Foreign
If it was me it would be the Benchmade Griptilian hands down. Very nice knife, usa made, life time warranty and you can send it in any time for a sharpen and refresh.
Spyderco: A large part of Spyderco knives production is outsourced to foreign contractors in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Italy, and China. Knives made with CPM S30V steel were previously all made in Golden, Colorado, USA, however Spyderco has recently began shipping CPM-S30V to Taiwan to have knives produced there using this steel.
Not all "foreign" manufacture is created equal.
There was a time when Japan made crap. The
Japanese Transistor Radio was iconic of those days. However, Japan -- as a culture -- seems to learn pretty quickly. We taught them quality control, and they've been kicking our butts for years. Knives, however, they've pretty much always done well. I have, and value, several pieces made in Japan. Classic pieces from well-respected brand manufacturers.
I'll buy a Japanese knife any day.
Taiwan, where market forces are a significant factor, may have been a little slow off the mark, but they have adapted nicely. Some seriously respected names are made in Taichung (e.g. Trek and Giant bicycles) and knife manufacturers are finding that reliable quality and superb fit-and-finish can be obtained there.
I will happily by a brand name knife made in Taiwan.
Japan and Taiwan actually "get it" when it comes to quality.
Oh, and Korea? I've seen some saws made there. Pretty decent quality. I think the Koreans have finally mastered this "quality" thing. It shows in the cars they make. Last few years, their stuff has begun to really shine.
I don't have enough experience with current Italian manufacturers, but they've made some awesome swords and fencing gear. Craftsmanship is a hallmark of Italian culture.
It may depend on specific cases, but I don't have a problem, in general, with Italian sourcing
per se.
Now, if your problem isn't so much with actual
quality but more to do with the idea of "foreign" then I'm afraid I won't be much help.
I've been buying Swedish and German and Finnish and French and Japanese knives for years. I have "American" knives made in Ireland. And Japan. And China. And Taiwan. I have a Swedish/American collaboration piece made in China. Hell, I have a Gerber pocket knife that was made in Japan
more than thirty years ago.
I want Gerber and Spyderco and Buck and Benchmade and CRKT and all those big boys to stay in business.
If they can't make a product that people will buy because it costs more than they're willing to pay, then it won't matter where they make them, because they'll go under when their sales collapse.
Yes, I would be happier if they could all find solutions that would allow them to do all their manufacturing in their home country, but the "home country" has, in many cases and many places made it hard to do cost-competitive manufacturing here, and companies have to solve that problem somehow to stay in business.
I the end, however, I want a decent quality product at an affordable price for an average Joe. Just as with my firearms. Browning BAR, Belgium. XD-40, Croatia. PT111 & PT911, Brazil. Glock, Austria. Browning BLR, Japan.
Whatever it is I'm buying, I want quality and honest craftsmanship.
And I'll buy as much of that I as I can afford.
