Western vs Asian - Why are Asian style blades comparatively cheaply made?

[Esav Benyamin]

Take Kershaw for example. Great quality knives, very good prices, and made....in China! (Yes, I know that they have USA knives too.)

I believe Kershaw's Chinese-made knives come from a KAI-owned and operated factory in China, not contracted out to a local firm making knives for other companies as well. This provides much better opportunities for quality control.

 

[treeshaker]

they had a plant in japan for 80 years. I have some kershaws that are at least 50 years old. seki city steel

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

I believe Kershaw's Chinese-made knives come from a KAI-owned and operated factory in China, not contracted out to a local firm making knives for other companies as well. This provides much better opportunities for quality control.

Exactly! It's more about the plant/company than the country.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

After spending a few days on the net looking at various swords and knives.
I realized something.
99% of the "tacticool" swords and knives are honestly.. while they are quite "cheap" , they are also REALLY cheaply made
Take the United Cutlery's Black Ronin Ninja sword for example.

$22
It doesn't even state what kind of steel is used.
From some customer's review I heard its 420J2... which is basically liner steel. Icky stuff with awful retention and hardness.
What kind of tang is it?
Its "handmade".


Whetstone Cutlery also has one of this stuff.

$18.15
Also , no idea what its made of beside from... "stainless steel" .


But then as we move onto other western swords/machete/knives
E.g:
The Cold Steel Kopis Machete

Da hell?
Its 1055 steel!
And its FULL TANG!
$28.95

Gerber's Gator machete.

"High carbon steel" , got a feeling Gerber is hiding something.
FULL TANG
$18


This pattern keeps on repeating itself .
For the same price you can get for a cheap Japanese sword knife machete like object or you can get a well described and high quality western blade.
Why is that?
Surely if they can make a kopis using 1055 steel at that price range , they can surely make a ninja sword using the same material . Right?

Cold steel has a cheaper 2 handed katana that would fit the bill.

 

[treeshaker]

now we will get this going... Most people do not realize that during the early 70's up till 1988, many USA companies had knives made overseas, China,and Taiwan without placing any origin on the knife, boxes, or paperwork. To keep this thread going here, this will not become political on my part. But the reason for this should be clear. You will find, Casexx, Remington, Schrade, frost, barlow, boker, and others with zero mark. Know this, if it had zero mark, it was not made in the USA. I have collected too long and been educated too many times regarding this that I will never buy that era without a USA stamp on the knife. also many companies used contract USA mfg. to produce their knives. This practice is still used today, where a USA company makes knives for both overseas and American Companies daily, I will not touch that fact, period. Also several USA companies no longer have factories but sell new knives everyday under the old name. again, not here. no conversation.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

They're not Asian, I believe they prefer the term "orientals". Anyway, those are cheap Chinese crap made in sweat shops from pot metal. They are cheap for a reason, they are not intended for hard or serious use, more geared toward 12 year olds. (Wait, what?)

"EpicHam" is an epic name:thumbup:

I have to go w/ Esav on this one. I believe oriental refers to objects like rugs/food (so maybe knives would fit the bill), but even its reference to those has lost its political correctness.

 

[bpeezer]

they had a plant in japan for 80 years. I have some kershaws that are at least 50 years old. seki city steel

This year is Kershaw's 40th birthday...how do you have Kershaws that are older than the company?

 

[kniferbro]

From a globalization and developmental stand point, 'cheap' manufacture in China/Pakistan etc. are simply economies filling a niche in the global market. Someone has to be the 'cheap labor' guys, and like others have said it's ultimately the decision of the companies to choose those certain manufacturers to meet price points.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

they had a plant in japan for 80 years. I have some kershaws that are at least 50 years old. seki city steel

This year is Kershaw's 40th birthday...how do you have Kershaws that are older than the company?

Uh oh! :foot:

 

[treeshaker]

i stand corrected. thanks for the correction and the update. I did not want to mislead, but I sure did.

 

[bpeezer]

i stand corrected. thanks for the correction and the update. I did not want to mislead, but I sure did.

Glad I could help, thanks for taking it so well. You're an alright guy, treeshaker :thumbup: