The Frost brand.

[The Tourist]

In another thread the Frost brand was mentioned. In my area we know it best by the marathon cable TV infomercial on questionable cutlery at dirt cheap prices. I have little real-world knowledge.

I have owned two of their knives. Both were fixed blades, both I got as a "gimmee" from my chief supplier. I sharpened both, and in turn used one of them as a gimmee for a client who has a young son in Scouts. The boy was in the process of earning his knife certification.

(In my area the Scouts get extensive training on knives. There are hard and fast rules about knife useage and safety. Any Scout who is caught in unsafe handling loses his privileges.)

My client has an expensive collection, and his son has been very respectful. He secured two knives from me. My old composite Buck 112 which is used as his official "Scout knife," and the Frost used when the family camps. I have not heard of any complaints on his Frost.

So what's the straight scoop? Are they the junk purported by their reputation, or has the quality improved? Are the low TV prices a true reflection of this quality, or are they just blowing out last year's inventory as they claim?

BTW, the Frost below is the one I still own. Granted, it appears to be very "soft" steel, but it is very sharp--now. Over the long haul, who knows.

[gmusic]

You see that little etch across the upper blade, that freaks a lot guys out and you might have a time getting any response to the post...............good or bad.

[chetr1200c]

let me see if i can add any info to help you out. jim frost has been in the knife business for quite some time. he and jim parker were very good friends, and the two of them, years back of course, initiated programs like certain knife clubs,{ american blade collectors association and the national kife collectors association. they were also partners in the cutlery business..they had a lot of very well built knives done in japan,,mainly seki japan home of some of the finest steel....those knoves.. the older ones are the ones that are truely collectable...anyway they overpriced their products and eventually folded..parker continued by himself...but as of lately.. all you will find is the cheap china imports that frost cutlery does...they even own a few well known brands, one in fact is hen and rooster....all these present day knives are not the ones you want to buy to collect... they are purely there to sell,, and you can get most for under a buck.......hope this helps some...chet

[philco]

Not all of the current Frost Cutlery offering comes out of China. They have some knives made in Pakistan as well. Quality is marginal on most in my opinion.

Phil

[The Tourist]

Thanks for the comments, guys. I hate to trash a product unless I do my research.

Oh, BTW, that litttle "blemish" near the spine towards the handle barely shows up in real life. It seems to look more severe in the picture.

It is not in the steel. It is the slight remnant of glue left by a little sticker.

[bdt0307]

Thanks for the comments, guys. I hate to trash a product unless I do my research.

Oh, BTW, that litttle "blemish" near the spine towards the handle barely shows up in real life. It seems to look more severe in the picture.

It is not in the steel. It is the slight remnant of glue left by a little sticker.

I believe Gmusic was talking about the "CHINA" etching next to the glue blemish.

[johnnierotten]

I believe Gmusic was talking about the "CHINA" etching next to the glue blemish.

[chetr1200c]

johnnie your rotten

[gino]

Yeah its the "china" blemish, not anything in the steel. I agree with Phil on this one.

[The Tourist]

I believe Gmusic was talking about the "CHINA" etching next to the glue blemish.

LOL. Depends on your eye for beauty.

I'm a polisher, the blemish offended me. However, I did own an early import AK in 5.56 that worked fine.

In the old days I would have emptied out my truck and found this knife and polished out the blemish. As an older man, I now sipped a little Anise and forgot about the entire matter. This Frost is either going to be used for trade-bait or scraping off goo.

[BIGHEAD]

ALL JUNK IMHO

[The Tourist]

ALL JUNK IMHO

Oh, I agree. I try to sell good stuff, but many times a client wants a cheap knife for a specific need. For example, I've ordered nine collapsible Chinese shovels. They are small, can be also be used as picks, and cost about ten bucks. I have one, myself.

The client who got the other fixed blade Frost got it for his son to use while camping. It's not wilderness camping, an edge more needed for making kindling and sapplings for hot-dogs. It is still a learning experience, and while the knife left here with my edge, no doubt there will be lessons in sharpening and cleaning and oiling.

I figure an ESEE is in the future, but this knife will fill the bill during orientation. And no one believes this is to be a survival knife.

[stayinsharp]

I have never been a fan of Frost knives...until recently. They have aquired some companies and started some new lines. Recently I ordered a sunfish pattern from Frosts Ocoee River line. I compared it to a buddies Hammer Brand sunfish and some in the case, Case brand sunfish and other than the exemplary polish of the Case knives could not see or feel any difference. This Ocoee brand has excellent fit of the scales, above average polish and a snap you wouldn't believe. I Have since then bought a Mustang tiny toothpick and it is in every way comparable to Schrade or is better than some of the Cases I have seen recently at somewhat inflated prices. Am I switching to collecting Frost? No, but if you want a particular knife and it's a Frost look it over before you dismiss it. If you won't buy because of the China thing, take a look around at what's happening.

[stayinsharp]

Not harping on the subject but I dug this out and offer it for comparison. The Frost Oceee River Sunfish. The best knife in the world? No. A great value at 12 dollars? Yes.

[1967redrider]

I have a few Steel Warrior, Frost and Frost Family knives for usin', abusin' and losin' because doing such to one of my Case, Fight'n Rooster, Bulldog, Queen, S&M, Cattauraugus, Bear & Son or vintage Winchester, Puma, Remington or Marbles knives would cause me to lose my lunch.

Let's face it, the China or Pakistan knives are disposable and many require constant sharpening because of soft metal. But for $10 who cares.

[testcase]

If you won't buy because of the China thing, take a look around at what's happening.

That is exactly the advice I would give anyone who consider buying a Chinese POS, look around at what is happening.
Do you REALLY want to buy Chinese when you have a choice? I have seen Queens going for 24.00 lately. If you like the frost thing, I suggest you look at Bear and Sons from Jacksonville alabama. That is where most of the old Frost machinery ended up when they went overseas and they make a decent knife out of better steel for 20.00 to 30.00.

I hear the arguement about " a cheap knife to lose" a lot for those seeking to rationalize a Chinese knife but I don't buy it. Do you buy cheap hand tools too? I learned that lesson decades ago, a good tool is a pleasure to use, and when I pull a knife out of my pocket to use, or any tool for that matter, I want something I am proud of. Plus I can't tell you how many times I have seen people hurt by inferior tools.

After you lose a good knife you learn to to pay attention.

I am not a wealthy man and the wife spends any unclaimed money to spoil the grand kids, but iI would rather have ten good knives in my collection than a hundred steel warriors.

We are currently financing 80% the Chinese military... You know, the guys that took that kid protester at Tianamen Square that stood in front of that tank into a nearby motel and strangled him with a wire. Oh, then they strangled the tank driver for not running over him.

One more little factoid, if every US citizen 3.50 more a YEAR on American made goods, it would create 10,000 new jobs.

Go ahead, buy Chinese when you have a choice to do something else... Its a free country

[buckeyefan]

Here is yet ANOTHER thread about imports and import bashing This is really getting old... ::blah:: ::blah:: ::blah::

Could someone PLEASE make a China/import thread so we dont all have to re-read the same ole crap over and over and over!!!???

Marty

[garddogg56]

If you won't buy because of the China thing, take a look around at what's happening.

That is exactly the advice I would give anyone who consider buying a Chinese POS, look around at what is happening.
Do you REALLY want to buy Chinese when you have a choice? I have seen Queens going for 24.00 lately. If you like the frost thing, I suggest you look at Bear and Sons from Jacksonville alabama. That is where most of the old Frost machinery ended up when they went overseas and they make a decent knife out of better steel for 20.00 to 30.00.

I hear the arguement about " a cheap knife to lose" a lot for those seeking to rationalize a Chinese knife but I don't buy it. Do you buy cheap hand tools too? I learned that lesson decades ago, a good tool is a pleasure to use, and when I pull a knife out of my pocket to use, or any tool for that matter, I want something I am proud of. Plus I can't tell you how many times I have seen people hurt by inferior tools.

After you lose a good knife you learn to to pay attention.

I am not a wealthy man and the wife spends any unclaimed money to spoil the grand kids, but iI would rather have ten good knives in my collection than a hundred steel warriors.

We are currently financing 80% the Chinese military... You know, the guys that took that kid protester at Tianamen Square that stood in front of that tank into a nearby motel and strangled him with a wire. Oh, then they strangled the tank driver for not running over him.

One more little factoid, if every US citizen 3.50 more a YEAR on American made goods, it would create 10,000 new jobs.

Go ahead, buy Chinese when you have a choice to do something else... Its a free country

I buy Carhart,Klein tools,American woman,Harleys,AMERICAN trucks;the job you save may be your own ::tu::OH YA Freeworld knives

[gringo]

[johnnierotten]

I buy Carhart,Klein tools,American woman

My Wife won't let me buy American Women anymore......or any other Women for that matter.

[gary]

I was going to ask "How much for the women, I want to buy them." Blues Brothers

[johnnierotten]

Good one, Gary...thats a great movie.

[troyl2]

i assumeing there pretty cheap to buy also,a local guy whos about 50,not known to have a lot of money acquired one over the summer shes maybe ,maybe early 20s speaks very little english she must have gotten tired of working in knife factory

[knifeaholic]

If you won't buy because of the China thing, take a look around at what's happening.

That is exactly the advice I would give anyone who consider buying a Chinese POS, look around at what is happening.
Do you REALLY want to buy Chinese when you have a choice? I have seen Queens going for 24.00 lately. If you like the frost thing, I suggest you look at Bear and Sons from Jacksonville alabama. That is where most of the old Frost machinery ended up when they went overseas and they make a decent knife out of better steel for 20.00 to 30.00.

I hear the arguement about " a cheap knife to lose" a lot for those seeking to rationalize a Chinese knife but I don't buy it. Do you buy cheap hand tools too? I learned that lesson decades ago, a good tool is a pleasure to use, and when I pull a knife out of my pocket to use, or any tool for that matter, I want something I am proud of. Plus I can't tell you how many times I have seen people hurt by inferior tools.

After you lose a good knife you learn to to pay attention.

I am not a wealthy man and the wife spends any unclaimed money to spoil the grand kids, but iI would rather have ten good knives in my collection than a hundred steel warriors.

We are currently financing 80% the Chinese military... You know, the guys that took that kid protester at Tianamen Square that stood in front of that tank into a nearby motel and strangled him with a wire. Oh, then they strangled the tank driver for not running over him.

One more little factoid, if every US citizen 3.50 more a YEAR on American made goods, it would create 10,000 new jobs.

Go ahead, buy Chinese when you have a choice to do something else... Its a free country

I buy Carhart,Klein tools,American woman,Harleys,AMERICAN trucks;the job you save may be your own ::tu::OH YA Freeworld knives

I used to buy Carharrt but as far as I have seen they switched to foreign manufacture about 5-6 years ago and I have not seen any Carharrt made in the USA now. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[jmh58]

Carhartt is NOT USA made.. But then again neither is most US cars.. John