Can China made produce a good blade?

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Quehanna

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I try to buy only made in USA. I will,often go without if I can not (exceptions electronics).
I am a big yard saler, flea marketer, and antiquer I find more old USA produced items that only need elbow grease to end up like new which drives home my quality opinion.
OK to my point am I missing anything in the knife world with this view?
CRKT is mostly if not entirely China made. Kershaw has a line of China made blades. I could name more but yinz know where they are being made.
If over site is stringent can a quality blade come out of China?
 
China's manufacturing can produce some incredible things when they set their mind to it. Unfortunately they have a culture of counterfeiting and choose to produce high quality clones instead of knives of their own design. Kershaw and spydercos China line are good quality for the price. Excellent Chinese knives can be found, I'm sure someone will chime in with some excellent examples.
 
No, only certain countries are allowed to produce good quality knives. The other countries are only allowed to produce really low quality stuff.
 
Absolutely.
You nailed when you mentioned stringent oversight. Quality control is crucial in any manufacturing process. It's just more accountable and easier to do when the manufacturer is local. Chinese manufacture can be every bit as good as USA made or other. The reason it's not is quality manufacture costs more, and American (etc) companies who have their products made in China are doing so to cut costs. Some companies like Spyderco (with their Byrd line) maintain high standards, while others just seem to want cheap mass production to maximise profit margins. Reate is probably worthy of specific mention as a Chinese manufacturer who (by reports on here) are producing knives comparable with the some of the best.
 
It's not China or the USA that makes a blade, it's only various manufacturers in whichever country who employ people who make them. As such, there is always the ability to produce quality, especially if, as already mentioned, there are stringent quality control standards set in place. Just like I've owned some very poorly-made knives made in the USA, believe it or not. American-made does not automatically equal best in the world. The issue is that many manufacturers of goods in China seem to more readily cut corners if not held to a very high standard.

Jim
 
Nixelplix said:
Many of the traditional knives coming out of China are very nice.
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That's interesting. Do you know which particular brands? I have to admit I'm not sure I like traditionals being mass produced in China. I'll have to get over that :)

Interestingly there is a news report on right now here about China's swing toward high quality and high tech manufacture.
 
Academically speaking, yes, China or any other country is "capable" of producing high quality knives provided the necessary investment is put into it. From a practical view though, a great many Knife companies have them manufactured in various parts of the world. Not just US companies but German (Boker) and Japanese (Kai) as well. But the common characteristic across the board is that the MIC models comprise the lowest priced product lines and never the top of the lines. I believe that there are several reasons for this. One is that despite the vociferous views of some posters, MIC does not have a good consumer image globally. In other words people will buy a MIC knife (or any product) if it is inexpensive but would balk if it were expensive. Particularly as there would be other alternatives at a high price bracket. This in turn means that no US knife company is going to contract in China for a top of the line product, hence the consumer never gets to see it, even if it could be made. There is also the speculation that because of China's enormous counterfeiting volume, US Knife companies are wary of handing over the information related to their top of the line products. The introduction of China's own brands is a calculated maneuver to establish a market foothold for when (not if) the day comes when China no longer has the low cost economic advantage and are outpaced by other up-and-coming nations.
 
Nixelplix said:
Many of the traditional knives coming out of China are very nice.
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As are many modern designs. And loathe though they may be, I've even seen clones that are extremely well-made.

Unfortunately, threads like this one never end well. Too much emotion and not enough facts. As a general rule, however, those who speak the loudest know the least. So take whatever's said here with a grain of salt.
 
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James Y said:
It's not China or the USA that makes a blade, it's only various manufacturers in whichever country who employ people who make them. As such, there is always the ability to produce quality, especially if, as already mentioned, there are stringent quality control standards set in place. Just like I've owned some very poorly-made knives made in the USA, believe it or not. American-made does not automatically equal best in the world. The issue is that many manufacturers of goods in China seem to more readily cut corners if not held to a very high standard.

Jim
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+1

CRKT, Kershaw, Spyderco, A.G. Russell, and others are having some very nice knives made in China these days. There are also Specific Chinese makers making their own knives that have bumped up their game to amazing levels. Take a look at Kizer and Reate knives, for examples. :thumbup:
 
KenHash said:
... But the common characteristic across the board is that the MIC models comprise the lowest priced product lines and never the top of the lines. I believe that there are several reasons for this. One is that despite the vociferous views of some posters, MIC does not have a good consumer image globally. In other words people will buy a MIC knife (or any product) if it is inexpensive
Click to expand...

Good point well made. I know I certainly have that same issue trusting quality standards of lines made in China.

I also have some bias - I WANT American, European etc quality to be better.
 
Quehanna said:
OK to my point am I missing anything in the knife world with this view?
CRKT is mostly if not entirely China made. Kershaw has a line of China made blades. I could name more but yinz know where they are being made.
If over site is stringent can a quality blade come out of China?
Click to expand...

Some Chinese stuff is good (for the price). It depends on the company and the degree of QA/QC that they insist on. Quite honestly, the Chinese stuff is getting better all the time. I don't pay a lot of attention to CRKT stuff as it often seems over priced for what you get. I do own some CRKT knives however. I have one Chinese knife made by Kershaw. I do own a ZT made by Kershaw.
 
I live in Europe, so I don't really care about the American made thing (I do understand and respect it, tough). I search for value, and China has definitely offered a lot of it. You just have to inform yourself and find out the realiable, non junky and cheap companies and options out there.
I love my Cara Cara 2, my HARNDS Viper is my go-to suit knife, my Ganzo automatic is used in the kitchen on a daily basis by all the family, I beat the HELL out of some Enlans and Ganzo and they've hold up really well to that abuse during many years.

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I literally plunged my RUI cheap boot knife through a dozen metal.reinforced tires, and have use it to punch holes on a fallen steel board that needed to be removed. Resharpened it, back as new. If I intended to us it as the ninja-mallish combat blade as it is ridicously advertised, I assure you it's stab right through the toughest leather jacket or the thickest kevlar vest.

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So, if you know what are you paying for, and what companies can be relied upon to deliver quality and back up their Chinese made products, you will find some real smokin' deals on chinese blades. And I talk from experience.

:thumbup: Give 'em a try!
 
Kizer are well made Chinese Knives.



Kershaw has some nice Knives.
$20 crkt's in my experience are worth the price.

Sure they "can" make a good blade, its just whether they actually do which becomes hit or miss from manufacture to manufacture.
 
Chris Larrikin said:
That's interesting. Do you know which particular brands? I have to admit I'm not sure I like traditionals being mass produced in China. I'll have to get over that :)
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Rough Rider is the first company that comes to mind. I don't own any and I understand that their F&F can be hit and miss, but they're hard to beat for the price.
 
Dont discout china or taiwan. Kizer, reate, taichung spydies are all amazing cutlery. The biggest let down ive had so far from any higher end knives was zero tolerance. 562, loved the design, very solid knife, but the grind was wayyyy off. Doesnt make me leary of American made products whatsoever. So as long as its an original design or licensed manufacturer, you could be missi g out on alot.
 
I have around 15 Rough Rider, 2 Chinese made Buck (379 and 389) a couple Taylor-Schrade, a few Colt and Marbles, all made in China. The quality, fit and finish, edge grinds, etcetera, are perfect. None have any blade wobble in any direction, and the blades are well centered. Even my Taylor-Schrade Imperial 4 blade congress and Marbles Camp/Scout/Utility knife do not have any blade rub, nor does the 371 Buck stockman.
The Chinese , and any other manufacturer can make a product that meets the standards of who ever is ordering the product. Buck, for instance, has a couple knives made in China. Buck gives them the same forever guarantee as the USA made knives. Taylor Schrade has a life time warranty, Smokey Mountain Knife Works has a lifetime warranty on the Rough Riders, Colt, and Marbles.
So, yes, the Chinese can and do make quality knives.
For those who claim they will never buy a knife not made in the USA, because "I want to support American businesses..." consider this little inconvenient fact: The companies that have knives made in China and import them here ARE an American Company. Buck, Taylor-Schrade, SMKW, and the others are an American Company, not a Chinese, Russian, Korean, or Mexican company.
 
Chris Larrikin said:
That's interesting. Do you know which particular brands? I have to admit I'm not sure I like traditionals being mass produced in China. I'll have to get over that :)

Interestingly there is a news report on right now here about China's swing toward high quality and high tech manufacture.
Click to expand...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/582468-Rough-Rider-amp-Related-Slipjoints

Here's a big thread about Rough Rider and other Chinese brands that make traditional patterns. They have a huge variety of patterns, are high quality, and are very affordable. I carry the yellow handled Robert Klaas knife shown here with a Colt brand knife. Both are very nice and made in China.

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I have three Chinese blades and the steel is as good as any other countries. One had a slightly off grind at the tip but I easily fixed that. My son has one that's made in China and it is flawless out of the box. I gifted a folder from China and it came razor sharp and is a relatives edc right now. The report is the steel holds a great edge and fit and finish is perfect on it.

For the money the more recognizable names are worth it. Any Spyderco is good to go. I prefer USA or European but the recent Chinese blades I bought have proven to me they are doing great and if they keep improving they are going to knock out many as being on the better end of countries of origin.
 
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