Shimano Rods made in...........China!!!!?????

[retiredbosn]

Went to the tackle store today to handle a few Shimano rods. Was quite suprised to see the made in China stickers. I had no idea, thought Shimano was made in Japan.  Who makes rods somewhere besides China?

[J Francho]

Most entry to mid level rods are made in China.  I'm pretty sure my St. Croix Avids and Kistlers are made in the USA.  Even some of my Daiwa reels are made in Korea, but the higher end models like TD-X, Sol, TD-Z are made in Japan.

[Jimzee]

Most of the low to mid range rods are made overseas. This is how they are available at that price point. Shimano does manufacture rods in Japan but they are fairly pricey.

Take a look at some of them here.

[The_Natural]

As stated, most low to mid-level rods are made overseas. Most people would rather spend the majority of their budget on the rod's components versus its manufacturing costs.

[Stasher1]

Most entry to mid level rods are made in China. I'm pretty sure my St. Croix Avids and Kistlers are made in the USA. Even some of my Daiwa reels are made in Korea, but the higher end models like TD-X, Sol, TD-Z are made in Japan.

My Kistler Magnesium TS was made in china.

[J Francho]

Kistler recently moved production in house:http://www.tackletour.com/reviewicast2008kistler.html.  You're probably right about my Kistlers though, since I bought them last year.

[retiredbosn]

It is global economics 101, the companies are going to take the factories to the cheapest place they can get the work done.  I will look again at the cumaras and other models the clarus and compres were marked China.  Did you know that most of the parts for Benellis are made in Turkey and assembled in Italy, Smith and Wesson's factory is now in Turkey.  It is just the way things are now, the global market will end up destroying our standard of living and wage base, because if american companies are going to compete the everyone will have to work for less.

[burleytog]

Kistler recently moved production in house:http://www.tackletour.com/reviewicast2008kistler.html. You're probably right about my Kistlers though, since I bought them last year.

Helium and Helium II are manufactured in the US.  All other lines are manufactured in China.

[Stasher1]

It is global economics 101, the companies are going to take the factories to the cheapest place they can get the work done. I will look again at the cumaras and other models the clarus and compres were marked China. Did you know that most of the parts for Benellis are made in Turkey and assembled in Italy, Smith and Wesson's factory is now in Turkey. It is just the way things are now, the global market will end up destroying our standard of living and wage base, because if american companies are going to compete the everyone will have to work for less.

I know my Crucial was made in china.

[dave]

VERY FEW made in USA. Look for the stickers on A LOT of high end rods. Not just mid range. Made in China. Burley is correct, you can see it on the Kistler website. When I first owned (still have a few) even the California and Graphite Plus rods were made in Texas. A few that still have almost all are Castaway, St. Croix, Loomis, and and not many more. Just call your favorite high end rod company and they'll tell you, China.

[rynobass]

If you are looking for a made in the USA rod the is in mid price ranges look at B&R outlaw rods they cost $129.99 and are maded in Arkasas

[ArcticCat500]

I was also informed that the higher end G-Blanks rods are made in the US.

[burleytog]

I was also informed that the higher end G-Blanks rods are made in the US.

All G-Blanks are assembled in the US.

[tritz18]

my st. croix premier series crankbait rod is made in the USA

[Calcutta]

My carrot stick was made in china. Some how its high quality.

[retiredbosn]

I was also informed that the higher end G-Blanks rods are made in the US.

All G-Blanks are assembled in the US.

So are they made or assembled in America. There is a difference, assembled means the components were made somewhere else and shipped here and put together. Also it doesn't take much to be able to advertised made in ....... , the components for the rods can come from all over the globe final assembly in the USA can be as easy as graphics, and installing a butt cap and you can advertised made in USA. Benelli, Beretta and other gun manufacturers have it down to an art. The wood comes from Turkey or Africa, the action parts from Turkey, the barrel Italy, all are assembled in Italy, but your Benelli or Beretta are all stamped made in Italy. They make car manufacturers put this information on the window sticker but other manufacturers don't have to reveal such information. So in short it is really impossible to know where your rod was actually manufactured only assembled.

Companies that admit some of the rods are made in China but others in America, you can bet all the blanks come from the same place, just assembled somewhere else.  Think about it, the cork is from another country, the guides another, the seat , etc.  Unless the product you purchase has a bonafide factory that is producing the blanks and rods that you can see and verify, chances are the blanks are from overseas and the rods assembled here.  A custom rod maker may be able to tell you where the actual blanks come from.  I know you can order the blanks and by law the blank should be marked as to where it was manufactured.  I wouldn't be suprised that the companies making rod blanks also make golf club shafts, just makes sense economically for the companies.

[Guest beowulfx71]

It does make a difference where its assembled USA factories have good quality control, Chinese dont. Its outrageous that Shimanos Crucials are as costly as a St Croix Avid considering they are made in China.

[Stasher1]

It does make a difference where its assembled USA factories have good quality control, Chinese dont. Its outrageous that Shimanos Crucials are as costly as a St Croix Avid considering they are made in China.

Complete BS.  : Most companies the size of Shimano farm out lots of work to Chinese factories, and it's these large companies that set the quality cotrol standards, NOT the Chinese factories. They simply manufacture a product to specifications supplied by their customers. If the customer demands a quality product, they receive a quality product.

[fourbizz]

I was also informed that the higher end G-Blanks rods are made in the US.

All G-Blanks are assembled in the US.

So are they made or assembled in America. There is a difference, assembled means the components were made somewhere else and shipped here and put together. Also it doesn't take much to be able to advertised made in ....... , the components for the rods can come from all over the globe final assembly in the USA can be as easy as graphics, and installing a butt cap and you can advertised made in USA. Benelli, Beretta and other gun manufacturers have it down to an art. The wood comes from Turkey or Africa, the action parts from Turkey, the barrel Italy, all are assembled in Italy, but your Benelli or Beretta are all stamped made in Italy. They make car manufacturers put this information on the window sticker but other manufacturers don't have to reveal such information. So in short it is really impossible to know where your rod was actually manufactured only assembled.

Companies that admit some of the rods are made in China but others in America, you can bet all the blanks come from the same place, just assembled somewhere else. Think about it, the cork is from another country, the guides another, the seat , etc. Unless the product you purchase has a bonafide factory that is producing the blanks and rods that you can see and verify, chances are the blanks are from overseas and the rods assembled here. A custom rod maker may be able to tell you where the actual blanks come from. I know you can order the blanks and by law the blank should be marked as to where it was manufactured. I wouldn't be suprised that the companies making rod blanks also make golf club shafts, just makes sense economically for the companies.

Yeah burley. Now you know what the difference is. How can you be such an invalid?

[Raul]

It does make a difference where its assembled USA factories have good quality control, Chinese dont. Its outrageous that Shimanos Crucials are as costly as a St Croix Avid considering they are made in China.

Nonsense.

[The_Natural]

It does make a difference where its assembled USA factories have good quality control, Chinese dont. Its outrageous that Shimanos Crucials are as costly as a St Croix Avid considering they are made in China.

Nonsense.

I agree with Raul. A strictly ran Chinese factory isn't the most common...they may only represent the top 10% ro 5% of the factories over there. Most companies want the cheapest way to assemble or manufacture possible, and there are plenty of ho-hum factories that will make your product for pennies. My Daiwa Zillion and Quantum PT Superlite rods have been mistake free. However; I won't buy a reel that is made in China, or the USA for that matter. I'd own the new Quantum Tour Edition versus an Ardent. I wish things were different.

BTW...Gblanks just represents a guy who custom builds rods in Tulsa, OK.  Other than a website and probably an LLC account at his bank to deposit checks...he is just a custom rod builder like Fletchero. I forget his name, but he builds every rod. Of course some components are made overseas...like Fuji guides. But St. Croix and Loomis use them as well.

[burleytog]

BTW...Gblanks just represents a guy who custom builds rods in Tulsa, OK. Other than a website and probably an LLC account at his bank to deposit checks...he is just a custom rod builder like Fletchero. I forget his name, but he builds every rod. Of course some components are made overseas...like Fuji guides. But St. Croix and Loomis use them as well.

Surely you jest...