German Bull

[TM]

I never hear much about German Bull knives. Anyone have any opinions on their products?

[keithw]

Hey TM,

I've just recently renewed my interest in knives, and I've been trying to buy a few different brands to see what I like. I bought a German Bull Sodbuster and I really like it. It has nice stag handles and seems to be made well. I get the impression that they're made with Hen & Rooster (which I also like). They also seem to be reasonably priced. So far I like the German knives best, with the exception of Great Eastern.

[Hukk]

German Bull is owned by Frost cutlery of US and China, I wonder where it's made these days.

[keithw]

Hukk,

That brings up another question. Aren't Hen & Rooster also owned by Frost Cutlery? I'm having trouble distinguishing which German knives come from where. I was under the impression that H&R and German Bull were manufactured and assembled in Germany. But, I'm sketchy on Buck Creek, Henckels, Kissing Crane, etc. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks
Keith

[Hukk]

Hukk,

That brings up another question. Aren't Hen & Rooster also owned by Frost Cutlery? I'm having trouble distinguishing which German knives come from where. I was under the impression that H&R and German Bull were manufactured and assembled in Germany. But, I'm sketchy on Buck Creek, Henckels, Kissing Crane, etc. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks
Keith

A good question and NOBODY is talking! Just like the new Owl Heads are Chinese made despite the tang having Munich Ironworks and other German sounding names, apprently to BLATANTLY deceive buyers. American Classics is another piece of Chinese junk, despite Salt River, Ky stamped on the tang. Where oh Where along that 140 mile river would that cutlery plant be, or is there a town in Kentucky called Salt River? It's not in Google, so it must not exist. Salt Rock exists in West Virginia, hmmn, no, if google says it's not there, then it must be true

There are a whole bunch of companies that say our parts are made in Germany and assembled by slave labor at 10 cents an hour in China.

Actually, nobody knows the truth anymore. Buck 110 still in Idaho, I recall, buy many slipjoints are made in China. JUNK , I have one that came with a Buck 110, actually it is a small lockback, cheapens the Buck name. This guy is worth all of 29 CENTS. Might be able to gut a bluegill before sharpening.

[Cope]

I want to add what I know about "Salt River". I live one county over from Grayson County and used to work there in a factory just off "Salt River Road". I don't know if there is actually a town or community called Salt River or not. When these knives first came out I got the first "pearl" handled one sold. I bought some knives from a guy and had around 6 bucks coming back in change. I had traded with him a lot and he jokingly told me I knew he didn't like to make change so he told me I could pick out one of the pearl U.S. Classics. I thought hey what's 6 bucks and picked out a 3-blade whittler. He had some in a case for display and some boxed up. I told him to just hand me one and didn't even look at it. By the way I think at this time he had the knives priced at $25, and if anyone "really" wants to know for sure, I can get the knife out and check because he had little stickers on the boxes which I left on there. A few days later I thought about the knife and got it out. FIRST thing I notice was a very visible crack in the pearl! Needless to say this my only U.S. Classic. I know this turned into a ramble but wanted to shed what light I knew on Salt River. If anyone is truly interested I'm sure I could find out fairly easy if there is actually a town by this name.

Brad

[TM]

Hello all,

Wow, this thread sat around for awhile with no responses and I quit checking it - nice to see some comments finally showed up

I'm not trying to stir up anymore contempt for the Chinese knives - but that is one of the reasons I was asking about this particular brand. There seems to be some questions about where some of the German knives are actually coming from. Plus, I was wondering about the quality in general.

keithw - I've seen that sodbuster too, and I thought it looked nice. Seems like they tend to produce a lot of doctors knives.

[Duffy]

Hukk, preach on my friend! I have NOT nor will I EVER buy or own a China made knife. The way I look at it is, for every dollar that is spent on a China knife, they're (China) taking that same dollar and making/buying one bullet that will be used against the U.S.A. in the future. So I'm not buying any bullets for they're army to kill one of our troops. I buy enough China made stuff as it is with out any knowledge that it's made there. Seems alot of things from China aren't labled as coming from China. I'm going to quit talking about China now, I'm making myself mad . duffy

[Hukk]

Hi Duffy, I do hate to admit it, I still have a few Rough Riders Left. Their sole purpose in my life is to try out new fileworking patterns. If I screw up I don't feel to bad about tossing it in the garbage!!

I find this to be quite sad, as bad as Chinese knives are, they are getting better. One, the Steel Warrior is a knife I actually had to rate quite highly in a group of saddlehorns I evaluated. I DON'T LIKE IT, but it performed very well and IIRC, it placed first after all was said and done. HARD TO BELIVE!

[Duffy]

I think that a China made knife that's wearing a made in Germany brand fits the title to this thread exactly, GERMAN BULL! duffy.

[TM]

Hey Duffy - you got that right!

German Bullsh*t!!

[singin46]

DITTO!

Singin

[brasskeeper]

I agree, as well Fraud

[Pen & Toothpick]

Hukk,

That brings up another question. Aren't Hen & Rooster also owned by Frost Cutlery? I'm having trouble distinguishing which German knives come from where. I was under the impression that H&R and German Bull were manufactured and assembled in Germany. But, I'm sketchy on Buck Creek, Henckels, Kissing Crane, etc. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks
Keith

I think part of you question got lost here. Hen & Rooster and J.A. Henckels are made in Solingen Germany. I will add another one that does have German in the name and is made in Solingen, Germany also. It is "German Eye Brand" made by C. Schlierer.

I actually did think that the blades on the German Bull were made in Munich, Germany and the rest of the knife was made and assembled in China.

Kissing Crane is China! Many of the China made knives with have a sticker on the blade marked Hand Crafted in China or Made in China. I know Kissing Cranes and Owl Head will have them. I have seen where E-Bay dealers many times remove these stickers.