Author Topic: China knives (Read 3755 times)

pastorp · « **on:** March 04, 2013, 10:45:32 PM »

Good morning, I went to a large flea market yesterday. And I noticed a lot of knives that were made in china. Even buck knives that are made in china can be bought. They look just like the old USA made ones.

I just wonder how the steel is & quality. They look ok.

Has anyone used one of them? How did they hold a edge?

muznut 54 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2013, 08:58:10 AM »

Any tool if it says made in china on it I avoid it if I can. Your better off buying a good used U.S. made knife.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2013, 02:27:41 PM »

it's a crap shoot on the far eastern
knives. most of the far east cold
steels i've had are ok. some of the
others are ok, then the next one beside
it is a junker. i wish i knew a way to
look and pick a good one out so
i could be a gazillionare. the only way
i know is to buy it and i can tell after
the second or third sharpening if it's
a diamond or a dud.

hillbill · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2013, 02:43:34 PM »

i dont have much luck with china knives.for pocketknives, i get older ones off ebay, vintage schrade are good.for werking knives for butchering and such i use the same knives my gparents did.old hickory, stewarts and green rivers.rapala knives are good too.

ironglow · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2013, 02:44:31 PM »

As Ranger said.. far eastern cutlery is a crap shoot..some good, some junk. Some buy German stainless steel and build it into knives made in china..
A couple brands I know are good;

Schrade..this old company from the Catskills of NY was bought out by a Chinese firm, still make a good blade:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/brands/Schrade+Cutlery/96.html

Rough Rider is another, both SMKW and Cutlery Corner handle it:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/brands/Rough+Rider%26%23153%3B/229.html

Cutlery Corner has Steel Warrior and Double Warrior.. both good brands.
http://www.cutlerycorner.net/default.aspx?listtype=brand&listvalue=Double Warrior

Those are all stainless steel; personally, I prefer for everyday use, something in a carbon steel blade..

hillbill · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2013, 02:48:53 PM »

imho ther is nuttin better for cuttin a bakstrap out of a deer than a razor sharp rapala fillet knife.

ironglow · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2013, 02:56:03 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on March 05, 2013, 02:48:53 PM

imho ther is nuttin better for cuttin a bakstrap out of a deer than a razor sharp rapala fillet knife.

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Genuine Nordic knives are almost in a class by themselves. Having delt in cutlery for many years, I learned to appreciate their steel. I still have a carbon steel knife for the "deer thing"! See photo below..sheath isn't much but the knife is great.

Here's a website and dealer who sells the real Mccoy, the whole Nordic line.. Look at the "Frosts of Sweden" knives, no kin to Frost knives in Tennessee. These Frosts are very high quality.. Many of the salmon canneries of AK use their filet knives. Ragnar has them at decent prices: http://www.ragweedforge.com/

hillbill · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2013, 03:12:27 PM »

Quote from: ironglow on March 05, 2013, 02:44:31 PM

As Ranger said.. far eastern cutlery is a crap shoot..some good, some junk. Some buy German stainless steel and build it into knives made in china..
A couple brands I know are good;

Schrade..this old company from the Catskills of NY was bought out by a Chinese firm, still make a good blade:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/brands/Schrade+Cutlery/96.html

Rough Rider is another, both SMKW and Cutlery Corner handle it:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/brands/Rough+Rider%26%23153%3B/229.html

Cutlery Corner has Steel Warrior and Double Warrior.. both good brands.
http://www.cutlerycorner.net/default.aspx?listtype=brand&listvalue=Double Warrior

not to dis yu but i purchased a couple nice looking lock back knives from schrade china.i gave one to my son and kept one.we had them clipped to our belts while mowing a acre lot i have.all the screws fell out and they are useless.my vintage stockman is jus fine in my pocket thru years of running dozers and backhoes.i mean like 20 years!i dont buy china crap if i can help it anymore.

Those are all stainless steel; personally, I prefer for everyday use, something in a carbon steel blade..

hillbill · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2013, 03:23:28 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on March 05, 2013, 03:12:27 PM

Quote from: ironglow on March 05, 2013, 02:44:31 PM
As Ranger said.. far eastern cutlery is a crap shoot..some good, some junk. Some buy German stainless steel and build it into knives made in china..
A couple brands I know are good;

Schrade..this old company from the Catskills of NY was bought out by a Chinese firm, still make a good blade:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/brands/Schrade+Cutlery/96.html

Rough Rider is another, both SMKW and Cutlery Corner handle it:
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/brands/Rough+Rider%26%23153%3B/229.html

Cutlery Corner has Steel Warrior and Double Warrior.. both good brands.
http://www.cutlerycorner.net/default.aspx?listtype=brand&listvalue=Double Warrior

not to dis yu but i purchased a couple nice looking lock back knives from schrade china.i gave one to my son and kept one.we had them clipped to our belts while mowing a acre lot i have.all the screws fell out and they are useless.my vintage stockman is jus fine in my pocket thru years of running dozers and backhoes.i mean like 20 years!i dont buy china crap if i can help it anymore.

Those are all stainless steel; personally, I prefer for everyday use, something in a carbon steel blade..

yup, carbon steel is so easy to sharpen.but then yu have to realize that most poeple have no idea how to sharpen a knife.i do and yu do. its kinda funny.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2013, 04:04:57 PM »

I avoid china on principal.
I like shopping at AG Russel as they put a country of origin in the description. I just do not buy the ones that say China. Twain on the other hand, the good China, I do buy on occasion.

muznut 54 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2013, 08:12:28 AM »

I forgot to mention I bought one Chinese made Schrade skinning knife the one with the rubber handle and I had to sharpen it three or four times just to skin a deer so I gave it away.

ironglow · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2013, 05:00:26 PM »

Sorry your experience with Schrade was negative..that one I took on a friend's word as being good..sorry.
The other two I have used and they were quite good. Of course, the SS blades don't field sharpen as well as carbon knives.

There are still some good, US made, carbon steel knives being made and sold...and at a decent price:
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/UT23079BB/Utica-KutMaster-Catskill-Trapper-4-316-inch-Jigged-Bone-Handles

Ranger99 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2013, 06:04:19 PM »

of course, there is always the factor of
a factory knife of any make being ground wrong.
i've run into that long before there were any
taiwan knives sold here. i've had some years
ago that wouldn't stay sharp, and nearly defied
reasonable resharpening efforts. it took me a
while to figure out they were ground wrong,
that is to say the geometry was wrong. i have
some cold steel knives that are far east that
are way sharper than some older usa made i have.
again boils down to if the worker at the factory
was having a "monday" or a "friday" also.

if any of us live long enough, if we want a new
factory made knife it will be a foreign made knife.
the used ones that are useable or n.o.s. get snapped
up and put in collections. i'm not gonna pay collector
price for an everyday user knife, so after my usa
mades get used up or broken i wont have any choice
other than to pay sky high and be hesitant to use
my purchase, or use an import.
again, if i live that long.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2013, 02:44:40 AM »

Some models of Buck knives are made in China but not all. Other models are made in America. Google it

Hard not to buy stuff from China these days but there are some things I won`t buy.
Makes one shop more but the end result is..............far better quality.

ironglow · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2013, 05:52:25 AM »

If we don't want all cutlery manufacturing moving overseas... we should, when possible..support such few grand , old names as are still making knives here in the USA. While some of these companies do have a cheaper, foreign line, they still make quality, American blades..here are a few for starters:

http://www.ontarioknife.com/

http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com/

http://www.queencutlery.com/

http://www.kutmaster.com/productline/uticacutlery/catskill.php

http://www.kabar.com/

http://www.wrcase.com/index_en.php

Victor3 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2013, 10:32:16 PM »

I've had pretty good luck with Chinese knives made in the past few years. Spyderco's Byrd line is alright.

My Ontario RAT-1 is a great ~$30 knife. You'd think it would cost a lot more, looking at its high quality...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/874508-Ontario-RAT-Model-I-Folding-Knife

Swampman · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2013, 10:45:14 PM »

Buck said they were going to move all of their production back to the US. I try to stick with American made products when I can.

JonnyReb · « **Reply #17 on:** March 09, 2013, 01:46:18 PM »

The swedish Mora knives are also a great alternative to chinese knives. I love my Moras and they are about 11-13 bucks apiece. Can't beat them imho. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=13&ved=0CHYQFjAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smkw.com%2Fwebapp%2FeCommerce%2Fbrands%2FFrosts%2BMora%2Bof%2BSweden%2F47.html&ei=0dY7Ud6tPJLy8ATk9oHIAQ&usg=AFQjCNE1keC5lRJpdX3P0yjvs_SwLmO3kg

Much as I hate to admit it, I like my 5-10 buck Smith and Wesson folders I pick up here and there. They actually hold up pretty good, and resharpen easily. J

flintlock · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2013, 02:15:01 PM »

I order my knives from either Bear & Sons in Alabama or Anza Knives in California...

Bear makes one like the Sharp Finger that is excellent...I carry a Bear Stockman every day...

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2013, 02:15:35 PM »

You will of course be at the mercy of the steel supplied to the Chinamen building the knife. Buck used good steel and saved money on the labor at the cost of their soul, imho. These same people are building Apple computers and any number of other high quality items. As well they are responsible for some of the screaming crap and knockoffs that a person can find at the flea markets.

A reputable company is unlikely to market crap, source be damned. Is Kel Tec the equal of Smith & Wesson? Both upstanding U.S. companies...

hillbill · « **Reply #20 on:** April 02, 2013, 02:08:25 PM »

in my personal opinion which is worth what you gave for it,almost all china knives are crap. in fact almost all knives made in the last two decades are crap.most but not all.i base this on the fact that i have maybe 75 knives, pocket knives, hunting knives, and kitchen and butchering knives.of the dozen or so i use constantly, all are at least 20 yrs old and most are older than i am at 47.

when i want a good pocket knife i just buy a large vintage schrade stockman off ebay.pre china.

ironglow · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2013, 03:30:17 PM »

Quote from: JonnyReb on March 09, 2013, 01:46:18 PM

The swedish Mora knives are also a great alternative to chinese knives. I love my Moras and they are about 11-13 bucks apiece. Can't beat them imho. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=13&ved=0CHYQFjAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smkw.com%2Fwebapp%2FeCommerce%2Fbrands%2FFrosts%2BMora%2Bof%2BSweden%2F47.html&ei=0dY7Ud6tPJLy8ATk9oHIAQ&usg=AFQjCNE1keC5lRJpdX3P0yjvs_SwLmO3kg

Much as I hate to admit it, I like my 5-10 buck Smith and Wesson folders I pick up here and there. They actually hold up pretty good, and resharpen easily. J

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Right Johnny;
I have dealt in some of those mora knives. I still have one like this for personal use. The knife is great.. with great steel!
The sheath is not very useful however, it is too solid and the belt attachment is not reliable, lost mine with it's sheath.. in my woods for a year.. a paint ball player brought it back to me. The carbon blade had some rust, but no problem cleaning it up. I still use the knife, but not the sheath.

.54 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2013, 04:05:33 PM »

The last time I used a Schrade the lock back failed on me right in the middle of gutting a deer just before dark. No more Schrades for me.
I have some Ontario knives that are well made and I really like them. I also have some CRKT knives that appear to be well made but they are made in Taiwan I think.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2013, 05:04:59 PM »

I was at a gun show a couple years ago and saw the cheap Cold Steel knives and picked up two for about $20 each later have seen them for less. So I came home on Friday to a party at the house of the mexican helper behind my house, I grabbed a beer to go see what they were doing and they had the older goat hung up and were skinning it with a 99 cent steak knife. I asked if they wanted a sharp knife and handed over one of the Pendelton hunters with the nylon sheath and the plastic molded handle. So long story shorter, the knife butchered the year old goat and ziped through the cartlidge, the bones and the meat easily and was still sharp when I cleaned it. I am impressed with these cheap lite knives and will add them to the hunting box. The guy using he knife was not shy with it. A quick hit on the steel after washing and the blade was back to being true and sharp as all get out.
Next ime I see some on the shelf or in the bargin bin at Cold Steel (they are onluy a few miles from me now) I will be picking them up to hand out as stocking stuffers.
Oh and they are made in the good china -Twain.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2013, 05:11:59 PM »

with good german steel.

jrfrmn · « **Reply #25 on:** April 02, 2013, 07:04:15 PM »

Quote from: Ranger99 on March 05, 2013, 02:27:41 PM

it's a crap shoot on the far eastern
knives. most of the far east cold
steels i've had are ok. some of the
others are ok, then the next one beside
it is a junker. i wish i knew a way to
look and pick a good one out so
i could be a gazillionare. the only way
i know is to buy it and i can tell after
the second or third sharpening if it's
a diamond or a dud.

How?

Ranger99 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 02, 2013, 07:08:47 PM »

if it'll sharpen back up to a
good edge, usually it'll be
decent. some cheap knives
aren't hardened or ground
correctly (some not so cheap
ones too) and they will never
resharpen after the factory edge is gone.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #27 on:** April 03, 2013, 02:00:51 AM »

my experience with tools made in china is they work better than ones from Japan, Twain, India , Pakistan, or most other places as such. They are heavy compared to quality tools , they rust easy (even their stainless steel) and in most cases are softer than US made tools. I have had several knives from China all gifts all not something I would buy for myself or as a gift . That said there is a market , kids first knives for hunting or fishing , if lost no big loss. Leave in a tractor tool box, Also to my surprise when hunting in Canada I saw a lot of , well less expensive sporting goods both in stores and in use. I was surprised because there more than where I hunt your equipment could mean your life . Even in the one sporting goods/gun shop in Winnipeg most stuff was of lesser quality. In Selkirk it was worst. I learned fast if you want good stuff bring it.

BBF · « **Reply #28 on:** April 03, 2013, 06:54:54 AM »

I've got the Grohman Knife factory within 10 miles where I live.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 03, 2013, 07:59:54 AM »

have several of those