What's up with Kershaw lately?

Spyderinked said:
I wish we could all get everything we want, "Made In America" at a price we can all afford. "Buy American" is a good theme to follow if possible, and I do every chance I get.
I just wonder if any of the "Not American, Not For Me" people own say, an TV ? Maybe a Microwave? How about a camera?
A Hair Dryer,a phone,a fan,a toaster,a Home Stereo, a car Stereo,DVR,DVD player,..................................................
I'll bet they just might have quite a few of those things, many, High Ticket items. Then I wonder why draw the line at knives ?
Just wondering. Dan.
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Pretty simple.

If I have the choice between a USA made product and a non-USA made product, I'm going to lean towards the USA made one.

If I don't have the choice, then it really doesn't matter.

A knife is one of the easiest things to find that's made in the USA, so why not go for it?
 
fsatsil said:
I guess being a knife guy I tend to forget that the majority of people buying a knife don't care where its made or what its made out of.
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I agree ....... People are mostly into cheap (most buyers).... People ask me how much I paid for a knife and about crap there pants when I tell them .....LOL
I also have quite a few knives made overseas that are just awsum made knives , very well made fit and finish.
I tend to stick to the higher end steels .............
Besides Iam sure that kershaw sees to it that its done to there specs.
 
Spyderinked said:
I wish we could all get everything we want, "Made In America" at a price we can all afford. "Buy American" is a good theme to follow if possible, and I do every chance I get.
I just wonder if any of the "Not American, Not For Me" people own say, an TV ? Maybe a Microwave? How about a camera?
A Hair Dryer,a phone,a fan,a toaster,a Home Stereo, a car Stereo,DVR,DVD player,..................................................
I'll bet they just might have quite a few of those things, many, High Ticket items. Then I wonder why draw the line at knives ?
Just wondering. Dan.
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Now ask yourself, "Why aren't any of those products made in the USA anymore?" Simple. We have opted for cheap products at any cost, labor is cheap elsewhere, and now have no option. If we keep moving to off shore manufacturing of knives we soon won't be able to find any except $500+ customs made in the USA. You heard it here first. I'm watching for the first "Why aren't there any American made knives anymore" post.
 
Scurvy092 said:
Pretty simple.

If I have the choice between a USA made product and a non-USA made product, I'm going to lean towards the USA made one.

If I don't have the choice, then it really doesn't matter.

A knife is one of the easiest things to find that's made in the USA, so why not go for it?
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+1 I always look/ask and buy USA made goods when I can. If I cannot then I just move on. Fortunately with knives there are still many good companies with many good options.
 
fsatsil said:
Is it just me or does it seem like all their coolest new designs are being produced in China? The Cryo, Thermite, Dimension, Injection....etc. I know the quality of their Chinese made knives is very good at an affordable price but personally I get a little disappointed when I see something new that looks interesting and then see that it's not made in the US. Anyone else feel the same way?
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Yup , there us factories can't keep up with the demand do they just give all their new designs to be made in china , they havnt had a new USA made knife in years
 
Spudly94 said:
Yup , there us factories can't keep up with the demand do they just give all their new designs to be made in china , they havnt had a new USA made knife in years
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Not busting on Kershaw or any other manufacturers (several are having knives made off shore now) but I worked for two different manufacturing companies (neither had anything to do with knives) and when production could not keep up with demand they expanded and hired more American workers. Just saying. . . . . . . .
 
I agree. The design that baffles me the most if the Freefall. It looks better than most of their new Zero Tolerance designs in my opinion. I love my 0350, but I'm currently looking for a new favorite knife brand. Between all of the best Kershaw designs being sourced to China and all of ZT's new designs being pretty boutique fashion designer knives, I'm losing my enthusiasm for them real quick. I love the Hinderer designs, but he can only carry them so far before they start losing credibility in the hard use/tactical market.

They're taking the same path Gerber and CRKT did.
 
Spudly94 said:
Yup , there us factories can't keep up with the demand do they just give all their new designs to be made in china , they havnt had a new USA made knife in years
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Don't think that is true. You obviously haven't paid much attention over the last few years at the Kershaw USA made new offerings. It's good to do your research prior to posting. :)

GronK said:
when production could not keep up with demand they expanded and hired more American workers. Just saying. . . . . . . .
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We'll see if any of these small little boutique factories that are popping up all over the place that Scurvy mentions step and do that. I'll be surprised if even 1 of them do. Also like to see one of them come up with a sub $100 folder. Not happening. As to Kai USA, we're hiring, we've invested in our success, so it can happen. Just saying.
 
fsatsil said:
Is it just me or does it seem like all their coolest new designs are being produced in China? The Cryo, Thermite, Dimension, Injection....etc. I know the quality of their Chinese made knives is very good at an affordable price but personally I get a little disappointed when I see something new that looks interesting and then see that it's not made in the US. Anyone else feel the same way?
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Beware the wrath of the *whispers* Kershaw Mafia.
But seriously, seems to me a lot of Kershaw guys are more ZT knife guys than anything.
So as long as ZT knives are USA made, it not cause much chaos.
 
I too wish the Cryo was made in the USA! When I started my company I swore off all knives made anywhere else. The Cryo made that promise hard to keep. The problem is on the buyers (IE... most of us on this forum)! If we want Kershaw to make all of their knives in the USA, then we have to convince other people/newer knife buyers, to buy their knives stamped with Made in the USA. Until their demand for U.S. products goes up and their demand for overseas products goes down, they will do what makes the most sense on a business level. It is up to all of us as lovers of knives made in America to help change that market!

Whitty
 
whitty said:
I too wish the Cryo was made in the USA! When I started my company I swore off all knives made anywhere else. The Cryo made that promise hard to keep. The problem is on the buyers (IE... most of us on this forum)! If we want Kershaw to make all of their knives in the USA, then we have to convince other people/newer knife buyers, to buy their knives stamped with Made in the USA. Until their demand for U.S. products goes up and their demand for overseas products goes down, they will do what makes the most sense on a business level. It is up to all of us as lovers of knives made in America to help change that market!

Whitty
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Hi Whitty

To reiterate, the US factory is to capacity. We're selling what we produce, and we're a volume American manufacturer. We've recently invested in the factory and raised the ceiling. We also have an import side of the business that is doing well. Currently business is stronger than it ever has been. Kershaw has never been a brand that has been produced completely in the US, and it never will. There are a lot of channels of business out there. We try for all of them.

We don't see that there is a problem.
 
99%+ of Kershaw customers don't really care where their knife is made. If KAI did what some of you are suggesting they'd go bankrupt. I guess that's why they make 'em and we buy 'em?
 
fsatsil said:
I guess being a knife guy I tend to forget that the majority of people buying a knife don't care where its made or what its made out of.
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That's probably right to some extent, but then you could say that about most consumer goods.

I don't believe all knife guys are like that. Almost without exception, most "knife guys" I know rarely do more than cut up a sandwich, and apple, the odd FedEx Box that comes their way, or performed the dreaded *gulp* breaking down of cardboard boxes. They look for hard use projects like cutting branches in the yard, a bit of rope now and then, but seem to spend more time admiring and talking about their purchases (and how they crow with pride when they scratch the finish!) than using them.

For me, I could take my Tyrade, my S110V Shallot, my Blur, or other of my knives out to the job site with me for a normal day of work. But I don't. They are too expensive for all the chores (not all of them cutting) that my knives do, and too expensive for me to get over if I damage one of them by accident.

So Kershaw provided for me the best large working knife I have had in years, the Tremor. It hit this workingman's sweet spot like a home run over the scoreboard. Extremely sturdy, feel in the hand is excellent, edge retention good, utility value for job site tasks excellent, and durability excellent. I use this knife for all manner of things, and when I get tar, elastomeric caulk, butyl based adhesives on it I simply clean the whole knife with charcoal lighter fluid. I put the oil from my pneumatic air guns on the pivot, touch up the edge on a piece of worn 600gr wet and dry sand paper if I am out on the job, and it is ready to go again. This gives a workable edge until I get it home, and it is sharper still when I run it over my 800gr diamond rod.

Since I got it about 6 months ago, it hasn't left my pocket or tool belt. And in fact, I liked it so much I bought two more to keep back if I damage or lose this one. I like the knife that much.

It isn't a case of me not caring where a knife is made, and it isn't because I am some kind of ignoramus.

I like this Kershaw design and a couple of others because it is a great tool for work that fills a niche for me perfectly. It does all I need it to do very well, and is affordable enough to use the hell out of without any concern. After 6 months of job site work, the only think different about this knife from new is the fact the G10 is quite a bit smoother now.

I liked using my Tyrade out on the job, but was too worried that it would get dinged up. The only other guy I know in construction that has a ZT (not the base model) won't use it out on the job as he is concerned for his investment. He doesn't want any deep gouges or scratches on his knife, nor to deal with the fact he will accidentally hit a nail, staple or screw when cutting. You know, normal working knife stuff.

I have bought enough domestic product, including knives, that are substandard quality that I don't care where they are made if they have good utility value to me and I feel like I get my money's worth. I appreciate Kershaw continually bringing high quality, useful designs with affordable steels to us workman that don't need a $200 knife we can "stake our life on" but rather one that will go to work and reliably last for a few (or many - my oldest Kershaw is from 1981!) good years making us money.

Robert
 
I really stirred up a hornets nest:p. Again I have no problem with Kershaw expanding its line to included lower priced Chinese made knives I just wish they would put out more new and interesting US made knives. Unfortunately their US production is at full capacity and it doesn't make good business sense for them to expand in the US so I probably wont get what I want. At least we still have ZT, and they have been coming out with some really nice new designs. I've been looking for a good reason to spend more money on knives anyways:). I also don't think Kershaw will be turning into the next Gerber, Kershaws Chinese made knives are still very well made and use good steel.
 
o4tg said:
... all of ZT's new designs being pretty boutique fashion designer knives, I'm losing my enthusiasm for them real quick. I love the Hinderer designs, but he can only carry them so far before they start losing credibility in the hard use/tactical market.
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Appreciate your opinion here, but would refer back to a post from earlier in this thread. Emphasis on the young, growing, early in our brand existence part.
Kai Corp. said:
As we have mentioned many times in the past, out 2 brands, Kershaw and Zero Tolerance, are about diversity. The ZT brand is young in its existence, and is growing as to its sheer number of offerings to go along with it's design variety's.

It should be noted that it takes a long time for a new brand to both establish itself and its identity in a marketplace, and create enough different sku's to have the breath to compete with other more longstanding brands.

The factory here in Tualatin is at capacity. There is only so many new items you can bring to the table while trying to keep up with demand for the current offerings, and establish the ZT brand.
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As to losing credibility in the hard use/tactical market, I don't agree with it at all. Knowing the patience level with the forum community, I do understand though.

I guess I would ask you directly o4tg which other brand has gone as fast from nothing to the brand/performance/reputation/distribution level of the Zero Tolerance?

Patience and big picture understanding should trump personal now wants/needs/desires.
 
IMHO to buy American just for the sake of buying American does more damage than good. Look at what happened to the auto industry. Yes there are other factors involved, but if a company is selling products based just on pure production location, not on product quality and value for the money, a company can be lulled into producing a less than competitive product. This problem eventually will rear its ugly head, it's just a matter of time.

Buying what you think is the best for you, regardless of where it is produced, encourages competing companies to improve the quality and value of their product accordingly. In turn, this creates better products no matter what it is, whether it be knives or something else.
 
For ME, Kershaw peaked with the Ken Onion & Galyean USA made knives. I've owned/still own a few Chinese examples and though they are certainly well made, I'd like to see more US made options. I do wish Kershaw the best and they remain to be IMO the best bang for buck, treat the customer right, quality made knife company.
 
o4tg said:
I agree. The design that baffles me the most if the Freefall. It looks better than most of their new Zero Tolerance designs in my opinion. I love my 0350, but I'm currently looking for a new favorite knife brand. Between all of the best Kershaw designs being sourced to China and all of ZT's new designs being pretty boutique fashion designer knives, I'm losing my enthusiasm for them real quick. I love the Hinderer designs, but he can only carry them so far before they start losing credibility in the hard use/tactical market.

They're taking the same path Gerber and CRKT did.
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How does expanding their product line make them lose credibility? Its not like they have stopped selling hard use tactical knives like the 0300 or 0200.
 
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