I was recently contacted by a supplier of Pakistan knives and steel.  Now, Now...give this discussion a chance.

This supplier has been on iKC for a number of years.  When he first contacted me it was with the hope that I would listen and have an open minded discussion with him.  Because he is a member and has been very respectful not to overstep here at iKC with selling openly.  I chose to listen.  This was how the discussion started

The issue is that I want to directly market my knives in USA market, these have already been sold in large quantity but indirectly by my country men, both in retail and wholesale. But I am sick and tired by their behavior of exploiting the smooth running business contact by dishonesty in many ways.

Well, that intrigued me & I decided to be brutally honest.  My reply was that you face 2 challenges.  Poor steel reputation from the region and the working environment (as we know it).  A few more emails passed regarding the environment of the workers.  We came to understand that he himself is not a maker, but has many local makers producing for him.  He interviews makers before he begins to accept their work and checks out their product.   My next question?  Do you employ kids?  The answer, yes.  It is a fact of the economic life in that region that children work within the family.  Much the same as it was for us many, many moons ago.  What did I find different enough to continue listening after that statement?  He discusses with the family before hiring a young worker that he wants them them to get an education also.

So my next discussion with him focused solely on quality, not of the build but of the steel.  I asked him to read a current discussion on here http://www.iknifecollector.com/forum/topics/does-anybody-want-this-....  I have been pretty brutally honest with my answers to him.  I advised him to give a few of his knives to people that use them hard and have them reviewed.  I also advised that he needed to be prepared for the response about the knives be that whatever it may be!

Lat me start by making this clear.  I do not intend to sell Pakistan knives, nor will I allow soliciting on the site.  As an international community I am curious.

So here is my question.  If you knew a company stood behind their product, that you were dealing with the company owner.  Would YOU be willing to buy a knife made in Pakistan?