who makes Ozark Trail

[bikerdoc]

Helped a friend move sat. 5 guys 4 top end knives and one Ozark Trail from Walmark The guy with the Ozark Tail stated WalMart contracts out manufacture to Kersaw, another guy say it was Wenger, and on and on
Does ANYONE really know who makes them?

 

[conw]

If you just mean the knives I have no idea, but the brand makes a lot of different stuff--like waterbottles, compasses, etc. I don't know who makes the individual stuff, but it's pretty thoroughly Walmart if you ask me.

 

[Caimlas]

Ozark Trail stuff is all made in China, rest assured. Just like all the various "Winchester" and "Remington" knives.

I've seen the smaller backpacking Ozark Trail tents for sale under another brand name before, too - not sure which, think it was maybe Cabelas or Coleman.

 

[Tirod]

Kershaw contracts to China on specific models. To Kershaw's benefit, the models, like the Vapor II in my box, has good fit and finish, and better reliability than a competing American brand, like Buck. But it's known they get stuff from China, too - the 110's at Walmart are reputedly made there.

The Benchmade VEX and a new Spyderco knife are also Chinese, and there's not much said about poor quality on the knife forums. They can do a good job when it's required.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Uh, No.

. . . the [Buck] 110's at Walmart are reputedly made there . . .

No, they're not.

The original classic models are still all made here in Post Falls, Idaho.

The 110, 112, 301, 102, 105, 119, 120, and so on and so on are all made here. Without exception.

Yes, they're cheap at WalMart. That's why I swing by WalMart every month or so and just buy another one and stash it. Yeah, the sheath is nylon and imported, but the knife itself is made right here in river city.

Yeah, there are several newer models, and variations on some older patterns -- but with new number designations -- that are made in China or Taiwan. I've got a few, and their quality is well regulated.

Please quash this "Buck 110 made in China" rumor.

If the price bothers you, just offer to pay another $20 for it at the register. That way you can feel like you're buying it from a higher-end sports chain store.

 

[Tirod]

I stand corrected. I shouldn't believe everything on the 'net. Obviously someone's "reputedly" was not so good.

I was very leery of the Buck/Strider's when they came out (owning the second replacement) but was assured by a factory rep they are also US made. The high end knives are no problem, either, like the Buck Mayo TNT.

Conversely, I'd be surprised if any Ozark Trail knife was made in the US.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Buck Mayo TNT

Now, that there's a fine knife.

Something on my more-money-than-sense list.

First one I saw was being used by Chuck Buck; he had it sitting by his elbow on the table while he signed blades for us customer types.

I have a Mayo-designed Cutback, but that's an offshore item. The TNT is local.

Maybe when my book sells.

 

[Stainz]

Get a Buck catalog - they put an American flag next to the US-made goodies - and there are lots of them. That 110 at Wally World had a $72 MSRP earlier this year - that makes dealer net $36 plus shipping. If a retailer sells one for $40 or even $45, he won't keep his lights on long. Wally World must buy tons of them - and still use it as a loss-leader sale item.

They also carry the 119 Special ($34), 503 Prince ($25 - same as the 110), and 655 Nighthawk ($40), all US-made - except for the sheaths. The 380-series folders, with man-made/woodgrain scales, that they carry were made in the PRC.

They also carry the Kershaw Chive/Scallion/Leek/Blur. They did carry the Spyderco S30V Native ($40), but recently dropped it. All the aforementioned are US-made. Imagine that - US made in Wally World! Of course, the 'Ozark Trail' goodies are generally PRC-made.

Stainz

 

[bikerdoc]

So basicly I have to call a B.S. to all the claims those two guys made.

thanks every one

doc

 

[wheelgunslinger]

BS for sure.

A companion on a trip brought a compass into the backcountry so he could enjoy the superior feeling of being able to navigate without batteries and satellites. Unfortunately, he had an Ozark Trail compass that was very poor in construction. Someone told him it was a Suunto in a different wrapper. Not so.

This myth persists with a lot of the OT stuff. I hear it all the time.

 

[Chrome]

I have one of the Ozark Trail knives. I bought it for $3. For $3 I have a hard time turning down any knife. Anyway, like others have said, it's ofcheap quality, and as I learned a VERY soft steel.

Unfortunately, I ended up with a dead deer and no other knife. I had left my usual skinning knife at the camp. (it was really hot that day and my radio, knife, etc were in my over pants and I forgot to get that stuff out before leaving) I tried to gut the dear with the Ozark. I got to the deer halfway opened before I walked all the way up to my uncle's tree stand (1/2 mile of hard terrain) to borrow his knife.

Later,
Chrome...

 

[Limeyfellow]

Get a Buck catalog - they put an American flag next to the US-made goodies - and there are lots of them. That 110 at Wally World had a $72 MSRP earlier this year - that makes dealer net $36 plus shipping. If a retailer sells one for $40 or even $45, he won't keep his lights on long. Wally World must buy tons of them - and still use it as a loss-leader sale item.

The Buck 110 Walmart deal I got from my wife cost $25 earlier this month for my birthday. It hard to turn down that sort of price.

The Ozark Trial stuff is cheap stuff and not that well constructed but it gets by. I have one of their folding saws that are so cheap they are basically disposable. I have one of their compasses as a spare laying around here somewhere. It works fair enough, even if there is a design flaw of a big ring around the dial making lining up the degrees a little more hassle than it should be. I guess you pay for what you get, though when I look at the stuff it doesn't have a country makers mark on it. Probably China or Mexico though. They seem to do more from the later lately, but it is all subsidised cheapest bidder stuff.

 

[hso]

There's a huge difference between a reputable knife company's knives that are made in the PRC and some no-name brand made in the PRC.

Good companies keep an eye on the QC of the knives the Chinese factories produce for them. They have representatives visit the factory and perform QC on the QC.

no-names like Ozark Trail are "house" brands made at the lowest possible price by PRC factories (remember that a Buck lookalike with an Ozark Trail name didn't have to come from a factory that had anything to do with Buck since the Chinese don't follow patent or copyright laws very rigorously) for places like WalMart. Their quality has no guarantee of being one whit better than cheap PRC knockoffs we've seen at flea market.

Out of 10 useless Ozark Trails you may get 3 that have a proper heat treat on the mystery-meat blades. Just pray you don't get one of the other 7.