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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?
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
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on -
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 )
Daryl Sawatzky said:I guess if you live in an area with lots of "patriots", it might matter. If you live in an area where Honda's and Toyota's are as rare as Ferrari's, then it might be better for your health to buy only American knives. But unless someone gets up close and personal with your Buck, how would they even know where it's made?
"Buy American" is a government created campaign to save a few jobs, but it's a band-aid approach to a much larger problem. And it actually hurts the very suppliers of America's raw materials.
Even brands that claim to be American, like Delta, Fender*, Apple, and even some Bucks are made in asia or Mexico, and (maybe) assembled/packaged here. By demanding cheaper products, Americans have collectively decided that it is OK to make China rich. It's time to start looking at the world as one big economy, not just America at the top with a bunch of second class economies below it. That's just not reality. Share the wealth and soon everybody will benefit.
As for being "un-american"... look around your American made car (or is it Canadian-made?), and your entertainment center (mostly Japanese I'll bet), and your computer (Chinese or Asian motherboards, Chinese or Mexican hard drives) and the entire contents of your house (Hmmm... deodorant- made in France) , and then do the same in your patriot neighbors house... I'll bet you'll discover that you've both been un-american so many times, and for so many years, that a new made-in-xxx knife won't seem like such a big deal.... Oh, sorry, this point has been made a few times already....
I have a growing knife collection, but I have to really save up to buy a locally made knife. It might be time you custom knife makers mechanize, or set up a chinese shop ; )
*ok, a few Fender guitars might be 80% American...
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Permalink Reply by Scott King on -
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 Gary Kennedy on
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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 -
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 -
I'm buying any knife I want, american or not...a good knife is a good knife!
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