What's wrong with the knives made in China?

[junom]

You can't sell them. George God bless

[junom]

Hi, I've read quite a few of the replys and they are all right on, if we don't want the Chinese to get our money , we will have to stay out of walmart, even some Case xx packages are made in China, it maybe impossable to avoide them. The knives could be worse, but a U.S.A knife is much more money , so much in fact most people won't use one if they buy one it's to look at. I think it's just a personal choice, they cut, and I can sharpen one, most have a lifetime warranty, I just buy a old case for a user, thats my choice. George God bless

[Just Plain Dave]

Having messed with one of the Rough Rider knives I have that has bum heat treating on one blade I'd say that is the main issue. I have had only one carbon steel blade ever come close to giving me that sort of trouble.

But that one blade on the Rough Rider will NOT cut paper.

[Huck Finn]

Knives or anything made in America is held to American standards. ANSI or the american national standards institute. Rockwell numbers are an example. To determine hardnes, the rockwell machine is used. It must be calibrated periodically to insure accuracy. I doubt if CHINA WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH THINGS. THE QUALITY of THEIR steel is in question. What is steel? China has their version, we have ours based on ANSI standards. China knives are cheaper. They may be practical to use. Because they refuse to stamp the country of origin on the tang, I refuse to COLLECT them. I.D. is everythind to a collector!

[Huck Finn]

'KNIVES MADE IN CHINA" That is the topic please, stay on it . You old hip shooter, you!

[knifetime]

I have found that the blade steel and heat treatment is a problem with some of the knives from China but not all. If they would just get that right they could make a great knife because the fit and finish is very good on some of the China knives.

I say if buying knives made in China makes you happy then God bless. Just look at how many knives I could have bought for the price of the GEC E-toe I have. I would not trade it for all of them but my point is, like a lot of other guy's, buy and collect knives because I enjoy them and I never plain on making a dime from my knives. I know some of you do,and in my opinion,it would not be wise to buy a bunch of knives from China. We all collect different things for different reasons so like I said before" to each his own" and God bless.

[jerryd6818]

'KNIVES MADE IN CHINA" That is the topic please, stay on it . You old hip shooter, you!

Are you talking to yourself there Huck?

Any time Pacific Rim knives are mentioned, the political and quality aspect rears it's head. It's like herding cats to try and stay away from it.

[wazu013]

I've found that some patterns made in China serve a purpose. Take the Half Hawk or 17 pattern. I have a Case XX era redbone 6217 that I'd never use because it's value is as a mint collectible. The problem is that I like to EDC the pattern because of it's versatility. Buying the Rough Rider Half Hawk for 10 bucks gave me the carry option. He's a pic of it new. It came sharp and with excellent fit and finish. I stropped it a little now it's hair popping sharp. I'll use it for a while and let you know how it does.

[junebug]

COOL, WAZ......
I AGREE...........
I THINK.......
MY PERSONAL OPINION HERE!!!!!!
BUY WHAT "YOU" LIKE...................1st OFF
TO EACH HIS OWN...........RIGHT AFTER THAT!
AND OPINIONS ARE LIKE BUTTHOLES..........EVERY ONE HAS ONE!


THIS IS A TOUCHY, TOUCHY SUBJECT HERE ON AAPK (and im certain on other forums as well)................AND I REALLY DONT GET WHY......

I truly think that things in China are changing......much like my parents thought of Japan stuff as CHEAP JUNK and low quality.............i THINK some have done the same with China........

as both HAD a bad past....a LOW POINT.........haven't most??????

but THINGS CHANGE................IMPO...........Japan has turned way around and are up there with USA & GERMANY made items................

Yes...i do remember myself the days of cheap junk CHINA & TAIWAN items.......heck there still doin it!!!!!!......but there are MANY MANY things that some CHINA & TAIWAN makers/person/artist/reg. old hard worker is putting out......... now just to keep on knives , look at SPYDERCO for china and taiwan MADE knives....WOW...GREATNESS!!!!! (talkin sales that i PERSONALLY see-IE: TENACIOUS & SOUTHARD) PEOPLE SAY NOTHING BUT GOOD...........

another company is CRKT....... QUALITY PRODUCT AT A LOW COST........the down side to some???
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE.........my gripe: most they only put the pocket clip one way ,TIP DOWN

sooooo, MAYBE they "were" CHEAP JUNK..............but in my personal opinion not all are......THINGS CHANGE,like anything do your research on the company and product.The internet makes it too easy these days.

[Dinadan]

The problem is not what is wrong with China made knives, it is what is right about U.S.A. made knives! I feel much like Wazu.

Over the past few months I have bought several small whittlers, about the size of a Case 6383, say 3.5 inches. I have U.S.A. made Case, Queen, Robeson, Schatt and Morgan. They are all second hand and all very fine knives and I am proud to have them in my collection. I sure as heck am not going to EDC them. If I happen to find a beat up previously carried one, I would love to EDC it. I just am not willing to be the one to ding, sharpen, and scratch a near mint one of those knives. And I have not seen any of those that were just a little beat up. Maybe they exist, but I have not seen them. I think everyone else must also hate to use one, or else they use it up.

I also bought a China made Klass and Rough Rider whittlers of the same same size. They were new, and cheaper. I suspect, but am not completely certain, that they are worse quality than the U.S.A made knives. Regardless, the China knives get the pocket time, and I am glad to have such a cheap option. Do not get me wrong, I have U.S.A. made knives that I do EDC, just not the ones in that pattern.

I intended to make a point when I started this post, but heck if I remember what it was! Maybe just that I agree with Wazu.

[Just Plain Dave]

I'm not 100% sure about the slip joint China knives.I have several and I like them.
But there is something about them. They haven't quite got the looks down.
They are a wee bit too shiny and too pristine.
There is NO denying that when they get the heat treat correct they will CUT!

Now my favorite carry knife in an OHO is Kershaw Thermite. It too was made in China.
It isn't as good quality of steel as the ZT0566BW I lost. But even that isn't quite a "ding"

If it is treated with respect it cuts like crazy.

Anyhow I understand that there is no collector value in China slippies. But they do act as knives and allow pattern trials too.

[djknife13]

When I find an old 1800's or early 1900's knife, I carry it for a while for work. I use a knife in building construction so it isn't opening mail office work, but I use them carefully, and I don't lose my tools, so that isn't a worry. My "regular" carry knife is a Parker Japan made whittler that predates my knife collecting days and it has served me very well, but I love the feel of old USA and English knives from 100 years ago. After a few weeks of carry, I clean and oil them and place them in the collection and enjoy them even more than if they went right into the safe. It's a whole added part of owning them I really enjoy. I've carried a few China made knives, but they just never seem to cut it, pun intended. Dave

[jerryd6818]

When I find an old 1800's or early 1900's knife, I carry it for a while for work. I use a knife in building construction so it isn't opening mail office work, but I use them carefully, and I don't lose my tools, so that isn't a worry. My "regular" carry knife is a Parker Japan made whittler that predates my knife collecting days and it has served me very well, but I love the feel of old USA and English knives from 100 years ago. After a few weeks of carry, I clean and oil them and place them in the collection and enjoy them even more than if they went right into the safe. It's a whole added part of owning them I really enjoy. I've carried a few China made knives, but they just never seem to cut it, pun intended. Dave

So you're saying the Pacific Rim knives have no soul.

[tjmurphy]

Some of the Pac Rim's have a lot of Seoul

[jerryd6818]

Awwww T.J.

[wazu013]

I just bought a ZT454 as a limited release sale through KAI's website. It cost me a pretty penny so I doubt I'll ever EDC it. About a year ago Kevin John came out with a copy of the pattern with s35vn for the blade steel. So here's another pattern that can be carried and used for a fraction of the price.
I don't agree with counterfeit knives that copy the originals right down to the box and paperwork but I see anything wrong with an up front knife that's not trying to fool you.

[orvet]

When I find an old 1800's or early 1900's knife, I carry it for a while for work. I use a knife in building construction so it isn't opening mail office work, but I use them carefully, and I don't lose my tools, so that isn't a worry. My "regular" carry knife is a Parker Japan made whittler that predates my knife collecting days and it has served me very well, but I love the feel of old USA and English knives from 100 years ago. After a few weeks of carry, I clean and oil them and place them in the collection and enjoy them even more than if they went right into the safe. It's a whole added part of owning them I really enjoy. I've carried a few China made knives, but they just never seem to cut it, pun intended. Dave

So you're saying the Pacific Rim knives have no soul.

Well some of the best AMERICAN made knives today come from the Pacific Rim.
The West coast of the North American continent is part of the pacific Rim.

"The Pacific Rim are the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean" -Wikipedia

These following companies are located in Oregon, definitely part of the Pacific Rim.
I think most of us can agree that Zero Tolerance, Kershaw, Benchmade, Gerber, William Henry and Leatherman Tools make very high quality AMERICAN MADE knives, arguably some of the best knives made anywhere.

These 10 cutlery manufacturers are located within 50 miles of my house, which I assure you is located in Salem Oregon; definitely part of the Pacific Rim!


1. Aycock Knives
http://aycockknives.com/index.html

2. Barteaux Machetes Inc.
http://www.machete.com/index.htm

3. Benchmade
http://www.benchmade.com/

4. Gerber
http://www.gerbergear.com/

5. Kershaw Knives
http://www.kershawknives.com/

6. Leatherman Tool Group
http://www.leatherman.com/

7. Lone Wolf Knives
Recently purchased by Benchmade.

8. William Henry Knives
http://www.williamhenrystudio.com/

9. Zero Tolerance A Division of Kershaw
http://www.kershawknives.com/products.php?brand=zt

10. Slip –N-Snip Scissors
http://www.slipnsnip.com/

[jerryd6818]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. Modify all my posts to read, "Far east Pacific Rim". Jeez Louise. Ya gotta be so specific around here.

[orvet]

Jes' pullin' yor chain Jerry!



obviously it worked

[djknife13]

I figure the Chinese aren't sure enough of their knives to put a permanent stamp on them that you can't erase so people won't know where it came from. Of course my Japanese Canittler that I've carried for 20 years lost it's Japan stamp too so I suppose that doesn't mean much.

[Just Plain Dave]

That is as good a way to put it as any I've heard.
Knives from China (in most cases) have no soul.
They are fine as cutting devices.
But you never look at one and think about where it's been and what it's done.
It ain't real likely to be a worry stone either.
I'm glad I have plenty of old American cutlery to wonder over.

But the few examples of Rough Rider I haven't sold off or given away have their niches.

[djknife13]

I wanted to say that I've soul a few, but I won't. Sorry, it slipped out.

[junebug]

THE ONES I HAVE....THAT I LIKE.....HAVE SOUL "TO ME".


TA EACH HIS OWN ...........WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!

[saltwaterebel]

I don't buy Chinese for political reasons. the ghost of chesty puller dictates this! someone gave me a rough rider doctors knife as a gift. its ok. but when comparing those to gec and canal street and bulldog and even modern case, american quality is better . if a case can be made that pure economics and better value comes from an import ill consider it. better price doesn't mean better value. the fact is, American knives are superior quality. I always try very hard to justify American purchases.

[jerryd6818]

rebel -- you have a PM