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Martinelli Knives
"Should You Buy Knives Made in China, Taiwan, Pakistan,etc."
Buying Knives Made in China, Taiwan, Pakistan, etc.
You have to choose? Will the knife meet your needs and will the company back its product!
I heard Bob Loveless coined the word "bench made." A knife that is made from off the bench. One whom creates and forms the metal, puts it through the heating process, and then finishes and shapes the knife with different materials to create a one of a kind knife. Bench made equals handmade from beginning to finish. Although this does not assure how well a knife is made or determine its value! There are many knife makers, but fewer master smiths and certain variables when it comes to mass produced knives.
For a master knife smith to mass produce a bench made knife would be impossible.So when the basic form and materials of a bench made knife are created how does one, mass produce it for us to enjoy, at a price we can afford?
I learned from knife man Earl Dillon, Featured in, "The Gun Digest Book of knifes, 4th Edition." God Rest His Soul.
One of my favorite knives is a Special Ops Buck 471: Made in Taiwan? Another is my Browning Lock Blade Folder: Model 070 with Cocobola Wood From South America. That knife is amazingly sharp all the time and I beat it up! Those two knife makers have lifetime warranties. Also, Elk Ridge, Hibben, SOG, Dakota, Kershaw, KaBar, Buck and many other well known companies are now making knives throughout Asia and other countries to make cost effective knives for us whom complain about prices? Most individuals who complain about no work wouldn't sit in a chair and work all day in an assembly line for minimum wage, when our governments hands out free money for not working! That's another topic. Many companies have products produced outside the US so they can afford to make them, so we can afford to buy them? Sad but true!
Regardless of where a knife is made we must consider any country as a viable option: Unless you have religious or political views that would prevent you from buying a knife no matter where it is from. Do not consider the USA as, "The One Standard"!!! These are my opinions!
I buy knives from China. My collection is small to some. I own and keep about two hundred knives in my collection. Some I have bought, some I have made and many I have restored and customized. That is what I do. I buy knives from any country based on:
"Will the company who makes the knife back it's product and meet my needs and will the knife be an investment for me in the future?"
Questions we must ask our self before we buy any knife
- Does or will the knife meet our needs and fulfill our expectations
- Does the knife sharpen easily and hold an edge? The metal is sometimes deported and then produced in a certain country to be mass produced. If you don't have good metal , all you have is a good door stop.
- Will the maker back its product against normal wear and tear for a least five years to life. I prefer lifetime warranty if not clue in quick!!!!!
We must not forget China-Asia invented incredible Carbon Metals and Gun Powder long before we read about them in history books. Yes third world countries make most of our products we use at a lower cost for the company and consumer. I am American through and through and have served my country, but give me a product based on: Reliability, regardless of where it is from. This includes guns and knives. Smith and Wesson agreed they lost their market to reliable semi automatic hand guns made in other countries, verses US made revolvers for our police and government. This now includes knives.
We must use common sense, if it is really cheap in cost, then it might be cheap all around. So look at the warranty and company! Will the manufacturer back its product?
Sorry to say made in the USA doesn't mean much to me anymore! When it come to reliability, stocks, cars, and protecting my life I need what gives me the best return for my money and protection in this economic chaos. When the chips are down.......call me what you want.....but when I can argue back...."I Made It Alive" I hope it was because I used common sense and had a "Good Point and Blade..i.e product?"
Aside from all opinions, a knife should be bought as a tool with a certain purpose for the one whom uses it, and it must fulfill its duties. Knives can be gifts, investments, collectible items to brag about or enjoy, and finally some buy knives just collect dust and rust!
We have to choose? Will the knife meet our needs and will the company back its product! It's that simple!
Let me know if this helps or you have any questions. I think my next article will be on knife care and sharpening. Let me know if there is something you want in an article. I am not a writer but I will give it a shot!!
God Bless,
Kris Martinelli
Martinelli Knives,