Whether you're a knife lover/collector or just someone who wants to buy a knife (for yourself or someone else), here's a few tips on how to get a nice one for a good price.

First of all, most knives today, from pocket to butcher's knife, are made in China. If the seller doesn't specify where it's from, chances are it was made in China. China is actually starting to produce some decent knives these days. They are still producing lots of mediocre ones and some outright junk, too. I wouldn't spend over $20 on a Chinese-made knife unless it's a very special, large or unusual one. (Note; I wrote this in 2007. The situation has changed somewhat; see Part 2 for updates.)

Even some name brands (Buck, CRKT, Stanley, Schrade, Gerber, Mossberg, and Camco, just to name a few) produce many or all of their knives in China. The price is typically about a third of what the US-made version would have gone for, and the quality's about half as good. A good example would be the Schrade Old Timer, which used to be US made and is now made in China. I have 2 of the model 5OT, one "old" (US) and one "new" (China). To me the "new" one doesn't feel or look quite as good, is not quite as sharp (or sharpenable), lacks the smooth finish and fine detail work, just isn't quite the same. At a third of the price, though, it's still a good deal for someone on a budget who needs a work knife that might get lost or damaged. 

Boker, of Solingen, Germany, makes some beautiful knives  starting around $70 and going up into the hundreds.  Their Magnum line is made mostly in China, with a few models made in Taiwan. The Magnum knives start at under $10 (list) and are mostly under $25. Quite a few of the 50 or so models  are at the upper end of the quality spectrum for Chinese made knives, which makes them a good place to start for comparison shopping.  Boker has very intelligently made a clear distinction between the Magnums and their other knives, so as not to devalue their brand, unlike, for instance, Buck, who have made no such distinction . You no longer know what you're getting with a Buck knife. Frost, on the other hand, now makes all of their knives in China, so the only way to find a high-quality Frost product is to make sure it's an old one.    

Some of the higher-end makers, like SOG and Benchmade, are making their less-expensive knives in Taiwan. The quality of these is a lot like the Japanese-made knives of 10 years ago; razor-sharp, made of good-quality stainless steel (440 or AUS8), and with really nice fit and finish. For a knife used for work or EDC (every day carry) they're great. They're affordable and practical. Unfortunately, most sellers of Taiwanese knives don't say where they're made, so it can be disappointing to win an auction for a Benchmade, SOG or Ka-bar and think you got an incredible bargain, only to find when it arrives that it's made in Taiwan and that you paid about the fair market value. At least you have a decent knife. Benchmade does have a color coding system, but I'm not sure if it's consistent as to country of origin.  My Taiwan-made Benchmade came in a red box.    

When I first stated collecting knives, in the late 70's, I had great luck at thrift shops, rummage sales, yard sales, and hock shops. With the advent of Ebay, most of those sources have dried up. They're still worth checking out, but with the price of gas these days, only if you happen to be passing by.  Back then, most of the "cheapies" were made in Pakistan. They were even cruder and cheaper than today's Chinese product. Many of them were easy-to-spot imitations of the most popular knives of the time, like Buck and Case. The Japanese were just starting to make some really nice knives, in Seki city and elsewhere, but they didn't become common in the US until manufacturers such as Kershaw (and later SOG) started putting their brand on them.  The very few Taiwan-made knives I would see were little souvenir items for your key chain and such. It's amazing how things have changed. These days, being on a budget, I'm collecting mostly US-made Schrade and Camillus knives (as well as some Japanese-made ones), and really enjoying  myself! "NOS" (new old stock) knives are out there and fun to look for, and will probably gain value pretty quickly when the supply runs low.

To get a great deal on a NOS knife, look for one with a good description and a bad photo. (Better yet; NO photo: that will lower the selling price by about half.) People will not bid nearly as high for an item they can't see or one that doesn't look good, even from an honest seller who describes it meticulously. (Sellers take note;  a good camera pays for itself quickly!) If you know what you're looking for, you don't need a great picture to know it's what you want. If the seller has good positive feedback (98.5% and up), you can usually trust the description as to condition. I look for "New" or "Mint" on newer knives.  NIB means "new in box". MIB- guess!

Don't guess at the size of the knife! A decent description will include at least the closed length (folding knives) or the blade length (fixed).  I once thought I got a killer deal on a beautiful Japanese-made penknife. When it arrived, I discovered it was an inch and a half long! It is really cute, and worth about what I paid for it, but it wasn't the "steal" I was expecting!

Two of the biggest American knife makers, Schrade and Camillus, have recently gone out of business (in 2004 and 2007). Knives with those brand names are now being made in China, but these days brand names can be meaningless or deceptive. United Cutlery, which owns Rigid, Tomahawk, and a lot of other brands, has been sold and is moving most or all of their manufacturing to China.  The entire industry is in a major state of flux, which means there are some great deals out there which are almost certain to greatly appreciate in value, as well as some very useful and practical knives at affordable prices for just about anyone.  Pictured above are some NOS (new-old stock) and used knives from Schrade, Camillus, Buck and Kutmaster that I've purchased on Ebay for prices ranging from $5 to $25 (including S&H). 

In Part Two of this Guide (coming soon), I'll talk about some of the great knives and great bargains on knives that are popping up on Ebay these days, and some other techniques for getting the best knife at the best price! Here's a link:  How to buy a knife Part 2