Marbles

TM · Post by TM » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:12 am

Anybody know where the Marbles pocket knives are being produced?

Anyone own any - how about a review?

useem · Post by **useem** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:51 am

The ones in the SMKW catalog are made in CHINA

Forensic Jim · Post by **Forensic Jim** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:45 am

They've gone Global (China), just like a lot of other manufacturers. Pay them 30 cents an hour, 10 hour days, 6 days a week, and make a lot of money.

TM · Post by TM » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:16 pm

yeah - I suspected they were making them in China. It's funny how their website doesn't just say that. Instead, they dance around it by stating they are 'focused on a steadfast goal of sourcing global manufactures..'

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:32 pm

I don't buy them, I have Rough Riders from China I use to practice filework, I'll need them now after shoulder surgery as my hand feels different than it did before, Dr. says it's in my neck, well I'll just learn to live with it, I don't want anyone going in there.

I received a Steel Warroir as a gift, a Saddlehorn made in China. As it pains me to say this, this knife I see selling for $7.99 in some buy it now auctions rivals the quality of the current Case and Bulldog brand knives IMO.

I will, in the future test some Rough Riders, Steel Warriors, Bulldogs, and Case Saddlehorns. I did this once with out the Rough Rider and the Steel Warrior came out #1.

I picked the Saddlehorn because all of them make this pattern. I will see if there is another pattern I can play with also.

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:36 pm

Man, Hukk, I hate to see it, and hate to write it, but yeah, many of the china made knives are better than the current crop of Case offerings. I do not make this statement to pick a fight with anyone, just writing the truth as I see it.

Phil

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:38 pm

Gr8Scout wrote:Man, Hukk, I hate to see it, and hate to write it, but yeah, many of the china made knives are better than the current crop of Case offerings. I do not make this statement to pick a fight with anyone, just writing the truth as I see it.

Phil

I agree Phil, I sure hate to see it, then have to write it, but I would say that 100% of us would like to have a 100% honest review than a trumped up BS lie. Reality hurts in this case, I believe Case and Bulldog's quality has dropped greater than other knives I've seen. It appears that corners have been cut to save money and increase profit in each knife sold. I'd like to see that reverse frosted etch come back to Bulldog, it adds about $5-$7.00 cost per knife I'm told. You will NOT ever win against a Chinese company by doing business this way. You will always come out behind in a price war against Chinese manufacturers, they can always do it cheaper and sell for less. Imagine that, I rated a $7.99 Steel Warrior Saddlehorn higher than a $40.00 Case Saddlehorn.

I hope to repeat that test with Saddlehorns and 1 other pattern for 4 companies and be able to measure how much pull it takes to open and close the knives, how much slop, take them apart measure and identify materials, we already know what edge retention SHOULD be, may as well check that with some cutting tests.

Ambitious project for the future, but it will be Bulldog, Case, Rough Rider, and Steel Warrior. I may add American Classics if I can get the right patterns.

Who is doing well? Canal Street Cutlery, GEC, and Queen Cutlery, as far as I know. What is the difference? Look at the market they are in. Look at the price range, for all combined it's upper middle to lower mid range pricing.

China is making the Steel Warrior on outdated machines, they can't work with much more than 440A. I wonder what will happen when their production machinery is on par with Taiwan? I can think of nothing positive for us.

jands40 · Post by **jands40** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:40 pm

Here's a Marbles made in Germany, stamped Germany with that light stamp like the China knives are stamped today. I think it was from the 80's but that's just a guess. Correct me if I'm wrong. I think they were later made in Japan and now in China. I have owned the new Marbles but never used one or tested one in any way. I know I have to pay about twice for a new Marbles what I have to pay for a RR.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:01 pm

That Congress sure looks like an Olbertz product. Maybe made for Parker when he was "fooling around" with the Marbles trademark?
A bit about Parker/Marbles here...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... er+Marbles

Not sure but sure looks that way to me.

Bill

knifeswapper · Post by **knifeswapper** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:06 pm

Queen also made some Marbles that SMKW has sold in the past. I think they still show a couple online, but are sold out. Just look for the Marbles around $50...

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:51 pm

knifeswapper wrote:Queen also made some Marbles that SMKW has sold in the past. I think they still show a couple online, but are sold out. Just look for the Marbles around $50...

Your are correct knifeswapper, here are a couple Marbles that were made by Queen. Forensic Jim has some outstanding examples of Marbles made by Queen.

Sunburst

Forensic Jim · Post by **Forensic Jim** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:16 pm

I should have mentioned that there are M.S.A./Marbles still being made by Ole Dave Shirley, up in Michigans upper peninsula, completely 100% American made. They are great knives and have some beautiful handles. I believe they are primarily made by Queen, with Daves handles. I was just looking at a doctors knive with walrus ivory handles for $100.00. Any knives listed, I can save you money on if interested. I'm driving up to see Ole Dave next week, and can't wait to see what all he has.

XxBubbaXx · Post by **XxBubbaXx** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:34 am

Quality aside and IMO any product made in China and bought by Americans is an investent in THEIR economy, this is a country that we all should be worried about, pretty soon between them and Russia we are going to have a 3rd rate economy! I know, sounds paranoid doesnt it. I absolutely refuse to buy or sell anything i KNOW is made in China! Pretty soon we won't be able to buy anything made anywhere else though it seems.

Call me crazy but the Communist manifesto states that they will take over our country w/o ever firing a shot.

Please excuse me for turning this into a political opinion forum...

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:50 pm

XxBubbaXx wrote: Call me crazy but the Communist manifesto states that they will take over our country w/o ever firing a shot.

I agree Bubba! Their # 1 agent in the USA is Wal-Mart.