So yesterday, I read on KS tools Instagram, that they have been copied. Think he said formor co worker even, but don't quote me on that.
The owner of ks tools have been sick lately, and now seeing that he have been copied and underpriced, to the spirit from him a little.
Pew. I know all businesses get inspiration ect. And I do that a lot in my leatherwork. But I can't but feel said for the guy.


KS blade hole punches are on a different level. Too bad i still cant get individual punches... would suck to be ripped off.
I am not sure if you would label this as copying. But to me, designs or rather a concept such as this would not be considered 'copied' or rather a blatant ripoff in my opinion.
Anyway, this tool (bought from China) perhaps was inspired by KS Blade, but I can see that the tool maker did make it a distinction in terms of changing how aesthetically it looks. The subtle curves, perhaps you can say the surface treatment and colour is different.
However, right away some people might say "Oh, another KS knockoff!"
So... I find that subjective?
In my books, copying is something along those lines whereby if you place them side by side, they really look strikingly similar, from the packaging all the way down to the size, shape, colour of the tool.
Yeah I have spoken to someone who knows both guys involved in the feud. Personally this has been an example on why you should keep emotions out of business.
KS has gone the wrong route in dealing with this and my prediction is that as soon as another company comes along with a cool looking iron or one of the 30K+ Instaleather influencers promotes the latest iron, they will both die.
If Amy Roke or god forbid Blanchard were to launch a new model right about now, they would take back Alpha Iron status with little effort.
Phil
Playing the devil's advocate here...
I think it is really hard to prevent that from happening, every successful design definitely would be copied (a matter of when) eventually.
In China, it's quite bad, as this design is copied a couple of times from what I have seen so far. Who knows, since the country is so big, there might be even more!
From what I have gathered from friends who live there, usually toolmakers who send their tools to 3rd party manufacturers would definitely get their design stolen to certain degree, and depending on how well the tool sells, it would eventually get replicated.
But yeah, that's China, its so common, its 'accepted'?
For the rest of world, probably not? I am not sure.