When it's not exactly Made in the USA - Hoback

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I have a love hate relationship with the Kwaiback, had two of them sold them both after awhile. First time I saw one I had to have it, bought it, loved everything about it except the sharpened pry bar blade. Sold it, few years later saw the Frag version, bought another one, but same issue (no one to blame but myself here!) and it sat around and I sold it. I get that tacticool sharpened pry bars sell, but I think he'd sell a lot more if he made a thinner/lighter version with a blade thickness/profile that was actually good for something other than prying open car doors. That said it's his business, his work, and he can make whatever he wants :) Of the few I've handled the fit/finish/quality was top notch, no complaints and I'm very picky, I've been disappoint in products from many makers at similar price points, and I've been around here a lot longer than most to see many knife companies/makers come and go.

While it is true that even "made in the USA" isn't 100% made in the USA I'd still rather support those products than others that can't even meet that threshold when possible. To me his stance on where it's made translates to: "It's made lots of places, and we're not going to tell you where exactly because you wouldn't like it". Direct from their website: "We also intend to take greater advantage of the global economy to source and/or manufacture many of our parts and products – in countries like Japan, Hong Kong , Finland, China, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Europe, and Canada."

I end up torn on it, I understand we end up having to buy a lot of things from China, and Russia is an easy source of Titanium, it keeps prices low (and more important to companies keeps profits high) and the poor people making those products are probably good people that don't wish anyone harm, but at the end of the day there's no denying that Russia and China are our enemies, and their governments would like nothing more than to see us burn. If I have to buy a TV, microwave, cell phone, etc. I accept I can't buy made in the USA, but for a luxury item where I have a choice where it's made, like a high $ knife, I can at least try not to financially support the governments of our enemies, or support them as little as possible.
 
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I’ve never owned a Hoback.

I read the thread posted above about Jake Hoback’s “dubious character”, and I have to say I agree.

I personally don’t care where the parts are made. That’s just my opinion. But, it does bother me a bit that Hoback was so aggressive to Kmikaz3 Kmikaz3 in the previously quoted post.

Kmikaz didn’t give Hoback bad press. That was just discussion of the knife. Having read the first part of the thread, I would’ve still bought a Sumo.

No, Hoback gave himself bad press when he responded to an honest inquiry about his product like that.

Not to say I’ll never buy a Hoback, but the chances have definitely gone down, and not at all because of where anything is made.
 
Leo Greer said:
I’ve never owned a Hoback.

I read the thread posted above about Jake Hoback’s “dubious character”, and I have to say I agree.

I personally don’t care where the parts are made. That’s just my opinion. But, it does bother me a bit that Hoback was so aggressive to Kmikaz3 Kmikaz3 in the previously quoted post.

Kmikaz didn’t give Hoback bad press. That was just discussion of the knife. Having read the first part of the thread, I would’ve still bought a Sumo.

No, Hoback gave himself bad press when he responded to an honest inquiry about his product like that.

Not to say I’ll never buy a Hoback, but the chances have definitely gone down, and not at all because of where anything is made.
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Right? I was merely asking on a forums about opinions whether or not it’s normal wear while waiting for him to reply. Guess that type of discussion itches his bad side and he went passive aggressive on me. I was on my Hoback phase back then but after receiving such reply, i crossed out the guy and his knives off my collection for good. Talking about leaving a bad taste when someone inquired a legitimate concern…
 
Yo Mama said:
But Hoback I know is by far not the only one.......qtrmst.....
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Isn‘t that what hurt Brous Blades? If I remember correctly in the early years of his knife business he led everyone to believe that his knives were USA made by him but a lot of people suspected there was some dishonesty from Mr Brous and that he was outsourcing parts to China and only assembling them here in the US. I may be wrong about this but that’s how I remember it.
 
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