How disapointing to see such poor quality in a Parker knive!

dewman · Post by **dewman** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:12 am

I was browsing through e-bay and came across this "One armed bandit" USA made Parker-Edwards knife. From the photos, I would be embarrased to show this to any of my friends. Looks more like it came from Pakistan! Very disappointing, indeed. I've got three of them and they are all of good quality, especially the two made in Alabama. But this one? Not even close.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:34 pm

Dewman,
In the 1980s & early 1990s I managed a cutlery store. I ordered a few Parkers, Taylors & Frosts in to the store to hit certain price points (usually the lower price points, as they didn't have anything then in the higher price points). I was very disappointed with the quality, fit & finish, walk & talk, etc. The quality was very inconsistent. One knife would be fairly decent and the next three would be pretty bad. Sometimes I had to send brand new- from the box knives back to the distributor because they were so bad. It was like they had no concept of quality control. The Parkers seemed to be a little bit better than Taylors or Frost, but all three were so bad I finally quit carrying them.

I guess some things haven't changes.

Dale

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:11 pm

I've pulled a twenty year old Parker out of a never opened box before and found it to be perfect crap. And I have bought a couple of used ones where the quality was very good. Inconsistant is right. Still, there are some great old Parker- ParkerEdwards, even Parker Frosts that make excellent users. Or look good in a collection. I'm proud of some of the pearl and abalone handled five inch toothpicks I own with one of the Parker names on them.

I wonder if the problem could have had something to do with the many Jim Parker line up/brand & company names. Most established knife companies have a 'corporate memory'-- for lack of a better term. You know what I mean... they made a good knife yesterday and the day before that, they know what makes a knife good because they have done it so many times before. Now look through one of Jim Parker's pocket collection books (ignoring the inflated prices he gave his own knives) and you will see how short lived some of the brands were. It seems he was constantly starting all over.

A real world now example of a knife company building on success, each and every knife they make being better than the last: Rough Rider from China. Please don't take pot-shots at me for writing this, it is just the truth as I see it. The quality of RR knives is vastly better than it was two years ago, and willl be better tomorrow.

Phil

countrydanny; · Post by **countrydanny;** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:17 am

i often check pawn shops,just to see what might be there,
found a 1987 us constitution lock blade,just eagle brand on the blade
box read japan,tang stamp read taiwan,iwas told even though it said eagle brand,it was still a parker knife,true are false,i think that parker just left eagle brand before this knife was made,
does anyone know for sure.
thanks,
countrydanny;

dewman · Post by **dewman** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:07 am

Gr8Scout wrote:
A real world now example of a knife company building on success, each and every knife they make being better than the last: Rough Rider from China. Please don't take pot-shots at me for writing this, it is just the truth as I see it. The quality of RR knives is vastly better than it was two years ago, and willl be better tomorrow.

Phil

Yep, gotta' agree with you. I recently bought a red gigged bone two-blade "straight razor blade" style for $2.01 on e-bay. It arrived yesterday and I'm thinking "you get what you pay for" as I opened the package.... I was utterly amazed at the quality of fit and finish. The walk and talk was excellnt. The jigged bone scales have a deep ox blood color. Also, the Boker "Magnum" line of knives made in China are very well constructed. I have a Canoe with red bone scales and a 3-blade sow belly, both exhibiting excellent craftsmanship. Fit & Finish is top drawer. The blades will take a very keen edge although they won't hold it for long. So, yeah....you really do "get what you pay for".

O.K..............I'll duck behind this wall before the pot shots come about off shore stuff!

countrydanny; · Post by **countrydanny;** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:29 am

if the R.R.lasts me longer than 2 yrs for what i paid,i wont complain
but for heavy jobs i carry a kershaw mini cyclone.
countrydanny;

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:52 am

For what it is worth; I was collecting knives back when the first Japanese knives hit these shores... No, not the cheapies that they exported once Gen MacArthur helped them get back on their feet, but the ones imported by Jim Parker and others in the seventies. 'Collectible' knives, aimed at the collectors market. And decent using knives as well. 'made in Japan' hardly raises an eyebrow today among knife buyers.

Phil

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:58 am

YUP PERS there Gr8Scout. I will back you up on the Japan 'Collectible' knives are good quality.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:05 am

Kershaw & the older Al Mar knives are two examples of top quality Japanese knives.

Dale

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How disapointing to see such poor quality in a Parker knive!

How disapointing to see such poor quality in a Parker knive!

eagle brand;

no pot shots;