China

[JFR1]

I haven't bought a Chinese-made knife yet. Spyderco or otherwise. I have considered both a titanium handled knife with S90V blade and an FRN handled knife with an S90V blade from a Chinese manufacturer, based on the relatively low price for the product. So far I've held off because I fear I may not be happy with the overall quality, but I don't know.
Personally, I don't see myself buying a Chinese-made Spyderco as the steels and designs are not what I want. I expect I'm not the target demographic though. Give me something lower cost with comparable steel (S90V, Magnacut, S110V, etc.) and maybe I'd be interested knowing that Spyderco is overseeing the production.

[zhyla]

Personally, I don't see myself buying a Chinese-made Spyderco as the steels and designs are not what I want.

I think they’ve really expanded the variety of designs in the China line. But I get what you’re saying about steel. It’s either 8CrMoV13 or a better steel but a much higher price tag. Doesn’t bother me but I know a lot of people focus on steel.

[Skar]

I really like the look of the Goonie, love that blade shape and g10.
There are two reasons I have not purchased it.
1. the steel choice, the same as any China made 8$ knife at a hardware store.
2. Made in China is polarizing, I try best I can to avoid these products.

[vivi]

1. the steel choice, the same as any China made 8$ knife at a hardware store.

on paper, maybe, but probably not the heat treat quality.

[Mushroom]

I echo a lot of what has already been said but in essence I do not agree with China's politics and do not trust their business practices. I don't need to expand much further on that.

As it stands, I only buy Spyderco knives. My exposure to other brands is nearly none, aside from seeing things online. As much as I try to avoid buying Chinese made knives, I will still swallow my pride and purchase Chinese made Spyderco's. I don't have many but I'm not opposed to buying them.

The new Mantra 4, Button-Up, and Shelter Cove are compelling enough designs that I will gladly pick them up even though they're made in China. That said, I would've loved to see the Mantra 4 and Shelter Cove come out of Taichung and the Button-Up looks like a perfect candidate for Golden.

(In Spyderco's defense the Mantra 4 is considered a brand new model, separate from it's predecessors, and it has never been made anywhere but China, so it's technically not moving country of origin.)

Given the preference, I would prefer to see less Spyderco models made in China overall. I definitely get more excited for Spyderco knives when they're made anywhere else. I don't think Spyderco should ditch China all together but I wouldn't be upset to see trends start to lean more towards the other manufacturing locations.

To me the non-Chinese made Spyderco's feel more distinctive because there are so many different brands these days that have absolutely flooded the market with this, that, and everything else you can think of made in China. From fake knockoffs to some of the most extravagant premium knives on the market and everything else in between. It's a very crowded landscape but Spyderco often stands out amongst the crowd because they have such a strong lineup of knives made in other countries like Japan, Taiwan, Italy, and USA! So when Spyderco make's a model in China, to me it feels like it loses a little bit of that distinction because it doesn't exactly align with their rich heritage as a premium American knife company.

[brancron]

I think it’s fine to keep (and even expand) the Byrd line, but I generally won’t buy knives made in China, and I’m disappointed that a knife as cool as the Mantra is being made there.

[Snacktime]

I don't think this is the place to ask if China made Spydercos are okay. Like most here I have absolutely ignore your Chinese product line. After recently buying a Gooney, I will most likely never buy another Chinese Spyderco because the value is that bad. The things I like about Spyderco knives are the premium materials and steel. Heck I am still waiting for a bodacious in a combo that speaks to me.

However I do buy Chinese knives fairly regularly from other makers because the value and designs are amazing. I tend to spend a lot less and get something well put together that I do enjoy using.

[Doc Dan]

I don't use Chinese products if I can help it because they are a danger to us all, and they can't be trusted.

Who remembers the knock off toothpaste with poison it it marketed to the West? Who remembers the cooking oil dredged from the sewers and sold and pure? Who remembers they are the largest maker of fake honey on our store shelves and fake extra virgin olive oil? Who remembers the mass murders of maybe 200,000,000 of their own people and it is still happening? Who remembers that in Malaysia they bought land and no Malaysian citizen is allowed? Who remembers the theft of several nation's islands and Chinese military bases built in those countries' waters? Who remembers that they use business relationships to build profiles of us so they can dominate us? It isn't innocent. You have to understand the mindset, how they think and why. Americans and Europeans, unless they live overseas, don't have the capacity to readily understand their purposes and how they think. No, I don't like to buy from China. I simply don't support it, and I don't think we should reward them. Like I said, there are plenty of nations where labor is inexpensive that could learn to make the things we want.

[Red Leader]

I don't think anyone here sounds like they are against value or budget options - we know that there are all different folks buying at different pricepoints. Could the 'Byrd' line perhaps be the budget vehicle and save the Spyderco name for the more premium stuff? Could there be factories in other locations that could work? Maybe somewhere that better aligns w/ the values/ethics that are important to Spyderco and many of their customers?

What are the current options or alternatives? Thailand? Malaysia? S. Korea? Non-Taichung Taiwan? Indonesia?

[zhyla]

What are the current options or alternatives? Thailand? Malaysia? S. Korea? Non-Taichung Taiwan? Indonesia?

Are there high tech knife factories there? It’s not enough to have cheap labor, you need a factory with all the fancy CNC machines and skilled operators etc.

[RyanY]

Many points have already been made and I agree with so much on both sides of the fence. I have spent much of my adult life in Asia and I even speak Chinese. It is true that China’s manufacturing capabilities are far beyond that of the USA as of today. They can produce the finest products available but those will be expensive even in China. Chinese products are associated with cheapness and low quality due to a common emphasis on volume and efficiency, but some makers there still care about quality first.

Honestly, I would prefer no China knives, and I avoid buying Chinese products whenever I can and in total disclosure the only reasons are basically political in nature combined with a desire to support domestic manufacturing in the USA that seems to get more and more rare.

However, if Spyderco continues to manufacture in China which I expect they will I have one piece of marketing advice: put the city name on the blade. Every other factory gets a city name. Golden, Seki, Taichung, Menago… China. I think if you could tell me the city, and put it on the blade in a nice font, I would actually feel better somehow on an emotional level. At that point I would feel like I supported an artisan in a city that just happens to be located in China. If it just says China on the blade I feel like I bought it from the country and that doesn’t touch me the same way.

I have little interest in buying a China Mantra, but I would be interested in a Yang Jiang Mantra (if that is the city it is made in, I don’t know)

It’s a small detail, but it matters.

While we’re at it, I personally would love to see the native language on the blade for the city. So 臺中臺灣 for Taichung Taiwan
関市日本 for Seki City Japan
阳江中国 for Yang Jiang China
Menago Italia for Menago Italy
And of course
Golden Colarado USA Earth for here.

However, I’m a polyglot language nerd and expect to be in the minority about the languages. English is fine too.

[RyanY]

What are the current options or alternatives? Thailand? Malaysia? S. Korea? Non-Taichung Taiwan? Indonesia?

Are there high tech knife factories there? It’s not enough to have cheap labor, you need a factory with all the fancy CNC machines and skilled operators etc.

Thailand has very advanced manufacturing capabilities that could certainly pivot to Knives if there was a demand. Casio now makes their top end g shocks mostly in Thailand due to advanced manufacturing available. Bangkok is well modernized at this point.

There are knife makers in Thailand. Kiwi brand is a budget favorite that I know Vivi has used.

BTW, Spyderco, I am a professional Thai interpreter and have spent a lot of time in Thailand. If you ever are looking to work with a factory there I would be thrilled to assist in any way I can.

[Larry_Mott]

Generally i have a somewhat pragmatic view on country of origin. It's people making knives, and if a good worker in China is more skilled than a worker in USA the product is likely to be better.. All things being equal, it really doesn't matter to me. I have three Katsu knives i hold in very high regard as well as Chris Reeve knives that are great as well. Only thing with the new reveal is i wish they were D2 instead of 8cr.

[horzuff]

I'm not a fan of the chinese government but if that was a big factor for me then I wouldn't buy anything from any of the world superpowers as they all have plenty on their conscience. And conversely I wouldn't have much to buy apart from absolute basic stuff...

So chinese Spydercos are definitely in consideration, just wish we could get some better steels, especially since there are plenty other alloys used by manufacturers in the region, both local and imported

[brj]

I have bought very few Spydercos over the last couple of years and it had nothing to do with the country of origin. More with me no longer clicking with the current design language I guess, since I couldn't care less about finger choils or 'less fragile' tips - plus I've distanced myself from the super steels rat race after I've figured out that (to me) geometry matters more that the actual steel being used.

If I would feel that I need yet another knife, and if I would have some disposable income, and if I'd like to try out something outside the realm of OTFs (where I've been on a binge for the last 4 years or so) I'd be very happy to try out something like the Mantra 4 with its gracious and fluid lines, regardless of the materials used and/or country of origin as long as I saw the Spyderco name and the implications it carries in terms of business philosophy towards the ELU.

[standy99]

As I get older the less knives I am buying.
Pretty much only Mules nowadays.

But will stay I have 0 (Zero) China made knives.

Hard to exclude china from everything but as a household we will look into everything we buy from clothing, knives, tools to household items with a “Buy it Nice or Buy it Twice” philosophy.

On above I have recently bought a Festool sander….boy why didn’t I do this years ago instead of the two others I battled with

.

[Jesla]

Nope…. No Chinese knives. Don’t care who the manufacturer is, not going to happen.

Do I care if others buy Chinese knives… NOPE. Do I care if my dislike of Chinese knives bothers anyone else? Nope.

No matter if Spyderco were to switch all production to china, I still wouldn’t buy them. I would just be happy with all the USA made Spyderco knives I all ready have and that’s a lot. They will last me the rest of my life.

[Doc Dan]

What are the current options or alternatives? Thailand? Malaysia? S. Korea? Non-Taichung Taiwan? Indonesia?

Are there high tech knife factories there? It’s not enough to have cheap labor, you need a factory with all the fancy CNC machines and skilled operators etc.

Thailand has very advanced manufacturing capabilities that could certainly pivot to Knives if there was a demand. Casio now makes their top end g shocks mostly in Thailand due to advanced manufacturing available. Bangkok is well modernized at this point.

There are knife makers in Thailand. Kiwi brand is a budget favorite that I know Vivi has used.

BTW, Spyderco, I am a professional Thai interpreter and have spent a lot of time in Thailand. If you ever are looking to work with a factory there I would be thrilled to assist in any way I can.

Honda motorcycles and Lazboy are made in Thailand, as well. Some well known automobiles are made there, too.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I am glad you asked, sal.
To be straight forward on this topic, your Byrd and other budget knives made in China are the only Chinese made knives I trust, because of your detailed quality control.
I would love it if the budget knives could be made elsewhere. I love the Chinese people but oppose the CCP.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I wonder if there aren't other countries that could make the knives now made in China? Thailand, Malaysia, India, and others might be choices. I prefer not to support China. I love Chinese people elsewhere and have many Chinese friends, but China itself even the Chinese won't buy from. That says a lot. Plus, China has been harming and aggressing against Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Phillappines, America, and other nations, militarily, electronically, psychologically, and more. Countless deaths can be laid at their feet. So, I prefer not to support them. Some of their people can and do make superior stuff, as long as somebody else in the world builds it first.

Doc, Thailand manufactures Kiwi kitchen knives which vivi and I have and possibly some others here.
The steel is not super but it works and perhaps with instruction from sal, Eric, and others, the Thai factories can produce knives at least equal to the Budget and Byrd lines.
I think Thailand is considered a major American ally and as you know there are huge numbers of Thai restaurants in the USA.

India as you know has a long history of making steel and they produce alot of stainless. I would love to see some quality and inexpensive Spyderco knives made in both nations.