Is Cold Steel's SK-5 still made in Japan?

[tess_lawrie_fan]

I'm asking because of this post.

Any recent news about the subject?

 

[jlauffer]

I'm asking because of this post.

Any recent news about the subject?

Still? Don't think they ever were. They may have used Japanese SK-5 steel, but pretty sure they were made in China or Taiwan.

 

[KenHash]

I'm asking because of this post.

Any recent news about the subject?

The SRK was never made in Japan with SK5. Those were made in Tawan.
The Aus8, San Mai VG1 core, and VG1 monosteel versions were all made by Kinryu in Seki Japan.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

Thanks, but I'm asking in which country the steel is manufactured.

I've seen many sources presenting the "SK-5 high carbon steel" as the "Japanese equivalent of American 1080". Hence, I believed that my SRK and my Recon Tanto were made in Taiwan with Japanese SK-5 steel... That's too good to be true?

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

I'm asking because of this post.

Any recent news about the subject?

I obviously have no idea on what Cold Steel practices are on sourcing their steel. That said, considering their practices in general, I would say that they would have no qualms about sourcing an equivalent steel for the SK5 from China, especially if that steel is classified as such.
CS has had some of their products made in China, so we know they don't shy away from doing business with them. I think when they wanted to have some of their nicely made Japanese sourced knives cost less money, they likely realized that the savings was best done by sourcing their manufacturing from Taiwan over Japan. While Taiwan manufacturing was not quite at the level as the Seki Japan products, they seemed to do pretty good at getting pretty close to that quality... So it must have been a 'Why Not!' moment for them. It saved them money to buy the product, and it was still at an acceptable standard of quality.
So, I would place that same way of thinking to my guess about the steel... If it could be sourced from China, and is a market equivalent to the SK-5, then it likely became another 'Why Not' opportunity for them.
I know it may seem deceiving, but if the idea was to save money on producing the knives to keep their profits up, their selling prices reasonable and competitive, and at the same time keeping the product somewhat comparable quality to the full out sourced Japanese made items, then "equivalent" becomes their best option over the actual sourcing from Japan.
Again, just my guess, but it seems like the likely path they would have taken.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

So it was too good to be true...

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

So it was too good to be true...

Sadly, very likely.
The actual SK5 steel from Japan would obviously cost more than the Chinese equivalent. Then comes the shipping of that steel to Taiwan... So, coming from mainland China would again be cheaper to do.
Yup, all signs would point to it being the way that Cold Steel would go... A Chinese equivalent steel, or, if there is a Taiwan source for such a steel, then it would be a Taiwan equivalent.
To think that CS would bother shipping that steel to Taiwan from Japan, just doesn't pass the smell test.
The world we live in... More and more comes from that big nation of China, and even if one wants to spread the love a little by buying items from other origins, there may still be some raw materials or components that came from China in those items too.

Kind'a crazy to think how prevalent that is now.

 

[KenHash]

Thanks, but I'm asking in which country the steel is manufactured.

I've seen many sources presenting the "SK-5 high carbon steel" as the "Japanese equivalent of American 1080". Hence, I believed that my SRK and my Recon Tanto were made in Taiwan with Japanese SK-5 steel... That's too good to be true?

Pocketknifejimmy is most likely correct that it isn't SK5 manufactured in Japan. SK5 was never "protected" the way VG10 was for years. SK5 is produced in Taiwan, China and India. There may be more sources I haven't heard about.
This is different for extremely high end Japanese steels (ZDP-189, Cowry-X, HAP40) which are still not made anywhere outside of Japan.
If I had to guess I would think the SK5 SRK uses Taiwan made SK5.
Frankly, Cold Steel's marketing kind of plays games with the "Japanese xxx steel". It could mean it was originally created in Japan, or, it could mean it was manufactured in Japan. In 2006 when CS shifted from Seki Japan to Taiwan manufacture, their site/ads all boldly stated the knife used "Japanese Aus8A Steel" on their now Taiwan produced products.

CS did at one time produce the Trail Master and Laredo in China using "SK5". I think it was their first toe dip in the China manufacturing water with a large model. Apparently there were quality issues and that didn't last very long. CS switched to Taiwan manufacture with SK5.

 

[Hombre]

I guess, I shall be just happy with the Cold Steel blades I have manufactured in Japan and the U.S.A.
I will not buy anything of the new and instead I will be looking for the old blades if I can find any.
Taiwan can maybe make good blades but I hate the sheaths. I want leather in an expensive knife...
To buy knives from China, no, thank you!

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

Thanks for the answers.

I'd be glad if the SK-5 steel were made in Japan (as announced), but I'd be equally glad if it were made in Taiwan. Or even made in India, which seems to be less probable.

Let's say I'm eager to "spread the love a little", as Jimmy said.

 

[nephron]

I hated on Taiwan until I got the chance to see some upclose, their quality is so close to the Japanese ones I can't tell the difference. I have numerous of both and owned many more. Not just knives too. I don't care about Chinese Quality in knives because I will not buy/support them. I am forced too anyway in many cases but not when I have a choice. Every manufacturer can and will have some quality problems, its the nature of the beast(price vs quality), its how they deal with it regarding the customer that I feel is most important.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

I hated on Taiwan until I got the chance to see some upclose, their quality is so close to the Japanese ones I can't tell the difference. I have numerous of both and owned many more. Not just knives too. I don't care about Chinese Quality in knives because I will not buy/support them. I am forced too anyway in many cases but not when I have a choice. Every manufacturer can and will have some quality problems, its the nature of the beast(price vs quality), its how they deal with it regarding the customer that I feel is most important.

I have a few Chinese knives which I bought before I noticed where China was heading. Even Bibles are printed in China these days...

Frankly, Cold Steel's marketing kind of plays games with the "Japanese xxx steel". It could mean it was originally created in Japan, or, it could mean it was manufactured in Japan. In 2006 when CS shifted from Seki Japan to Taiwan manufacture, their site/ads all boldly stated the knife used "Japanese Aus8A Steel" on their now Taiwan produced products.

So the "Japanese" Aus8A steel is actually made outside Japan?

 

[KenHash]

I have a few Chinese knives which I bought before I noticed where China was heading. Even Bibles are printed in China these days...



So the "Japanese" Aus8A steel is actually made outside Japan?

No way to tell with certainty now. Back when CS was prodicing knives in Seki City in Gifu Prefecture Japan, the Aus8 was being made in Aichi Prefecture next door, It's a good bet they didn't spend too much on transportation costs. It is "possible" that Taiwan made knives use Aus8 imported ftom Japan, but really no way to be sure.
Like SK5, Aus series stainless are now made in Japan, Taiwan and China. Just as US steels like 440c and D2 are made outside of the US.

The entire world is presently moving away from China manufacture for multiple reasons (including China threatening to invade Taiwan). So alot of things may change over the next decade in one direction or the other. We'll just have to see.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

No way to tell with certainty now. Back when CS was prodicing knives in Seki City in Gifu Prefecture Japan, the Aus8 was being made in Aichi Prefecture next door, It's a good bet they didn't spend too much on transportation costs. It is "possible" that Taiwan made knives use Aus8 imported ftom Japan, but really no way to be sure.
Like SK5, Aus series stainless are now made in Japan, Taiwan and China. Just as US steels like 440c and D2 are made outside of the US.

The entire world is presently moving away from China manufacture for multiple reasons (including China threatening to invade Taiwan). So alot of things may change over the next decade in one direction or the other. We'll just have to see.

Thank you.

Sk-5 and Aus8A are great affordable steels, but I'm not happy to know they may also be made in China.

And I will treasure my San Mai and 3V blades, made in Taiwan with Japanese and American steels, for they are the real deal.

 

[KenHash]

Thank you.

Sk-5 and Aus8A are great affordable steels, but I'm not happy to know they may also be made in China.

And I will treasure my San Mai and 3V blades, made in Taiwan with Japanese and American steels, for they are the real deal.

You may get by without too much concern if you are buying a knife made in China but branded and sold by an established and reputable company.
If Cold Steel (even under new GSM ownership) represent a knife as Aus8, it is likely Aus8. It may be sourced from Taiwan or China, but that's what probably it will be.

The concern about actual steels used really pertain to smaller, newer, unknown Chinese brands. There, knives may be represented as say Aus8 or VG10 but in fact
turn out to be Chinese made 8Cr13Mov or 10CR15c/10Cr15CoMov. This is the old practice of labeling an "equivalent" steel.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

You may get by without too much concern if you are buying a knife made in China but branded and sold by an established and reputable company.
If Cold Steel (even under new GSM ownership) represent a knife as Aus8, it is likely Aus8. It may be sourced from Taiwan or China, but that's what probably it will be.

It's good to know I can skip this kind of concern, thanks.

The concern about actual steels used really pertain to smaller, newer, unknown Chinese brands. There, knives may be represented as say Aus8 or VG10 but in fact
turn out to be Chinese made 8Cr13Mov or 10CR15c/10Cr15CoMov. This is the old practice of labeling an "equivalent" steel.

This seems to me a dishonest practice (even if the steels are "equivalent") and I'll avoid such brands at all costs.