winners from formerly good companies?

M

mr.trooper

Joined
Dec 5, 2005
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If you look hard enough, even sell-out companies can still make a good knife now and then.

For example: Gerber sold out and started selling us Taiwan garbage at Walmart. BUT, they still manage to make a few good knives, like the Silver Trident, and the LMF II. Buck, with the exception of their Mayo/Strider colaboration models, has been cheaping out on their blade steel, so that even their flagship 110 is only a shadow of its former self.

IT could be usefull to know what other companies and models you all think fall into this catagory.

Anyone else have other examples?
 
Mr trooper,

I would take exception to your view on BUck's 110. Just how is a shadow of it's former self?
 
mr.trooper said:
blade steel isn't as good as it used to be. Not Terrible, just not as good as the "old" Bucks.
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I have no problem agreeing with this statement.
 
Have any of you guys actually carried a 110 in 420hc lately? I've been using mine constantly since Thanksgiving, only had to touch it up once on the sharpmaker, lightly at that. I've shelved my Griptilians for a while, doing a long term carry (shooting for a full year) of the 110, so far it exceeds my expectations. On paper the old 440c models sound better, have you ever tried to sharpen an old 110? Might as well break out the belt sander. So far I have no complaints about my 420 110, you guys might want to re-think your stance on this.
 
I dont see how, Chemically, 420 anything can hold an edge as well as the quality high-carbon steels they used to use back in the 70s' and still did up untill recently. This Is why I lump them in with Gerber. Buck hasn't cheaped out 1/2 as much as Gerber, but they HAVE still cheaped out.

That, and for the price Walmart charges for a 110 (about $70) I could order a Griptillian for a $10 more.

Don't get me wrong, I like the design. If they started using 1095, or even D2, I would jump on one.

Perhaps my choice of topic was a little vuage. I will re-phrase it to "What knives have surprised you with an unexpected level of quality?"
 
Um, I think SO. Thats the price at my local walmart. Their Kershaws are actualy cheaper than their 110's.
 
The 110 only retails for $60, how can they charge $10 over MSRP? Time to call the better business bureau.
 
Bob W said:
The budget-brand Rigid, a division of United Cutlery the infamous purveyor of cheap chinese crap, is now making these beauties:

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/l_through_r/rigid/rigid_jumbo_jack.html

-Bob
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I'm skeptical that they're actually made by Rigid or United Cutlery. They have the Queen/Schatt look to 'em though.

Mr. Trooper, is that $70 in Canadian dollars? If it's 70 American dollars at your local store, you should go to the next Wal-Mart down the road where they're only $30.
 
o, I don't think Rigid/United/Frost/etc. actually own any production facilities. Most are imported from overseas, some are contracted through American companies such as Bear, Queen, etc. I was still suprised to see the Rigid brand being used on such high-material knives. Definitely a step in the right direction.

Best Wishes,
-Bob
 
Bob W said:
The budget-brand Rigid, a division of United Cutlery the infamous purveyor of cheap chinese crap, is now making these beauties:

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/l_through_r/rigid/rigid_jumbo_jack.html

-Bob
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smaller companies can ditch thier whole mid-range line and focus on entry level and high-end lines.
this is usually because the large household names dominate the mid-range products.

its just like those cheapy starter electric guitars and basses by First-Act you see at wal-mart. betcha diddnt know that they also make $3000 instruments.
 
Mr. Trooper,

The last 110 I saw at Walmart was $23, and that was today. Take a trip on over to the Buck Knives forum and you'll find out plenty about the quallity of the current 110's.

From all I've read the 420HC Buck uses is outstanding. Of course you can also order from the custom shop and get one in BG42 I believe.
 
Rigid is a long time quality American brand. Only in the last five years or so have they been lower end. In the five years before that most of the knives were made in Japan. I'm not sure when the mark sold to United Brands.
You still see the older USA made fixed blades on ebay once in a while - 440C - they fetch quite a lot of money.
United is not all bad - they produce, and have produced many quality knives.
I own the Lainehart Machete they marketed many years ago - ATS34 - made by Camillus. Mike Turber tested this against many of the big names including Busse and it faired quite well.
The S&W knives sold now are better knives on the low end. It'll be interesting to see how United will fare into the future. They will have a lot of competition not only from S&W but from many of the major brands as these look increasingly to China to produce their less expensive knives.
It's worth recalling only a small number of people spend any real money on knives and that the Chinese make most of the sporting and kitchen cutlery sold today.

I just looked at the Rigid knives being sold by Russell. Made in the USA - that's nice. I wonder who's making these.
 
I was Just at walmart, and the 110FH was $32.95 or something. Its possible the one I was refering to earlier was simply placed on the wrong peg. Im not ashamed to admit my mistakes.

Thanks RedHat for pointing out the custom shop! i may have to look into that!
 
Bob W said:
o, I don't think Rigid/United/Frost/etc. actually own any production facilities. Most are imported from overseas, some are contracted through American companies such as Bear, Queen, etc. I was still suprised to see the Rigid brand being used on such high-material knives. Definitely a step in the right direction.

Best Wishes,
-Bob
Click to expand...


United owns an absolute STATE OF THE ART knife plant, small but fully equiped. near Knoxville, TN
 
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