What's wrong with the knives made in China?

[Ramrod]

http://boonetrading.com/Knives-Ivory.html
Check this link out. It's like putting earrings on a pig

Ya, like the big stretchy hole ones....

[wazu013]

Ya, like the big stretchy hole ones....[/quote]

[ConservativeKnives]

Sometimes China made knives can be great quality. The majority, though, are made with worse materials and are just terrible. My whole philosophy on foreign made knives is that although SOME may be decent, I still would never buy one. I hate supporting the communists, and feel like the LOTS OF CASH I spend on knives should go back around to my fellow Americans. Also, China has a bad reputation for copying knives. Honestly, I just would never even consider buying one.

China

USA

[Just Plain Dave]

I rather agree with you...

In MANY cases the China knife allows for trying a size or pattern before dropping money I pretty much NEVER have on a GEC or such.

In the case of Rough Riders they look pretty good and cut excellently.

[wazu013]

I think this picture tells you what could happen with unregulated steel A.K.A.pot steel. Of course the sausage is unregulated as well

[PigSticker]

I picked up a Boker Magnum what a nice knife-red bone Barlow-half stop on both blades-sharp as hell out a the box----everybody that sees it wants one-had it in my pocket for three weeks I'm real happy with it.

[wazu013]

I picked up a Boker Magnum what a nice knife-red bone Barlow-half stop on both blades-sharp as hell out a the box----everybody that sees it wants one-had it in my pocket for three weeks I'm real happy with it.

I actually have Chineese knives all over my garage. When my neighbor wants to borrow a knife I don't run in and give him a Case folding hunter. I give him a Marbles folding hunter that I paid 12 bucks for. When I camp I take a Marbles ax-knif combo. I would die if I had to plow my Case combo into a pile of kindle. I use a Paki Bowie as a machete and the dollar specials for everything that a razor is to thin for in fact I have been carring a Taiwain maid V&D auto for the last month or two. I have a cheap side that won't let me use a $200 knife to cut any junk that comes along. I beleive in American maid products and I try to support them as much as I can but on my pay I just can't afford it all the time. I wish I could.

[ironmage]

I would just be curious to hear from others about how you
see the differences between American made knives like Case or Bear and Rough Rider knives. Where are the differences?

American made knives= Cadillac

China made knives= Kia


Big difference

That is true and well put.I do beleve they both have a job.A very different job.

[ironmage]

Guys,

All jrayyy asked for was opinions on the differences between American and Chinese knives. It seems like every time the subject is brought up, the link is high-jacked by people screaming about China. He didn't advocate buying a bushel basket full. I don't like the current situation either... but, we sure aren't acting like people who value differing opinions.

My opinion, if I'm allowed to express it, is that sadly the Chinese have improved their quality significantly over the past few years, to the point of equalling American knife companies. I've bought some disappointing Case, Bear and Queen knives over the last couple of years. Of course the Chinese knives will probably never have any collector value, but they can be had for a fraction of the price.

I type this note on an American computer made up of Chinese components, illuminated by a lamp made in China, which is sitting on a desk made by a now-defunct American furniture company, while sitting in a desk chair made in China, wearing sweatpants, underwear, socks and T-shirt made in China. My city and state have been ravaged by unemployment brought on in large part by our indifference. So please excuse me if I don't get too worked up about someone contemplating buying an $8 Chinese pocketknife. I think we have bigger fish to fry.

That was the most reasonable remark so fare.You said it all and I agree with it.

[ironmage]

My answer would be nothing.They have a job to do same as my Bulldogs and Fighten Roosters.A very different job.

[Just Plain Dave]

So far as I know one difference is that on some RR knives the bolsters and scales are basically glued on.....

I passed on a RR Barlow because one bolster was showing daylight.

But the smooth white bone RR Barlow I do have seems like a solid piece of work.

[Richiegabrio]

I have read most of the responses on this thread. I am newly registered here and feel guilty as heel after reading all this stuff about Chinese made knives. I did not give it must thought and kinds got sucked in by the Knife Corner boys on T.V. I bought a few packages of knives that were offered and was lead to believe by the "good old boys" that were chucking the Frost knives, that they were made in the U.S. It is a line of B.S. of no limitations. The Frost Cutlery companies or badges as it is more correctly stated are for the most part respected names in cutlery. Now they have factories in a few countries and do business with our political adversaries. It comes down to whether or not one can be a true blue American and buy goods from the adversary. We as a country won WWII but lost in may ways to one of the Axis powers, the Japanese. They sell more cars than the U.S. companies. Frost Cutlery buys the factory producing H & R, German Bull, Rough Rider, etc. They send out the materials to China to make knives in a semi-controlled manner with cheap labor. The point is that it is good business but poor Patriotism. Never the twain can meet. One cannot be particular about the political ramifications of buying Chinese products and also go for the "best buy". I have a few of the Chinese knives, even after selling off most of what I owned a few months back. They are being auctioned off every day on eBay. One can get a Rough Rider, a Colt, a Frost Family knife for less than $20 shipped. One can take these knives camping or give them as gifts to a young scout and make him happy. The knife will work for a while and all for less than $20. You cannot even get a sniff at a Case for under $40 unless it is used. So far nobody can controvert what I have written. The facts are the facts. We as a people, as a nation have been sold on a boat down the Yangtze River and I have been both a victim and the culprit. So somewhere collecting knives that are worth collecting is different than buying and using a knife that was a good deal for the money. I wish I were not a whore in this regard, but it is habit forming to get a good looking knife for under $30 and have it so closely resemble and behalf to a "real McCoy". That is all I can say. It is choice. My opinion is that the current President and his administration have done more in dismantling the rest of what this country was in 2008 when he took over, that what I do about won't make much difference, but being a whore can be a matter of lacking Principal. Do we or do we not have it. I guess in the past until this thread, I have not though deeply about it.

[orvet]

Welcome to AAPK!

[whit107]

After reading all the opinions on this subject I thought I would add my take on it. I do not own, nor do I have a desire to buy a chinese knife. I cannot say its because I am trying to support the American Economy as I really like BOKER knives, and they aint American as you know. (new ones that is) I would also like to point out that there are lots of guys who only buy old Case knives for instance. While they are sure American made, that does little to support CASE manufactuing today. The best way to support domestic cutlery is to buy new ones and lots of em. The economic reality is that we may not see knives as most people do. They want something to cut with that looks kinda nice and there is where it ends. Every detail that we obsess about may not be so important to lots of folks and those details add to the retail price of the knife.
My bias is mostly based on quality, and as some have stated, its harder and harder to maintain that bias as China quality comes up and some domestics seem to be going the other way. (wont mention brands for fear of backlash)
I guess it comes back to the most simple rule of knife collecting. And that is to collect what YOU like.

WHIT

[ken6]

After reading all the opinions on this subject I thought I would add my take on it. I do not own, nor do I have a desire to buy a chinese knife. I cannot say its because I am trying to support the American Economy as I really like BOKER knives, and they aint American as you know. (new ones that is) I would also like to point out that there are lots of guys who only buy old Case knives for instance. While they are sure American made, that does little to support CASE manufactuing today. The best way to support domestic cutlery is to buy new ones and lots of em. The economic reality is that we may not see knives as most people do. They want something to cut with that looks kinda nice and there is where it ends. Every detail that we obsess about may not be so important to lots of folks and those details add to the retail price of the knife.
My bias is mostly based on quality, and as some have stated, its harder and harder to maintain that bias as China quality comes up and some domestics seem to be going the other way. (wont mention brands for fear of backlash)
I guess it comes back to the most simple rule of knife collecting. And that is to collect what YOU like.

Whit - you make a very good point .
WHIT

[Toejammer]

My favorite stiletto's are made in Italy.

Some of my best fixed blades are made in Germany.

And practically all of my tactical knives are Japanese.

I own a Kershaw D.W.O from back in 1985. Got it off the Snap-On truck. It still has the most wicked sharp blade of ANY knife I own. And I used it when I was a cable tv installer, striping the insulation off RG-11, and when I was a car stereo installer. The knife has seen a lot of work, and it still has 98% of it's blade because I've never had to put it to a stone,..... ever ! I simply used ceramic sticks and stropped it on a leather sheath I had laying around. I still carry it as part of my EDC rotation, and I would be pissed to high heaven if it got lost. Oh yeah,.... MADE IN JAPAN.

If I collected knives for they're value, I'd have a bucket full of GEC's. But as it is, I can't afford American made knives, hell I can hardly afford any NEW knife. Most of mine are used / 2nd hand. Most new American knives are made of "un-obtainium" , which is why most of my USA knives are vintage beaters. It's all I can afford.

Now, I've given USA brands a shot to impress me, most notably Bear & Son. But after the first couple years of collecting them I noticed two things:

1) All of they're "stag bone" scales look the same. I've put older catalogs next to new catalogs from them, and there is little to no variation. It's painfully boring. As it is, I can spot a Bear & Son knife from across the street simply by it's scales.

2) They're QC is erratic at best. It's a crapshoot if you buy one of they're knives, as to weather you got a decent one or not. Fit and finish varies wildly, and I find the older Bear MGC stamps are better made then the newer Bear & Son.

Finally, this whole collecting thing for value reminds me of the baseball card boom of the 90's. Where everyone lost they're minds buying boxes and cases of Upper Deck, Leaf, Bowman, etc.... all products designed to be collected, and over produced. Autographs, materials, pieces of bats, jock straps, DNA.... well you know, all of it slapped on a card to be "collectable". Limited Editon..... 1 of 500. Guess what, it's been 20yrs now, and those cards aren't worth squat. Why, because after 20yrs there are still 500 of them out there !! No one abused them, no one traded them at school, no one stuck them in they're bicycle spokes. So now there are STILL 500 pristine Autographed Nolan Ryan jock strap cards out there, and you can snag em off eBay for a pittance of what the BV was.
I'm not saying your GECs will be worthless, but chances are, since no one is going to use one as a screwdriver, there will still be a lot of pristine examples around 20yrs from now. Whats to say roughly 20yrs from now, that Rough Riders in mint condition won't be collectable ? Why, because we all USED them and beat the crap out of them. Look at old Hammer brand, Imperial, and the myriad of cheap arse knives from the 60's and 70's. Mint examples are actually scarce. Just sayin......

Comic books, Baseball cards, and knives are not a replacement for your 401k. (Guns and guitars are)
Collect what YOU like....... period.

[PigSticker]

Well put Toejam I've tried sayin the same thing myself more than once--

[ibele-finley]

Oman said all that need be said many posts above.
They're made in China

[kswildcat]

Ok I read most the posts in this thread. In my opinion as far as fit and finish and quality of materials both of some the what some folks would call "quality name brand" and china made knives have different tiers of knives. Some of the china made knives are actually quite good, but you pay a bit more for them. Then a lot of them are a waste of time. Some the so called "quality name brand knives" have their top tier knives but also have knives that are a waste of space (a lot of them farm them out to china and such but still put their name on them). I bought a Kershaw knife that frankly isn't worth a damn and could have gotten 1 or 2 good quality china knives for what I payed for it. And as you can guess it was made in china.

I am far from an advocate for China but the sad part is they pretty much own the United States. Who do you think owns the majority of the United States dept? I am an advocate for buying USA produced products whenever possible. With that said I buy a knife to USE not look at. I work on a farm/ranch and am hell on tools, pickups and knives. I cant even begin to count how many tools and knives I've planted, and believe me they don't grow and reproduce. So am I gonna buy some $50 or $60 Case knife just to lose out in the field or buy a el cheapo that if I lose it its no big deal? Besides if you have ever cut baling twine and netting you would know its hell on an edge. Ive found my el cheapo Chinese knife holds an edge just as long as my USA made Schrade or USA buck knive, And nobody can tell me a Case knife holds a better edge then a USA made schrade or USA made Buck knife. Ive used them and although they are nice they are not all that.

I think I'd be more upset with the "quality name brands" farming their lower tier knives (just as much junk as a lower tier china knife IMO) to China. Havent done my homework but I would bet that all the old USA knife companies that closed shop had a work force of union workers. Yet a lot of people wonder why nothing is made in the USA anymore. Well folks, If you have a work force that continues to demand themselves out of a job it kind of makes it hard for a company to stay afloat..

[Quick Steel]

My 2 cents. Leaving aside the big money collectors who spend thousands on knives from top custom makers, I think it is ill advised to buy a knife for future profit if you don't also like it, if it doesn't appeal. Since I believe that, I think it is worth acquiring any brand or knife that you like and enjoy. I have two cheap China knives. They make perfectly acceptable users. I rarely use them tho because I get satisfaction from using higher quality knives. But to each his own. There is no Church of Knives requiring our likes to agree with others.

A.G. Russell imports some excellent quality Chinese made knives with pretty good steel. Russell pays close attention to quality control, at least that has been my experience. Speaking of steel, Paul Chen who, besides being an experienced knife and sword maker, is the honcho at CAS Hanwei. He produces imo some impressively good products at reasonable prices for what you get.
However, he was not satisfied with the steels being used for his swords and decided to produce his own steel. My point is that if purveyors insist on quality the Chinese are quite capable of providing it. Naturally you pay for what you get even in China; still cheaper than if made here and that of course is the China advantage.

[bladeguy58]

In todays world I think it all boils down to quality control and what company name is on the knife as an example Schrade, Gerber, etc. I think if you get a knife from one of these reputable companies the quality is going to be a lot better than from a no name just because of the experience and the quality control that they are going to have over there. There are lots of products that come out of China and some are just plain junk and some are not all that bad. Bear with me if you will; I know many of you are also flashlight collectors as I am and I know that we all are very familiar with names like Surefire and Inova. I own both of these brands but I also own a couple of small Fenix flashlights which is a Chinese brand. Fenix is a pretty well known and reputable brand that has been around for several years and they produce a good product and yes quite at bit less than their American counterparts.
Costco always has cool flashlights on sale at Christmas time and had a set of two 500 lumen flashlights for $20, 500 lumen and I was thinking what a deal so I bought a set. In the end I wound up giving them to friends because I didn't like the cheap plastic lens it had and a couple of other things. My point is here are two Chinese made products (Duracell & Fenix) that are worlds apart because Fenix flashlights although cheaper than any US made are not that cheap and not cheaply made, they are a quality product with a lot of engineering put into their products. I live in the San Francisco Bay area and the steel from the new Bay Bridge came from China and the pieces that we are having a problem with were made here. I think that in time we will see quality to go up in over there and if for no other reason so they can be seen as a serious supplier of quality goods not just cheap goods. I look at everything I buy with a loop and look at everything on eBay at the highest magnification and if it doesn't I can't see every detail I won't but it. My son paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country and I am as patriotic as they come and can totally understand when someone will only buy American; I'm just saying when your spending your hard earned dollars we all have to use our own judgment and that everything evolves. Maybe a little more than my 2 cents worth!
Bladeguy~

[whit107]

I'm not saying your GECs will be worthless, but chances are, since no one is going to use one as a screwdriver, there will still be a lot of pristine examples around 20yrs from now.


One thing for sure, 20 years from now GECs will be high quality well made knives don't know if they will be worth more than purchase price. Cannot say that for any Chinese knives I have handled. I am not a US snob as I love German blades but quality is what it is and that is the ONLY value one can count on.

[camp9mm]

I'm sold on American made knives and on all the reasons why. I would just be curious to hear from others about how you
see the differences between American made knives like Case or Bear and Rough Rider knives. Where are the differences?

Thanks!

'Made in China' can put a good knife in the hands of someone who cannot afford one made in the USA. In some cases, much better. In my opinion a well made China knife is a better product than a Bear & Son. I've seen much better fit and finish in a China made knife than in a Case. I'm not getting into politics, 'buying American', or any of that, because that is not the issue the OP raised with his post.

[TinyDee]

I bought for a pattern a Kershaw liner lock. Made in China. What can you say. This is a well known company but...

[Just Plain Dave]

I have a number of "tactical" knives made in china.
Right this time I've been messing with my Kershaw Thermite.
I have gotten it WICKED SCARY sharp. My only hope is that the heat treat lets it stay that way for a while. I THOUGHT I had it sharp but I sliced some labels on metal drums. The slices I made were clean. But I found a rolled edge out near the tip. I hope I left it that way before!
Except for possible heat treat trouble the knife is EXCELLENT!

Makes me want to try a US made ZT knife!