I'm not into Chinese made knives but...

Given the quality of the steel they use and overall quality of the knives many of the Chinese made knives simply can't be ignored. I try to by USA made knives. But when you can get a Chinese made knife for $40 and get the same blade and handle material from Spyderco or Benchmade for $200 it is getting hard to spend the $200.

There are plenty of knives from China that cover all budgets and levels of quality, same as from any country. Personally I only buy USA made, companies like lionsteel have me thinking Italian tho!

I’ve been eyeing that knife as well. I like the cleaver blade. I also like the sheep’s foot blades and wharncliffes, too.

jmr40 said:

Given the quality of the steel they use and overall quality of the knives many of the Chinese made knives simply can't be ignored. I try to by USA made knives. But when you can get a Chinese made knife for $40 and get the same blade and handle material from Spyderco or Benchmade for $200 it is getting hard to spend the $200.

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$200 Gets you S90V with carbon fiber from Benchmade, and steels like S110V and Maxamet with G10 handles from Spyderco. Where are you seeing Chines knives with those steels for $40?

I like Kizer knives, probably one of the better knives coming out of China.

They're priced pretty good and use quality steel in their knives.

I like the Roach for one of my EDC rotation knives. I would hate to get cut by the blade on it.

$200 Gets you S90V with carbon fiber from Benchmade, and steels like S110V and Maxamet with G10 handles from Spyderco. Where are you seeing Chines knives with those steels for $40?

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My comments were more hyperbole than literal, but...

Chinese knife with D2 steel and G10 handles, $34

Amazon.com: CJRB Feldspar Folding Pocket Knife with Clip, Liner Lock, 3.53 Inch Drop Point Blade, Black G10 Handle: Sports & Outdoors

Benchmade knife with S30V steel and G10 handle, $195

Amazon.com : Benchmade - Freek 560BK-1, Drop-Point Blade, Plain Edge, Coated Finish, Black/Grey G10 Handle, Made in the USA : Sports & Outdoors

Spyderco knife with S30V steel and G10 handle, $199.

Amazon.com : Spyderco Para Military 2 Signature 8.24" Folding Knife with 3.42" CPM S30V Steel Blade and Black G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C81GPBK2 : Hunting Folding Knives : Sports & Outdoors

Not a perfect apples to apples comparison, but D2 and S30V are both pretty decent steel. I own versions of all 3 knives. I saw the CJRB in SMKW a few months ago and for $35 tried it. Yes, I like the USA made knives much better. But I have to admit that the $35 Chinese made knife is pretty good selling for 1/5 the price. And that might be within many budgets whereas $200 is just a bridge too far for many people.

jmr40 said:

Not a perfect apples to apples comparison

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I'm sorry, but that's not even an apples to oranges comparison*. Here's a closer comparison. That CJRB Feldspar with the 3.5" blade is $40 from Blade HQ (not fake knife riddled Amazon). Then Tit's $50 to get the 3.5" Feldspar with a black coated blade, or $80 to get the BHQ exclusive with a black coated CPM-S35VN blade. You could the USA made Buck 112 Slim Pro (3" blade) at $80 or 110 Slim Pro (3.75" blade) at $90, both with G10 handles and uncoated S30V blades. Not perfect since we're comparing different lock types, and coated vs. uncoated blades and hardware, but a much closer comparison with truly equivalent materials. The price gap shrinks when we get playing field closer to level.

jmr40 said:

And that might be within many budgets

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I agree. So, let's look at an alternative Chinese made knife at slightly higher price. The base CJRB Feldspar 3" D2 blade is $35 from BHQ. The CRKT Pilar III, also made in China with a 3" D2 blade, is $52. Both have black G10 handles, though one is a frame lock while the other is a liner lock. Still, they're pretty similar in size and materials. CJRB is a fully Chinese owned company. CRKT is a US owned and operated company, and they pay designers (like the Pilar III's designer Jesper Voxnaes) for their work. I think the extra $17 is well worth it to support innovative custom knife makers, and keep at least some of the profits here in the US; beyond the dealer markup, of course.



*The Benchmade and Spyderco knives that are linked as examples aren't even close to that CJRB. First, the BM and Spyderco examples you chose have black coated blades made from much more expensive steels and much stronger locks vs. a CJRB with with a liner lock and an uncoated blade made from a much cheaper steel. Next, the 560BK-1 actually has a CPM-M4 blade, not a CPM-S30V blade. Then, the Spyderco you listed is $168.70 MAP with a black S45VNV blade, or $154.70 MAP with and uncoated S30V blade. You do know that the current production black PM2s actually have S45VN blades, right? And that S45VN is a bit more expensive than S30V or S35VN, since S45VN isn't yet made in the quantities of its younger siblings. You could get a Paramilitary 2 with a CPM-S110V blade from a reputable dealer for the MAP price of $196.00. Or you could get a Benchmade Bugout with S90V blade and carbon fiber handles for right at $200, since you're using that as your theoretical price point.

I have no problem admitting I am a sucker for slick gear. Have around $1,300 in my carry pistol and north of 2G in my "trunk gun" (not including the TWO tax stamps it required - suppressed SBR).

I am not much different when it comes to knives - SOG Kiku 4" Fixed, Spyderco Yojumbo, Hogue Ritter, a pile of Benchmades, etc

That said, I saw what WE Knives and Civivi were doing and had to check 'em out. Just got a Civivi Praxis in the mail. Honestly, it is an incredible knife for the $42 it cost. Centered blade, smooth action, solid lock up, chamfered edges on the G10, good ergos, cuts nice. I have found that I simply do not like flippers BUT that is a "me" issue not a Civivi issue.

Do I feel a little grimy buying Chinese knives? Yea, but not as grimy as I would feel EVER buying another Benchmade.

zignal_zero said:

Do I feel a little grimy buying Chinese knives? Yea, but not as grimy as I would feel EVER buying another Benchmade.

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Just not a Benchmade fan, or did I miss something?

zignal_zero said:

Do I feel a little grimy buying Chinese knives? Yea, but not as grimy as I would feel EVER buying another Benchmade.

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They're every bit as grimy as the American importing them who just so happens to be setting the bar for quality control...

Spyderco has some excellent "budget" (Byrd) and "intermediate" knives (if U.S. - made knives are considered top of the heap) from China and Taiwan.

I think he's referring to the whole Benchmade debacle. But that's not up for debate here as it will derail the thread and get people banned.

The Glockodile said:

They're every bit as grimy as the American importing them who just so happens to be setting the bar for quality control...

Spyderco has some excellent "budget" (Byrd) and "intermediate" knives (if U.S. - made knives are considered top of the heap) from China and Taiwan.

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My only experience with Spyderco, so far, has been qith their Golden Colorado models. I've hear their Taiwanese factory is where their more "refined" models come from but the Golden does the best with the compression lock.

Anyway, yea - the Civivi Praxis is a lot of knife for the money. I also wouldn't mind trying something from "The Custom Knife Factory" (also Chinese) which seems to build for some Russian designers. But they are getting a little more than I like to spend on a carry knife because I get funny about really using it. I have problem putting a $200 knife to work but...... once we're up into the 6+ I know I'd start to baby it which takes the fun out of owning it for me.

Mk-211 said:

I think he's referring to the whole Benchmade debacle. But that's not up for debate here as it will derail the thread and get people banned.

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Plus it's mostly non fact based internet rumor garbage.

I avoid buying from china if at all possible, I echo a previous commenters statement they are an enemy of the US, this doesnt mean I will only buy US made knives (I edc a Cold Steel Espada large made in Taiwan with American S35VN steel) but it does mean I will make every effort to not give them money If i can help it and yes I'm aware of them upping quality considerably I still dont care.