Just read the article in the new June 2003 Knives Illustrated on Emerson clones, or clones in general.
How do you feel about clones? I think there is two sides to this...Sure they are taking/stealing designs of top manufacturers, but the quality, workmanship, materials are just not there. I remember when I first heard about Spydies years ago, at the time all I could afford was a cheap and I mean cheap imitation Delica knock-off.
Fully serrated, the thing was lucky to cut butter. So I saved up to get a Spyderco. When I got it I realized the money I had wasted on the clone. The real thing was impressive, great quality etc.
For me as a knife connesieur(butchered that) I appreciate a quality knife, cheap ones or clones do not interest me in the least.
For those people who don't have the cash for these quality knives I think the clones have a market with them. I don't think they should be banned/taken to court. People who know knives know the difference, I would be interested to see if sales for high end knives have gone down do to clones. Trust me just cause it looks like a Spyderco(Benchmade, Kersham, MT, Boker, Emerson etc) doesn't mean I will buy it. If someone can get a bit of satisfaction owning a clone and they are happy with it let them.
What do you folks think?
"everything else is just a jeep"
Clones
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WorkForALiving
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CKE---I must politely disagree with you.
Every time that a cheap Delica imitation is sold it takes money away from Spyderco. This is money that Spyderco deserves because they had the inspiration, did the research, and took the risk.
YOU may know the difference between the real Spydie and the cheap knockoff, but most people won't.
When a cheap Delica knock-off falls apart during use it is the reputation of Spyderco that suffers. People will figure that it is a bad design and not buy another.
Every time that a cheap Delica imitation is sold it takes money away from Spyderco. This is money that Spyderco deserves because they had the inspiration, did the research, and took the risk.
YOU may know the difference between the real Spydie and the cheap knockoff, but most people won't.
When a cheap Delica knock-off falls apart during use it is the reputation of Spyderco that suffers. People will figure that it is a bad design and not buy another.
Clones ?? Ughgaga,NO!
I think, tragical thing is, when you buy some china-vietnam-hong-kong-or-similar clone.
My opinion is: Original or NOTHING.
Im not fan to Hong-Kong Rolex or Spydercos from ChinaSteel or to Luis Vuitton handbags from Thailand <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
Simona V. :: joyful girl from the Prague, Czech Republic, www.myspyderco.tk
I think, tragical thing is, when you buy some china-vietnam-hong-kong-or-similar clone.
My opinion is: Original or NOTHING.
Im not fan to Hong-Kong Rolex or Spydercos from ChinaSteel or to Luis Vuitton handbags from Thailand <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
Simona V. :: joyful girl from the Prague, Czech Republic, www.myspyderco.tk
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dialex
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The clones have no value. Period.
<a href="http://users.pcnet.ro/dialex"><font color=blue>(my page)</font></a>
<a href="http://users.pcnet.ro/dialex"><font color=blue>(my page)</font></a>
No no no don't get me wrong they are CRAP in every sense of the word.
But if you can't afford Spyderco than why not buy a cheap imitation? To say you would just not buy a knife is silly. You will spend what your budget allows, or you will save for the more expensive knife.
Some peoples budgets will not allow a 100 dollar knife. 20 bucks is alot. I don't see how it takes money away from the high end companies, maybe Sal or someone could explain. I collect Spyderco and a few other brands, if I see a clone it just does not impress me. But to the cash stricken father who wants to pick something up for himself...why not a look alike?
"everything else is just a jeep"
But if you can't afford Spyderco than why not buy a cheap imitation? To say you would just not buy a knife is silly. You will spend what your budget allows, or you will save for the more expensive knife.
Some peoples budgets will not allow a 100 dollar knife. 20 bucks is alot. I don't see how it takes money away from the high end companies, maybe Sal or someone could explain. I collect Spyderco and a few other brands, if I see a clone it just does not impress me. But to the cash stricken father who wants to pick something up for himself...why not a look alike?
"everything else is just a jeep"
Proper shopping can get you a cheap Spydie. Solo Buttonlocks are $25 shipped from the online store. SMKW has $20 Navigators. I saw an older Delica w/a broken clip go for $12 on eBay. It would only take a few more bucks to get a metal clip installed. Plus there's always out-of-the-way B&M's. The bargains are out there if you take the time to look.
My take on this can be summed up by the tagline Bell helmets used to have. "If you've got a $50 head,wear a $50 helmet."
My take on this can be summed up by the tagline Bell helmets used to have. "If you've got a $50 head,wear a $50 helmet."
I work at a B&M knifestore, and sadly, we sell the knockoff stuff as well as the good stuff. It's a matter of economics from a business standpoint, but that's another subject.
I think the knockoffs are evil. I also watch them take money away from the more well known brands. I have people come in quite often to replace thier <$20 knife that broke with another one that is just as ******. This cycle repeats itself all the time. They could buy just one good knife and own it for a lifetime, and save a bunch of cash in the process.
The other way that they take away money from the big names is when I have someone come in who wants a bunch of knives, or worse yet, calls themself a collector, who spends several hundred dollars on ****. They buy china and pakistan knockoffs of everything, they even buy knockoffs of united stuff cause it is cheaper. They would spend the same money on knives if only good stuff was around, and therefore the POS companies are making money that should be going to the more reputable companies.
I think the knockoffs are evil. I also watch them take money away from the more well known brands. I have people come in quite often to replace thier <$20 knife that broke with another one that is just as ******. This cycle repeats itself all the time. They could buy just one good knife and own it for a lifetime, and save a bunch of cash in the process.
The other way that they take away money from the big names is when I have someone come in who wants a bunch of knives, or worse yet, calls themself a collector, who spends several hundred dollars on ****. They buy china and pakistan knockoffs of everything, they even buy knockoffs of united stuff cause it is cheaper. They would spend the same money on knives if only good stuff was around, and therefore the POS companies are making money that should be going to the more reputable companies.
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java
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- Location: Rosamond - Tropical Paradise without the tropics.....(or the paradise)
Forgive me now as I intone,
Of Spyder faux knives I have been shown
Though they capture the likeness that’s quite well-known
They cannot stand on their merits alone
Their quality inhales and performance is blown
Cost of patent enforcement that hangs like a stone
Drives real Spydie prices to new heights unknown
They tarnish the name that Spyderco’s grown
So if ever your tempted…<b>Don’t buy a Clone!!!</b>
Forgive my poetic license here (It's expired but I still drive on it anyway) Although flattery may be the best form of imitation, I have yet to find a "clone" that measures up to the quality of the major brands. They tend to degrade the reputations that major companies have spent the time and capital to build. They sucker many an unwary bargain hunter who thinking himself having the business acumen of Alan Greenspan, then procedes to whine and blaspheme the good name of the company the clone chose to emulate. Spyderco has been more lenient with minor patent infringements in hope of upwardly leveling the playing field and encouraging overall quality. But legaly pursuing some of the fly-by-night imitators means higher operating costs that are often passed on to the ELU. I don't like clones, imitations, knock-offs, rip-offs, or weasals. Let's keep the bloodlines clean and beat the mutts off with really BIG brooms, rocks, or nuclear hand grenades.
To harmonize with Dynaryder, as a diver novice C-card holders frequently bemoan the high cost of quality eqipment and ask me why I pay so much for dive gear. My only response to them is, "How much is YOUR life worth?"
I am truly sorry I have no opinion on this issue.
RKDA
<font color="BLUE">"A hole-less knife is soul-less knife is a whole less knife" - <i>Javanese proverb"</i><font>
Of Spyder faux knives I have been shown
Though they capture the likeness that’s quite well-known
They cannot stand on their merits alone
Their quality inhales and performance is blown
Cost of patent enforcement that hangs like a stone
Drives real Spydie prices to new heights unknown
They tarnish the name that Spyderco’s grown
So if ever your tempted…<b>Don’t buy a Clone!!!</b>
Forgive my poetic license here (It's expired but I still drive on it anyway) Although flattery may be the best form of imitation, I have yet to find a "clone" that measures up to the quality of the major brands. They tend to degrade the reputations that major companies have spent the time and capital to build. They sucker many an unwary bargain hunter who thinking himself having the business acumen of Alan Greenspan, then procedes to whine and blaspheme the good name of the company the clone chose to emulate. Spyderco has been more lenient with minor patent infringements in hope of upwardly leveling the playing field and encouraging overall quality. But legaly pursuing some of the fly-by-night imitators means higher operating costs that are often passed on to the ELU. I don't like clones, imitations, knock-offs, rip-offs, or weasals. Let's keep the bloodlines clean and beat the mutts off with really BIG brooms, rocks, or nuclear hand grenades.
To harmonize with Dynaryder, as a diver novice C-card holders frequently bemoan the high cost of quality eqipment and ask me why I pay so much for dive gear. My only response to them is, "How much is YOUR life worth?"
I am truly sorry I have no opinion on this issue.
RKDA
<font color="BLUE">"A hole-less knife is soul-less knife is a whole less knife" - <i>Javanese proverb"</i><font>
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pyton357ru
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java
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pyton,
That is very true however sometimes the return on investment to pursue some of these fly-by-night or out of the country makers is not worth it to the original maker. The US is full of legal hassles of this nature. The MacDonalds coffee lawsuit is just one example. Rather than continue to spend money on a lengthy legal battle, MacDonalds chose to mount a limited legal defense and go for the appeal process if they lost. The outrageous award for customer stupidity and lack of common sense was eventually reduced and coffee at Mickey D's has never been the same since. The legality of clones is not in dispute. It's just a question of how much you're willing to spend and take away from your primary function of making quality blades.
BTW: I don't remember welcoming you to the Forum but I'm proud to have a representative from Mother Russia here exchanging opinions and I hope you stick around for many years to come.
<font color="BLUE">"A hole-less knife is soul-less knife is a whole less knife" - <i>Javanese proverb"</i><font>
That is very true however sometimes the return on investment to pursue some of these fly-by-night or out of the country makers is not worth it to the original maker. The US is full of legal hassles of this nature. The MacDonalds coffee lawsuit is just one example. Rather than continue to spend money on a lengthy legal battle, MacDonalds chose to mount a limited legal defense and go for the appeal process if they lost. The outrageous award for customer stupidity and lack of common sense was eventually reduced and coffee at Mickey D's has never been the same since. The legality of clones is not in dispute. It's just a question of how much you're willing to spend and take away from your primary function of making quality blades.
BTW: I don't remember welcoming you to the Forum but I'm proud to have a representative from Mother Russia here exchanging opinions and I hope you stick around for many years to come.
<font color="BLUE">"A hole-less knife is soul-less knife is a whole less knife" - <i>Javanese proverb"</i><font>
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pyton357ru
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