world knife shortage

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Steely_Gunz said:
That's an over simplification of things, tbh. Plenty of folks would love to work. The issue is that in many trades work isn't worth the work. For the last 30 years, consumers as a whole have devalued work and manufacturing to the point that production must be "cheapest" in order to chase the pure capitalism dragon of letting the markets dictate cost. That's a whole other issue for another forum. However, there is a indeed a massive materials issue that is impacting everything right now.

I have even seen this in my industry, which is very niche in the micro but, like pretty much all things to do with construction, ultimately dependant on the macro. Now we are getting hit on every single front: peripherals produced off shore are in short supply due to the lull in manufacturing. This will most likely be an 18 month cycle before it can self correct due to the depletion of previously made stock and the way orders are placed in fulfilled. Domestic production of raw materials has been pushed to the breaking point. Steel mills are even rationing the types of steels and quantities they are pushing out to the manufacturers I buy from. 6 days a week, 3 shifts a day, and if I order anything custom it is a minimum 120 day wait. Plenty of workers, plenty of work, just tough to get materials.
The other issue is that these shortages are a self fulfilling prophecy, like TP was a year ago. Vicious cycle: Everyone wants the product, dealers order the product, suppliers say that if this continues there may be a material shortage, dealers are cash flush (because everyone wants the product) so they order more of the product lest they run out, suppliers order more product from the manufacturers, manufacturers can't keep up due to an even greater uptick and material actually does become scarce. Etc etc etc.

I'd offer a man $20 an hour to come hand me a screwdriver today, and I would have a line out the door for the job. The only issue is that the only thing I have screwed right now is my supply chain. I have plenty of work to do, but no product with which to complete it, so I have no need for another guy to do the work I could do if I had the things to actually complete the work so that I could afford to pay the guy for the work I would like for him to do but can't do because there are no things for him to put together....make sense? Me neither.

Thanks, 2020.
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I don't wanna work. I tried to quit once. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!
 
I mean, I just bought a brand new "in stock" Hinderer from an authorized retailer? Might have been the last one they had, but Hinderers are typically one of the harder ones to come by because they often sell out so quick.

As others said, 2020 took a toll on most manufacturing sectors worldwide thanks to the pandemic. Shut downs, stay at home orders, "non essential workers", all takes a toll on the entire supply chain, from mining the minerals to transporting them, processing them, producing the products, so I wouldn't be surprised if stock was lower then normal, but...

Knives are a niche market, the higher end and more selective and/or exclusive you get, the more niche it becomes. The VAST majority of people are perfectly content with the $10 - $30 knife they grabbed at the local big box or hardware store... and if you look at nearly all the major vendors, those lower end knives that serve the majority of John Q public just fine, are still doing alright... Plenty of "knives" are still available out there, maybe just not all of the more limited model ones you might be looking for...
 
Definite increase in interest. I think it stems from customizing your daily carry items. Cell phones, smart watches and wallets/purses have all picked up due to cosmetic appeal. Look at how much people spend now on cell phone cases and watch bands. Then think back to your old flip phones and timex watches. People and superficial stuff they buy. Like me and knives... yet I bought a used cell phone for less than what I spend monthly on sharp objects and wear cheap clothes....
 
Steely_Gunz said:
That's an over simplification of things, tbh. Plenty of folks would love to work. The issue is that in many trades work isn't worth the work. For the last 30 years, consumers as a whole have devalued work and manufacturing to the point that production must be "cheapest" in order to chase the pure capitalism dragon of letting the markets dictate cost. That's a whole other issue for another forum. However, there is a indeed a massive materials issue that is impacting everything right now.

I have even seen this in my industry, which is very niche in the micro but, like pretty much all things to do with construction, ultimately dependant on the macro. Now we are getting hit on every single front: peripherals produced off shore are in short supply due to the lull in manufacturing. This will most likely be an 18 month cycle before it can self correct due to the depletion of previously made stock and the way orders are placed in fulfilled. Domestic production of raw materials has been pushed to the breaking point. Steel mills are even rationing the types of steels and quantities they are pushing out to the manufacturers I buy from. 6 days a week, 3 shifts a day, and if I order anything custom it is a minimum 120 day wait. Plenty of workers, plenty of work, just tough to get materials.
The other issue is that these shortages are a self fulfilling prophecy, like TP was a year ago. Vicious cycle: Everyone wants the product, dealers order the product, suppliers say that if this continues there may be a material shortage, dealers are cash flush (because everyone wants the product) so they order more of the product lest they run out, suppliers order more product from the manufacturers, manufacturers can't keep up due to an even greater uptick and material actually does become scarce. Etc etc etc.

I'd offer a man $20 an hour to come hand me a screwdriver today, and I would have a line out the door for the job. The only issue is that the only thing I have screwed right now is my supply chain. I have plenty of work to do, but no product with which to complete it, so I have no need for another guy to do the work I could do if I had the things to actually complete the work so that I could afford to pay the guy for the work I would like for him to do but can't do because there are no things for him to put together....make sense? Me neither.

Thanks, 2020.
Click to expand...



Hoy crap.:eek: I'm buying all the TP I can fit in my car tomorrow! o_O
 
paul brown said:
Is there a shortage and why? Did the earth run out of minerals or electricity? Is there something nefarious going on? is this the future of sustainable development? Are other products affected besides knives? Granted I haven't shopped for knives in years, but this seems whack!
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I'll answer in order:

No.
No and no.
No.
Nope.
There is no knife shortage but various industries are impacted by the pandemic and or other specific resource shortages. Again though, no world knife shortage. Certainly nothing worthy of a GKD thread.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
That's an over simplification of things, tbh. Plenty of folks would love to work. The issue is that in many trades work isn't worth the work. For the last 30 years, consumers as a whole have devalued work and manufacturing to the point that production must be "cheapest" in order to chase the pure capitalism dragon of letting the markets dictate cost. That's a whole other issue for another forum. However, there is a indeed a massive materials issue that is impacting everything right now.

I have even seen this in my industry, which is very niche in the micro but, like pretty much all things to do with construction, ultimately dependant on the macro. Now we are getting hit on every single front: peripherals produced off shore are in short supply due to the lull in manufacturing. This will most likely be an 18 month cycle before it can self correct due to the depletion of previously made stock and the way orders are placed in fulfilled. Domestic production of raw materials has been pushed to the breaking point. Steel mills are even rationing the types of steels and quantities they are pushing out to the manufacturers I buy from. 6 days a week, 3 shifts a day, and if I order anything custom it is a minimum 120 day wait. Plenty of workers, plenty of work, just tough to get materials.
The other issue is that these shortages are a self fulfilling prophecy, like TP was a year ago. Vicious cycle: Everyone wants the product, dealers order the product, suppliers say that if this continues there may be a material shortage, dealers are cash flush (because everyone wants the product) so they order more of the product lest they run out, suppliers order more product from the manufacturers, manufacturers can't keep up due to an even greater uptick and material actually does become scarce. Etc etc etc.

I'd offer a man $20 an hour to come hand me a screwdriver today, and I would have a line out the door for the job. The only issue is that the only thing I have screwed right now is my supply chain. I have plenty of work to do, but no product with which to complete it, so I have no need for another guy to do the work I could do if I had the things to actually complete the work so that I could afford to pay the guy for the work I would like for him to do but can't do because there are no things for him to put together....make sense? Me neither.

Thanks, 2020.
Click to expand...



Very true. On the flipside, I own an auto repair shop. I would love to find someone that can fix a car, show up on time, isn’t on drugs and has a drivers license. I have the work.
 
You just shed some perspective on my view of 40 years spent in the mechanic business. And I thought Scotty Kilmer was edgy ! But I never did cars or motorcycles. And I retire ! Huzzah !
 
Knife Center and Blade HQ have a million to choose from on their sites right now and somehow there's a knife shortage LOL
 
I just bought a dlc spyderco shaman last week, and no one has them in stock (went to a store). Same when I bought my amalgam, had to call a store in Birmingham to get one, but they had 3.

There is some supply issues, but there's plenty if you look a little bit.
 
As others have said, COVID-19 has really hurt manf. Stuff is still being produced, but there is more attention to the category. Just go to your local hardware store and look at the price of lumber. I can tell you for a fact from a manf side, that raw materials have sky rocketed in price. Demand has way past supply which has shifted the entire curve. Go to some of your local sports store / knife stores and you will see their inventory isn't as in stock as it use to be. Lets not even get started on firearms and ammo....
 
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