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For some brands, yes, you're only paying for the name (Emerson comes to mind). Some of you seem to be putting Benchmade and Spyderco in that group, which is not a fair assessment. Spyderco in particular makes very reasonably priced knives for the quality of their construction. The Endura, for example, is available for about $55 retail. For that you get a premium blade steel (VG-10, which as pointed out previously will cut the edge right off of a Chinese knockoff) that is expertly heat treated. Grinding blades out of good steel causes much more wear on the machining equipment in addition to costing more for the raw material. The Endura has stainless steel liners in the handle for added strength; once again, steel costs money and has to be machined, adding to the price. Spyderco tests their locks to failure using expensive equipment to make sure their blades won't fold up on your fingers; somehow I doubt the Chinese companies making the ripoff bother to take the time.
The Endura is made in Japan where you actually have to pay people a working wage, unlike the knockoff made in China by sweatshop labor. The $55 Endura will hold an edge and stay together much longer than the $10 POS Chinese knock-off, and it won't fold up on your fingers. Lets not forget that Spyderco develops most of their designs in house and pays royalties to outside designers whose designs they produce. They go above and beyond when it comes to respect for intellectual property. The Chinese POS just copies their design a few weeks after the real deal has hit the market to capitalize on someone else's hard work. Most people don't care enough to actually see the difference. so Spyderco loses some sales to the knockoffs, affecting their bottom line. The question becomes if you want to support an ethical American company that doesn't steal others intellectual property and produces a quality product at a reasonable price or a Chinese company that rips off that American company's designs and makes a dangerous product to boot. I know where I spend my money.
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- Kurt
“Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.” ~Pericles of Athens
Primary Carry - Colt Commander .45 in a Brommeland Max-Con V
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