Why knives suck. Quality in knife making.

A discussion on how companies view defects, quality control, and historical perspectives.
Edited by YouCut:app.youcut.net/BestEditor

[@Stans_Collectors_Universe]

I feel a lot of quality control comes down to people just actually giving a crap about the product. I know when I worked in a factory that many of the parts that I would drop in the scrap or not within standards bin a manager would come behind me and send them through. Thanks for sharing and God bless.

[@rasputinscastle]

That's company greed.

[@IanRosie-mx6rn]

Thoroughly enjoyed that, Raspers. Thanks man 👍.

[@rasputinscastle]

You're welcome 😊

[@RandysWSG]

Great video brother!! I have a get with a defect, but was sold as a second. Had a large nick in the bolster was all.

[@jeffjackson5331]

Awesome video brother! You are absolutely right on all of it.

[@Tarheelsteel]

Very good information! Thanks for taking the time to explain all this so well 👍

[@rasputinscastle]

You're welcome 😊

[@ebertcombs6610]

Thanks for the video!

[@rasputinscastle]

You're welcome!🙂

[@danedwards8535]

Learn something every time. Thank you for your videos !!!

[@rasputinscastle]

You're welcome 😊

[@tmhcanonshooter]

Thank you for taking the time to provide a clear explanation of the quality issues we're seeing these days. Very educational!

[@rasputinscastle]

You're welcome, brother 🙏

[@JoseGonzalez-yx6vm]

Yes, very informative video, thank you.

[@rasputinscastle]

You're welcome, brother 🙏

[@swamp.stomper]

You make some great points here. I really enjoyed the video

[@rasputinscastle]

I'm glad you liked it 😀

[@Bladeblinded1957]

Great educational video this one cleared up a lot of questions I’m sure

[@rasputinscastle]

Thanks 😊

[@h4rry4x44]

I always inspect my Case knives before I buy them. I looked at a smooth chestnut bone mini Copperlock that had no snap when it shut. I left it at the store.

[@rasputinscastle]

I've had close to 30 modern Case knives and never had a problem like that. I have a mini sodbuster that was so tight I couldn't get it open😃. I've been lucky I guess. 😊

[@dlrmon1]

Evolution has definitely been reducing the art of craftsmanship...while I’ve seen a big increase in many cases in quality of materials (Steels, plastics, fasteners etc.), and in design and processes. It’s nice to see some small boutique craftsman keeping tradition alive. Efficiency will drive out the human element...

[@rasputinscastle]

Yes, but I've discovered that cutlers are like artists. Their work is expression for them. So there is hope.

[@Pocket_EDC]

Very informative, as usual, with some good perspectives. The user vs collector perspective was a good point to make. As far as quality control, it seems typical of companies to fall back on the historical reputation, once they get big. Sometimes, that's when the consumer needs to give them a kick in the rear to get them back on track. Also, typically, successful companies can get bought out, which often leads to reduced quality. Thanks. Have a great day!

[@rasputinscastle]

Buy outs are another good point. There is a cost vs. benefit component,too. As long as a product sells, they won't change what they're doing.

[@KennethKellogg-kt7bf]

Satan's other name is Servotronics. They've killed off alot of storied American cutlers.

[@rustyminer]

good topic 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽

[@rasputinscastle]

Thanks brother 🙏

[@Yassine-oo2su]

Would you consider it a defect when in closed position the backspring of slipjoint traditional knife is protruding above the liners?

[@rasputinscastle]

Yes. A traditional knife is built like a sandwich. Those layers are supposed to be sanded smooth, so they are the same height. Nowadays, companies try to produce the scales, liners exactly the same so they don't have to sand the back of the knife. It doesn't really work. We call that stepping.

[@RonaldNorwood-kn4bo]

I’ve been in fit and finish business for close to 50 years. Impossible to achieve high standard 100 per cent time. Then it’s turned over to quality control which sometimes turns a naked eye. That’s just the way it is we’re only human.

[@rasputinscastle]

Yep

[@timwhite4584]

You are correct. The quality of knives has declined over time. And a lot of American made knives are just out of price range for the everyday worker. So if he or she decides to purchase a knife that’s not made in America then that’s ok with me. Not everyone has the big $$ to afford one.

[@OneMinuteKnifeReview]

i've found a wide variety of "quality" but generally, My Bokers have been good and surprisingly rough rider knives have also been incredible for the price.....

[@rasputinscastle]

Those Rough Ryders can really surprise you.👍

[@mikeadams2538]

I recently bought a Case “Highbanks”, which is supposed to be one of their top-of-the-line modern knives. It was crap! QC was definitely asleep on duty when they decided to ship this one😡

[@rasputinscastle]

I saw that they were having problems with that. I think the lock was failing 😕 what was your problems with it?

[@dlrmon1]

Lol...If you look at videos of Mike Stuart in his mess of an office...that should tell you everything you need to know. He’s a business man that is well aware of fact that if he sends out 100 knives with defects, only 4% will complain... I love my Bark River knives but since the end of 2019 they’ve been about 50/50 for me...I’m now waiting to see if he trains up some new employees to previous levels, or if he and his company at the end of its life cycle and slipping away...funny how the photo side of his knives are always the good side...

[@rasputinscastle]

Yep, I think you're onto something. Once the man with the dream passes. Companies either fold or run into the ground. Most are sold within a few years.

[@gizmocarr3093]

Quality control has two places responsible for a knife with defects. The maker, the seller, and the end of sale buyer’s satisfaction and what is the quality expectation of the buyer. Morakniv and Victorinox are two knife makers that I never got a knife with a single defect. A.G. Russell is a seller I bought 30 knives over the mail and internet. None had any defects except ones sold as seconds. That includes A.G. Russell brands and other brands as well. Most sellers do not take time to inspect their products before shipping but some do. Most makers attempt to check for quality and some are better than others are. Any brand or model knife reviewed is easy to pick apart for the slightest of reasons. The same is true for overlooking issues reviewing knives they have and missing to mention them. I look for the invisible elephant in the room to decide the facts as truthful from experience. Some reviewers, believe in this idea. Who are you going to trust, your own eyes or me? 😆😅🤣

[@rasputinscastle]

Well, my eyes are getting pretty old. 😃😆

[@decal1751]

I have a spyderco para 3 lightweight and the blade is not centered and will not center no matter what I do its not touching the side but it is very irritating.😢 other than that its a great knife though. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@rasputinscastle]

Make a couple of wedges. Loosen the pivot pin. Center the blade with the wedges. Then tighten the pivot pin. That should work.

[@kathleensmith370]

Quality control could be better- but there are defects in every kind of product made

[@rasputinscastle]

True 👍

[@lostcat9lives322]

Well... yes and no. CNC machining has greatly incressed the quality of tolerances and allowances. I recall during the 1970s, a person would feel good about 100,000 miles out of an automobile engine. Today a person can reasonably 250,000 miles from an engine. Metallurgy is vastly different from 40 years ago. Hand-crafting other artifacts such as knives is a very different sort of quality.

[@rasputinscastle]

True. Modern techniques have turned collecting on its head. A $16 knife can have the quality of a custom knife.

[@lostcat9lives322]

@@rasputinscastle Nope. A $16 knife may (at best) have excellent tolerances, but it will always be a sterile mass produced product. It will always lack that extra ..... something? Highly evolved human craftsmanship creates a unique next level artifact of grace and beauty. This is not a nuance. If that eludes you, then I don't know what else to say. $16 knives aren't collectable to anyone who isn't just collecting....more stuff.

[@KennethKellogg-kt7bf]

@@lostcat9lives322 I suppose it depends on what you want out of a knife. One man's sterility is another's beautiful precision. Eye of the beholder and all that.

[@lostcat9lives322]

@@KennethKellogg-kt7bf Nope. Precision is merely mathematical repetition . Beauty is something more.

[@peppironee4736]

You sound like you about to cry 😭

[@rasputinscastle]

I probably was. It was a long video 😄

[@swamp.stomper]

@@rasputinscastle😂