ELK RIDGE

[rex6666]

Has anyone heard of or used one of these kinves? they make some very good looking fixed blades.  they are made in China and that for some
reason always scares me, never had a knife made in China that would hod an edge.

[Joel]

The reviews on the web say they are so-so.  For that money I imagine they would be, even given the cheap cost of Chinese labor. To me they seem to satisfy the "cheap and instant gratification" drive in people...same thing that turned Walmart into a Chinese retail store.  People like to demand quality, but don't much care to pay for it a lot of times. If they are reluctant to pay for quality, then they brag about the price and that it actually will work at a so-so level.  The knives made in China for the "American"(Benchmade, Cold steel, Gerber etc) companies generally have better quality materials and better quality control.

[rex6666]

I have been even steering away from the name brands made in China,
just for the reason they are made in China. I have stopped buying Gerber,
which i like unless it says U.S.A. on it. Marbles is also having at least some
of their knives as they say "of shore" to compete in price. I am sure Co.
like Marbles, Gerber, Benchmade have better quality control. Cold Steel seems
to make a good blade but they make hardly any thing I like. Yea i am particular
i like a 2 1/2' to 3 1/2" blade on a skinning knife for skinning about anything,
like a 4"- 4 1/2" drop point for anything else. If i need a hatchet or saw i look in my day pack. I am some times  embarrassed when ask how much i paid
for a particular knife, but recover pretty quick with "I know it will be ready when i need it"
I just opened a package i have been waiting on for a while, New Buck skinning knife, it is a beaut, turned it over and it says china right on the blade, well
we shall see how their china quality is.

[T.R.]

I rec'd the Elk Ridge fixed blade with Ram's horn and exotic wood spacers as a Christmas gift. I can not find any faults with it.

I've purchased several Chinese knives and have been very impressed with quality of materials.  Many people have stated unkind things about Frost knives but I differ with these gents. My everyday knife is from the Silence series with rams horn.  I keep it sharp with a handy little ceramic device (also made in China).

Schrade knives are imported through Taylor Brands.  I had a Cave Bear folding knife that developed a weak backspring so I contacted Taylor.  They said send it in for repair / replacement.  5 weeks later, a NEW Cave Bear was rec'd.  Quality of workmanship is easily as good as my Schrade USA knife.  Was the heavly worn USA model worth more?  Not to me.

BOKER knives are built at a number of factories throughout the world, including China. Quality is exceptional.

In my opinion, early Chinese imports suffered the same metallurgy and quality concerns as early Japanese imports of yesteryear.  But they've corrected the problems and make 'em right in 2009.

TR