The original knife thread.

Replicant said:
I don't think people truly understand the damage that private equity groups do to American businesses, and the American people.
Click to expand...
They understand the end result, most people just don't know it's private equity that's causing the enshitification of good brands.

1. Buy up good, successful brand to add as one of many in a portfolio.
2. Scrap it for parts
3. Re-create product lines to resemble original, but made as cheaply as possible while still passing as almost the same thing
4. Get employment within the company down to bare-minimums at best. Skeleton crews basically.
5. Sell portfolio
6. Start over with more brands.
 
Evan B said:
They understand the end result, most people just don't know it's private equity that's causing the enshitification of good brands.

1. Buy up good, successful brand to add as one of many in a portfolio.
2. Scrap it for parts
3. Re-create product lines to resemble original, but made as cheaply as possible while still passing as almost the same thing
4. Get employment within the company down to bare-minimums at best. Skeleton crews basically.
5. Sell portfolio
6. Start over with more brands.
Click to expand...
Estimated that 600,000 jobs have been lost in just over a decade, due to private equity groups. Private equity groups, frequently file for chapter 11, bankruptcy by design. The firm itself does not file, but the company they hold. The purpose is simply to get all the money into the hands of a few. Should be illegal.
 
Back on topic, and speaking of Schrade.

A before and after of a Walden era Woodsman.

IMG_4203.JPG

A former owner used the handle to stir paint and varnish. The blade is excellent. Lucky to find a replacement, new old stock sheath as well.

IMG_3588.JPG
 
SurfnFish said:
a good friend of mine is in the Leatherman family, who make all their tools and knives in Oregon. Expanding their knife line is in their current planning.
Click to expand...
I recently heard for the first time the tale of the Old Leatherman. I feel like Leatherman needs to integrate this somehow. I’m not sure how exactly, but still…

The Old Leather Man – The Watertown History Museum

watertownhistorymuseum.org watertownhistorymuseum.org
 
Replicant said:
Estimated that 600,000 jobs have been lost in just over a decade, due to private equity groups. Private equity groups, frequently file for chapter 11, bankruptcy by design. The firm itself does not file, but the company they hold. The purpose is simply to get all the money into the hands of a few. Should be illegal.
Click to expand...
was involved in over two dozen company acquisitions, as whenever my company bought others I was one of the first ones through the front door (on the qt) well before close as I would be adding their facilities to the portfolio I managed. Companies are usually bought for one or more of three reasons:
-purchase to acquire intellectual property
--purchase to acquire their customer market share
-purchase to acquire their workforce
If the purchasing company doesn't include the third reason for the acquisition, layoffs are inevitable.

Private equity buy and dumps are a whole other deal, inevitably a matter of hostile takeovers of distressed/under performing companies for cheap whose combined assets are worth more than their purchase price, sell off those assets, close the doors. Pretty much the pond scum of corporate raiders.
 
SurfnFish said:
was involved in over two dozen company acquisitions, as whenever my company bought others I was one of the first ones through the front door (on the qt) well before close as I would be adding their facilities to the portfolio I managed. Companies are usually bought for one or more of three reasons:
-purchase to acquire intellectual property
--purchase to acquire their customer market share
-purchase to acquire their workforce
If the purchasing company doesn't include the third reason for the acquisition, layoffs are inevitable.

Private equity buy and dumps are a whole other deal, inevitably a matter of hostile takeovers of distressed/under performing companies for cheap whose combined assets are worth more than their purchase price, sell off those assets, close the doors. Pretty much the pond scum of corporate raiders.
Click to expand...
This last paragrpah describes what happened to Pacific Lumber Co. It more or less sustainably managed its redwoods for generations, sent the kids in the town to college, paid good wages, etc. Not much liquidity though, its wealth was in standing redwoods.

Along comes Charlie Hurwitz of Maxxam Corp. He was involved in the Michael Milken junk bonds scandal and needed money fast. Using his ill-gotten gains, he engineered a hostile takeover of Pacific Lumber Co. and started liquidating its assets as fast as he could. Those assets, again, were standing redwoods. That is what led to "Redwood Summer," the bombing of Judi Bari, the long treesit by Julia Butterfly Hill, and all the protests over the cutting of redwoods in the 1990s.
 
Some more of my collection. There's probably another 20 various knives in bags or boxes here in the house that I've misplaced.
So, CRKT SPEW, which has been a daily carrier.
A New Old Timer 970 fresh out the box
A new in box Buck 113
And a Gerber Tri Tip

I have 2 Old Timer 250T's, again, somewhere. One is new chineseium and the other, made in USA, I carried for well over 30 years to including my service time.
 

Attachments

  • 20250328_164719.jpg
    20250328_164719.jpg
    819.5 KB · Views: 13
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top