A Man’s gotta know his limitations

PhilL

PhilL

Joined
Oct 1, 1999
Messages
6,490
As a Knifenuts education and taste improve it’s not long before you come to the realization that you’re never going to own all the knives from all the custom makers you admire. Luckily the manufacturers realize this also and it seems like every week a new collaboration is announced.

I admit I was heartbroken when Outdoor Edge announced the Appleton/Cosmos wasn’t going to happen. There are still several collabs coming out that are of great interest to me. Knives that I know are beyond my means to own the custom versions from the same makers. High on my list would be the DeltaZ/ Tim Herman production version of the Sliver, and the Camillus/ Jerry Fisk Bowie. Two new ones I may have to add to the list are from CAS Iberia, the Ron Lake “Interframe stag folder” and the Bill Moran “Kenshar” that I just saw on the back cover of Blade Magazine Nov. 2001 issue. I’ll admit I have no idea of the quality or price of these last two, but they sure have me looking.

Does anyone have any info on these two CAS Iberia knives?
What collaborations are you waiting for?
Do these collabs fill a niche in anyone else’s collection?
 
I'll probably pick up an OE/ET Paragee. I was bummed out over the Cosmos, too. My financial situatin will be straind over the next year so I'll be doing more drooling than anything. A Tom Mayo collaboration would be sweet......

Paul
 
The interest that I have in collaborations is that they are a knife that is based on a knife that I would never be able to afford and even if I could I would never use them.

The CAS Ron Lake and Bill Moran do look very interesting and are prime examples of knives that if they were the originals I could never afford them. I hope they are good knive, they look the part.
 
Phil! I am surprised at you. ;)

I thought you've said many times before that 'you were done with production knives'. In my confused way of looking a knife collecting, a collaboration knife is still a productiion knife no matter how good the quality.

If you end up buying two or three collaboraion knives, you will probably have spent almost as much as you would buying a single treasured custom knife. Since I already have more using knives than I really need or will ever be able to use, I am holding out for the real thing. I realize I can't afford them all, but I can afford to wait until I can afford what I really want.

I would much rather have a real Tim Herman Sliver than the production version when it comes out. The production version will always seem just a little bit inferior. Unfortunately, it looks like I will never have enough money to buy a real Herman.

I am not trying to be a snob. Before I purchased my two custom daily carry folders, I carried a Spyderco Centofante, a BM Mel Pardue designed 850, or a Kershaw Ken Onion mini-task knife. I like all of these knives a great deal, and they still find their way into my pockets from time to time, but I would gladly trade all three and more cash to own a single Centofante, Onion, or Pardue made custom knife.

I am always impressed by the guys who say stuff like "I have over a hundred nice production knives, but I can't afford a single custom". I have nothing against collaborations between custom makers and the knife companies. I think such arrangements work out well for everyone involved: makers, companies, and customers. But I have moved on from that stage.

Quality of Quantity. Handmade over machine made. The work of a makers heart, mind, and soul over a great design made by a team of hired hands. Call me crazy if you like ;)

Para, 'custom' knife knut
 
Para, I hope your not gonna try to approach Tim about that custom Sliver. You should wait for the collab model on that one buddy!:p

Phil, I feel as if I need to make a list of all the collab's I'm waiting for. Trying to remember them all is a job for The Amazing Kreskin.
 
I've now ordered 2 custom knives, both by forgers/smiths. I don't know how many, if any, I'll buy in future, but part of what Paracelsus said about the soul of the maker being involved in the knife makes a great deal of sense to me insofar as forged blades go. I believe that most or all the customs I buy will be from bladesmiths.

I do a great deal of drooling over beautiful custom folders. Some are just fantastic. But those I like the most, I have great trouble believing I would ever make users of them. I also do considerable drooling over manufactured knives, in particular collaboration models. While they certainly can be display or "collection" knives, the chances of using such a knife without breaking the bank, even tho they may be somewhat inferior to the originals makes them truly more attractive to me than most of the originals from which they sprang.

The knives I've drooled over most lately have been some of the innovative, "cool" smaller manufactured knives. Most are highly affordable, have coolness up the ying yang, and I will likely buy at some point. Very likely, I'll only continue to collect pictures of the many customs I so admire.
 
Originally posted by Paracelsus

I thought you've said many times before that 'you were done with production knives'. In my confused way of looking a knife collecting, a collaboration knife is still a productiion knife no matter how good the quality.

I am not trying to be a snob.
Click to expand...

I don't think there's ever been a time when a production knife wasn't on my "Want List." For almost two years it's been the Cosmos. So I have no idea what you're talking about. :confused:

The simple fact is I love the style of the knives mentioned. I don't know how you do your math, but my guess is just the Lake Interframe would be equal in value to all of my knives combined. Would I trade every knife I own for a real Lake Interframe? No, I wouldn't, but I would consider buying the production version. Do I think it's the same thing as owning the custom version? No of course not, it's a compromise. I'm surprised you can't understand the concept.

I know you're not trying to be a snob, you are one without trying at all. :p
 
I colelct fixed blades, but use folders. I also don't want to buy a whole bunch of folders, as that si good money that I can use towards my collection!

There are 2 folders that I'm going to buy. Both of them are Kit Carson factory collabs. I suspect that it is no coincidence that both blades I want are collabs. The collaborations have filled a great void: production knvies that are REAL users! Custom makers are great at getting the little thigns right that make a good design great. Collabs are their way of teaching factories how to acheve great results.

Phil: I'l change my name to Lake, slap some stag on a folder and etch my new name on the blade for ONLY $6000. How's that sound? :)
 
I'm still gonna be real happy when I get my Spyderco/Lum fixed blade tanto!
 
Before Bladeforums, I've been collecting knives since about 1973, and had maybe 120-130 knives. Only 3 were handmades, more if you include the Randall's, and the rest were production. Now remember the knife market has taken off in the last few years, even the production end. Many of my knives were jewels found at yard sales, flea markets and gun shows. Each one had a story and a personality, and the thrill was in the hunt. In the last 2 years I have sold most of them(some were also stolen in a burglary) to buy customs and a few to help with kids tuition. I have about 30 customs now and love each one, but I sure do miss some of those production knives. When you find a knife at a sale somewhere, take it home and clean it up, look up the value in Levine's, you get attached to them. It's not like seeing a production you like, ordering it, and here it is, squeeky clean, sterile, and no story.
There was the military knife I got at a yard sale for $1, cleaned it up, and it sold for over $125 on ebay, and the list goes on. I sure miss most of them though I wouldn't get rid of my customs now either.
Would I buy a collaboration, sure, if I liked it, and it was made in America. No flames please, buy what you like, but I made my choice to support American workers such as myself.
To get back to the original subject, those knives look good Phil, go for it.
Dave
 
I was informed last night that the CAS/Lake Interframe has a MSRP of $500. :eek:
If that's true than the knife is no longer an option for me as an affordable compromise. As much as I like the design I couldn't rationalize paying that amount of money for it.
 
I was just looking at Mr Langs cybermag, my heart sank when I saw the name Herman. (BTW - they never mentioned the repulsive personal habits that so many mention here. :)) Like Pavlovs dogs, the drool came on cue.

I have emailed Mr Herman in the past and realize that, barring my winning the lottery, my chances of owning one of his knives are nil.

That being said, I don't think I will buy a collaboration, at least not of his work. I would dearly love to own a Sliver, but one not made by Herman...? No.

I have a few collaborations, most are good knives, well made by good companies...but it's not the same. I will continue to buy production knives but, I think there will be few collaborations.

I think Para is correct...

The work of a makers heart, mind, and soul...
Click to expand...

...is gaining importance, at least to me.


Steve-O
 
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