Clone Knives from a more expensive famous knife design: Is it fraud, a Knock-Off or just a cheaper knife?

If you depend on tricking buyers to sell your product, you're a weasel who deserves to go broke. This rule has served me pretty well.

This leaves the category of "counterfeits with a clued-in buyer". At the retail level, I think this is a slimy market and totally understand why makers go after them, but doesn't bother me too much. (I know others disagree.) The reason is, most people knowingly paying $100 for a fake CRK are doing so because they really like CRK, and will most likely buy the real thing once they have more money. They aren't so much a lost sale as a very slow one. I personally think they should just save up a bit, but I also generally think it isn't my pace to tell other people how to spend their money, and I understand the feeling of having better taste than my income can support.

Just my view, and I get why other people differ.
 
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Counterfeits (with fake logos and marketing) are a bad deal no matter how you look at it!

Rebranded or generic clones can be OK as long as the patents and copyrights have expired and it is legally OK to manufacture them.

Think about the gun world...every other 1911 manufactured that isn't a Colt or Browning is technically a clone!
 
Drop bear said:
Could you clone a stolen design?
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I know you desperately want to define fringe cases, but let me just say that there are plenty of legal cases where exact copies can be made, such as when a patent runs out.
Regardless of what is legal, I would still choose to favor the person who originally created the article, provided they're still in business.

If you give credit where credit is due, the problem works it self out.
 
I can only offer that there have been several times I tried a clone/copy/inspired-by knife and was pleased enough I went ahead and bought the real deal.

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Now do I want to see anyone buy a clone thinking it's the real thing, of course not. But I'm also not sure how close you can go and not be copying someone. S&W got sued by Glock back with the Sigma but as far as I can tell people have been offering a Buck 110 alternative about five minutes after the 110 came out.
 
In before the lock. I once for a very short time owned a Hillberg Clone of a Grimsmo Norseman. They at least advertised it as such. The quality was on par with my Spydercos in the same price range, but not the real thing, and I didn't keep it a whole week. That was enough for me to never try again. I'd rather have the real thing and support the makers who's builds and designs I like. Also, no one clones lefty knives. So there's that element too.
 
EngrSorenson said:
I know you desperately want to define fringe cases, but let me just say that there are plenty of legal cases where exact copies can be made, such as when a patent runs out.
Regardless of what is legal, I would still choose to favor the person who originally created the article, provided they're still in business.

If you give credit where credit is due, the problem works it self out.
Click to expand...
I wanted to create an interesting situation for people to discuss.
 
Almost as bad as the people making clones are the folks that buy them and then sing their praises either here or on YouTube.

I don’t really get it.

It’s like stolen valor via wearing the uniform of a Marine when you didn’t serve, AND THEN going online to tell people how fun and easy it is to be a fraud.

If you’re going to tell people that your Rolex is a clone, then WHY DID YOU BUY IT????!?!? 🤯
 
I can honestly say I've never bought a counterfeit or clone knowingly. It never even crossed my mind.

When I was young I once bought a cheap POS folder at a flea market but it was not reminiscent of anything I'd ever seen or have seen since. Tacticool garbage.
 
EngrSorenson said:
If you give credit where credit is due, the problem works it self out.
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No.

I don't know an immortal knife maker.

Counterfeiters don't care. They cheat, lie and steal to obtain money. They are the exact opposite of credit and tradition.

Accountability may not mean anything to them or you. It means everything to me and the people I choose to buy from.
 
Delgadonine said:
No.

I don't know an immortal knife maker.

Counterfeiters don't care. They cheat, lie and steal to obtain money. They are the exact opposite of credit and tradition.

Accountability may not mean anything to them or you. It means everything to me and the people I choose to buy from.
Click to expand...

I suggest you go back and re-read for comprehension, understand who I was responding to, and regarding what, then come back and apologize for insinuating I’m anything less than honorable.
 
At some point there becomes a gray area and it is hard to define right vs. wrong. But first let's back up. If someone is making a product that is clearly a copy and using the name of the original manufacturer then that is not right. They could make an identical copy and say it is the real thing, that is clearly against the law. People copy expensive watches, expensive purses, expensive tennis shoes, etc.., and sometimes they get caught and arrested for doing it. Now we get into the gray area- you make a knife with a sharp pointed blade and a handle, is that to some extent copying someone else's product? Does each one have to be shaped a little bit differently? Look at the cars on the freeway and look how similar many of them are, but with different names on them. If you copy a product that is no longer manufactured then is it still illegal copying? If you copy a product that is limited production and you don't make any reference to the original product, or not much reference, is that OK? Think about how many companies have made Loveless style fixed blade hunting knives. At least 2 companies make or have made copies of the Randall model 1, and one or maybe both of the companies use model names/numbers that have some small resemblance to the Randall model number. Now what about watches- almost every major watch company has made watches that closely resemble the Rolex Submariner. They aren't identical and they don't have Rolex on the name, they may not use Rolex in their advertising but they might use some version of the word submarine. Of course there are plenty of people who make pure copies of the Rolex with the Rolex name on the front and I'm sure some of them have been caught doing it. Some people here are firearms enthusiasts- think about how many people have manufactured 1911 clones, or CZ clones, and now Glock clones. As long as the manufacturer isn't violating the law the way it is written, the issue is up to the buyer to settle in their own mind and buy it or don't buy it.

I'm careful not to buy products that trade on the original brand, but within that gray area I own a couple of watches that have some styling cues from Rolex even if they aren't direct copies. Mine are different enough that a Rolex fan would not come up and ask me how I liked my Rolex. Similarly I own a couple of Blackjack brand knives that look a lot like a Randall. I have one real Randall but I've never bothered to compare them side by side to see how similar they are.
 
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