All About Pocket Knives

In looking through several listings on eBay I have come across many great looking knives only to find out in the descriptions or the addresses of the sellers that they were made in Pakistan. Does anyone here have anything good, bad, or otherwise about the knives coming out of Pakistan? I have seen several that are listed (and look a lot like) as Randal reproductions. For the price they "look" awfully good, but if the steel used is garbage then that is that.

Personally, I avoid that stamp.

Thanks Joe. I always have in the past after ordering a couple of knives from ebay that said Originated in US and then found a very faint, almost invisible stamp/print/etch or something with Pakistan on the blade. The pictures I looked at when ordering it never showed the side of the blade on which I found the Pakistan stamp!!

You are correct, Stan Packy uses scrap metal for his blades.

PecosJake wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 4:45 pmbut if the steel used is garbage

most likely a former by Honda, Toyota, Haval, Hyundai, Kia or Suzuki

Ive had ok steels but the damascus is s... and you will never get to strop an edge as it all just kinda crumbles on the edge like clay. No luck puttingva nice edge on them but throw it on a coarse beltsander and you can get an edge on it,ok for self defence but not an edc.

Junk!

I haven’t been desperate enough for a knife to buy one made in Pakistan. Or China either. Lots of great knives from other places, readily available for a wide range of prices.

Ken

I managed a cutlery store in the 1980s. We used a Gerber type sharpening setup which was essentially a 150 grit stone and a hard felt wheel for deburring.
I noticed every time I tried to sharpen a Pakistani blade the wheel was chipping caused by impurities in the steel. You could often see the black chunks in the steel.
Since I didn't like chips of the stone hitting my face, we banned all Pakistani blades from being sharpened on the Gerber sharpening system. Later we got a 1x42 belt sander and we would sharpen Pakistani blades on it, as a courtesy for our customers. We didn't sell Pakistani blades so we didn't really feel an obligation to sharpen them.
Needless to say, I don't knowingly purchase knives made in Pakistan.

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:18 pm

PecosJake wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 4:45 pmbut if the steel used is garbage

most likely a former by Honda, Toyota, Haval, Hyundai, Kia or Suzuki

I would definitely buy a knife from Pakistan if they could guarantee me it had my old Civic in it. I loved that car

PecosJake wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 4:45 pm For the price they "look" awfully good, but if the steel used is garbage then that is that.

My thought is that if the price is cheap and you like the looks of the knife, why not give it a try?
If the knife is garbage, let us know.

My ideas about knives from Pakistan were formed back in the 1980s. Back then I tried some Pakistani lockbacks, and my conclusion was that those knives were so sorry that it one was laying on the ground it was not worth picking up. But that was forty years ago. Have things changed?

Recently I bought a new little slipjoint made by one of the Frost brands in Pakistan. It seems pretty well made, though I have not tried sharpening it yet. The blade says German Steel, which does not actually mean much even if true.

Dinadan wrote: ↑Thu Jun 18, 2026 1:29 pmHave things changed?

not yet, maybe never.

I know opinions differ, but I have purchased several nice knives from Pakistan. Now, most of my knives are purchased on looks alone, and are never used. I have an EDC rotation of 4 knives and 1 mini multitool that see pocket time

I appreciate all the comments, especially since they pretty much all mirror my own opinion of Pakistani knives. Some of the ads say spring steel and expert quenching, etc. I have not been persuaded yet, at least knowingly. I have a couple that slipped past my inspection of photos, but I havent tried to sharpen them or even cut anything with them. They may end up on a table at my wife's next garage sale!! I usually have the same opinion of Chinese knives, but I have actually had a few of those that have been pretty good EDC knives used for any number of tasks. Some can get and hold a good edge while others would not even give butter knives a good run for their money. Older Japan made knives seem to be of good quality, at least the few that I have. I just wish the Pak dealers would stop advertising the Randal "Replicas". They look really nice but I just can not make myself spend the money to find out if junk or not. Again, thanks for all the comments/opinions.

When I purchase a "lot" Of knives and there is one included, I simply throw it in the garbage.

TripleF wrote: ↑Thu Jun 18, 2026 11:59 pm When I purchase a "lot" Of knives and there is one included, I simply throw it in the garbage.

Maybe you should keep them for next year's "POS Exchange"

I have one, purchased intentionally for two reasons:
1) Purchased at the Ft. Frederick Market Days (basically a reenactment of the rendezvous of the 17th and 18th century frontier days). I wanted a souvenir.
B) I enjoy the history of that time and wanted something a mountain man might have carried.

Yes, they had some beautiful hand made fixed blades representing the era, but way out of my price range.

Nope, doesn't hold an edge for diddly. I use it to cut up cardboard when I have to. Does the job.

Steve Warden wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2026 8:32 pm I have one, purchased intentionally for two reasons:
1) Purchased at the Ft. Frederick Market Days (basically a reenactment of the rendezvous of the 17th and 18th century frontier days). I wanted a souvenir.
B) I enjoy the history of that time and wanted something a mountain man might have carried.

Yes, they had some beautiful hand made fixed blades representing the era, but way out of my price range.

Nope, doesn't hold an edge for diddly. I use it to cut up cardboard when I have to. Does the job.
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I purchased the same knife for the same reason. Never used it though

Gtrclktr-351 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 19, 2026 1:42 am

TripleF wrote: ↑Thu Jun 18, 2026 11:59 pm When I purchase a "lot" Of knives and there is one included, I simply throw it in the garbage.

Maybe you should keep them for next year's "POS Exchange"

No, he should not. I may get them.

I have one in my "Knives of the World" collection. But I have lots of knives there that I would never use...