to go with slick designs make for a pleasing knife to work with. BUT they are still made in China and that can not be ignored. If the features they offer were done here in America the prices of these knives would be double or even triple in cost. I am left wondering what corners have they cut to drive cost down? Subpar heat treating? Lesser quality steel? I dont know but it seems sketchy to me. Im a firm believer in if its too good to be true then it is. I mean why buy a 500+ hundred dollar knife if WE is giving you all the features in a $200--$300 knife? Sorry but something seems off.
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You should buy, use and handle a WE and then your questions will be answered and your opinion will be informed.

Likewise with Kizer, Reate, Rike, Stedemon and maybe a few others...
 
Eliteone2383 said:
WE has a selection of knives in a very affordable price range. The machinery and bearings matched with ceramic ball detents to go with slick designs make for a pleasing knife to work with. BUT they are still made in China and that can not be ignored. If the features they offer were done here in America the prices of these knives would be double or even triple in cost. I am left wondering what corners have they cut to drive cost down? Subpar heat treating? Lesser quality steel? I dont know but it seems sketchy to me. Im a firm believer in if its too good to be true then it is. I mean why buy a 500+ hundred dollar knife if WE is giving you all the features in a $200--$300 knife? Sorry but something seems off.
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My suggestion to you is read more, post less. This discussion have been had over and over. Do a search and let's not derail this great thread with your misguided/uninformed opinions.
 
Eliteone2383 said:
WE has a selection of knives in a very affordable price range. The machinery and bearings matched with ceramic ball detents to go with slick designs make for a pleasing knife to work with. BUT they are still made in China and that can not be ignored. If the features they offer were done here in America the prices of these knives would be double or even triple in cost. I am left wondering what corners have they cut to drive cost down? Subpar heat treating? Lesser quality steel? I dont know but it seems sketchy to me. Im a firm believer in if its too good to be true then it is. I mean why buy a 500+ hundred dollar knife if WE is giving you all the features in a $200--$300 knife? Sorry but something seems off.
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Hey, I don't want you to feel like everyone is piling on you here. I've noticed you asking lots of questions and even enjoying your first CRK, and that's great. Your skepticism is understandable but has been covered by numerous threads about the new, high value Chinese knives going back to 2014/2015. Fact is, they are good AND true. They were gooder and truer a couple of years ago when you could buy a new Reate for $150, but the popularity of high value imported knives has caught up with them.

Currently most of these Chinese brands are collaborating with well known designers and makers from around the world. They have arrived. All that's left now is to grab the ones you like while they still hold a degree of value.
 
Eliteone2383 said:
If the features they offer were done here in America the prices of these knives would be double or even triple in cost. I am left wondering what corners have they cut to drive cost down? Subpar heat treating? Lesser quality steel? I dont know but it seems sketchy to me. Im a firm believer in if its too good to be true then it is. I mean why buy a 500+ hundred dollar knife if WE is giving you all the features in a $200--$300 knife? Sorry but something seems off.
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Not knowing that this is due to lower labor costs seems either willful ignorance or trolling. It can't be genuine confusion, given how much this exact issue has been discussed for decades in nearly every industry.
 
What i find funny is that if we had released their knives at usa made prices i would wager his question would be about why we feels they deserve the same prices that they command here. I just cant believe anyone could honestly ask the question of why something is cheaper in china. Its like asking why water is wet at this point.
 
Armadew said:
I agree. It's what kept me from pulling the trigger for so long.

I have one WE tool on my keys now, so I always have it on me. I rarely have a torx on me, so it's actually potentially more convenient :D

I know I could just as easily carry a torx, but to be perfectly honest...despite carrying knives every day for many years...I have yet to need to preform "emergency maintenance in the field."
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And that is the reason this is a non issue Derek........I have never needed to perform surgery on any of my work, or EDC knives.
I despise prop hardware, when the tools are unavailable. You listening Microtech??? They introduced the new version of the LUDT 2 years ago. If you contact them to purchase the tool they'll tell you they are no longer available. Really??? Totally ridiculous!
WE supplies a quality tool with each knife. Let's be honest here, you're carrying a high end EDC knife. They aren't survival blades. Your life will not depend on adjusting the pivot on an EDC blade 'in the field'.
I have 2 WE knives. Carried and used them plenty and guess what??? Haven't needed to adjust anything on either one.
It's one thing not to like the aesthetics, but as far as the hardware stopping a purchase??? A bit silly.

If the dude stating 'short cuts' are the reason for the pricing. Maybe before saying something without having a clue, hold one and check it out before saying anything. Or, could it possibly the incredibly low labor costs, no OSHA or EPA guidelines to follow??? Nah!!! Gotta be shitty heat treat or they're lying about materials being used.
Come on.
Ugh
Joe
 
palonej said:
And that is the reason this is a non issue Derek........I have never needed to perform surgery on any of my work, or EDC knives.
I despise prop hardware, when the tools are unavailable. You listening Microtech??? They introduced the new version of the LUDT 2 years ago. If you contact them to purchase the tool they'll tell you they are no longer available. Really??? Totally ridiculous!
WE supplies a quality tool with each knife. Let's be honest here, you're carrying a high end EDC knife. They aren't survival blades. Your life will not depend on adjusting the pivot on an EDC blade 'in the field'.
I have 2 WE knives. Carried and used them plenty and guess what??? Haven't needed to adjust anything on either one.
It's one thing not to like the aesthetics, but as far as the hardware stopping a purchase??? A bit silly.

If the dude stating 'short cuts' are the reason for the pricing. Maybe before saying something without having a clue, hold one and check it out before saying anything. Or, could it possibly the incredibly low labor costs, no OSHA or EPA guidelines to follow??? Nah!!! Gotta be shitty heat treat or they're lying about materials being used.
Come on.
Ugh
Joe
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I have to agree yet again while being just a touched buzzed off of ever clear and coke while eating bacon wrapped hot dogs made God knows where. But theyre glazed with really good honey mustard BBQ sauce so it doesn't matter.

Same with knives. I could choose grass fed Nebraska raised all beef corn fed hotdogs for about $5 per dog or I could go with something else much tastier for about $0.50 per dog that also has bacon wrapped around it and tastes as good or better. YOLO
 
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PURPLEDC said:
What i find funny is that if we had released their knives at usa made prices i would wager his question would be about why we feels they deserve the same prices that they command here. I just cant believe anyone could honestly ask the question of why something is cheaper in china. Its like asking why water is wet at this point.
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In Canada, they DO cost USA made prices.
That combined with them not producing any designs I feel like owning is why I haven't bought any.
 
Someday people will realize that the Chinese are also capable of doing things. They can also do stuff, and quite well at that. I love my WE 701.
 
Many of us here have seen, and appreciate, the work some of the Chinese companies are producing.
It has been said again and again. WE, Kizer, Stedemon, Reate.......the list goes on and on. They are producing some amazing knives.
If you would have asked me if I would've spent close to $300 on a China made knife 5 years ago???? Nope.
They have stepped it up in a most impressive way!
I have a Kizer Nomad and 2 WE knives and I'm blown away with their build qualities!
Joe
 
Moral of the story: Human beings are capable of producing commodities for other human beings to their desired specifications.
 
These look sweet I would love to try but haven't yet so can't comment there, I just wanted to add that everyone seems to always think that Chinese products are cheaper because they don't pay people well, while this is true in some cases it's really dependent on company and you would have to investigate to prove that. The main reason they can produce equally (or higher in some cases) quality products for less is they have spent the last 20+ years developing intense manufacturing abilities, while those have fallen apart in the states, making it much more expensive in the us. Many of these factories are extremely high standard and pay employees, which has led to China having a massively increasing middle class (something North America is seeing diminish) anyway that's my rant and we can be sure to expect many more companies like this coming out which is going to make the folder market very interesting in the next decade.
 
Stays Sharp said:
Moral of the story: Human beings are capable of producing commodities for other human beings to their desired specifications.
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I agree wholeheartedly with this statement and a Haas CNC does not know what country it is in and who is running product through it, only what has been programmed into it by the operator.
 
I think i gave the impression im not buying one. Im buying more than one. I just have trepidations about the steel.
 
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