My Thoughts On Clones Have Changed In 2024 - TKG 225

[@metal_complex]

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[@landontreinen3062]

I think that the vast majority of people who buy clones are people who love knives but just can’t afford the high end stuff they really want. My issue is when people try to say that the clone of something is just as good as the real deal. I’ve had people say this about Shiro clones, and it’s just simply not true 😅 I don’t buy clones, but I also can’t afford many of the knives I would absolutely love to own, so I can see the appeal for sure.

Eh you could argue about the heat treat but anything else kinda the same

[@landontreinen3062]

No. Same shape doesn’t make same knife. I’ve felt the action of a real Shiro, and the action of three separate clones. No. Not the same.

[@landontreinen3062]

Believe me, if there was one clone I would have bought, it would have been a Shiro clone. But my experience was enough to turn me off the idea entirely.

[@CNYKnifeNut]

Exactly. Tolerances are tolerances. Any half decent shop in the world can hit .0005". I'd argue that my old Hoback warhorse clone was better than the legit version in every way, probably my (S90V/ti) spyderco p'kal too.

[@peterrock6766]

Yes, I've had both real and clone Shiro. The Green Thorn D2/Ti clone I got for $75 when I 1st started collecting, was 98% of the real deal. I've let others who know real Shiros handle the clone, and they all agreed

[@darinjenkins7954]

I love clones.. bc I'm not buying the real ones or trying to sell them. Plus I can practice refinishing the blades. Tuning detents, and getting a good edge

[@jonathanwatson268]

I like Tristate's take. If it's reasonably obtainable then get the real thing. If it's discontinued, was an extremely limited run and was DOA, or is thousands of dollars then you aren't hurting anyone by buying a clone.

[@Cloudstrife112233]

I think Clones serve a purpose. Thanks to a few clones i now know that i want to own the real thing. Though that said, there are plenty of budget companies that i can afford that use their own designs and I'm much more interested in them than clones anyway.

[@v3n0m0us1]

Bought a counterfeit just for the carbon fiber scales for my MSI

[@joshalmightyblades]

Did they fit? I own a real and that same clone. I wondered but haven't tried it

[@v3n0m0us1]

@@joshalmightyblades yes was a perfect fit

[@karabinas]

For every clone I own, I have about 15 authentic knives. I own about a dozen clones. I use the clones when I don’t feel like having to take apart my knife to clean after use…like cutting open sacks of cement…mulch…fertilizer

[@drewrinker2071]

Yeah same, I'm not totally against clones but have way way more real ones

[@MrTimbeatty]

Interesting legal fact is that a novel design element is protected as copyright (60+ years) vs. a novel patented locking element (19 years).

[@MFD00MTR33]

I bought a $200 F3 clone (wanted to see if i want a real one) with m390, milled marble CF and the fit, finish and action on it is amazing. If someone put a Shiro logo on it, i think most people would have a hard time telling it apart. I still want to get a real one, but for now I'll buy other knives and save up for it.

[@peterrock6766]

Yep. The premier clones like u bought, are better than 99% of all knives out there, and probably 99% of the real Shiro. MC is here saying that u gotta pay for the premium clones. Well yes, but $179 for it, is still better than $1000

[@F0XRunner]

Strider clones are better than his base models in terms of fit and finish ($50 > $500). Not true for performance or customs

[@peterrock6766]

@@gratefulearlc8812 OK stupid. U know better I guess. Probably never had a decent clone to see. I guess u know better than everyone else who commented

[@metal_complex]

@gratefulearlc8812 get your last words in. I'm booting you permentantly 👋

[@peterrock6766]

@@metal_complex sorry MC. I shouldn't have even engaged with him lol

[@FleetOfFog]

I pass along any clones I buy to my daughter when I buy the real deals. She's 12 and already has a nice sized collection (only a handful are clones.)

[@adityashinn3896]

I think clones are more justified for knives that have no budget alternatives, especially after they've been around for a while. We, Artisan, and Bestech do this more often, but some knives just stay at super high prices. It's nice to be able to try out a design before committing so much money.

[@adityashinn3896]

I will also say, if you're in the market for a $40 knife, you probably weren't gonna drop $400 on one, so I don't think it actually ends up making that big of a dent in profit for the original maker.

[@poncho151]

One thing I’ve read online that I found interesting is that most clone makers either won’t or are much less willing to produce a clone of a product that is designed and/or OEM’d in China. I don’t know how true or across the board that is but it really made me look at the clone industry with an even shadier lens because it feels like it’s got a dual purpose to both steal from and hurt the original maker/brand, especially if they are made in the US. If it’s a line for line blatant copy then you’re still stealing someone else’s IP no matter which way you shake it, regardless of whether or not it has the brand markings. Obviously on top of that you’re sending money overseas instead of to the company who invested time and R&D. So I don’t buy or support clones mostly from an ethics point of view.

[@andrewromig9753]

The reason you don't see Chinese products cloned is because the clones are made in China. Cloning a Chinese product is a serious crime in China. Cloning an international product, however, while technically an international crime, is never prosecuted.

[@metal_complex]

@gratefulearlc8812 I don't care about your sub. Take a hike

[@metal_complex]

I can't be bought. You guys are so dramatic lol. Pay attention to what I'm saying. My point is, there's nothing anyone can do. Nobody is paying me to take this perspective. How would that even work? The point is, if you gotta do it to eventually land on the real thing, it's better than never doing it at all. good lord. The lengths you'll go to support wild conspiracies about who's paying me. Ridiculous

[@metal_complex]

Also @BLdontM - you do nothing in the comments except stir up drama. You are a walking episode of the Kardashians. You're a bottom feeder. Nobody is taking you seriously, and as soon as you respond, I'm going to remove you permanently from my comments just to waste your time. I'm tired of seeing your stupid takes, and your intentional gaslighting. Go back to discord.

[@SharperApex-t2b]

One can argue about the place in the market for clones, as in if the buyer could afford the real thing, they likely would. In that case, the authentic manufacturer didn’t lose a sale because the buyer couldn’t afford it. But counterfeits are nothing more than industrialized theft. And then when they are sold online, that’s fraud. No excuses justify counterfeiting. It’s illegal for a reason.

[@dcamnc1]

I buy both real and clone. Idc.

[@v3n0m0us1]

Did that just for the scales that I wanted off the clone

[@RobsJots]

So long as it’s clearly a clone and not a counterfeit… maybe there’s a difference. Kinda like a gas station version?

[@tarinindell8217]

As long as it clearly shows that its a different company than the original, that should be enough. X company in China using slightly less premium materials making a super similar knife to a more premium USA brand doesnt bother me, as long as it doesnt claim to be the original brand, and clearly shows that its X company from China. Thats the difference between a clone and a counterfeit. A counterfeit claims to be the original.

[@joelamaro4525]

@@tarinindell8217honestly, I’ve never found a clone that quality to price justified me buying it. But if I bought a clone and loved it that would make me more likely to buy the real deal. Because I know the real deal is going to very likely be even better. Possibly by a lot. And with better materials.

[@joshalmightyblades]

As Leonidas once said: "Yeah, What Can ya Do?"

[@egbluesuede1220]

Agree that I don't have the right to tell anyone how to spend their money, but for me personally, there is no reason I've seen in the comment section below that justifies supporting unethical companies. If you don't want to spend the money for an original, get a different knife. This is the golden age of knife making right now, and you can get really nice knives as low as $10. Granted, I have no interest in the Ozark Grail knife that blew up on YT, but even in the $25 price range you can get good stuff with budget steel.

[@davidhelka8929]

I bought a strider clone on Amazon and it did end up making me buy the real thing which I do not regret at all great video man 👍

[@mikereese15]

If I were a maker / designer, I would feel better about somebody buying a clone and realizing it's not for them. Other than buying my original and realizing that they hate it and wasted so much hard earned money. And on the flip side they buy the clone and realize yeah I really need to get the original.

[@Cid_1]

Oh, It's that part of the year again :)

[@EliPenderDrums]

Yeah i can say for me I bought tons of clones of benchmades and microtechs. They helped me decide whether i wanted to buy the real ones or not, which i have😂 I dont buy clones anymore, but when i first started i had a hard time justifying the costs of some of these and i didnt really care about the materials i just wanted to fidget with them.

[@fightjustice5602]

Do you know any sources for good quality clones? I am interested in buying some copies.

[@cintage]

It’s an ongoing discussion. I like that you differentiate, because I really think that a person who buys a clone either might buy a real one or never would have bought one. In the first case, it’s good for the original company. In the second case it’s no loss. I first had a Spyderco clone to try it before I bought more than 20 original ones. Same with Benchmade. First a clone, now I’ve got three real ones.

[@marcsinatra1779]

Nice commentary. Various forms of intellectual property (IP) protection are available. Patents, registered designs, trademarks, etc would be available to knife manufacturers. Trademarks are can be renewed forever and involve relatively smalls fees and a maintenance fee (about $500 to register and about $200 to extend for 5 years). But, if somebody copies your product, they just can’t put your branding on the clone. Registered designs are similar, but they only last 10 years. Patents are the pre-eminent form of IP protection and last for 20 years, but they generally only apply to parts of a design (eg a new locking system). Other requirements are the innovation is new, useful and involve and inventive step (usually defined as not obvious to someone skilled in the art). Maintaining patents is expensive. Here you are in to the >$100,000 mark to get a patent and maintain it for the 20 year period. Patents are also jurisdiction or country specific (as are trademarks and registered designs). The costs increase with the jurisdictions covered. The problem with a lot of protections is that industries are generally international. It can be hard to enforce the protections if the item is sent internationally from an unprotected jurisdiction. The main deterrent that intellectual property provides is civil in nature. You’ve got to sue them. That involves risk, time and money. If you lose, you’ve probably done a fair whack of dough. The economic idea of these form of protections is that they help create a monopoly for your the product specifically and, therefore, you can charge monopoly prices, which are higher than competitive prices and, therefore, your income from the product will be higher. The idea here is that nobody will innovate if they face full competition on day one. Since innovating is considered good, competitive advantages are provided to help innovating occur. Big companies can benefit greatly from IP, but, as you have probably twigged, gaining and maintaining, in particular patents, isn’t cheap. Smaller groups that can’t afford those protections are screwed, unless they can find some free protection. Free protection are trade secrets and they can be wonderful protection if the product you make is amenable to them. The downside is that they don’t provide for legal enforcement or civil recourse. So, to make the decision to buy a clone or not really complicated, you need to know the protections around the product being copied. If there are no protections or they have expired, society has deemed you right to go ahead and buy a clone. If protections exist and haven’t expired, society has essentially deemed it illegal or, more to the point, immoral to by the clone. I hope my textual diarrhoea on this topic is interesting to someone. Reply if it was interesting.

[@joelamaro4525]

This should be fun.

[@metal_complex]

​@@joelamaro4525LOL

[@Oneoneone111One]

If I’m considering an expensive knife I always buy a less expensive one similar to it to test out the idea as closely as I can. I’ve never dabbled in clones but I can see the idea of doing so being a test run.

[@barboki]

One direction I have found for some custom makers that I can not afford to get a knife from or their books are not open is to find one of their designs that have been made in production. I have done this with Tom Mayo, Les George, and hopefully soon with Dalibor Bergam. I do however want to get a clone of one of my grail knives just to compare to the original. I might do that with the SPK Lamia.

[@scrick7112]

Let’s be honest, in most cases you get what you pay for. A clone is cheaper for a reason, cheaper steel and other materials. I don’t care for clones. I do my research and for the most part know what I’m buying and understand the price point. Thx

[@JDGreen916]

I feel like the best solution for this section of the marketplace has been clearly defined by Andrew Demko. If you want to spend $700 on an AD-15, you can! But if you want to try out the mechanics and some of the experience of the knife, you can buy one of his designs from Cold Steel, made in Taiwan, for under $200. That's how you meet both markets. Of course this doesn't work when the unique factor is machining with tight tolerances, like you'd seen in a Hawk or Shirogorov. But let's face it, if you wanted that, you'd know why you were paying for it.

[@Cannons_N_Cutlery]

Ive never bought a clone. However ive thought about it. A Spyderco Paysan or Drunken are super expensive and hard to get. Ive seen some decent clones that were tempting. I just wanna hold one, and see if i like it as much as i think i will. I will also add, my first PM2 was a clone that my wife bought me 8 years ago. When she gave it to me, i didnt know shit about Spyderco, or whether it was real. I fell in love w that knife, and now i own 20 real PM2s, and atleast 50 other Spydercos. Now that im a knife guy, its hard to buy a fake, but i do get it, and i agree it can lead to real purchases. Great video.

[@JH-ks9oi]

It’s exactly same in the Guitar world, there’s the player that just don’t care who made it as long as it sounds and plays great, there’s the players “like me” who play a specific instrument “a 62’ Strat reissue, Mexico made, rewired with 57’ pickup’s, clothe wiring, 58’ neck” and then the collector who buys specific guitar models, in perfect condition and refuses to budge from that… Usually it’s guy’s who are/were playing, recording, touring, writing, who just wants it to play n sound great, we don’t care what it looks like

[@papa_edc]

I always search for the authorized budget versions of some knives. An example would be the Eikonic RCK9 which is a Chaves inspired and partnered design.

[@nintense1]

Bought my PM2 from Amazon for $20 less than the market price, and took me a year to convince myself it’s not a counterfeit- put it in daily hard use. Totally not worth the savings over buying from a reputable shop. Amazon sell a lot of counterfeit products across every industry. I’d never buy a counterfeit product, but I have few off-brands cheap knives around the shop, the cars etc just for a backup.

[@josecintron85]

A link to all the knives on the table would be great. There are a few there that I would like to get my paws on (I also aware that some of the ones I like are way outside my price range)...

[@metal_complex]

The Stitch (or one kind of similar) can be found at NC blade. Sometimes you can get a Herman Slim from Polish Custom Knives, just not that exact one. Shiro Quantum is at Recon 1. Para 3 Maxamet is on DLT and others. Everything else is completely unavailable

[@PatheticPeasant]

​@metal_complex since most of them are unobtainable wouldn't it be nice if there was a clone version? Lol

[@metal_complex]

​@@PatheticPeasantactually, just like I said, that's what makes some (like the weave arch nemesis) so special. No clone exists. At some point, it will be possible, but by then there will be some new unobtainable/"uncloneable" thing. The chase for that "thing" is always going to be there. It just makes it that much more fun for certain people.

[@josecintron85]

@@metal_complex thanks!

[@QuazarCyclone99]

Im fine with clones as long as they aren't trying to pass it off as the real thing. The other reason im fine with clones is to see if you like it before dropping $100s on the real thing. Usa companies have the biggest issues with clones Spyderco, benchmade, medford, hinderer, strider, microtech, mainly because they have priced themselves out of everyday people's budgets.

[@tees2cents]

So glad you finally came around to this point of view. 💪🏾👍🏾

[@Speed-shooter]

I’ve been trying to stop smoking and found that fidget friendly knives really help. Some of the knives that are very fidget friendly are just not available and sometimes the clone is even better. Winterblade factor is an example. I don’t condone clones but they are available so I have a few that I can’t get in the real world.

[@winterbladeco]

Here are some differences on the real thing (Factor B3): Contoured scales, finely milled texture on the scales, additional skeletonization, "reliefs" milled into the scales to give easier access to the blade window, G10 inlay on the showside pivot, decorative milling and high polish on the clip side pivot screw, G10 inlay on the lock button, carbon fiber liner plate for smoother lock action, carbon fiber flip lever vs G10, knife grade titanium, Magnacut blade steel options, timascus pocket clip options, higher quality magnets (I stopped using generic Chinese magnets after the very first batch of Factors, years ago, because of how inconsistent they were from knife to knife).. There are other "factors" as well that I can't disclose without tipping off the cloners... The upcoming Factor B4, launching in January or February, has an additional (and very significant) list of refinements and changes which will be announced soon. The nature of clones is that a product has to exist first in order to be cloned, which means that cloning operations will always be playing catch-up as long as the companies they are cloning are continually innovating. Cheers!

[@Speed-shooter]

@ There is one massive difference. I’m in South Africa and Winterblade B1-B4 will never be accessible as they sold out or simply won’t ship. Fact is the clone is so popular because its inaccessible to the average person. My personal view is getting rid of this clone market is drop prices and partner with a supplier that can keep up with demand. People show torture test and blade steal as the holy grail yet the average guy isn’t doing that to a knife. As I mentioned I collect knives and have them on display purely for fidget factor to try stop smoking.

[@winterbladeco]

@@Speed-shooter I just wanted to point out some of the differences but I hear ya man! :) ..What I do a lot with the Factors b'cuz of the demand are unlimited preorders - so that everybody is not just guaranteed a knife, but the exact variant they want... I get that not everybody likes preorders, but I kinda look at them like participating in a drop happening 6-8 months in the future, but in this future drop you're guaranteed a knife (since you've already paid for it via the preorder).. Anyhow, have a good time fidgeting and good luck kickin' the habit! Cheers!

[@Speed-shooter]

@ thank you and I have ordered two of your knives just so you know. The eight and the button one (sorry can’t remember the name. Winterblade is by far one of the best knives out there as a brand. Just so clever. Let’s hope I get the new drop. Won’t lie but the bragging rights in SA is pretty damn cool.🤣🤣🤣

[@winterbladeco]

@@Speed-shooter Oh thank you man that's cool to hear! I appreciate it! :) ...I've got a bunch more stuff in the works, so 2025 should be a fun year! 🤗🍻

[@kokosnh1170]

I have 1 clone, AD20, as it is unobtainable in my country, and it was like 50$ for a clone from china with shipping. I bought it just to see the action and ergo of the original, if I will like it, or not. and it's full titanium, just D2 blade steel. Ps. And yes, there’s a clear difference in logo on the „D” on the blade, so you know it’s a clone, not original. PPs. I also have original shark cub in G10, and I like action of AD20 much more.

[@ianwalker2205]

I JUST ordered a clone off amazon of the Reate Exo. I don't plan on it being my EDC, and I want something to fidget with, so why drop like 269 when I could spent 45?

[@PredsFan35]

I believe Walmart actually sells clones on their website. Similarly to how clones are able to be sold on Amazon.

[@MrDakotawsmith]

Let the sin begin metal complex approves here i come clones

[@metal_complex]

Oh... no.. you'll never see a clone here. Ever

[@MrDakotawsmith]

@@metal_complex I was just goofing

[@Prizrak-hv6qk]

Clones helped me get into the hobby. Initially, I couldn't justify spending more than $100 on a knife. How things have changed! I wouldn't own a good chuck of my current collection if I did get to experience those knives as clones.

[@SteelAddicted]

If u want a shiro clone go green thorn they can be had for $70 in vg10 real titanium and great action. Muiti roll bearings milled ti with milled ti patterns. My spk clone has convinced me to buy the real one. Idk how close it is to real one but its my fav knife in my collection and i own some great knives. Its an amazing knife from the mill pattern to the action.

[@willb7713]

I've also heard the opinion that purchasing a clone makes sense if the original is no longer in production and extremely difficult to locate on the secondary, like the Microtech D.O.C.

[@kingkaliber49]

I can't spend hundreds and hundreds on knives. Clones help me test the waters for a knife. I will have a high priced knife in mind and will try it out first as a clone. I did this most recently with the SHF. I enjoyed it so much I sold the clone (advertised as a clone) and bought a genuine one. If they had lefty clones of shiros, I would be doing it with that one too.

[@velvetine74]

Personally I think clones are fine as art knives, but if you're out in the woods and things go south so you whip out your backup to do some 3v baton work but you find out in the worst way possible you've got 5cr with a 3v stamp on it that's completely unacceptable. Up front honesty about materials, treatment and assembly is the minimum requirement. Also, fake makers marks are something I really dislike. I look at these but don't buy them because it feels wrong. I have bought clones in the past but would rather save up and have fewer legitimate ones.

[@baretruth8438]

Where can l get some good clones?

[@obamtdtnsfn]

What's the knife on the top middle? The one that is all black with frag pattern handles slightly oblong opening hole and thumb stud. Somewhat similar to the Microtech Stitch.

[@mangobadger]

That’s because it’s his full custom Marfione/Borka Stitch.

[@Lochlann13]

I have bought clones for the purpose of deciding if I want to spring for the real deal. However, I vastly prefer to buy unbranded, unmarked clones that do not use the name, logo, or label of the original blade. It's clear what they're mimicking, but they're not trying to pass off the clone as an original. I refuse to touch counterfeits.

[@kisnettpicart7830]

I live in Central America and get paid less than 200 USD weekly (which is about average). A $10 USD Rat1 clone off AliExpress cost me $40 USD after international shipping, import tax, and domestic delivery. Imagine if I bought an actual Rat1...

[@quark_E]

I bought a clone recently. I lost the stop pin for my mini grip and Benchmade refused to send me a spare. Not a fan of clones but they have their place.

[@RAID5_Aesthetic]

I don't know if you ever dip into the Excalibur Forge these days but I was raked over the coals for owning clone Beer Bombs before I had ever heard of Beer Bombs or Notorious. Had to throw them away.

[@yossarian3]

The voice work in this episode is just off the hook! No one can do the "knife world idiot" better than muh boy MC.

[@robinpalaima8500]

MC, Trying to purchase your Excalibur and sat for 10 min after putting my info in and the site is gone and yall have my info now...some help please!!

[@metal_complex]

... the site is not gone. I also don't run the site. It's Kunwi

[@yourdad2389]

I recently purchased a clone of a cold steel broken skull. I loved my range boss so when i found out the broken skull is the same knife but made with better steel and g10 instead of grivory, i had to have one. Well the broken skull is long discontinued. Ebay had one for a few hundred buck. Aliexpress had a fake one for 17 dollars shipped.. It came in the mail from china in 12 days. Its has real g10, the blade is 440c. Its my favorite knife and i carry it every day. Maybe one day ill come across a real one but until then im happy with what i have.

[@stevenw3393]

I heard, "Clones have tears"

[@joshcollins278]

Clones of any product are no different than a reprint of a famous painting. You want it but can’t afford it. I’ve had arguments with multiple people who complain about products but have reprints of Dali or Van Gogh paintings on their wall. It’s a true test to your product quality as well. If a knockoff company can get real close to your 1000% more expensive knife, maybe you’re overcharging.

[@metal_complex]

Or... again... they're doing it somewhere that allows for much lower labor costs... and using more automated processes... and cutting corners... etc etc. Same story

[@davidv7403]

The Metal Complex Army will work diligently to take down the Excalibur clone sales pages. 😂

[@brolysfate]

I just bought an Excalibur clone, and I have to say the quality is much more ..... JUST KIDDING METAL COMPLEX! I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!!!!! just wanted to make ya sweat a little 😎

[@heathagius3598]

I have a couple of clones that I bought to practice modifying

[@TheJudgeofLevelstm]

My go to box opener is a Shiro clone

[@petergalione1414]

I really only have a problem with counterfeits

[@raymondabella4684]

I wouldn't have bought a bugout if I didn't buy a clone. I used to laugh at the concept of a bugout so I bought a clone that was almost exact in shape and weight as the real thing but with crappie chinese steel. I had no illusion that it was as goodas the real thing. I carried it for a couple of weeks and realized why people liked the concept of bugout. So, I forked out the money for the real deal for my EDC and the clone has become a nice letter opener on my desk. That being said, most of the audience here forget that the average person outside of the knife community couldn't tell the difference between an expensive name brand knife with super steel and a cheap steel and would unknowingly buy a clone randomly on Amazon or at a gun show, throw it in their pocket, and be very happy. I've even met people who are avid outdoorsmen who don't no jack about name brands past buck or kershaw and could care less about a company like Benchmade with any steel past 440 or 420 stanless. They'll see a knife they feel they can use, buy it and throw it in thier pack not knowing or caring if 's a clone or not. To them a knife is just a tool. The funny thing is that they will put these ceaper knives (many of them clones) to more of a hardcore task than the average person watching this video with fancy knives who just use their $300 knife to cut boxes , for fidgeting or for collecting.

[@johnhutton929]

The sad part is these clones make it to pawn shops. They get marked up to close to retail of the real thing. So folks take advantage of selling clones as the real thing. People will buy them not knowing they got ripped off.

[@richardholland1865]

I once was in an antique shop and the guy had what he insisted was a Patek Philippe watch. I looked at it and it screamed Chinese fake. He had is marked for a few thousand. If real it would have been a massive deal. I asked if he checked the movement serial number etc. had no clue. Came back a month later, still there now $200.00 (still too much) and apparently someone he knew who was in the know was in and gave him a hard time for being a sucker buying an obvious cheap fake.

[@dinner_workingsly]

I don’t love clones. But I strongly condone buying counterfeit medfords. Medfords only though.

[@Jacrispy223]

To me, knife clones are pretty much plagarism and plagarism is illegal.

[@alexh9039]

I bought a clone Microtech to see if I would actually like carrying one before I dropped real money on one. I’d say I’m a pro clone person. As long as you’re not trying to pass it off as real. My best friend has a clone reate exo b.c he loves mine but isn’t willing to drop the price tag on a real one

[@rhinosaur.]

I know that I would take no satisfaction whatsoever from a clone. I want the real thing. If I can't afford the real thing then I'll admire it from afar. But fakes have no appeal to me.

[@bonifaciovelasquez9796]

I bought a few clones on wish but that’s cause I couldn’t afford the real deal. Now things are different. Why doesn’t District 9 sell in the US? Why only AliExpress? Anyone have any idea?

[@thefattestcat200]

I got so lucky because, I really wanted a signature series stitch but I didn’t want to pay $600 so of course I looked up coupons and blade ops had a 20% off microtechs and I never bought something so quick 😂

[@FeelsGoodman2024]

This was my favorite knife guy episode. I bought a legitimate full price magnacut large sebenza and really hated the action. Decided I wanted something more fidgety. Didn't want to spend another couple hundred for another disappointment, so I caved and bought a clone. It was excellent. Hit up Blade Binge a month later and picked up a barely used spartan that I EDC all the time. Can't recommend this "clone trial period" enough.

[@roadracerqx893]

I just bought a clone …because I want to USE it. I can’t bring myself to use my $250-300 original ones. The clone will get used☝️

[@joshalmightyblades]

I own a Clone Ram-lock Stitch and the real one. It's damn near as good. Sorry to say that it's Actually amazing but it is. If I couldn't afford a real one, id buy a clone. That's about all I can say on the subject.

[@shanemadrid4204]

I will say this its hard to buy anything budget friendly once you buy the real deal. When I first started collecting i thought it was insane, like no way will I pay that much, don't worry we all get there some way or another

[@SliceyAethstetic]

Just say no to clones.

[@Faux_59]

How many times have you seen people get scammed buying a clone thinking it was the real thing? Even if you are open about it being a fake and later sell it as a fake it could be sold as real later on.

[@mikehedrick4349]

I've bought a lot of the counterfeit Benchmade's you can get on eBay. I love them. But I also would never pay Benchmade prices for any knife. So how are my purchases affecting Benchmade when I would have never bought from them anyways? Most people that buy counterfeit or clones are poor or just can't justify spending so much more for "brand name". If you buy them for personal use it's fine. It's the guys listing them on offerup as "real" ones that is the real problem. That's when some poor dude is just getting ripped off... ✌🏻

[@mattjay6633]

When I first got big into knives when I had adult money to spend(2020) I knew I always wanted a halo(thanks Jack Bauer). Well real halos, while still in production then, were like 850. I got a clone, all it did was make me even more curious about Microtech.. while I never got a halo, I do have 2 hydras and a maxace Draco on the way.. plus I’ve got half a dozen other microtechs. May one day still add a halo, but they’re not the easiest to come by

[@iandevera5906]

Only ever dabbled in a shiro quantum ursus clone to know if I wanted to spend on the real thing, once I knew the answer I sold it (that wood inlay ursus is 🔥 and I’m looking for a good deal on the real thing)

[@michaelmorrison4843]

I think clones are made and sold to people who would like to have the original knife, but they choose not to pay for the real thing or they just can't afford it! They have the satisfaction of having a knife that may look almost identical to the original but at a price they can afford! They will enjoy having and using it, and enjoying the association with the original! I have a clone of the Spyderco/Brend knife! I love the looks of it and the graceful lines it has! But, I missed out on buying the original because of a lock of funds at the time, and then it was discontinued! I hated that! So overall I think clones serves a purpose in the world of knives! Just don't try to pass off a clone as the real deal! 🤔😱👍

[@TheAdequateMedia]

saw that single action otf from Maxace and it was like ... The 1:1 stuff is annoying, but so are the "krate knives" or Vipertech

[@shemk17]

Hey is the winterblade cloned as well?

[@metal_complex]

No. Not the mechanisms anyway

[@stanglifemike3759]

I bought an AD15 clone, and then bought an authentic Ad15 less than a month later. I tried a $30 clone simply to see if I thought I'd like the authentic before dropping $150 on it. I'm fine with buying clones for that purpose, but people trying to pass off clones as authentics are scumbags

[@jspeedadventures]

No disrespect, but you're someone who can afford the latest and greatest...most of us can't so a $70 clone (copy) will have to do when we can't afford the $700 original. That's as close as some of us will ever get to handling some of these knives.

[@horacetrull656]

I like my OGs and I like my clones. I don’t like when the clone steals the brand name and packaging; it makes me feel like they try to sell them for OG prices

[@NCCoder]

I wound up buying a clone of a Demko 20.5 Because I was so new, I didn't know what their actual website was and it turned out to be a Chinese clone. I obviously know better now.

[@danielreitzloff5469]

In art we say, copy but make it better.

[@Cosigne]

I simply can’t afford to buy the real versions of the clones I buy. For the cost of one Spyderco I can buy 5-10 clones of different models. I work in an industrial environment. Taking a $200 knife to work is just out of the question. I couldn’t replace it if anything happened to it. A $30 clone doesn’t matter if it gets damaged. Someday I hope to have the kind of income to afford the real versions of my clones.

[@Haywoodjablomie100]

I like clones, some are as good as the original. As long as people are open about it being a clone and dont try to pass it off as legit i'm fine with it.

[@yossarian3]

What is the Spyderco in the lower right with the silver scales?

[@georgiagearguy]

Shaman

[@MrMcbeardson]

I think it’s a Shaman

[@yossarian3]

that's a Shaman. your welcome

[@jerrykotrokois3050]

It’s the bodacious with after market titanium scales.

[@yossarian3]

@@jerrykotrokois3050 Nah, it's a shaman. I pulled one of mine out of the box and compared it. the shape of the scales up around the pivot give it away. it just looked different sitting out there with those other knives in those silver metal(Ti?) scales.

[@coreylorance418]

I think it’s really this simple. If the maker doesn’t care, why would anyone else care???

[@MarilynBrown-dd6yg]

For me cloning a cheap knife is BS but I understand the one’s copying expensive out of most people’s price range Knives. Ruining a companies bottom line sucks but for extremely expensive knives those people would never buy otherwise I can at least understand it.

[@joshpulliam]

Love the Mickey Mouse voice, please do more!

[@billwilli3824]

I bought a clone of the Stitch and the lock broke. I bought a clone of the ad20 and the lock broke also a clone Bug Out and guess what….the lock broke. Lol

[@donusmc1]

My problem is there are factories in china that cut their teeth, developed the knowledge of knife making by reverse engineering and selling knock off striders etc. they became good at it and made money and now they have their own brands and sub brands where you can buy knives with materials at prices the USA brands can’t compete. Maybe the knife world is big enough for both, maybe it’s not and USA brands will begin to lose enough money they will close shop. I’m torn.

[@IDKReviews-db9xf]

Those knife makers/designers should at least be compensated or at minimum be recognized for their work. That's an amazing mindset to have but that's not every knife maker. Let's be honest, they are essentially thieves, and I absolutely cannot stand a thief

[@aolliegee]

Black middle top?

[@aolliegee]

Custom stitch of course I love it lol

[@blasturd]

Have to go high end to avoid the clones

[@HappyWifeHappyKnife]

I hate all clones. it takes time and money to develop a good design. Some company making money off the effort of others is theft no matter how you justify it.

[@kinguin7]

Walmart's getting greedy, the Ozark Grail should be $3, needs to be cloned 😤