Low End Spyderco Knives

[James Y]

This thread is making me want to buy a Chinese-made Spyderco, just to see what's wrong with them.

Slavery?

Do we really know for a fact that Spyderco's China-made line is made with slave labor? Or is that a Westerners' stereotype that anything made outside of the USA, Europe, or any other Western country is made by slave labor?

I have no personal interest at all in knives made in China, but I know that that's my own hangup. And it's not because I think they're being made by slaves in some sweatshop.

I'm well aware that quality knives, some very high quality, are produced in China, and that's fine; I'm simply not interested. The only China-made folder I do own is an old Byrd hawkbill from years ago, which I tried out of curiosity,, and which is OK. But that'll be it for me.

Jim

[Evil D]

It helps me to think specifically about the actual factory in Taichung that makes these knives, who legend has it (someone correct me if I'm misremembering this) they asked for the Taichung part to be added to the Taiwan stamp because they're the only factory in Taichung and it separates them from the other makers. It may well be true that Taiwan still make a lot of garbage knives, but let's be honest not everything USA made is great either lol.

Doesn’t Spyderco usually have the city/town, as well as the country where the knives are made in, etched on the blade tang? For example: Golden, Colorado, USA, Earth; Seki-City, Japan; Maniago, Italy; Taichung, Taiwan. Except for the Moki-made models, which IIRC are only stamped ‘Japan,’ which separates them from the ones made by G. Sakai.

I don’t know if the China-made models, like the Tenacious, include the city where they’re made in stamped on the blade tang, but it might help a bit if it were. It might look a bit better than simply ‘made in China,’ or ‘China.’

Jim

I'm pretty sure if you go back far enough the early Taichung models only say Taiwan. I could be just remembering why they say Taichung but I could swear that Sage only said Taiwan.

[Paraguy]

This topic has probably been discussed before, but I am new to the Spyderco Forum and wish to vent ....

I am disappointed every time I look and see a Spyderco knife made in China or Taiwan.

I guess I understand that not everyone can afford a Spyderco made in USA or Japan ... and that is why Spyderco chooses to cater to the low end budget buyer ...

But, if they think it is a prudent business decision to do so ... I wish that Spyderco would produce these low end knives under a different name ... becuase to me, these Chinese low end knives "taint" the reputation of quality that Spyderco is known for ... simply ... the chinese low end knives bring down the image of the rest of the line ...

That is just my two (2) cents ....

Please keep the manufacturing origin of all Spyderco knives in the USA and Japan ... and leave the Chinese knives to someone else ...

I think it has the opposite effect. People know Spyderco for the PM2, the Delica, the Endura. All high-end performance knives. I think when people chose a budget spydi they do so because they want a high-end one but don't want to pay the extra cash. It doesn't taint the name of Spyderco because they are already renowned for their high-end models.

[Paraguy]

Chinese people are not incapable of making good stuff. Although they generally chose not to because cheap stuff is easier to sell. Nearly all the electronics you use are made in China. Your sneakers are also made in China or else Taiwan. All this aside I will say that I would recommend people buy USA-made Spydis if they can afford them- they have better quality (steel) and most importantly it supports our crumbling economy.

[JRinFL]

This thread is making me want to buy a Chinese-made Spyderco, just to see what's wrong with them.

Slavery?

Do we really know for a fact that Spyderco's China-made line is made with slave labor? Or is that a Westerners' stereotype that anything made outside of the USA, Europe, or any other Western country is made by slave labor?

I have no personal interest at all in knives made in China, but I know that that's my own hangup. And it's not because I think they're being made by slaves in some sweatshop.

I'm well aware that quality knives, some very high quality, are produced in China, and that's fine; I'm simply not interested. The only China-made folder I do own is an old Byrd hawkbill from years ago, which I tried out of curiosity,, and which is OK. But that'll be it for me.

Jim

Compared to Western employment law and standards, some approach slavery or at least indentured servitude.

[James Y]

This thread is making me want to buy a Chinese-made Spyderco, just to see what's wrong with them.

Slavery?

Do we really know for a fact that Spyderco's China-made line is made with slave labor? Or is that a Westerners' stereotype that anything made outside of the USA, Europe, or any other Western country is made by slave labor?

I have no personal interest at all in knives made in China, but I know that that's my own hangup. And it's not because I think they're being made by slaves in some sweatshop.

I'm well aware that quality knives, some very high quality, are produced in China, and that's fine; I'm simply not interested. The only China-made folder I do own is an old Byrd hawkbill from years ago, which I tried out of curiosity,, and which is OK. But that'll be it for me.

Jim

Compared to Western employment law and standards, some approach slavery or at least indentured servitude.

OK, but it’s not America or Western Europe. The same can be said in many cases about workers in some of the Latin American countries, etc., etc. I’m not defending it, but not every country is going to adopt the same standards and policies as the West. I wouldn’t even want to live and work in Japan, with the actual work hours and pressures the typical Japanese salaryman has to live up to, which are far and above what are expected in the West, and not uncommonly lead to depression, health issues, and suicide.

I’ve gone way OT here…

Back OT: Spyderco is appealing to a very significant part of the market by offering their China-made line. It helps Spyderco to remain competitive in all levels of the knife market. How can that be bad for Spyderco?

Jim

[ladybug93]

people forget that only a few generations ago it wasn't uncommon for kids to be used for labor on farms in america and that schooling was secondary to supporting the family through labor. we've come a long way, but not every country is ready (or even able or willing) to adopt our way of living/thinking. be careful about how you judge other countries and their practices based on your own values.

[kobold]

I think the Tienanmen sq massacre was the way the "government" solved the revolt of the "slaves" who rejected the reforms that ultimately made China the workhorse of the world.

The question is, do we judge the revolting "slaves", do we judge the opressing "government", or do we choose to think nothing of it?

[JRinFL]

I think the Tienanmen sq massacre was the way the government solved the revolt of the "slaves" who rejected the reforms that ultimately made China the workhorse of the world.

The question is, do we judge the revolting "slaves", do we judge the opressing government, or do we choose to think nothing of it?

Most just want to ignore it.

[James Y]

I’m not ignoring it. And I haven't forgotten it. I was living in Taiwan when a lot of foreigners (Americans, Canadians, and Europeans) fled China and came to Taiwan (and probably ended up in other countries, too) right after Tiananmen happened. You couldn’t miss Tiananmen, it was all over the news in Taiwan. I remember it very well.

I already said I’m not interested in China-made knives. But that doesn’t mean that it’s bad for Spyderco to have a China-made line that hits the right price point for LOTS of people. It means that Spyderco has virtually every level of the knife market covered, and more exposure and more earnings for Spyderco. It’s not as if Spyderco is going all-out in China. If Spyderco didn’t have their China lineup, some other company would be taking that spot and gaining those customers. And less exposure to people who may choose to upgrade to other Spyderco knives later.

Jim

[sal]

Hi Jim,

Interesting thought. Thanx. We considered it originally, but some of the town names were so strange in English, we didn't, I'll re-look at the concept.

sal

[Matus]

Would it be an option to write the name as it is written in China? I just don’t want to say ‘Chinese’ as it probably sounds ignorant, but I hope I managed to make the point :)