I am writing this article in defense of the China pocket knife industry. Some of the best deals in cutlery today is coming out of China and are only going to get better. Some folks have a very narrow mentality that only the U.S. and Germany can produce a good knife. I think sometimes this borders on the edge of pregiduce. I was around in the 1970's when Jim Parker and Jim Frost started importing knives from Japan. We heard the same complaints then as we do now.
I think Parker-Frost produced some of the most beautiful knives around and now some of them are fetching premium prices. I remember the first one I ever saw. It was a Little Bandit clasp knife. I thought it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen with it's brass bolsters and beautiful smooth bone handles. I sold a ton of them to satisfied customers. I had been out of the knife business since 1990 until I saw a Rough Rider from China. It blew me away. The word China on the blade didn't bother me at all. I couldn't believe the quality for the price. I have carried these knives and used them. They are great. There's a lot of folks who can't afford the $40.00 for a U.S. or German knife, but this new China industry gives anyone an opportunity to collect knives.
I just sold a gentleman 100 China knives, he bought them for his two young grandsons to sell at the flea market over the summer. I have sold hundreds of Rough Riders, Remingtons, Marbles, Smith Wesson, Owl Head, German Creeks , all from China and I have nearly 2000 satisfied customers. In the next few months and years, dozens of pocket knife manufactures will be added to this list. I love the U.S. and German knives , but I have gained a healthy respect for their Asian counterparts. . Regardless of the demeaning articles that are written about China pocket knives, look out, they are here to stay and the future is exciting.
If you are on a very limited budget, but love pocket knives, the China made knives will make you very happy. I am going to make a prediction, I believe this China Cutlery industry is the wave of the future, after all, China has been producing quality swords and other cutlery for years, so it was just a matter of time until they started producing quality pocket knives.
To all you diehards who are screaming about China made pocket knives, get on board, try a few of them. That kid who couldn't afford your $50.00 U.S. or German knife might be able to buy a good $15.00 China made. I still sell the $50.00 knives, but I also see the great potential in this latest development in an everchanging industry, "Pocket Knives"
