Well back to the OP ... Cheapies have their place - cutting up trash or firewood. But for carpentry work I always buy a) a carbide tipped blade and b) a name brand like Freud. They're not always American made and personally, since I'm not American, I couldn't care less. When Sears went under all their inventory got sold for pennies on the dollar and you can go to swapmeets or flea markets and buy a 12" Craftsman blade for $10.. You can't beat that regardless where they're made.