A counterfeit knife, also known as a “Clone” or “Fake” are knives that are designed to resemble a popular or expensive brand, like SOG, Spyderco, Benchmade, Microtech, etc. These counterfeit knives closely resemble an existing model and even include the manufacturer’s brand name to trick the buyer into purchasing it. Regardless, it’s never 100% identical.

Counterfeit knives are very popular today due to their high profitability and low risk. The sellers will often state their product is made in the same factory as the original; however, this is almost never the case. Companies simply wouldn’t allow their manufacturer(s) to sell their own knives on the black market as it would violate their own legal agreement, as well as violate the trust of their customers that rely on the authenticity of their brand.

Regardless of how much you may like a counterfeit knife don’t purchase it. You don’t know anything about the quality, materials, heat treatment, corrosion resistance, or durability. These are very important factors because if the knife breaks, a person could seriously injure themself or someone else. Also, purchasing a counterfeit keeps the trade alive. In short, the best advice is to avoid deals that are too good to be true, especially if being sold as “new” at a ridiculously low price.

The following photos are examples of counterfeit SOG Knives being sold on eBay and knife and gun shows – buyer BEWARE!