Down the tube

[ColoSwiss]

Was just browsing through the Richartz web site and it appears they've dropped all the picnic/hobo type knives, and all their current models are made in China. Guess that puts an end to what was once a decent brand. Maybe need to add a note to their write-up in the wiki.

http://www.richartz.com/

[enki_ck]

Sorry to read this.

http://www.richartz.com/de/produkte/

Any idea when it happened? These models were offered before too but I didn't read the description to see the country of manufacture.

[ColoSwiss]

Sorry to read this.

http://www.richartz.com/de/produkte/

Any idea when it happened? These models were offered before too but I didn't read the description to see the country of manufacture.

Some of them look identical to earlier made-in-Germany models, so don't know when the change-over happened. Recall seeing some picnics on their site within the last couple of years so it's probably fairly recent.

Maybe add:

"Around 2014 (?) Richartz dropped their well-known line of 'picnic/hobo' knives and transferred other production from Germany to China."

[meanx]

That's really sad news, their quality standard was always very high, seems nowadays everything is going down the drain, the term "Made To Last" is but a distant memory, and replaced by "The quicker they break the more we can sell" 

[enki_ck]

Will do the edit tomorrow.

Do you have any of these new China made ones? How's the quality? 

[ColoSwiss]

Will do the edit tomorrow.

Do you have any of these new China made ones? How's the quality?

Haven't bought a Richartz in years. All of mine are German-made.

[enki_ck]

Maybe lowtech has played with one of the new ones.

[lowtech]

He has not. I am tempted to buy oen for a comparison, but I fear they will only be a shadow of their past quality.
The Multitools always were rebranded chinese ones, AFAIk, but the Pocket knives were made in Germany and of very good quality.
I was a bout to sell all mine but I think under these circumstances I´ll keep a few.

I just phoned them. could notz believe it, but apparently the stuff is nearly completely made in china now. Sad indeed.
The lady said maybe they have soem batches of Solingen produced knives left.
anybody interested in a group buy or a MTO-Run?! 
I could do the inquiring.

[kirk13]

Might be good...

Yeah count me in on that 

[enki_ck]

Edits done.

Thomas, if you do get some of the new ones, please remember to update us on the quality.

[Mr. Whippy]

I'd be interested, but only if they're Made in Germany.  This just makes me sad.

[lowtech]

I´ll ask if there is a batch of Solingen-Made pocket knives left.

[ColoSwiss]

I'd be interested in a Picnic 7 (Picnic with scissors). Prefer Optima but any handle style will do. Thanks for checking. 

[ColoSwiss]

I'd be interested in a Picnic 7 (Picnic with scissors). Prefer Optima but any handle style will do. Thanks for checking. 

Correction: Any metal handled series (Optima, Ultima, Structure) will do. In the past Richartz offered some pretty bilious colors on their plastic-handled knives.

[lowtech]

Let´s see what they have left.
If they have nothing left, I can supply a Picnic, Coloswiss.

[ColoSwiss]

Let´s see what they have left.
If they have nothing left, I can supply a Picnic, Coloswiss.

Appreciate the offer, but I already have a couple of Richartz Picnics (below). Was interested only in the version with the scissors. Suspect they are rare as I never saw one for sale. 

[lowtech]

The wood scaled one looks nice - I have a maple scaled pockedt knife and do like those scales.
You are right that the Picnic with scissors is rather rare. While I have different knives with scissors and have/had different Picnics, I have never owned a Picnic with Scissors.

How do you rate teh quality of the Richartz knives to Wenger and victorinox?

[twiliter]

How do you rate teh quality of the Richartz knives to Wenger and victorinox?

How important is quality anymore? The new formula for success is to produce substandard products for the undiscerning masses. MicroTech, Schrade, Gerber, even Vic (AutoTool, clothing, luggage, etc., etc.) among many others. Coleman, Craftsman, etc., etc.

Cheap third rate products (China) are profitable (for them), while quality is just old fashioned. Consumers are forced to compromise, and most of them are oblivious to it.

It's a sad state of affairs.

Unfortunate that Richartz has sunk to third rate status.

[enki_ck]

I'm reserving my comments regarding quality till I or one of us has had one in my hands. There are some tools that get produced in China, Thailand, ... that manage to keep a level of quality. Hope it's the case here too and Richartz doesn't ruin their name and reputation completely.

It just saddens me that a company with a history of knife manufacture closes gates, we had that happen much too often.

[ColoSwiss]

The wood scaled one looks nice - I have a maple scaled pockedt knife and do like those scales.
You are right that the Picnic with scissors is rather rare. While I have different knives with scissors and have/had different Picnics, I have never owned a Picnic with Scissors.

How do you rate teh quality of the Richartz knives to Wenger and victorinox?

They seem(ed) to be of decent quality, but I never carried one for more than a day or so at a time, generally when I wanted to impress someone with the picnic feature. Their Picnics are a lot handier to carry than the bigger Aitors; and easier to use than the Cases, which have some awkward angles.