A Look at U. S. Classic Brand

Рет қаралды 2,962

2 жыл бұрын

U. S. Classic Brand came on the market around 2005. The timing probably could not have been worse as several U.S. Knife companies were in serious financial trouble and many knife enthusiasts were less than sympathetic with a company selling Chinese made knives designed in "Salt River, Kentucky" and named "U. S. Classic."

Пікірлер: 37

@WilliamsKnifeLife 2 жыл бұрын

So a fish in Salt River, KY designed these knives. Interesting. They look nice.

@lostcat9lives322 Жыл бұрын

They were designed by mermaids. Fish cannot design knives, don't be silly.

@propblast82nd 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Tobias, thanks ! 👍

@swamp.stomper Жыл бұрын

Nice video. I often get my first look at a brand through your channel! Thanks a lot 🙏

@jamesbell7958 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video Tobias , interesting as always .

@KnifeChatswithTobias 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

@raiderfandew Жыл бұрын

I had a conversation with Mr. Collins last month and he sent me one of the small toothpick knives. Mine, like yours, was not equal to the earlier US Classic knives. I recently picked up a nice synthetic cover congress, but nothing as nice as yours. What a stunning knife. Love the SWB bartender's knife. That's very rare, indeed. I have one that is a smooth burgundy bone. My US Classic collection now has about 125 copies and variations of patterns they produced over the years. Tony's Knives in Bronson, Tennessee now owns the rights to the US Classic name and is producing a few patterns. I have several of their large trappers and 2 large copperheads and they are very well made. Rough Rider-type quality. As Mr. Collins would say, "Probably from factory #3."

@KnifeChatswithTobias Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info. Factory #3. I think I've heard that somewhere!

@BladeObssession 2 жыл бұрын

I had a friend who used to go to Sportsman's Warehouse with me and the whole back wall had inexpensive camping supplies in blister packs and he called it the Great Wall of China

@KnifeChatswithTobias 2 жыл бұрын

LOL 😂!

@deniskozlowski9370 2 жыл бұрын

All in all the prices seem pretty reasonable considering their factory in located on the bottom of a river in Kentucky. Lack of breathable oxygen and fish swimming all over the place is bound to drive up costs.

@davidkurle5418 2 жыл бұрын

This was a new brand to me, never seen them before so I appreciate the look! Good collection you've got there, buddy. Cheers!

@KnifeThoughts 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Tobias. You know I don't mind Chinese made knives. I love my Rough Ryder knives, among other brands. But this is just too close to trying to trick consumers into thinking these are made in the USA for me. I'll stick with Rough Ryder and other budget knives that don't come so close to deception. But I always love to hear the backgrounds on brands. That gunstock and seahorse look just like the Rough Ryder versions with a different shield.

@KnifeChatswithTobias 2 жыл бұрын

Many company did and still do try not to reveal where the knife comes from. Kissing Crane and Robert Klaas often just put a little Taiwan or China sticker on the knife and/or box. The stickers were easily removed leaving the knives unmarked. Even Colt (SMKW) would do a faint ink stamp on knives reading China or Pakistan than could be polished off in about 30 seconds. To this day, Frost loves to stamp knives prominently "German Steel" when the knife is made in Pakistan.

@raiderfandew 8 ай бұрын

Mr. Gibson, a few years ago, we had a discussion about spey blades.... and a gentleman from days gone past who didn't like them and would reshape them into a spear point. IIRC, he was a noted outdoor writer. Can you refresh my memory as to his name and approximate era when he was involved? Thanks.

@KnifeChatswithTobias 8 ай бұрын

I wonder is that was Nessmuk (George W Sears) His moos pattern knife had a clip and spear point.

@rickkerans8485 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting knives. Obviously if can't get a good price on the first couple runs. I guess see if they are going to be made by another company.

@gadgetgus 2 жыл бұрын

A really interesting video Tobias... Good, basic knifes for sure, I can understand why some people got upset, as they were being sold a lie, effectively - I get that. Personally, I would pay more for them to be made in the 🇺🇸 as I would be happy to help support existing & upcoming cutlers in the states - period. A nice sub-collection, always enjoy your insightful videos... Thanks for sharing buddy, Atb Gus 👍

@jimrowland6089 2 жыл бұрын

There is a knife store called Redhill Cutlery in Radcliff KY not far from the Salt River, Think they started their original cutlery store in 2004. I first went there in 2007 and they had mostly traditional style knives and a lot of them. Store has since moved to a better location, easier to get to location, HWY 31 W and HWY 313 just south of Fort Knox. They have a large selection of mostly pocket knives. Some fixed blade and modern knives also. Not sure if that store had anything to do with this brand but the location is close to the Salt River. Shepherdsville KY has the Salt River running through the middle of it and the Business park has many ties to China. My buildings there were foreign trade zones for a long time, until a few years after Amazon purchased us. Not sure if there is any tie in there but I thought I would share.

@skcamerican 2 жыл бұрын

Huh. Interesting. I’ve seen a few on eBay and wondered about them. Thanks for the info - I’ll be sure to look for older ones.

@raiderfandew 2 жыл бұрын

No doubt, their marketing ploy left a lot to be desired. That aside, I enjoy collecting them and have for several years. They offered some very interesting patterns and were, for the most part, very well made. I have a few of their newest release trappers with synthetic covers and one with bone scales and they are very good quality. Like most mass produced knives, they needed a good bath, but very solid knives. Thanks for another informative knife video.

@GlockNinja Жыл бұрын

If these knives were made in the USA of the same exact quality, they would sell for $50 and above today like Case knives are. Although I believe Case knives do use better steel?

@KnifeChatswithTobias Жыл бұрын

People do an uneven quality assessment assuming that because Case uses 420HC its a lower quality steel than 440A. But I tend to agree with you. Case is using a steel with fewer impurities which allows for a more consistent heat treatment. Much of the the steel coming out of China, even US steel shipped to China for processing, tends to have more impurities which can lead to more issues with the final product. Now with that said, I think for most folks, the difference is going to go unnoticed; especially if they are not using the knife day after day, month after month. Even the so called You Tube Cut Tests will not give you an accurate usability test. What's more is results will vary from person to person. I know I sound like I'm waffling. The short answer I guess, is I think Case makes a better a knife with better steel but I also think, that for many people, a lower priced knife out of China with a steel of similar or slightly lower quality is going to be good enough.

@GlockNinja Жыл бұрын

@@KnifeChatswithTobias agreed.

@bdh3949 2 жыл бұрын

Nice choices to pick back then Tobias, very cool collection. I have to agree about the USA marketing but made in China feature...seems a bit surreptitious. In 2010 CRKT offered a series of 7 Classic amber bone covered knives, traditional slipjoints that were very well made and had excellent f & f. I'm guessing that you are probably familiar with them. They were made in China and clearly marked as such but for some reason back then I thought they were made in USA. lol Nevertheless I found them all to complete the series. I think things really changed in the US pocket knife industry after Camillus said goodbye and took with them a number of classic pocket knife name brands.

@RoyalEmpressTree 6 ай бұрын

That's almost comical that we can buy knives manufactured in a make believe city

@theprestriedge4657 2 жыл бұрын

May there is a salt river ky in China. Do you remember usa japan? Pronounced uuusaa. They would stamp usa hard and Japan real light next to it so you could barely see Japan.

@bdh3949 2 жыл бұрын

I remember, I had a transistor radio back in the 50's marked Made in USA on one side and Japan on the other. lol

@theprestriedge4657 2 жыл бұрын

@@bdh3949 Strange how things turned around now Japan makes the good stuff.

@zero61288 2 жыл бұрын

Just like American Buffalo Knife and Tool. Putting the American name on a Chinese made product. Yeah the knives are decent and inexpensive but still made in China with our name on the brand. The blades are etched PRC. Peoples Republic of China.

@KnifeChatswithTobias 2 жыл бұрын

U.S. Classic caught hell for doing it. But you'd be surprised at how many others do the same. Today, you have companies saying "Made in USA (from domestic and imported parts)" I've even seen American Companies put the big old US Flag on the back of product with the fine print reading "Packaged in the USA" and the finer print reading. "Product of China"

@janetowens7288 2 жыл бұрын

Cheap knives or expensive knives, I don't understand why people continue to buy certain Chinese knives after being lied to by the manufacturer. Apparently that's no problem for lots of folks. Imo you should not buy any knives from China because of their horrendous socio/political policies.

@rhino5419 2 жыл бұрын

I agree in theory but in practice i only buy chinese because i simply cannot afford overpriced US knives that often offer no better quality.