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So what's the big deal not buying American-made knives?

What's your view? Here's the situation-

We know the big push lately to "Buy American" but it seems it really only became an issue when our firms here begin to struggle to compete. And now our firms got hit with the one/two punch of our severe rescission, it's almost like someone is Un-American if anyone buys foreign-made knives.

Shouldn't knife buyers have choices and be able to buy what they want? Yes, some of the oldest knife companies in America's future may be on the line here, but shouldn't they be forced to remain competitive instead of our gov protecting them or there being a stigma created if someone wants to buy less expensive knives?

So what say you?

Tags: commerce, debate, knife-companies, patriotism, tariffs

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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on October 20, 2010 at 21:25

VERY TRUE and mine might not be popular either I buy what I like U.S.A. no offence to any other country
Scott King said:

Being an International knife community here it's really hard for anyone of us to insist the interest of our country or knife companies is more important than other firms from other countries our members might live in.

While my position here might not be the most popular among US collectors, I still say buy what you like. Our knife companies here must make knives of such high quality that buyers want them, and if these knives are more expensive, then the quality has to justify the price- then let the chips fall where they may. Necessity is the mother of invention and any firm must find new ways to be competitive or simply make a better mouse trap.

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Sawatzky on October 21, 2010 at 17:13

Perhaps the question should be - is there a line you won't cross when buying knives?

For example, some people like buying Kleenex because they're an original, and wouldn't think of buying tissues of any other brand because they're copycats. The same could be said for Victorinox vs Wenger, Coke vs Pepsi. I was looking for a Case knife this summer but all I could find on short notice was a copycat brand. I also noticed that they had copycats of the Buck 119, and several SAK copies. Should we support a company that has no time for its OWN R&D? For some, the line would be US-made vs foreign. Some go sideways and insist on hand-made over mass-produced.

I bought the Case-copy because it was under $15, but it belongs in the same class as my fake Rambo knife I bought when I was 15.

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Sawatzky on October 21, 2010 at 17:33

Gary Kennedy said:

don't give up. it sounds as you have. I still look at labels and try to buy as I preach and will keep my flag high. as for sharing the wealth (thats not a right. no one owes me anything I didn't work for. and the same for everyone else )

Is this how you meant this paragraph to read? Kinda hard to tell.

So my question would be - Don't give up what, exactly? While I prefer American made because the perceived value is higher (in the case of Fender Guitars and Tactical knives), I don't believe for an instant that American quality is higher than the Chinese Buck sweatshop quality, nor that the Chinese aren't working as hard for their dollar/day as you are for your $80/day. On my profile page I show two Buck knives, one American, and one Chinese, and the detail is clearly superior on the Chinese knife. Some American worker got sloppy. Must have been made on a Monday or Friday. My Asian made Fender Squire Jazz Bass guitar sounds just as good as an American made Fender.

Remember the movie "Gung Ho"? Need I say more?

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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on October 21, 2010 at 18:56

Sorry for thinking you are American!!!!! OK I am proud of my (80.00 )a dollars a day as you say. If your that proud of your Chinese Knives why not stick to just Chinese and not support Buck as your page said. Maybe you could support your on Country? I am proud of my Country so should you be proud of yours!!!!!!!!! and lets just get back to what I think. This site was for. info about KNIVES so can you give any info on that !!!!! Example, what is the oldest Knife company in Canada ?????? OR do you Know .!!!!!!!!!!!! I will admit that I like and buy knives from other Countries than USA but only quality Knives and I will bet that the Chinese Buck in the long run will not hold up to the USA BUCK bad day or not. I hope that my opinion does not offend any one that is proud of his Country and their knives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Daryl Sawatzky said:

Gary Kennedy said:
don't give up. it sounds as you have. I still look at labels and try to buy as I preach and will keep my flag high. as for sharing the wealth (thats not a right. no one owes me anything I didn't work for. and the same for everyone else )

Is this how you meant this paragraph to read? Kinda hard to tell.

So my question would be - Don't give up what, exactly? While I prefer American made because the perceived value is higher (in the case of Fender Guitars and Tactical knives), I don't believe for an instant that American quality is higher than the Chinese Buck sweatshop quality, nor that the Chinese aren't working as hard for their dollar/day as you are for your $80/day. On my profile page I show two Buck knives, one American, and one Chinese, and the detail is clearly superior on the Chinese knife. Some American worker got sloppy. Must have been made on a Monday or Friday. My Asian made Fender Squire Jazz Bass guitar sounds just as good as an American made Fender.

Remember the movie "Gung Ho"? Need I say more?

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Sawatzky on October 21, 2010 at 19:18

Gary said: and lets just get back to what I think. This site was for. info about KNIVES so can you give any info on that !!!!!
and
I will bet that the Chinese Buck in the long run will not hold up to the USA BUCK bad day or not.

Ok, info me this:
What is the difference in materials and workmanship between an American made Buck, and a Chinese made Buck? I am not talking about knock-offs. I am talking about the knives that Buck makes in their Chinese factories.

I asked Chuck Buck the same question when he signed my knives. My assumption is that Buck provides the designs, specifies the steel to be used and the methods to fabricate the parts. What part of this process would make a Chinese knife inferior to am American made Buck knife? The location of the forge? The people assembling the parts? What? I'm looking for real information here, not an argument.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on October 21, 2010 at 19:38

Ok go to their site and they say their not going to make any more Chinese Knives !Take this to your BUCK group and ask or post this there. What is the oldest Canadian Knife Company? Do you know ?????????. Daryl Sawatzky said:

Gary said: and lets just get back to what I think. This site was for. info about KNIVES so can you give any info on that !!!!!
and
I will bet that the Chinese Buck in the long run will not hold up to the USA BUCK bad day or not.

Ok, info me this:
What is the difference in materials and workmanship between an American made Buck, and a Chinese made Buck? I am not talking about knock-offs. I am talking about the knives that Buck makes in their Chinese factories.

I asked Chuck Buck the same question when he signed my knives. My assumption is that Buck provides the designs, specifies the steel to be used and the methods to fabricate the parts. What part of this process would make a Chinese knife inferior to am American made Buck knife? The location of the forge? The people assembling the parts? What? I'm looking for real information here, not an argument.

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Sawatzky on October 21, 2010 at 19:49

What is the oldest Canadian knife company? I thought it was some slack-named company like... International Cutlery or something...

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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on October 21, 2010 at 20:12

TRY Grohmann not an importer
Daryl Sawatzky said:

What is the oldest Canadian knife company? I thought it was some slack-named company like... International Cutlery or something...

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Sawatzky on October 21, 2010 at 20:59

Oh, you mean oldest surviving Canadian Knife company. They're younger than you are (and only 5 years older than me). Grohmann has one knife that I would consider. I almost bought the R380S Drop-Point Lockblade Hunter with Rosewood Handle a couple of months ago. In the end I couldn't justify (to my wife) a $200 knife that looked almost identical to my Buck. Yeah they're Canadian. Yeah I could have skipped the last 4 Bucks I bought and just got the one Grohmann instead... but then I wouldn't have done my part to bolster the failing American knife industry... would I? Grohmann will survive without me. There are plenty of hunters that appreciate the subtleties of Grohmann's blade shape. Not me.

Gary Kennedy said:

TRY Grohmann not an importer
Daryl Sawatzky said:
What is the oldest Canadian knife company? I thought it was some slack-named company like... International Cutlery or something...

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Permalink Reply by falah gumilar on October 22, 2010 at 5:58

I'm buying any knife I want, american or not...a good knife is a good knife!

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Permalink Reply by Jeremi Lett on October 26, 2010 at 2:05

As one who is involved with knife sales I could not agree more about the lower price China made stuff selling better than a US made factory knife at a low price.A lotta u on here 4get not every one at iknifecollector.com is of US origin.That said,some people have no reason to "Buy American" if that makes sense...

Randy Huckeby said:

I sell knives. When I first started in this business I invested heavily (for me that is) in American made knives. Mostly Spyderco as I really like them & collect them also. I sold a few along with some Bucks & others but people kept asking if I had or could get something less expensive. Fact is I love to sell American made knives, but for the most part that isn't what sells. I now carry the Rough Riders, Meyerco, Taylor/Schrades, Maxams, etc. This is what sells for me. I have also developed a weakness for the black CLB Boker/Plus line of knives. These sell as well as the inexpensive Spyderco Tenacious & now the Persistence, these are excellent inexpensive knives but again China made. Neck knives are hot right now. I do sell some R.A.T. Izula's but most of what I sell is china made. You can buy a Meyerco Necklance with a Forever warranty for under $10 & that is real popular with the younger purchasers. Rough Riders are also popular and a bargain, so what are you going to do?

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Permalink Reply by Jakub Capek on October 28, 2010 at 10:22

I think the whole "made in the USA" hype is a bit silly. I am not an American, but Canadian and now I live in Europe. This type of patriotism concerning all American products will not in my opinion, boost the American economy.
There are hundreds of knife makers that make quality knives and are not from the USA. The fact that many US companies make their knives in China is and will be a fact of life, especially when it all comes down to making money. Once the Chinese will want higher wages, companies will move on to other parts of the world where labor will be cheaper. What I think is a major problem that concerns many US owned companies is the fact that they market their products as US made and they are not. I have worked in the outdoor industry for many years and can give you many accounts of American companies coming to Eastern Europe to find cheap labor to make their Made in the USA products.. For instance the outdoor company Omega Pacific, for which the company I worked for happened to make active camming devices and webbing for climbing. These products were made in the Czech Republic with "made in the USA" logo sewn into each product. (The logo was also made by us) I could name others, but whats the point??.. Are the knives you buy really made in the USA or just placed into a paper box in the USA???