I won't speak for anyone else, but on certain selected things, I am (was) brand loyal. ONLY a Porter Cable 33 palm sander. Only Porter Cable or Milwaukee Sawzall. Milwaukee 8 1/2" circular saw, etc. Now they are imported. Sure they are assembled here, but the metallurgy and electricals are Chinese.
Thing is, they are just another cheap commodity now. Might as well buy Dewalt or Craftsman as Milwaukee or porter Cable. I bought a higher end German triangle sander and it did not last past the first job.
Tying this into the current discussion, knives are close to the last area where you can still find quality if you are willing to pay for it. I'm beginning to worry that, once Chris Reeve, Phil Wilson, and others like them retire, then this may go the way of what used to be good tools. Just another disposable item. In the end it doesn't matter to me since I have more than I will ever use up, but it does matter. I think all this will go away when we are all gone and the millenials become the buyers. I don't see the interest.
Thing is, they are just another cheap commodity now. Might as well buy Dewalt or Craftsman as Milwaukee or porter Cable. I bought a higher end German triangle sander and it did not last past the first job.
Tying this into the current discussion, knives are close to the last area where you can still find quality if you are willing to pay for it. I'm beginning to worry that, once Chris Reeve, Phil Wilson, and others like them retire, then this may go the way of what used to be good tools. Just another disposable item. In the end it doesn't matter to me since I have more than I will ever use up, but it does matter. I think all this will go away when we are all gone and the millenials become the buyers. I don't see the interest.