High Quality Chinese

[Captain O]

Jerry: If you can avoid it, don't use pay-pal. If you want to buy from Fast Tech, you just use your bank/debit card. It's safe, because I have checked it out before I purchased, and they'll respect your privacy.

Try again.

[jerryd6818]

That's the reason I was trying to use PayPal. I was trepidatious about recording my phone number on their site. My credit card number??? Shiver.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Captain. I now have some FastTech Ganzos coming to me. I enjoy checking out the tactical style knives and often give one as a gift to someone not expecting it. For many people it is the first truly sharp knife they have ever experienced and they are truly grateful.
kj

[Captain O]

Jerry: Don't worry, mate. I haven't had any problems with Fast Tech. I used my Debit Card on 5/12/16 and haven't had a problem at all. They send a photo of the package and track it for you. Very professional.

I just touched up the edge on my Ganzo Model# 719 and it is scary sharp! I am so pleased, I am recommending it to everyone that wants a decent auto. Even Bill DeShivs bought one for Debbie. That says a lot for Ganzo's products. They are well worth the money.

Why would I not recommend them? They are great!

[jerryd6818]

Okay, fess up now. You're on the payroll aren't you?

Seriously? You used your Debit Card?
Dang dude. That's living on the edge.

[kootenay joe]

I paid with my credit card even though i would much have preferred to use PP. I have made many purchases from various sellers in China. All have been very professional and there have been no problems.
Do you consider paying with a CC as risky as with Debit card ?
kj

[jerryd6818]

Do you consider paying with a CC as risky as with Debit card ?
kj

Oh heavens no. If you pay with a Debit Card and skullduggery occurs somewhere along the line, you have no recourse. You are out, maybe the entire contents of your checking account. Depends on your bank and their policies. Even if your bank does cover it, you don't have access to those funds until it's all straightned out. Even for a couple of days over a weekend, that's a big inconvenience. With a credit card it's covered and you lose nothing. Someone got their hands on my CC # a few years ago (I think it happened in Canada ) and ran up $500+ on it before I was notified by the CC Company. It was a PITA but I didn't lose a dime.

[jerryd6818]

Okay, I caved and ordered one. I'm so easy.

[kootenay joe]

Hey Jerry. Thanks for this credit/debit card info. I have been using a credit card since the beginning of these things (v. old fart) but i have never used a debit card.
kj

[FRJ]

[kootenay joe]

Interesting that i cannot find any Ganzo 719 on ebay even though there are many sellers with lots of other Ganzo knives.
Is this 719 an SFO for FastTech ?
While i was 'there' i also bought 2 SanRenMu 7010 for ~ $9 each. This used to be called the 710 and it was the first tactical Chinese knife i ever bought, about 7(?) years ago. It remains The Best tactical style knife of all, a framelock similar to a Small Sebenza. After using the 710, i sold both my Small & Large Sebenzas as they no longer seemed impressive in any way except price.
kj

[jerryd6818]

Roland, eBay won't knowingly allow automatics to be sold.

[kootenay joe]

Right, i forgot that rule. Thing is many of the 'assisted opening' knives are really auto. You just push up on the thumb stud instead of pressing down on a button.
kj

[kootenay joe]

So i ordered 9 knives from FastTech and paid with my visa credit card. About 24 hrs later i get email from FastTech saying they need a picture of my credit card with middle 5 numbers blacked out. I took picture and sent it to them. Now i get this email from FastTech:

"Thank you for your response, now our bank needs more information to process the verification, please send the following information to prove the ownership:

(1) a copy/scan of your national ID card, passport or driver's license with your name and address on it;
(2) a proof of address from the utility bill."

I replied with "NO".
I had picked out some really nice knives including the SRM 710, best of all time $9.
Now i won't get them. Bummer man, i'm disappointed x 9.
kj

[kootenay joe]

Based on Captain O's enthusiasm for the Ganzo G719 auto knife, i know i need one. Seems like my credit card purchased from FastTech is not going to go through because they do not like my having a USA shipping address and a Canadian billing address.
I just went back to FastTech and ordered another Ganzo G719 and this time paid with PayPal and it went through !
When Jerry tried to buy one using PP his order was rejected by PP, presumably because this knife is an 'auto'.
PP could still cancel my order, but so far so good. I will post the final outcome here.
kj

[bighomer]

Ya'll done flung a craving on me, I got to see what all the hoop- pla is about. Shurly a capt. wouldn't steer a old nom com wrong.

[kootenay joe]

Well bighomer, this is what the Captain sez:
"Thanks, Jerry. These are GREAT knives! Make no mistake about it, these knives are worth their weight in GOLD! Good steel, tight, well centered blade. They are worth $50.00 if they're worth a penny! Don't hesitate. Buy one now while they're still available.

I wouldn't give anyone a "bum steer"."

Worth their weight in GOLD, or $50,000 !

Captain sure is enthused and he is a Knifer person. So i figure the chance of this being $18 poorly spent is about zero. The chance that you will be 100% pleased is very high.
Home's ya need one (or two more likely). Go for it while there are still some available. Then you can be bighomer Gonzo-Dude.
kj

[jerryd6818]

Dang it Roland. You and the Skipper are getting a commission, aren't you.

[kootenay joe]

UPDATE: FastTech just sent message saying they will fill my order ! So, besides the Ganzo 719, i also have a G707, G711 and a SRM 6050 Multifunction coming.

[kootenay joe]

Naw, no commission Jerry. I just happen to be very susceptible to the 'knife acquisition bug'. Put another way: i am avariciously acquisitive, aka "greedy".
kj

[jerryd6818]

For your sake, I hope there's medication for that.

[kootenay joe]

Not medication exactly, but: "a knife a day keeps the blues away
have a 10 knife day and you are well on your way,
to bankruptcy because you can't pay,
but with so many knives you're happy anyway"
o.k. 'nuf nonsense from me.
kj

[bighomer]

I'm loving it, heck I went on and ordered sanrenmu 7010 to go with my 735 monolock while I was at it. Now I got to wait for them to here.

[kootenay joe]

You will be impressed with the SRM 7010; very solid frame lock, similar to a small Sebenza. It is my favorite knife to give as gifts to friends or someone who has helped me in some way. I still carry and use the first one i got when it was called the 710, about 5 years ago.
kj

[orvet]

Well, after hearing all of your praises for high-end Chinese knives, I decided to try one for myself. I do not like counterfeit knives and I specifically chose a knife that did not claim to be something else.

I have always appreciated and admired the design of Chris Reeves’ Sebrenza so I was looking for a knife similar to the Sebrenza without buying one that was a direct counterfeit.

I chose the knife in this following auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/262438538916
I chose it because it appeared to be very similar to the Sebrenza in design yet did not claim to be a Sebrenza and did not have Chris Reeves’ logo on the knife in the auction pictures.

When I received the package I was rather disappointed, I opened the package and saw the black Chris Reeves box. I opened the box and saw a counterfeit copy of the Sebrenza with the CR logo on it. All this after specifically choosing a knife that made no claim to being a Sebrenza or a Chris Reeves knife and showed nothing associated with Chris Reeves knives in the auction. I wanted a knife similar to the Sebrenza but not a counterfeit Sebrenza. Had the Sebrenza name or Chris Reeves name been on the knife, I would not have purchased it.

I was put off by the fact that the knife was obviously a counterfeit. A small Sebrenza sells for $350-$400, this Chinese knockoff sold for $35 including shipping.

In spite of the big difference in price the Chinese knife still had very good fit and finish. The blade opened and closed smoothly and locked into place like it is supposed to. I carried it for a day and it worked fine. The blade came from the factory so sharp it would rival a brand-new Kershaw. On the second day I carried this wannabe Sebrenza I had a bunch of recycled cardboard to cut up for the recycle bin. I headed to the recycle bin and begin to cut the cardboard and the small enough pieces to fit in the bin. About halfway through the first box I went back into my shop and got my Kershaw Blur. The blur had not been touched up in two weeks or more and it cut circles around the wannabe Sebrenza. When I was all done using the two knives I took them back into the shop and tested the sharpness by seeing if they would shave the hair on my arm. The Kershaw Blur, cut the hair on my arm no problem. The wannabe Sebrenza would probably have pulled the hair out by the roots, but it would not shave my arm.

A quick trip to the powers strop for the wannabe Sebrenza and sharpened up great. But who wants a knife that you have to sharpen every time you use it?

Aside from the steel there was really only one other complaint I had about the knife and that was the pocket clip. The pocket clip was so anemic that it would not hang on to the pocket of my jeans. It would work better on the thick pocket of cargo shorts, but not with jeans pocket.

All in all, it was a $35 lesson and I learned what I already knew, you get what you pay for. I did find that I like the feel and style of the Sebrenza so I will probably be looking for one to trade for in the future. That much of the experiment was a success, but I have not found the “high-end” Chinese knives to be something that gets me excited. However, this was only one knife.

I will etch counterfeit on the blade and probably give it to someone, perhaps in a POS exchange!