Clones , Copies, and Fake Knives...why , how, and what to do with em.

I got crazy for a second ...now I'm stuck with a pile of junk.

[@davidlagno7717]

WHERE DO U PICK THEM UP ??? I DONT HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW SO ID LIKE TO TEST A COUPLE OUT!!!

[@worm_vaquero]

Guess the low price would be the biggest tell, unless priced as original

[@katyg3873]

What do most people really use a folding pocket knife for? Opening boxes, maybe cutting meat. Light Stuff around the shed/workshop. There no reason why good clones ( yes there are good clones and bad clones) can’t do exactly that. If the blade gets dull, sharpen it. I’ve been carrying and using a fake delica 4 every day for over three years. The only thing that’s wrong with it is the black oxide coating has worn off. I can get it to hair whittling sharp easily. It cost me about 10 dollars. The only difference to a real spyderco is the frn is ever so slightly less grippy. But only when compared side by side, you’d never know just by itself. In contrast both my real and fake micro tech otf’s are utter junk. A total waste of money.

[@royorkesjr.8386]

There a few reasons to own clones because some have VERY excellent quality just forget about the collecting aspect and bragging rights aspect of it...they make great user knives,handout knives and SHTF knives... because if you use the originals and mess them them you'll feel VERY bad about it especially if it feels and cuts the same as the original

[@dlrmon1]

Back in 2015 I inherited my brothers knife collection. In my research on figuring out what I had I found clones of ZT and Hinderer prototypes or customs. One I particularly likes was a textured titanium copy of a ZT 0454. The feeling knowing it wasn’t real lead me to purchasing ZT 0452. The Kevin John made ZT 0454 is a far better knife than the real ZT. The real one’s fit and finish, blade centering and edge retention was a real disappointment when compared...Glad the ZT 0560 was no longer in production or I would have purchased it too...

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Some of them are scary good quality. On the 940 fakes I've had...they've all had more appropriately sized screws. On both of the real 940's I've had...the body screws were long enough to almost touch the blade when the knife is closed.

[@gregwillis7767]

If you want the "real thing" at an affordable price, hit every pawnshop around a Military base. Young recruites think their new purchase is cool, until they see a nicer one- or cut themselves. My Benchmade automatic had the factory edge, but looked like someone dragged it down a gravel road, so i sanded and Ceracoated it. All 9 of my ZT's were used, and ANYTHING can be refurbished!

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

I like the way you think. We're gonna be best friends. THEEEE LONNNNNEEE RANGERRRS

[@GertTown]

Probably all fake

[@gregwillis7767]

Actually, I'm 64 and have been collecting for 50 years. I have over 200 knives, and very few came from pawn shops. I'm not implying that I'm a Premier Collector or have an "established lineage" for every purchase, but my ZT collection took 18 yrs to establish. I don't know if there were fakes like that back then.

[@dlrmon1]

Live and learn...the few I have I use in situations I often loose or destroy knives. I don’t know how many knives I’ve lost will hiking...yet my 940 clone still survives ...lol

[@worm_vaquero]

I'm the same way with sunglasses, I can keep a dollar store pair forever, but loose name brand within the month

[@dlrmon1]

Lol...yes, I’ve destroyed and/or lost all my nice Sunglasses. Got tired of replacing them.

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

By the way, I didn't finish my story regarding the CRK and the RJ Martin. I did return the RJ Martin to my friend and since he enjoyed the Fake CRK...I did tell him to keep that as well. Anyway...I didn't stick him with having to eat the loss. Eating the loss was 100% on me.

[@dlrmon1]

The clones I inherited have led me to own many real knives I never would have experienced. I own several Hinderer XM-18’s even a few Shiro’s and Reeves knives. My prize knife (partially because it was my brother’s) is a Kevin John made copy of a Hinderer XM-24 custom ground Bowie...

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Yeah man, it's pretty much the same story for me. If I liked the copy at all ...I bought a real one. If I hated the copy...I'd handle a real one before I made the purchase. I've handled enough of them now though that I don't have a use for anymore. I was trying to figure out what to do with them and honestly ...I think I'm just gonna send the copies real company...let em know they're fake and let them destroy them. About the only noble and fair conclusion I could come up with lol.

[@megatnyce]

Where did you get the Spyderco Smock from?

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Ebay i think

[@shaynegables]

My favorite thing about you Billy is when you're on a topic and suddenly you have a thought ... no hesitation you just say what you're thinking.

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Squirrel out bro

[@cintage]

Got a Chavez clone and it’s crazy good. 12C27 steel, but that’s not too bad and the rest … you couldn’t tell the difference. 😮

[@robertpekar1972]

11.55, name of this knife, some website link, please.Thanks.Nice Chanel.

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

@@robertpekar1972 chaves redencion 229 ...but that's a fake from ali-express

[@robertpekar1972]

@@apex_alchemy_knives thank You.All the best.

[@windowbreezes]

once you pick them up, they all seemed cheap. something about the dull steel shine on them. that Chavez looks like effort and so does the ZT (but only by look).

[@southside1975]

I been buy clones of the knifes i want and getting my sharpening skills up.

[@dlrmon1]

In selling off my real Benchmade and Spyderco knives I didn’t care for I threw in the few clones I had as a bonus to the new owners...both gave me a rave review.

[@guyincognito9578]

Do you know if you just put five dollars in an envelope and your knife in the envelope and send it back to bench made they will reset it to factory standard and that knife will come back as a razor❤

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

@@guyincognito9578 that's interesting. No I've never taken advantage of the spa treatments. When I sent one in for a blade replacement once...it was 30 and shipping was 9 dollars there...and 14 dollars back. That was along time ago...it's 90 dollars now for a blade replacement. I don't think I own a benchmade anymore. Kinda moved on to more custom stuff since then. Thanks for watching. Take care

[@gueomduduto]

I was looking video for winterblade factor clone before i found yours. Inflation definitely not the reason, china invasion is.. Glad you still can see brand like hogue selling magnacut for decent price. If you know which good manufacturer of clone and where to buy it, its definitely satisfying experience. Just bought mini crooked river clone, you wont find it on usual chinese website, only full size crooked river there. Best $30ish ive ever spend. Even they can get the similar wood finish. Im not rich collector so definitely wont spend $270 (bladehq price) for s30v loool

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

@@gueomduduto I understand what you're saying.

[@Dissentient01]

I would not know much about either of those clones accept for maybe the Cold Steel Ti-Lite because I own an original.

[@Osf_ponyboy]

I got clones off wish for 15 bucks well worth it in my opinion I’m a tow operator so I beat these things daily

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Most of em are unfortunately better than anything at Walmart ...besides their bucks of course 😎

[@Hungrybird474]

I have an Smke and I think they make a great knife . Also , green thorn stellar is a banger bro . Those two I really like . Just being honest , I like em

[@Hungrybird474]

Them are some nice ass clones though . Many a clone has led me to the real deal . I did t even know they made Spydercos but I have the ones I want already all modded out . They get pricey ,$350-$400 for the knife and mods . Anyways I took the carbin fiber scales and backspacer off a bugout clone and added it to my real one for $40 it was a deal . We all bought clones at one time. If I see aBM narrows for $50 I ll check it out

[@dionpage7948]

Typhoon is the hardest 1 for me to figure is fake cuz I've never seen 1 before. Killer clones&killer vid knife bro!!

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Excellent ! 😎

[@BluminatiNinja]

That Chavez clone would have def got me thinking it wasn't a clone especially since I hate the new forehead screws

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

That knife is stupid good...in a sad way.

[@rustyknifelover4463]

The Benchmade Bugout is a hardest one to tell if it is real for me.. Gotta be honest Clones really piss me off because (IMHO) they are theft and give a false negative impression of the knife.

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

I do agree.

[@metals_etched]

The clones could be good work beater knives. Use them, abuse them then toss them in the trash when they give up the ghost. Don’t try to sell them. I guess you could give them away with full disclosure that they are not the real deal.

[@rodrigoruiz976]

Could you tell me the name of the 3rd clone knife from left to right?

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Hey this is Mrs. Apex here, I believe that is the benchmade 940 clone.

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

That's it...it's an Amazon 940

[@rodrigoruiz976]

@@apex_alchemy_knives what I meant was, what’s the clone’s brand and model?

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

@@rodrigoruiz976 this clone doesn't have a brand. It's was on Amazon for like 25 bucks. Complete junk dude. I'd buy a ganzo or something before I suggested this as a cutting tool.

[@rodrigoruiz976]

@@apex_alchemy_knives thank you! What would you recommend for EDC and for self defense on the budget / clone realm? And which brand is better, Ganzo or Sitivien?

[@johnruiz6743]

Where are you buying your knives where you keep getting counterfeits? Ebay or something similar? I haven't bought anything like that from reputable dealers, not even once. Ebay is full of counterfeits, not all, but a lot. Price is too good to be true, then it usually is...🤔

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

These were all mostly purchased on purpose with me knowing they were fake. I didn't know they'd be labeled as such but I did know they weren't real. All except the original 940 I bought and thought I was getting a good deal on ebay. After I found out people were making fakes...I got curious and wanted to see what these other models felt and looked like so i sought them out on websites akin to aliexpress and what not.

[@johnruiz6743]

@@apex_alchemy_knives Yeah, if you peruse Ebay listings you can see more fakes. Obvious fakes, so I reported them to Ebay. Sometimes Ebay takes them down and most times not. I contacted Benchmade just to let them know their product was being widely counterfeited on Ebay and Ebay was doing little to stop it.

[@Hungrybird474]

Tim Z put clone Demko 20.5 scales on a real one or scorched the blade or something like that . There’s a vid

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

I'll check it out 🤘

[@staysharp525]

I feel same way about bug out

[@SiivaKlamer]

Maybe the bugout is the hardest to tell, because they use g10 plastic in their originals lol 😁

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

I'd have to agree 👍

[@cintage]

Not even G10. The plastic they use in the original is even cheaper.

[@Dopey6621]

I have never owned a Chavez so that would probably get past me. It's easy to tell with benchmade clones because the real thing is never sharp out of the box🤣

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

🤣🤣

[@johnruiz6743]

The butterfly logo is a dead giveaway on every benchmade clone I have seen so far...

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

@johnruiz6743 yeah thecsosving in the wings and the method of application is very different 😎🤘

[@andrashavas]

Its not a pile of junk. The originals want to make you believe it is worth spending 1000 USD on a stupid knife. These are close representations of the originals by admirers who understand that products should not cost THAT much. Remember the Rambo of the 80s crap knife? Guess what it still holds up where it is. Why? Because at that time we bought it because we LIKED it. We treated it with respect, and it is a "good" knife! Yet it is crap by today's standards! God knows if its a clone or just a crap original. Who cares, when it brings joy to the user? Of course you want to yearn for the original. Yet you will not use an expensive knife. This way you can know that you have bought something that appealed to you, not just because it is an EXPENSIVE ultra elite limited to a million pieces knife for 1000 USD. You were smart, because you can try out, edc the knife and still have money for a CAR. Just as an example. Look at the Microtech Combat Trodon and variations. Don't anybody tell you that that OTF can handle more than these clone blades! Simply because of the design involved! So in case you want to go camping with the Trodon, will it be able to do the same things as these and hold up? Are you paying for the utility? No. Because it is designed for something else and will be inefficient in other tasks!. Will the originals of the clones shown here hold up? Sure! will they be 10-15x more efficient? No. At best 2x, or 3x. Just imagine you invest 1000 USD and bang up your Medford knife. Buy two clones, use one and keep the other in the drawer. A win-win situation! What do you really pay for? Top notch quality and aesthetics? I appreciate these values. But these do not make clone knives bad. Bad quality and unsafe construction is bad. Clone knives that are actually usable are fun!

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

This is all true...I've seen 500 dollar custom folders with lock failure . It happens. You definitely don't always get what you pay for.

[@wbwills2]

There are some eBay stores that have been selling for a long time and 1000s of high reviews. They are the ones that you want to buy from. More of them have only been selling for a month,2 maybe. Then reopen under a new name. Just a recommendation. I have some expensive “real”knives. Id rather buy a nice preowned S&Wrevolver or something. Or..SAVE MY $!

[@JCROOKAMR]

Man can I buy the Chavez clone from you

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

Bro I don't have any of them anymore. That one was made really well...but it was like 8cr...it cost about 115 and the scales were aluminum instead of titanium. Once you factor the materials used...a real 229 is 3 times the knife for just twice the price 😎🤘...thanks for watching and commenting .

[@JCROOKAMR]

Aw man all good Yeah I’ve wanted a real one for the longest just can’t or don’t have enuff to drop that much on a knife haha great vid tho man

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

@@JCROOKAMR bro I totally understand that. Seek out green thorn 229

[@brandonfritts3297]

Want to sell that chaves and zt?

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

I probably shouldn't but thank you though.

[@jamielong5716]

I think the bugout would be hardest to tell.

[@djdaddyray3495]

I hate chinese knives. Buys a few dozen more chinese knives. Lol

[@apex_alchemy_knives]

🤣🤣