Gayle Bradley M4

[stanlyonjr]

Does anyone else have a problem that the Gayle Bradley M4 blade is made is Taiwan? $214.95 suggested retail for a knife made in Taiwan. Come on Spyderco!!

Stan

[kbuzbee]

This knife is a terrific value. CF scales. CPM-M4 blade. Rock solid construction. And a street price of just over $100. Seriously??

Ken

[stanlyonjr]

What are Taiwanese doing jobs American won't do? I'd pay 200.00 if it was made here. Seriously!!

Stan

[A.P.F.]

Does anyone else have a problem that the Gayle Bradley M4 blade is made is Taiwan? $214.95 suggested retail for a knife made in Taiwan. Come on Spyderco!!

Stan

Two things:

Taiwan is not considered a 'cheap' place to manufacture product. Viet Nam has some of the cheapest labor.

My Gayle Bradley is among the finest finished and manufactured knives that I have seen - by anyone.

Isn't it about time that people stop being 'location myopic' and concentrate on the quality of the knife itself? Just a thought.

Edited to add - One of my most favorite things around are peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

[Sequimite]

Does anyone else have a problem that the Gayle Bradley M4 blade is made is Taiwan? $214.95 suggested retail for a knife made in Taiwan. Come on Spyderco!!

Stan

Best value on the market for an M4 folder, plus CF scales, and this Taiwanese maker has no peer when it comes to fit and finish. It's selling for less than the M4 Mule is. Sounds like you haven't seen the knife and know little about Taiwan.

[stanlyonjr]

I know its not made in the USA. Thats all I need to know. Make sure you tell that to the workers in Golden when there jobs are pushed off shore because people like yourselves like to justify your globe world view with your wallet at the cost of job here in the USA.

Stan

[carrot]

Spyderco makes a lot of knives in the USA. Spyderco is also a very small company. They are currently at capacity at the Golden factory and have just introduced two new USA-made models (TiMil and FRN UKPK) this year at SHOT. They outsource what they cannot make in-house, and it is made exactly to their spec with other trusted manufacturers.

If they were to only make knives in the USA they'd have to axe 3/4 of their line, especially since many of their knives use (superior) Japanese steels and must be finished and assembled in Japan.

The Gayle Bradley M4 is a real knife, with excellent fit and finish, a perfect lockup and smooth action. There's nothing wrong with the knife and it couldn't have been done better anywhere else, IMHO. It's a knife you can be proud to own and a knife that will serve well. It's also quite a beefy tough knife with classy "gentleman's knife" lines. The Taiwan maker did an excellent job, and the CPM M4 is still an American steel, made by an American company.

Edit: personally, one of my favorite sandwiches is peanut butter and marshmallow fluff.

[CanisMajor]

Lets not forget it is Sal's, the president of Spyderco, choice on where to make a knife. The knives coming from Taiwan are insanely good on fit and finish, there is nothing wrong with a knife being made in the USA. "They took our jobs..."

I also like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches :D .

Canis

[rlw1979777]

Wow, its made in Taiwan? I cant believe noone has talked about this! It must be some kind of conspiracy! I cant believe this hasnt been mentioned on this forum yet!!!!! :eek:

My favorite is Peanut Butter and Honey!!

[JNewell]

Does anyone else have a problem that the Gayle Bradley M4 blade is made is Taiwan? $214.95 suggested retail for a knife made in Taiwan. Come on Spyderco!!

Stan

Stan, with respect, you're crazy. :D At the street price, which I've seen as low as around $105 shipped, this thing is not only a great knife, and it is not just a great value, it is significantly underpriced.

Quality of materials, qualilty of fit and finish, quality of design - this thing lacks nothing material. I wish it had the wire clip, but other than that - it's close to perfect. :spyder:

[JNewell]

Wow, its made in Taiwan? I cant believe noone has talked aobut this! It must be some kind of conspiracy! I cant believe this hasnt been mentioned on this forum yet!!!!! :eek:

My favorite is Peanut Butter and Honey!!

Everyone's a comedian! :D :spyder:

[JNewell]

I know its not made in the USA. Thats all I need to know. Make sure you tell that to the workers in Golden when there jobs are pushed off shore because people like yourselves like to justify your globe world view with your wallet at the cost of job here in the USA.

Stan

This is pretty tired. The last four Fords I've had all had significant problems that continued on beyond the warranty. I make you the same promise I made myself: I will never, ever buy, or even think about buying, another American car - not ever, not for any reason.

Talk to me first about quality and value before you talk to me about little stickers.

[The Deacon]

For the first ten years of its existence as a knife company, all Spyderco's knives were made outside the USA. The Golden factory did not even exist until the '90's. You don't what to buy knives made overseas, fine. Profit from those "foreign made" knives were what allowed Spyderco to produce SOME models in America. There are now more Golden made models than ever, but Spyderco is still doing what it has always done, producing knives wherever quality knives can be made. If you don't want to buy knives made in Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Taiwan, Italy, or China, fine, DON'T BUY THEM. Your money, your choice. You want to complain about Spyderco having knives made overseas, YOU"RE ALMOST THIRTY YEARS LATE TO THE PARTY, the Worker, made in Seki, Japan was Spyderco's first knife. Want to complain about them having knives made in Taiwan specifically, YOU'RE NINE YEARS LATE TO THE PARTY, the Salsa made its debut in 2001. You want to complain about jobs being moved from Golden overseas, IT NEVER HAPPENED.

[stanlyonjr]

I don't remember questioning the fit or finish of the Bradley. And yes I understand the fact that the Japanese won't allow export of there super steels which I don't agree with but thats there choice. Like I said I would pay double if it was made in the USA. CPM-M4 is made in the USA as well as other great steel from Crucible. I choose to vote with my wallet thats all. I just purchased the new Ti Military which is an excellent, well made knife made by my fellow Americans. By the way I was waiting for the "Sal can make them where he wants to" statement. Thank you. I have always been confused about the motives of people who would follow something so blindly. Knife collectors in particular. Question anything about the favorite knife maker and the gloves come off. I remember when my IT job was moved overseas because they could pay someone in India 1/4 of what they paid me. I understand business and peoples motives when it come to manufacturing costs. I'll stick with the knives made here in America.

Stan

[mikerestivo]

I know its not made in the USA. Thats all I need to know. Make sure you tell that to the workers in Golden when there jobs are pushed off shore because people like yourselves like to justify your globe world view with your wallet at the cost of job here in the USA.

Stan

I can't dismiss what Stan is saying, as country of origin is still very important to many American consumers. However, as much as I like casting my dollar vote for folks here in the US, I think decision to have some knives made in Taiwan is a sound one.

Spyderco makes enough of their knives in the US to have a presence here. I think their overseas production is about balance.

If I recall, Sal once posted that it cost about 33 cents per dollar spent in the US to produce a knife in Taiwan. The only Spyderco that I have that was made there is the Sage I. The quality, fit and finish of the knife are as good as or better than any other Spyderco that I own. It's a beautiful knife that I was able to obtain for $69.99. In fact, I'm not so sure that some parts for the knife are not made in the US and shipped overseas for manufacture.

Coming from a family of former union folks, I support the American worker as much as is reasonably possible. As an American worker myself, I am also as cost-conscious as ever these days and look for bargains.

Spyderco has made a decision to manufacture a minority of their product line in Taiwan. In this way, they can offer an outstanding price on a great product, a decision that has been supported by many of their customer base. It would be vastly different if the product quality were substandard - quite the contrary - it's top-notch.

If I recall, I also believe Sypderco has 38 to 40 employees. I don't see any massive downsizing in the offing due to offshore manufacturing.

I don't see that the way Spyderco has approached its manufacturing process has cost anyone a job. And I don't see Spyderco dumping its US production anytime soon, as they appear to recognize the importance of it to many of its customers.

[yablanowitz]

I don't remember questioning the fit or finish of the Bradley. And yes I understand the fact that the Japanese won't allow export of there super steels which I don't agree with but thats there choice. Like I said I would pay double if it was made in the USA. CPM-M4 is made in the USA as well as other great steel from Crucible. I choose to vote with my wallet thats all. I just purchased the new Ti Military which is an excellent, well made knife made by my fellow Americans. By the way I was waiting for the "Sal can make them where he wants to" statement. Thank you. I have always been confused about the motives of people who would follow something so blindly. Knife collectors in particular. Question anything about the favorite knife maker and the gloves come off. I remember when my IT job was moved overseas because they could pay someone in India 1/4 of what they paid me. I understand business and peoples motives when it come to manufacturing costs. I'll stick with the knives made here in America.

Stan

Fine. Vote with your wallet. Just remember when you do that if it weren't for those off-shore made Spyderco knives, there wouldn't be any Spyderco jobs in Golden, CO. Profit from overseas made knives is what allows Sal to continue expanding production in Golden. So boycotting Spyderco knives made in other countries will prevent Sal from providing more Americans with jobs.

Think about it.

[RIOT]

Fine. Vote with your wallet. Just remember when you do that if it weren't for those off-shore made Spyderco knives, there wouldn't be any Spyderco jobs in Golden, CO. Profit from overseas made knives is what allows Sal to continue expanding production in Golden. So boycotting Spyderco knives made in other countries will prevent Sal from providing more Americans with jobs.

Think about it.

you have a good point there, if it werent for the Seki Japan Steel there might not a Spyderco at all

[Sequimite]

Does anyone else have a problem that the Gayle Bradley M4 blade is made is Taiwan? $214.95 suggested retail for a knife made in Taiwan. Come on Spyderco!!

Stan

I know its not made in the USA. Thats all I need to know. Make sure you tell that to the workers in Golden when there jobs are pushed off shore because people like yourselves like to justify your globe world view with your wallet at the cost of job here in the USA.

Stan

Stan,

You're welcome to your opinion but it's ignorant to accuse myself and others of putting American Spyderco workers out of a job. I grant you extra points for being counterintuitive, however.

Seriously, study some history and economics. Protectionist policies have been tried and have failed over and over in American history.

[spoonrobot]

I don't have a problem with the Taiwan made knives. Wouldn't hesitate to buy one if they made them with more lefty-friendly locks. :)

[stanlyonjr]

Fine. Vote with your wallet. Just remember when you do that if it weren't for those off-shore made Spyderco knives, there wouldn't be any Spyderco jobs in Golden, CO. Profit from overseas made knives is what allows Sal to continue expanding production in Golden. So boycotting Spyderco knives made in other countries will prevent Sal from providing more Americans with jobs.

Think about it.

I don't accept your premise. There would be jobs in Golden as long as Sal wanted a business. Period. Would there be expansion in Golden? Neither you or I would know because neither of us run the business. By manufacturing overseas Sal opens his market to folks who can't afford his more expensive offerings. So you think me by not buying knives from other countries is going to bring Spyderco down?? The only thing that my choice of buying American made knives is filling the niche that those unable to pony up the money for the pricer knives. So like I said I don't accept your premise.

Stan