Why are the Walmart 301's made in china?

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mike_mck2

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May 19, 2005
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Why are the Buck 301's for sale in Walmart made in China, when the "regular" 301's are made in the US?

Is there any difference, other than the rosewood on the Walmart 301's?

TIA
 
There's a good question. I'd like to know the answer to that one too.
 
I hesitate to speak for Buck, but Walmart is pretty well known for being militant about getting the lowest wholesale prices possible. Every last dollar or nickel. I would assume it's just a matter of saving the last bit of money.

Maybe it was just inventory turnover, but some of the knives Schrade got from Ireland were actually Chinese when bought from Walmart.

On a related note, it seems a prison in North Carolina (which uses prisoners to make shirts) can't compete with importing shirts from Bangladesh. I guess even slave labor has an exchange rate, eh? OK, I shouldn't assume it's slave labor over there, but read it anyway...

http://www.newsoftheweird.com/archive/nw050626.html
"(2) North Carolina correctional officials began rethinking inmate manufacturing programs recently when they discovered that, even though they pay prisoners only $3 a day in their T-shirt-making concession, suppliers in Bangladesh can make the shirts for 38 percent less."

Consider that the next time you wonder why Walmart or Buck goes around the world to manufacture stuff. 38% CHEAPER THAN U.S. PRISONERS, that's why.
 
I do wish companies that use Chinese manufacturing would give us more information on the factory and company doing it. Did Buck ask itself if the Chinese employees were treated as well as Buck employees? I doubt it, but I don't know for sure because we don't have any information about it.

Lower pay doesn't mean they are treated poorly because of economic differences (the whole point of outsourcing is that the same money goes a lot further over there), but what about working conditions, etc?

We don't have detailed information on most US factories either, but I am confident that we would hear about any really horrible situations that happen over here.
 
I'm confused, every Buck slipjoint I see at Wal-Mart are 370 series, I have yet to see a 301 stamped China.

Has Buck completely stopped making the USA stuff, or are people confusing the 2 series?
 
The Last Confederate said:
I'm confused, every Buck slipjoint I see at Wal-Mart are 370 series, I have yet to see a 301 stamped China.

Has Buck completely stopped making the USA stuff, or are people confusing the 2 series?
Click to expand...

I think we are confusing the two. I assumed we meant the Deuce, Solo, Trio, etc, which are indeed 37X.
 
Carl64 said:
I think we are confusing the two. I assumed we meant the Deuce, Solo, Trio, etc, which are indeed 37X.
Click to expand...

That's what I think, but here and over on "the other forum" there have been post talking about "301" models made in China, being bought at Wal-marts, but I have checked 8 different Wal-Marts and it's always the wooden handled 370 series.

Can anyone post a picture of a tangstamp that says 301 with "China" on the knife?
 
Why is this all getting some complicated?

I am not saying in any way that Walmart is selling 301's models, but I did call it that because basically that's what it is.

I could have called it the thingamajig, but other than me nobody would know what I was talking about.

Walmart sells Buck knives made in China, and everyone else sells Buck knives made in the USA. If for some reason I was set on getting a Buck that was made in China, Walmart would be my only option.

I was just curious why those in Walmart are made in China, and the rest are made in the USA.

Again, Walmart does not sell 301's stamped models that have been made in China. They are stamped something else, but for all practical purposes it is in fact a 301.
 
The Chinese models are available from some online shops too. They aren't exclusive to walmart. Maybe most places just don't want to order them?
 
mike_mck2,

It isn't that complicated.....however, most folks are VERY discerning about what a tangstamp reads. It is the key to reading the age or authenticity or differentation of many knives. Besides "Reading" the knife. Those knives are NOT 301s.....and calling them that is confusing to most folks. No one wants to give you an incorrect opinion on any knife.
So, the series made for WalMart (and others?) is Chinese....and is stamped 37x, and made to be price competitive for a certain point, or whatever....not the same as a 301, still made in the USA, I believe

I'm sure the Buck folks will be along to elaborate.

Bill
 
mike_mck2 said:
Why is this all getting some complicated?

I am not saying in any way that Walmart is selling 301's models, but I did call it that because basically that's what it is.
Click to expand...

No offense Mike, but that is what you said originally, hence the confusion.

"Why are the Buck 301's for sale in Walmart made in China"

Model numbers mean something, that's why manufacturers put them on knives.
 
While I usually do not mind, and even appreciate speculation, I was actually expecting a Buck employee to respond.
As you might imagine, an actual Buck representative is not going to be confused by my calling a Buck sold in Walmart a 301, so I used the common model number.

Apparently though, this information is not available to the public, for whatever reason, so a definitive answer won't be forthcoming anytime soon.



El Lobo said:
mike_mck2,

It isn't that complicated.....however, most folks are VERY discerning about what a tangstamp reads. It is the key to reading the age or authenticity or differentation of many knives. Besides "Reading" the knife. Those knives are NOT 301s.....and calling them that is confusing to most folks. No one wants to give you an incorrect opinion on any knife.
So, the series made for WalMart (and others?) is Chinese....and is stamped 37x, and made to be price competitive for a certain point, or whatever....not the same as a 301, still made in the USA, I believe

I'm sure the Buck folks will be along to elaborate.

Bill
Click to expand...
 
I am not a Buck employee, but it is my understanding that the off-shore knives are marketed to allow Buck to meet price points unattainable by their U.S. made knives. For example, the Chinese made 371 is almost 35% less to the dealer than the U.S. made 301. Those of us who are willing to pay more for a domestic knife may do so. Those who desire the off-shore, less expensive equivalent likewise have an option.
While I am not enamored with the off-shore products and do not use or collect them, I am pleased that Buck is able to supplement their core business and remain profitable. If they are not profitable, then eventually they are out of business. If they are out of business, jobs are lost and my favorite knife company is no longer in operation.
Just my two cents, if it is worth that!!

edited to add an omitted letter that resulted in a spellling error!
 
Larry has it right, we buy the 37x series to hit a good price point. All off-shore knives are fully inspected to the same standard we use for the products we use in the factory. Unlike some manufactureres that buy from off-shore and take whatever is sent to them from the factory, we take an active role in developing and maintaining the products to ensure they live up to the Buck reputation. We spend an incredible amount of time at the off-shore factories to teach them how to do it our way, not the way they feel like it.

Sorry, I didn't reply to this thread earlier, I usually leave these threads for Joe, but he is terribly swamped at the moment.

Thanks,

Jeff
 
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