Recommendation? Where to buy knives in Taiwan

Neko2

Neko2

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Hey folks,

I have a person in Taiwan that I can send shopping and I was wondering if anyone here knew of a good place to pick up something cool.
Anything from local and traditional designs to more "American popular" knives that might be a great bargain to pick up closer to where they are made.

Thanks!
 
Maybe she'll break into the Taichung factory?

Does Taiwan have a cutlery city? For example Seki City, Longquan (Mainland China), Thiers, Solingen or Sheffield?

If they do (it might be Taichung) she could probably rustle some cool stuff up. Does she have the knowledge to not buy touristy wallhangers?
 
Lapedog said:
Does she have the knowledge to not buy touristy wallhangers?
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Not in the slightest!:D

I'm hoping to be able to steer her to a specific store and pick something from there.

I found a couple knife/hardware stores in Taipei that looked interesting for rustic/working blades. Yongxing knife and farm tools & Yuan Rong knife and hardware. They seem to be near each other and the few pictures I could find showed some neat looking stuff but it's hard to tell.

Still looking for ideas too. I don't get many shots to pick up cool stuff from around the world :)
 
Neko2 said:
Not in the slightest!:D

I'm hoping to be able to steer her to a specific store and pick something from there.

I found a couple knife/hardware stores in Taipei that looked interesting for rustic/working blades. Yongxing knife and farm tools & Yuan Rong knife and hardware. They seem to be near each other and the few pictures I could find showed some neat looking stuff but it's hard to tell.

Still looking for ideas too. I don't get many shots to pick up cool stuff from around the world :)
Click to expand...

Tell her to facetime you when she walks into the store so she can show you the blades.
 
Good recommendation, but the knife will likely have to be sent to the US disassembled lest it be stopped by customs. The Janisong is very hard to come by in the US, and normally go north of $300 when MAP is under $200 I believe. Super cool design, though, and it is a shame that we have such ridiculous antiquated import laws to stop us from getting super cool knives like that.
foofie said:
Another option is the Janisong from Spyderco. Can't be purchased in the US I believe.
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Wish I'd seen this earlier, brother. The best shop in Taipei, IMHO, is RGH Knives in Ximen District. If your friend is here, she'll be able to find it. They have an amazing selection, from traditional folders to old and new Chris Reeves and an impressive collection of Rocksteads. There are also some older, more traditional Taiwan blades, such as working knives from the Truku tribe (headhunters until a couple generations ago) and Shilin Cutters (in the 'used' section. Also, by the Chiu family. Not close to the quality of the Kuo blades, but still kinda cool lookin'). The prices on their website http://www.rghknives.com.tw/ are NOT what they actually charge. Generally they sell everything at market value, so when you put the New Taiwan dollars in the currency converter, don't have a seizure. The owner doesn't speak English, but his sons do, if that's an issue. Anyway, they have TONS of great stuff, some unique to Taiwan. Also, this weekend is the Knife & Life knife show. I'll be there bright and early. Supposed to be a good presence from Rockstead, Microtech and lots of upper-end Japanese blades. Sorry for the essay, just got all excited thinking bout the weekend. Happy hunting, brother.
 
SomeGuyInTaipei said:
Wish I'd seen this earlier, brother. The best shop in Taipei, IMHO, is RGH Knives in Ximen District. If your friend is here, she'll be able to find it. They have an amazing selection, from traditional folders to old and new Chris Reeves and an impressive collection of Rocksteads. There are also some older, more traditional Taiwan blades, such as working knives from the Truku tribe (headhunters until a couple generations ago) and Shilin Cutters (in the 'used' section. Also, by the Chiu family. Not close to the quality of the Kuo blades, but still kinda cool lookin'). The prices on their website http://www.rghknives.com.tw/ are NOT what they actually charge. Generally they sell everything at market value, so when you put the New Taiwan dollars in the currency converter, don't have a seizure. The owner doesn't speak English, but his sons do, if that's an issue. Anyway, they have TONS of great stuff, some unique to Taiwan. Also, this weekend is the Knife & Life knife show. I'll be there bright and early. Supposed to be a good presence from Rockstead, Microtech and lots of upper-end Japanese blades. Sorry for the essay, just got all excited thinking bout the weekend. Happy hunting, brother.
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I'm certainly interested in a Shilin Cutter but they look to have become collectors items and possibly out of my price range. Although, maybe she'll spot a good deal and I'll make out!

How do the prices compare to US prices, higher, lower?
 
Neko2 said:
I'm certainly interested in a Shilin Cutter but they look to have become collectors items and possibly out of my price range. Although, maybe she'll spot a good deal and I'll make out!

How do the prices compare to US prices, higher, lower?
Click to expand...
Prices are roughly the same as in the states. Spydercos, for example, are made not too far from here, but are basically standard market prices. RGH may have a few locally made interesting items though. Worth checking out. Knife show, still on for tomorrow, had some really cool stuff from here and Japan. Some decent prices too. Knife and Life Taipei 2017. Web search will give an address in Chinese, if your friend is interested. Lots of aboriginal knives.
 
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