Why are usa made knives so expensive?

[mikey52]

I don't know anything about the knife making business. I do wonder why good USA made knives cost so much. Let's use Benchmade as an example. Is it the cost of materials? Are labor costs out of sight? Maybe these knives are a bargain, for what you get. I honestly don't know.
It is easy to see why some guns cost so much. Steel has to withstand pressures, machining, labor cost, huge marketing, legal costs, and so on. I just don't see the cost, to charge $200 bucks for a knife. Are they really that hard to produce. I certainly can't make a folding pocketknife. Is it just a matter of -people will pay it- so we charge it. Ill be glad to hear peoples viewpoints and share their knowledge. Thanks Mikey!

 

[richardbrentm]

I think the expression "whatever the market will bear" is is the appropriate answer. I know people will say that there are the development costs but seriously your point is well made. I have been carrying Kershaw Leeks for years. Cost approx $40 and they keep a sharp edge and just work. You know what they say...."It cost's to be a show-off". All those collectors who own the ultra-expensive knives may end up regretting their purchase when they go to sell. I know, Randall's are still going strong but what about all the other custom knives that don't sell for squat. JMO

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[BC38]

I think the expression "whatever the market will bear" is is the appropriate answer. I know people will say that there are the development costs but seriously your point is well made. I have been carrying Kershaw Leeks for years. Cost approx $40 and they keep a sharp edge and just work. You know what they say...."It cost's to be a show-off". All those collectors who own the ultra-expensive knives may end up regretting their purchase when they go to sell. I know, Randall's are still going strong but what about all the other custom knives that don't sell for squat. JMO

All good points. But the cost of labor is still a big part of it. Making knives still requires a lot of skilled hand labor, and skilled labor isn't cheap.

 

[k22fan]

[...] Let's use Benchmade as an example. [...] Is it just a matter of -people will pay it- so we charge it. [...]

In Benchmade's case that is the biggest part of the answer. You pay for brand's prestige when all you really need is to be able to trust that a company uses the steel they claim they are and doing the expected heat treating.

Probably the second biggest part of the cost is how automated the company's production is. It is rumored that the Chinese factory that turns out Rough Ryder and many other brands is the most automated in the world. It does not hurt that they also have one of the least expensive labor forces. The second most automated factory is probably Victorinox. That's how their knives can retail for $25 after being shipped to the other side of the planet.

Another thing that keeps Victorinox's cost down is choosing a steel and heat treatment that results in blades that are soft enough to be affordable to polish and doing the polishing by tumbling. Buck keeps their cost down the opposite way. They make harder blades but do not polish them bright. Case splits the difference in hardness and polishes most blades bright. That makes their polishing cost more.

 

[Onomea]

Man. That is like saying "Why does a meal in one restaurant cost more than a meal in another? Hey, it's only food!"

And it is so much more than made in USA vs made in China. There are relatively expensive European production knives, say Puma or Laguiole, and great value knives like Opinel and Victorinox, and etcetera, etcetera.

Then you've got custom craftsmen, semi custom, a whole buncha steels, and on and on and on. I only know a little bit. We have members here who know much more.

But, I like knives.

But it is a huge subject, with much depth, history, metallurgy, and on and on. And on.

It's fun. For guys who like knives, a whole bunch more fun than say, collecting stamps. Though guys who like stamps, philatelists, would disagree. Or guys who like insects, entomologists, are more into bugs. It's just another fun thing to get into, if so inclined.

Hey, it's all good!

 

[Kanewpadle]

The biggest factor that adds to the cost is premium steel. There isn't anything made in China that can rival US designed steel.

The other factor is that many of the premium steels are not made by knife companies themselves. They are made by a third party. Anytime you have more than one company involved, prices will be higher.

Cheap knives are just that. I'll stick with Benchmade.

 

[jtcarm]

Most Buck knives are still made in the U.S.

They did have to offshore some production to meet the price points demanded by the big box stores, but IIRC, more than 80% still come from Idaho.

Like Richard, I'm very fond of my Kershaw Leek, though I feel a bit guilty when I look at my collection of Buck's & Kai-built Kershaws (1030 is my favorite hunting knife). But the clip and assisted opening are just so damned handy.

That said, my Leek did need it's screws tightened down recently, something that certainly never happened with one of my Buck 500s or Kershaw 3120.

I don't know much about Bench Made. They're more than I'd pay for a knife.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I do not accept the OP's premise, that US made knives necessarily cost a lot. Buck US-made knives are a case in point. You can get their most popular knife, the 110, for $37. My Benchmades all cost less than my most expensive knife, the Paul Laconico Keen, made by WE Knife Co., a higher-end Chinese maker. Ontario Old Hickory knives and Dexter-Russell Green River knives typically sell for less than $20 and deliver excellent performance.

 

[eric.ripper.52]

Because they're worth it!

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[Krogen]

I think it might be how we view the knife and what it "says" to us. Personally, I view a knife as a tool and little more. Certainly, I'm impressed with high end cutlery but it's over the top for what I want. Firearms are differnent for me. I see them as more than mere tools. The craftsmanship of a finely made firearm takes my breath away. For some people, the reverse is true - firearms are mere tools. Another example would be wine and Scotch. For me, a decent under $10 bottle of Cabernet is all I'm looking for. I've paid stupid amounts for high end Scotch, though.

 

[Texas Star]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNzTCUdwwmo[/ame]


How Victorinox knives are made.

I think they're among the best values of any product category. And I have them in models from the tiny Classic to the thick SwissChamp.

Listen to the video to learn how to pronounce the names of Ibach and Schwyz. (SP?) Ibach-Schwyz is relatively near Zurich, as major cities go.

Tonight, I have a Vic. Spartan in my pocket and a Benchmade in a belt pouch.

 

[OLDSTER]

A Buck 110 is the original, made in the USA, guaranteed, good quality and at a fair price.

Ditto; lots of "custom" makers ask a pretty penny ( and IMO, most are pretty darn good.) The Buck 110 is the best example of fair price and outstanding quality. Mine is 38 years old, and mechanically as good as new.

 

[Valmet]

While I don't use any knives hard- I've found CRKT and Kershaw to be excellent knives at a sub-$50 price point.

 

[Shark Bait]

I'll pay more for good steel and personally avoid Chinese steel. I like Bark River and Benchmade blades. They do cost more but the performance speaks for itself.

 

[HardToHandle]

I have a Benchmade Infidel that I carry daily. I was long of the opinion I never wanted a pricier knife. over the last 30 years I had multiple Spydercos, Cold Steel, CKRT and Buck knives in various law enforcement, fire service and military applications. A few failed, most ended up lost.

After owning the D2 tool blade for a few years, I now understand the hype. There is a value to having an almost no maintenance blade that has been absolutely reliable and sharp. "Because it is worth it" is a subjective value, but big boy tools generally cost big boy money.

 

[shocker]

I probably overpaid for a Benchmade auto but I don't really have regrets about doing so.

 

[Jessie]

It's the same as guns. Some are intrinsically better than others, some are rarer than others, some are just more popular.
Case in point... the registered magnum. Is it really better than its offspring? I don't think so. It's just rarer and a higher price is attached.
Prices have already been somewhat established and they'll probably remain pretty fixed unless quality declines.
Also like guns, knives have a personal preference with most people. Some blade types or materials are more in demand.
I think the price differences come mainly from that and how they're put together. Costs in the US can be higher due to labor costs is all.

 

[billwill]

The biggest factor that adds to the cost is premium steel. There isn't anything made in China that can rival US designed steel.

The other factor is that many of the premium steels are not made by knife companies themselves. They are made by a third party. Anytime you have more than one company involved, prices will be higher.

Cheap knives are just that. I'll stick with Benchmade.

Correct....what he said

 

[KalamazooKid]

Love my Michigan made Marbles, Rapid Rivers, and Bark Rivers along with a pretty substantial number of Benchmades. And while I once said that I'd never own a Randall, I now own 5 of them. I use most of them and admire ALL for their beauty and quality.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

I want to let everyone know about Buck's best kept secret; the 402 akonua.

The akonua will cost you around $120, and what you will receive is a full tang, fixed sweeping blade, made out of impressive s30v stainless steel. You have to pay twice the money for fixed blade s30v steel from any other knife maker.

I know this may cut deep for some of you, pun intended, but in comparison knife makers like Randal are a complete joke. An $800+ blade made from 440B?! Please... 440B can't hold a candle to s30v, neither can o1 tool steel for that matter, and Randal wants eight times the amount of money for their substandard product?! Not for this guy, no thanks. Randal knifes have turned into status symbols. Are you trying to keep up with the Jones'? Buy a Randal. Are you wanting a working man's knife? Buy a Buck.

Sorry for the crummy picture, I don't have good light right know.

 

[627Pro]

YouTube


How Victorinox knives are made.

I think they're among the best values of any product category. And I have them in models from the tiny Classic to the thick SwissChamp.

Listen to the video to learn how to pronounce the names of Ibach and Schwyz. (SP?) Ibach-Schwyz is relatively near Zurich, as major cities go.

Tonight, I have a Vic. Spartan in my pocket and a Benchmade in a belt pouch.

Wow, that brought back memories. We were actually there last October, visiting both the factory outlet store in Ibach and the Swiss Knife Valley Museum and store in Brunnen. As expected, you can find Swiss Army knives (Victorinox) practically everywhere in Switzerland, and also as expected, no factory tours. However, the "seconds" bins at the factory outlet store offered up some nice bargains from a constantly changing inventory. We ended up with four small various kitchen style knives for $26. Sharp buggers too. The only difference between the "seconds" and the standard retail offerings appeared to be the logo on the blades was stamped off-center, upside down, or some similar cosmetic defect. I had to stop my wife from shopping there, or we'd have needed another piece of luggage to get it all home.

 

[mauser9]

Agree with comments above. Labor costs, steel used, and construction. Have read Buck does a good job with 420 H.C. as far as heat treatment. My Sogs with Aus-8 are quite decent and sharpen easily.

 

[eveled]

A Buck 110 is the original, made in the USA, guaranteed, good quality and at a fair price.

With the diverse selection and the price to quality ratio Buck has. I don't know why anyone would buy a foreign made knife.

 

[bgrafsr]

I carry a Case pocket knife most of the time.
Got a bug a couple of years ago while the Wife and i were in Maine at Kittery Trading Post, and ended up buying 2 Randalls, and a Boker Magnum, which is made in China. I also have a Buck 110 that the Police Dept. issued to us, and I carried it on my duty belt until I retired. It sits in a drawer now, but it's still in very good condition.

 

[505Gibbs]

In pricing - don't forget about the extent of their advertising!!! Labor costs, the steel quality, amount of automation are all valid points as well.

 

[bgrafsr]

I want to let everyone know about Buck's best kept secret; the 402 akonua.

The akonua will cost you around $120, and what you will receive is a full tang, fixed sweeping blade, made out of impressive s30v stainless steel. You have to pay twice the money for fixed blade s30v steel from any other knife maker.

I know this may cut deep for some of you, pun intended, but in comparison knife makers like Randal are a complete joke. An $800+ blade made from 440B?! Please... 440B can't hold a candle to s30v, neither can o1 tool steel for that matter, and Randal wants eight times the amount of money for their substandard product?! Not for this guy, no thanks. Randal knifes have turned into status symbols. Are you trying to keep up with the Jones'? Buy a Randal. Are you wanting a working man's knife? Buy a Buck.

Sorry for the crummy picture, I don't have good light right know.

To each their own. You don't have to denigrate those of us who happen to like Randall knives or any other knife for that matter. I buy what I like and don't think of any of them as a "status symbol", just like I buy guns that I like.


I do in fact have a Buck 402 Akonua and I like it too. But I'm not a snob about owning it over my Randalls. Like I said, "to each their own".


I'm not trying to start a war here, just stating my opinion., which isn't worth much at all.

 

[Abflyboy]

There are a lot of factors to consider.

Type of knife is only part of the picture.

For me, steel quality in the blade is the highest consideration. I don't use my knives hard but I use them a LOT. I need my blade to be able to take a good edge and keep that edge for a very long time. Otherwise the knife is useless to me.

 

[mauser9]

Thread makes me wish I would have invested in the Puma brand back in the 60s. Unfortunately not a rich kid but did score a Puma Skinner back in 67. Ran me around $25-30 back then. Guess that older carbon Pumaster steel used makes em quite collectible and valuable. That White Hunter was a dream of mine too back then.

 

[JayFramer]

Thankfully, the Buck's 110mis still American made, and only around $40.

 

[xring33]

While cleaning out my wife's late uncles things, most of which ended up in a dumpster, I came across this old USA made colonial knife. It was rusted and gummed up shut but, I did manage to get it back to working shape. These used to sell for just a few dollars back in the day.


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