Just heard Case will be making some of its knives in china......

mxlj

mxlj

Joined
Sep 15, 2005
Messages
121
I was just watching the hillbilly knife show with Cris Kirk. He said it has been confirmed this week that Case will be having some of the knifes produces in china.

google search came up with this.----

"W. R. Case unveiling new knives made in China
November 11, 2011
Associated Press


BRADFORD, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania company famed for its American made folding knives and cutlery is releasing a new line of Chinese-made knives early next year.

The Bradford Era (http://bit.ly/sAZ2PQ ) reports Friday that W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. decided to outsource its new Tec X line of 28 knives because it could not find a domestic manufacturer to meet its specifications. W.R. Case, which has made knives locally for 106 years, say it is not changing its other lines made in Bradford. That's about 130 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

W.R. Case has outsourced some of its knives in the past, but both of those U.S. manufacturers have gone out of business.

Case spokesman Fred Feightner says he's hoping the new knives will raise awareness of the Case brand and bring new customers. "

Seems like when most companies start making some in china they continue to have more and more made there.
 
Meh, as long as they don't change the classic American-made line I'm fine with it. If that's what they have to do to get their brand name out there and keep their company in business, I have nothing against that. I won't buy them, but plenty of Walmart shoppers will.
 
As long as they don't bear the Case brand it doesn't really bother me but still I don't really care to see the move. However we aren't exactly in the best of economic times and maybe what people need are affordable and competitively priced knives even at the expense of quality.
 
They've stated that the Case name will not be appearing on the TecX series. That's good news at least, but the move is still disappointing. Learning that Case has anything to do with outsourcing to ANYWHERE. :(
 
Pretty strange line of reasoning by Case to go and do something like that.
It ain't going to sit well with the folks that 1). Enjoy Case knives, and 2). Don't purchase knives from companies that produce off shore.
 
mxlj said:
Seems like when most companies start making some in china they continue to have more and more made there.
Click to expand...

Benchmade cut back on their Chinese production. Buck brought models back to the US once they opened their new factory.
 
According to what I have seen, the China Case knives will not be traditional designs. The traditional designs will continue to be made in the US.

I dunno, I'd guess that Case is aiming for the non-knifeknut consumer who is in a big box store and sees a brand with whose name he is familiar. If they do their homework and only associate the name with decently made knives it could work for them. It has for others.
 
If they can stay afloat by producing a product line offshore, that's better than going out of business.
 
Revenue for Case, revenue for Chinese factory, more knives on the market to choose from. I'm not seeing a problem.
 
Good for Case, which is looking for ways to compete in a global marketplace, rather than go the way of Schrade and Camillus.
I had much rather grapple with the thought of a Case knife from China and not have to deal with a world without Case Knives period.
I remember reading about production and staffing cuts at Case not that long ago. Just like everyone else, they've fallen on hard times too.
I have no problem with China-made Cases as long as I can clearly distinguish them from the US-made Cases.
With that said, I'm going shopping for a new Peanut.

Unlike shecky, I won't actually buy a Case knife from China, but I'll still continue to support Case on the US front.
 
Seems to me that I heard someplace that Case wasn't doing all that well. I wonder if this isn't some kind of a desperation move
pending serious difficulties like Schrade/Camillus; does anyone know what kind of financial shape Case is in? Is this a last
ditch effort to cash in on a new market segment to keep the doors open? Lord, I hope not.
 
A lot of Case production is handle variants of basic models. In other words, collectibles, in a market where people are holding onto their money for necessities. This too, we hope, shall pass. Meanwhile, it doesn't hurt any business to open up opportunities, perhaps to reach out to a different customer base.
 
Case has been really struggling for a while. I hope this helps them more than hurts them.
 
Seems to me the real problem here is that there's no manufacturers in America that would meet their specifications. I don't know if I would hold that in the same negative light as out-sourcing to cut costs. Then again, I guess it's possible one of those specifications was cost.
 
icon_mother_of_god.jpg

yup hell has officialy froze over now that case is making china knives
 
Esav Benyamin said:
(Previous post removed for political content.)
Click to expand...

All right... now I'm just playing here... I always admire your steady hand on the tiller.

But I have to ask; did you infract yourself or just give yourself a warning?

I'm sorry... I had to ask! :D :D

I agree with all think CASE should do what it needs to if it means staying in business. No reason not to. They have a responsibility to their investors, to their workers, all the technicians, marketers, to the people that rely on sales of their products, and on and on. I can't imagine NO Case knives.

I never like to see anyone be too hypocritical about the origins of their knives. I happily buy knives from Italy, Japan, Taiwan (Kershaw and Ontario) without a second thought. But last time I checked I didn't see them on our USA map.

Nor any of the fine knives from France, Finland, Sweden, and even some from Argentina.

I think that any manufacturer of any product has an enormous task just staying in business these days in this highly competitive global market. I don't envy any of them for having to make the tough choices they all must face when just trying to stay afloat. Especially when talking about manufacturing completely non-essential luxury items like fine pocket knives.

I know they make a few great working knives, but it seems they are more into the collectibles these days. That has to be a tough market.

And can you imagine what this economy has done to their bottom line? Yikes!

I think that if this move helps their bottom line enough to keep their particular style of knives in manufacture then it is probably a good thing. I can't imagine it was a decision made lightly as they certainly know that their purchasers feel a certain amount of ownership of the CASE brand.

Good business decisions aren't always popular, but can certainly be prudent. I will be interesting to see how this turns out. Good, I hope.

Robert
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top