A question about Customs

[jimh0220]

I have admired a bunch of the customs on the knifemakers forums. I love the artistic beauty and workmanship of the knives, and want to buy many of them for myself (budget does not allow currently).

I notice, however, that the price is a vast difference from production knifes (usually), and I, as an artist (photographer... I wish I had the talent to make knives!) as to why you have to charge more for limited or one off pieces, so I don't question that. What I want to know is, when I get one (someday), does the feel of the knife match the price, or will the knife feel like any other knife other than the handmade and artistic aspects?

No bull here. I really want to know how the feel of these knives differs.

Thanks for your honesty.

 

[t1mpani]

Unfortunately, you're asking for a black or white determination on a very grey subject. A woman can be everything one person is looking for, and impossibly irritating to his friend. I love my big truck, and my neighbor wouldn't be caught dead in anything that doesn't get 40 mpg.

In addition to the 'different strokes for different folks' problem, there's also the issue of the makers themselves. There's a broad stretch of styles here, and a range of talent from fairly competent to genius, and everything in between. I've bought some customs that didn't live up to my expectations, others that greatly exceeded them. Some share my feelings about what is the "right" feel for a knife, and some don't. There are some very well respected makers with very long waiting lists whose work leaves me cold, but that's just preference, and it's as un-quantifiable as ever.

I'll tell you this, though---customs outnumber my production knives now probably ten to one (I don't even want to think about what it's really added up to cost-wise). If you want the real experience, instead of just buying one that comes up for sale, get with a maker whose style you like and design a knife for him or her to make for you. I very much like being able to say, "I want this steel and that handle material and the blade this long/that wide and to balance a little forward of the guard and to have a fairly robust point but still pointed enough that I can dig a splinter if I need to..." and on and on and on. Being able to pick something up that's really right, exactly what YOU wanted it to be, is well worth it as far as I'm concerned, and not a feeling you often get to have in this increasingly mass-produced world.

 

[Kevin Jones]

The answer to your question is only a little over 200 miles away from you this weekend.
As you can visit with dozens upon dozens of custom knife makers and get the feel for
hundreds of custom knives at the Oregon Knife Collectors Association show in Eugene.

You will find a wide selection of custom knives starting probably around $150 to the finest pieces you could ever hope to see in a "pistol & bowie" set and bowie which Bruce Bump will have on display.

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/okcashow.html

 

[the possum]

when I get one (someday), does the feel of the knife match the price, or will the knife feel like any other knife other than the handmade and artistic aspects?

No bull here. I really want to know how the feel of these knives differs.

I'm trying to follow you here- what kind of "feel" are you talking about or looking for? Are you talking about warmly finished handle materials or something? The feeling they give you when you hold that knife that you just know is "the one"? Or are you talking about balance or something? Static or dynamic balance?

 

[RogerP]

"Feel" is very subjective. Kevin's advice is sound - attend a show and find out for yourself if a variety of differnt designs feel better to the only person that matters - you. Also keep in mind what should be an abvious point - not all customs feel the same - which is why making a generalized comment about them as a group is probably not going to be terribly informative.

Roger

 

[betzner]

The answer to your question is only a little over 200 miles away from you this weekend.
As you can visit with dozens upon dozens of custom knife makers and get the feel for
hundreds of custom knives at the Oregon Knife Collectors Association show in Eugene.

You will find a wide selection of custom knives starting probably around $150 to the finest pieces you could ever hope to see in a "pistol & bowie" set and bowie which Bruce Bump will have on display.

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/okcashow.html

In answer to your question, the above is the best advice you will get.

Best,

Bob

 

[Djinn]

To me (as an artist, luthier, and knifemaker and lover of art, guitars, and knives) it like the difference between having a gallery advertisement poster, a limited edition, and an original work by an artist. With knives a Factory production knife's value lies only in it's usefulness as a tool (unless you are in the antique market), a Factory LTD's value lies in it's rarity, and a hand made knife is a singular work of art often of higher functionality due to design materials and care of construction heat treating etc.
Take for instance the Kershaw Ken Onion Blackout I carry. It is a very serviceable hard working knife, I use it for just about every cutting task from opening mail to things bordering on abuse. I do these things without a lot of worry about damaging the knife, I can always trot down to Wal-Mart and get another one it's made in a factory and they churn out loads of 'em at a time. It's blase is 440-A it's handle is injection molded plastic. It is not a genuine hand made Ken Onion, they are made of much higher quality steel and handle materials with great care by Ken himself. If I had a Genuine handmade Ken Onion I would not be able to bring myself to abuse it as I do the blackout because it isn't as easily replaceable and I respect the maker's efforts to much. I would use an original, I would even cart it on occasion, but even though the blade steel is superior and the handle material tougher I couldn't do to it what I do to the factory knife.

 

[jimh0220]

I'm trying to follow you here- what kind of "feel" are you talking about or looking for? Are you talking about warmly finished handle materials or something? The feeling they give you when you hold that knife that you just know is "the one"? Or are you talking about balance or something? Static or dynamic balance?

I guess I mean both. It's kind of hard to put into words what I mean. I think the 'is it worth the $' is VERY subjective, and the answer to that would depnd on the knife and the person.

I guess I am wondering if when you hold a custom knife, do you get the "it was worth every $" tingle?

Not sure if that makes much sense, but I must be on the right track, as the answers so far seem to be addressing it well. I'm not sure a trip to Eugene this weekend would be able to happen, but I know they have shows near here as well. I'm going to have to visit to see some of these works of art in person.

Thanks for taking this question seriously, as it is definitely meant that way. I would never insult someone's hard work and passion, and I'm truly not here.

 

[robloveday]

The first custom knife I held left me disappointed. It was from a local maker who wanted $400 for it, and the fit, finish, and design were worse than some factory knives. This made me want to make knives myself, and what I learned in trying to make knives introduced me to real custom knives. Now I own knives from master smiths, and have handled many knives from some of the best makers in the world, and I absolutely do get that 'worth every penny' feeling when I hold them. Now there are several makers that I would pay several thousand dollars to make me a knife, and feel like I was getting the better end of the deal.