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Troublesome Discussion

So I'm trying to find out who owns Troublesome Creek -- one of those small business guys who is trying to make a honest living. Searching for the TM pulled up nothing, which happens occasionally so I do a quick Google search and find the comments made on two other Knife Forums.

On both sites the people were more interested in bad mouthing the guy in Kentucky who is busting his ass trying to make a living because his products aren't made in America. I don't get it. Here's a guy busting his hump work seven days a week, selling hundred of knives a day from his home in Kentucky on eBay. That can't be the easiest thing to do but he's doing it! And all these people can do is bitch about how crappy knives are that come in China and then they blame this entrepreneur for the downfall of America.

People really need to get a clue! It ain't easy running a business, especially a small family business! And small business have been having things made in other countries since the country was founded! They are also the backbone of our economy! Don't blame the little guy for jumping through hoops to make a living! If you got a complaint about how businesses are run and where products often have to be made.then bitch to your congressman.

And most people who buy knives and even many collectors (especially young collectors just starting out) can't afford to drop $50-$100 for a knife so there option is to buy lower priced knives and that means knives made in China! (or in previous years knives made in Japan or Germany or Italy or Ireland!)

As for the Troublesome Creek Knives. The jerks on the other sites said they were just Rough Riders with a different tang stamp! Of course they also had to make a bunch a snide asinine remarks about how all steel from China is junk steel that ain't worth buying. Adn the person selling them was a jerk who tries to pass off his stuff as American (which is bullsh*t. His stuff is clearly marked China on the Ebay listings!)

I get it if you don't want to buy a knife unless it made in America. Good for you.

But to crap all over an American who is busting his hump running a business to put food on his table is also downright Un-American. The man is living the dream and is also contributing to society REGARDLESS of where his product is made. The man made over 17,000 transactions last month and has a 99.5% positive rating. That takes a lot of hustle and a lot of determination. And then when you consider he has also taken the time to start having his own lines of knives made how can you say this guy isn't living the American Dream?

If you don't like his product then don't buy it. No one is twisting your arm But if you haven't bought and used his product then don't complain about how crappy it is simply because it isn't American.

And if you haven't tried to start up and run your own business, then don't bust his chops for trying to make a living. Quite frankly, if you all you can do is insult a person for working hard and not mooching off of others then maybe you're the one who is being un-American.

My rant is over.

Troublesome Creek is a TM owned by Garry Yokum (you can find his knives by typing ZIX on ebay.)

I had no intention of buying one but after reading all the negative rants against his company, I think I'll buy one after all and support a hard working American. The name of the brand comes from Creek in Kentucky.

Tags: Creek, Troublesome

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Permalink Reply by Lars Ray on March 15, 2015 at 14:32

And remember...knives are people too...or something like that. :-)

I encourage everyone to investigate kyknives and others like him. He runs an honest and clean shop. The vale-add he brings to the table is free shipping. I never have a problem paying a little more for anything when free shipping is offered! When on a fixed collecting budget, free shipping can sometimes mean the difference between a purchase or a pass, even on the inexpensive knives.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on March 15, 2015 at 14:44

Lars, I would say free shipping is often a make or break proposition when it comes to inexpensive knives! I'm not going to spend $5 for shipping on a $10 knife. This is one reason why i will not buy buy from SMKW unless they have a shipping deal going on. I love doing business with them but not when shipping starts at $7.99!

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on March 15, 2015 at 16:09

Tobias, you are right about SMKW and their shipping. I don't buy from them unless I am ordering at least two or three items to reduce the per item cost of shipping. Then I get the total cost as close to $50 as I can without going over and jumping to the next level of shipping. I too like SMKW but haven't bought much from them since they stopped Knives Live. I have bought more since then from Shepherd Hills Cutlery. Their prices for Case knives are cheaper than SMKW's and their shipping is only $6. For Rough Riders I like Cecil Clark Knives. They have more RR's than SMKW , their prices are less, and their shipping is less. Which is surprising because RR is a SMKW house brand. I remember once on Knives Live hearing Tony say "If you buy a RR from someone else, they bought it from us."

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on March 15, 2015 at 17:35

Well Tony wasn't lying! They just bought them at a bulk wholesale price!

I just dropped by Cecil Clark. Wow! Those are good prices! I'll have to give them another look real soon!

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on March 15, 2015 at 19:06

Oh, I never thought Tony was lying. And I realize that they would pay SMKW a bulk wholesale price. But I am sure that SMKW charged them enough to make a profit on making the knives. It just surprises me that they can then sell them retail for less than SMKW and charge less shipping. And have a wider selection.

Cecil Clark is good. I have also bought RR's at HR Knives.

Tobias Gibson said:

Well Tony wasn't lying! They just bought them at a bulk wholesale price!

I just dropped by Cecil Clark. Wow! Those are good prices! I'll have to give them another look real soon!