10 Best Chinese Knife Brands: WE, CIVIVI, Reate & More
In This Article
- WE Knife Co., CIVIVI, and SENCUT
- Kizer
- Reate
- Artisan Cutlery and CJRB
- Kansept
- Bestech
- QSP
- Petrified Fish
- KUNWU
- Vosteed
- Should You Buy a Chinese Knife?
- FAQ
People say a lot of stuff about Chinese-made products, much of it negative.
To them, we say this: the knife brands in this article are not part of the problem; they’re part of the solution.
Each of these brands has a team of passionate knifemakers behind it who are working with the best materials and technology available, and the quality of their products is top-tier. Full stop.
Let’s check out some of the best Chinese knives!
WE Knife Company / CIVIVI / SENCUT
WE Knife Co. began as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) service in 2000; in 2016, WE released its first line of knives.
WE knives are known for their varied and striking designs and premium materials (such as titanium and CPM 20CV steel).
As the market evolved, WE introduced two budget-friendly brands: CIVIVI and SENCUT. These brands maintain premium build quality but employ more affordable materials to keep prices down.
This family of brands has something for everyone. Whether you like the no-holds-barred quality of the WE line, the enthusiast’s darling CIVIVI, or SENCUT’s unbeatable sub-$50 lineup, you’ll get luxury features and dialed construction on all of it.
Kizer Knives
Kizer was among the first brands to bring Western materials and designs to China. It found its niche in realizing the fantastic designs of Justin Lundquist, Chris Conaway, Nick Swan, and many others.
Over the years, they’ve also developed a few game-changing in-house designs, like the Militaw and the Original. Kizer was one of the first Chinese brands in the knife game, and they still run with the big dogs!
Kizer
Price: $$
Founded: 2012
Popular Models:
Reate Knives
Reate is world-renowned for the quality of its knives, so much so that some of the best knifemakers in the world are lining up for Reate to manufacture their designs.
When I asked Ramon Chavez of Chaves Knives why his production folders were made in China, he responded: "Because Reate makes the best frame lock in the world."
That’s extremely high praise. But Reate doesn’t just do frame locks: the people behind it are chronic innovators. Just look at the Pivot Lock on the PL-6 or the EXO gravity knife!
Reate
Price: $$$
Founded: 2012
Popular Models:
Artisan Cutlery / CJRB
The Artisan Cutlery family is known for its actions and their materials. Knives like the Pyrite and the Revel have won the hearts of enthusiasts.
Its button locks are some of the snappiest and most crisp in the business, and the innovative spray-form AR-RPM9 steel offers stellar performance and excellent pricing.
Artisan Cutlery is committed to preserving high-quality craftsmanship and wowing you with its designs.
Kansept / Tenable
The name "Kansept" comes from the word "concept"—an idea, a new innovation, thoughtfulness—and its logo is a stylized UFO, cultivating the feeling of flying into the future.
Kansept Knives has a well-earned positive reputation, using premium materials and precision manufacturing to produce the best. It also offers OEM services and collaborates with custom knifemakers.
Bestech / Bestechman
Few knives look quite as good as Bestech knives. Their mastery of lines, contours, grinds, and finishing makes for some truly stunning blades and handles.
EDC powerhouses like the Goodboy series from Bestechman, or even tactical blades like the Strelit, all look way better than they have any right to, especially for their hyper-competitive prices!
QSP Knives
Quality. Service. Price. That’s what QSP stands for, and boy, do they deliver!
Few knives have been more recommended to beginners than the Penguin. It, like all its brethren, offers a winning balance of material quality, mechanical simplicity, and affordability.
Before launching its consumer brand, QSP spent years doing OEM work for other companies.
QSP
Price: $$
Founded: 2017
Popular Models:
Petrified Fish
Petrified Fish delivers unbelievable quality for the price. They’re masters of D2 and K110 steel, providing stellar heat treats and perfectly honed edges right out of the box.
Also, you’d be hard-pressed to find a smoother, easier action on any out-of-the-box knife made anywhere.
Value is about getting more for less. Petrified Fish takes that to the extreme: you get a lot for very little.
Petrified Fish
Price: $
Founded: 2018
Popular Models:
KUNWU
KUNWU has built a reputation for combining premium materials, precision machining, and innovative engineering at a highly competitive price point.
This brand is especially known for its excellent fit and finish, high-performance blade steels, and thoughtful attention to detail throughout its designs.
KUNWU
Price: $$
Founded: 2020
Popular Models:
Vosteed Knives
Some knife companies pride themselves on innovation and pushing the envelope. Others aim to provide great quality for a great price.
Somehow, Vosteed does both.
It was the first on the top liner lock craze once it entered the public domain, mastering a mechanism many thought too difficult.
In recent years, it’s cooked up several new mechanisms, found new ways to finish titanium, and still has one of the best sub-$100 lineups of any knife company in the world.
Vosteed
Price: $$
Founded: 2021
Popular Models:
Should You Buy a Chinese Knife?
One thing we love about these brands is that they aren’t American companies that contract with a Chinese factory.
Each of these brands is Chinese-owned and Chinese-operated and holds its products to the highest standards.
They serve as a reminder that the knife community truly is worldwide, and great knives are being made everywhere!
So, should you buy?
Well, if you’re in the market for a good knife, you won’t be disappointed by any of the above brands.
You might even be impressed.
Sweet Knives Exclusive to Blade HQ
Blade HQ has worked with many of the above brands to produce exclusive colorways for some of their most popular models. Check out some of them below!
Shop Exclusive Chinese Knives
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Tenable Knives Kryo Crossbar Lock Knife Green Micarta (3.6" SW) T1001V6MSRP: $80.00Our Price: $55.90 -
Bestechman Goodboy Jr. Button Lock Knife Blue Ti (M390) BHQ ExclusiveMSRP: $199.95Our Price: $139.95 -
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FAQ
Are Chinese knives good quality?
Yes, many of them are. The quality of a knife isn’t determined by its country of origin.
What is the best Chinese knife brand?
Reate is widely considered one of the best knife manufacturers, even outside of China.
Are WE Knife and CIVIVI the same company?
Yes. WE Knife Co., CIVIVI, and SENCUT are all part of the same company.
Are Reate knives worth the money?
Yes. Reate knives are nearly flawlessly made. They have in-house designs as well as many designs from popular knifemakers around the world, one of which is sure to strike your fancy.
Why are so many custom production knives made in China?
Because a lot of Chinese companies are set up to manufacture knives at lower costs without compromising on quality. Many of these companies are set up in Yangjiang, China—a knifemaking hub with a tight ecosystem—which helps keep prices low.
What is OEM?
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturing. Companies that offer OEM services essentially manufacture various parts and products for other parties.
What Chinese knife companies offer OEM services?
Many Chinese knife companies have offered or currently offer OEM services, including Reate, Bestech, QSP, WE Knife Co., and others.
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