What I Think About Ganzo
This post is in response to Kevin Cleary’s video titled “What I Think About Ganzo” Published Apr. 6, 2018
I am finding that the new popular thing to do these days is to bash Ganzo, discontinue doing business with them and to criticize them for copying well-known designs, but prior to a few weeks or a few months ago, this practice was perfectly acceptable to feature on people’s channels.
To me, the sudden switch tells two things. One, it is a group-think process, and now because one channel has done it, others will follow. And two, morals regarding right vs. wrong are being applied inconsistently. Yesterday it was perfectly okay to support companies that steal designs, and today it isn’t okay at all. The switch is practically an admission of guilt.
If you are going to throw Ganzo under the bus for copying well-known designs, then you should also not support Marfione with his copying of the ZT 0777. Same goes for the converse; if you are going to throw Marfione under the bus for copying the ZT 0777, then you should also throw Ganzo under the bus for copying well-known designs.
Or, you could just support both companies because the copying issue is not an issue worth sweating over. The consistency here is that morals are not applied to the argument at all. To be in full compliance with one’s morals over this issue is as Kevin Cleary points out, nearly impossible. It’s a lot less work to just not bother applying morals to this issue, and you, as the consumer have access to many more blades compared to someone who only buys “conflict-free” knives, and by that I mean a knife that is not cloned, not overseas produced, supports a worker’s family of four with full benefits, and lifts them out of poverty and into the upper-middle class.
In short, if you are going to apply morals to the argument, then apply the moral argument consistently. The moral argument is weakened if it is not applied throughout all things.
For me, I obviously don’t apply morals when it comes to buying knives. I simply buy a product, and only the product that is in the box. I don’t buy a knife for a fancy box, paperwork, warranty service (the best one is the one you never have to use), and I certainly don’t base my purchases on the company’s history, nor mission statement. I simply buy what is in the box and nothing more. I care more about materials, fit and finish, and price point; and could care less about corporate social responsibility initiatives, social justice, or customer service.
