Something I often think about.
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American Blade 92
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Something I often think about.
I don't know about y'all, but I find myself daydreaming of somehow starting a pocket knife company that makes affordable knives for everyday usage. A knife that is great quality, but meant to get used hard everyday. And priced $20 to $30 a piece. Something between a USA Schrade old timer and a Case. A little better than schrade, but not quite as shiny as Case. Somewhere in between. And emphasis on being affordable. Something you can love, but if you lose it in the woods it's no big deal. Three patterns only. Single blade knife. Two blade Barlow. And A three blade stockman. Only four handle varieties. Red bone, green bone, stag and American hickory. Lifetime warranty.
If I get it going, this place will be the first to know.
If I get it going, this place will be the first to know.
- btrwtr
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Re: Something I often think about.
Sounds good to me. You covered a lot of ground with the great patterns.
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
Wayne
Please visit My AAPK store https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr
Wayne
Please visit My AAPK store https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr
- OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Something I often think about.
Maybe that is financially possible, but I would doubt it. All costs would have to be considered, including paying your employees a living wage.American Blade 92 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 3:31 am I don't know about y'all, but I find myself daydreaming of somehow starting a pocket knife company that makes affordable knives for everyday usage. A knife that is great quality, but meant to get used hard everyday. And priced $20 to $30 a piece. Something between a USA Schrade old timer and a Case. A little better than schrade, but not quite as shiny as Case. Somewhere in between. And emphasis on being affordable. Something you can love, but if you lose it in the woods it's no big deal. Three patterns only. Single blade knife. Two blade Barlow. And A three blade stockman. Only four handle varieties. Red bone, green bone, stag and American hickory. Lifetime warranty.
If I get it going, this place will be the first to know.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
- 1967redrider
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Re: Something I often think about.
Sounds like an awesome idea, you just need to get your hands on some working production machines cheap. 
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
- Steve Warden
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Re: Something I often think about.
I was thinking the same. Would love for it to be possible, but....OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:24 pmMaybe that is financially possible, but I would doubt it. All costs would have to be considered, including paying your employees a living wage.American Blade 92 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 3:31 am I don't know about y'all, but I find myself daydreaming of somehow starting a pocket knife company that makes affordable knives for everyday usage. A knife that is great quality, but meant to get used hard everyday. And priced $20 to $30 a piece. Something between a USA Schrade old timer and a Case. A little better than schrade, but not quite as shiny as Case. Somewhere in between. And emphasis on being affordable. Something you can love, but if you lose it in the woods it's no big deal. Three patterns only. Single blade knife. Two blade Barlow. And A three blade stockman. Only four handle varieties. Red bone, green bone, stag and American hickory. Lifetime warranty.
If I get it going, this place will be the first to know.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
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knifeaholic
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Re: Something I often think about.
Great idea, but for that price point, would have to be mad in China or Pakistan.
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American Blade 92
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American Blade 92
- Posts: 450
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Re: Something I often think about.
I agree, it would be a real challenge to keep the prices low with all the costs involved.OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:24 pmMaybe that is financially possible, but I would doubt it. All costs would have to be considered, including paying your employees a living wage.American Blade 92 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 3:31 am I don't know about y'all, but I find myself daydreaming of somehow starting a pocket knife company that makes affordable knives for everyday usage. A knife that is great quality, but meant to get used hard everyday. And priced $20 to $30 a piece. Something between a USA Schrade old timer and a Case. A little better than schrade, but not quite as shiny as Case. Somewhere in between. And emphasis on being affordable. Something you can love, but if you lose it in the woods it's no big deal. Three patterns only. Single blade knife. Two blade Barlow. And A three blade stockman. Only four handle varieties. Red bone, green bone, stag and American hickory. Lifetime warranty.
If I get it going, this place will be the first to know.
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American Blade 92
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2026 4:25 pm
Re: Something I often think about.
I'd love to find some old knife making machinery!1967redrider wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:35 pm Sounds like an awesome idea, you just need to get your hands on some working production machines cheap.![]()
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American Blade 92
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Re: Something I often think about.
Yes, I agree.Steve Warden wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:50 pmI was thinking the same. Would love for it to be possible, but....OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:24 pmMaybe that is financially possible, but I would doubt it. All costs would have to be considered, including paying your employees a living wage.American Blade 92 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 3:31 am I don't know about y'all, but I find myself daydreaming of somehow starting a pocket knife company that makes affordable knives for everyday usage. A knife that is great quality, but meant to get used hard everyday. And priced $20 to $30 a piece. Something between a USA Schrade old timer and a Case. A little better than schrade, but not quite as shiny as Case. Somewhere in between. And emphasis on being affordable. Something you can love, but if you lose it in the woods it's no big deal. Three patterns only. Single blade knife. Two blade Barlow. And A three blade stockman. Only four handle varieties. Red bone, green bone, stag and American hickory. Lifetime warranty.
If I get it going, this place will be the first to know.
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American Blade 92
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Re: Something I often think about.
Sad but trueknifeaholic wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 2:29 pm Great idea, but for that price point, would have to be mad in China or Pakistan.
- SwedgeHead
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Re: Something I often think about.
>> Great idea, but for that price point, would have to be mad in China or Pakistan <<
And at that point you are competing with likes of Rough Ryder, where the difference may be just in the steel used, also driving your cost point.
And at that point you are competing with likes of Rough Ryder, where the difference may be just in the steel used, also driving your cost point.
- Mumbleypeg
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Re: Something I often think about.
Dream on! Definately an uphill struggle.
You’d be well served to do a little basic research into what it costs to operate a business in current-day. The salary of the typical semi-skilled worker in communist China is between $300-$350 a month. From that the Chicom government typically withholds 2-4% for health insurance. Some employers provide room and board via on-site dormitory style accommodations for employees, for which they deduct a stipend from the employee’s salary. Of course, the Chicom government will subsidize the capital investment in tooling, brick-and-mortar, etc, but will also control your business decisions and keep a portion of the income to fund their military, propaganda, etc.
Try that here and see if you get any workers.
That’s just the “tip of the ice burg”. It gets more challenging from there!
Ken
You’d be well served to do a little basic research into what it costs to operate a business in current-day. The salary of the typical semi-skilled worker in communist China is between $300-$350 a month. From that the Chicom government typically withholds 2-4% for health insurance. Some employers provide room and board via on-site dormitory style accommodations for employees, for which they deduct a stipend from the employee’s salary. Of course, the Chicom government will subsidize the capital investment in tooling, brick-and-mortar, etc, but will also control your business decisions and keep a portion of the income to fund their military, propaganda, etc.
Try that here and see if you get any workers.
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
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CutleryCollector-com
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Re: Something I often think about.
As a former owner of a knife shop at a truck stop and current knife dealer, I would pre-order two complete sets of twelve. One of each handle per set. With shipping, an investment of around $750.00.
- Rookie
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Re: Something I often think about.
premium quality materials mean expensive knives. It's just how it works out. Knife companies are not raking in 50% profits on the knives they make. A GEC knife selling at a dealer for $150 probably has $120 worth of time/materials into the knife, and the dealer makes $30.
Carl B.
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American Blade 92
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Re: Something I often think about.
You're rightSwedgeHead wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 3:23 pm >> Great idea, but for that price point, would have to be mad in China or Pakistan <<
And at that point you are competing with likes of Rough Ryder, where the difference may be just in the steel used, also driving your cost point.
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American Blade 92
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Re: Something I often think about.
I agreeRookie wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 6:40 pm premium quality materials mean expensive knives. It's just how it works out. Knife companies are not raking in 50% profits on the knives they make. A GEC knife selling at a dealer for $150 probably has $120 worth of time/materials into the knife, and the dealer makes $30.
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American Blade 92
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Re: Something I often think about.
Right on!!CutleryCollector-com wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 5:15 pm As a former owner of a knife shop at a truck stop and current knife dealer, I would pre-order two complete sets of twelve. One of each handle per set. With shipping, an investment of around $750.00.
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American Blade 92
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Re: Something I often think about.
Yep. It's just a dream.Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 4:06 pm Dream on! Definately an uphill struggle.
You’d be well served to do a little basic research into what it costs to operate a business in current-day. The salary of the typical semi-skilled worker in communist China is between $300-$350 a month. From that the Chicom government typically withholds 2-4% for health insurance. Some employers provide room and board via on-site dormitory style accommodations for employees, for which they deduct a stipend from the employee’s salary. Of course, the Chicom government will subsidize the capital investment in tooling, brick-and-mortar, etc, but will also control your business decisions and keep a portion of the income to fund their military, propaganda, etc.
Try that here and see if you get any workers.That’s just the “tip of the ice burg”. It gets more challenging from there!
Ken