A Question Regarding Customs Use?

[Kevin Jones]

A thread on another forum regarding the functional value of custom knives vs. artistic value got me to thinking about how much customs knives or knives in general are actually used in today's society.

Let's face it, the majority of the population these days have little use for a knife other than preparing or cutting up their dinner.

Sad, but the good old days were everyone carried and used a knife on a daily basics are becoming a thing of the past.

If in fact people don't have as much use for knives in general anymore, (please challenge if you don't agree) than I would expect that customs are even more rarely used.

So a question for makers is; at what price point do you usually find that most of your custom knives stop being used and are only purchased for collectible purposes?

Now by used, I'm referring to being used for daily task/chores, hunting, fishing or skinning etc., not referring to folders that are pampered and just carried?

Collectors, how much and for what purposes do you use knives and at what price point do do you consider your custom knives not a user?

 

[Larrin]

Let's face it, the majority of the population these days have little use for a knife other than preparing or cutting up their dinner.

Well I agree with you that kitchen knives are probably the most used knives. If you look at the prices for them you'll see that typically custom kitchen knives are less expensive than rest of the cutom market. Especially the Japanese stuff.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I don't hunt, but I use custom knives for everything from opening boxes to camp chores. I use them at work, and at play.

The price I stop using them at is around $500.00.

 

[jdm61]

I think that there is still a good user market and that it has split. People are either going super cheap, ala truck stop Chinese junk, Wal Mart specials. multitools or folders that use replaceable box cutter blades (they seem like standard issue for folks at places like Best Buys or Office Depot) or more expensive knives, particulary better factory folders. You see a LOT of folks down here with pocket clips peeking out.
When I was in the Army Reserves, I used to always carry a knife on my web gear, I started off with an original SOG Tigershark and at the end of my tenure, I was carrying a McWilliams, which Mr. Garsson now owns. I currently carry either a Caffrey EBK or a Sentz folder around town. The Sentz is not cheap, but it was one of Mark's users that I bought at the Guild show in '05 so it cost a bit less than it normally would and I don't abuse it. The other knives that I would consider users are a bit cheaper.......$300-350 range. I have a number of decent factory knives, but I have stopped using them and gave two of my Benchmade folders and my Beretta Loveless hunter to family members. I guess I really have the custom bug.

 

[Greg]

For me as the price rises, and the 'delicacy' of the finish rises, and the irreplacability rises, the use gets lighter.
I don't have strict cut-offs.
For instance, my easily replacable, plain, Doziers or Bark Rivers get used when needed, my custom Koji Hara with abalone scales and mirror-polished blade gets used for manicures and envelopes.
Greg

 

[Murray White]

Kevin -- I have always in my around the house sweat pants either a Kershaw Boa or Leek and for a long time had a Microtech Lightfoot LCC attached to my belt (it now resides on the nightstand beside the bed).

My EDC is now this

With all the "political correctness" and other security concerns, fewer people make use of a knife whereas in the past, a knife in the pocket or belt was like a watch (which is now being used less and less with the advent of the small cell phone).

I'm sure all of us have been asked by someone "can you legally carry that knife?" and someone else pipes up "only if it is a XX inch blade" and you have to explain that at least up here in Canada, blade length is immaterial but you can't have a push dagger, any knife that opens by centrifugal force or gravity or by spring release due to the release on the side of the handle (making all Ken Onions legal) and of course never answer "I have this for self defense".

Actually, I find that since we now recycle cardboard boxes, I use a knife far more than I used to but one is always handy to have available and little ones on key chains to others for camping chores are always being used at some time or another and just there "just in case" there is a chore requiring a knife.

Then of course, the majority of my knives never cut anything but I do prefer that they be sharp.

 

[Jon Brand]

I was never a hunter or much of an outdoorsman. I find myself finding ways to use the knife I carry but it is not always necessary. For example: instead of ripping that wrapper open like most people, I cut it. I like having a knife for various reasons and would feel naked with out it but before I began carrying one, I didn't really need to.

My carry folders are in the $500 range because I like the quality (the feel). I spend alot of free time flicking the things opened and closed. Any cutting I do is rather light and would use a cheaper (even factory) folder for a heavier or messy job that doesnt happen every day.

 

[ddd]

This is part of the caption to one of Edmund Davidson's knives from his book.
It speaks for itself and is actually quite a common story with many of
the knives he makes - even the engraved ones worth several thousand $$!!

The knife described here, a “Max’s Crooked Skinner”, is similar in design
to the one on display in the "Book Commemorative Knife" thread I had
recently posted, only slightly larger.

This is how Edmund tells the story:
“This is the first hunting knife Integral that I created using D-2
steel. When the hunting season ended and the game had been accounted
for, it had been used to skin, cut up, bone, and put into the freezer 11
White Tail deer. The edge had slightly rolled over, it had only 2 small
nicks and was slightly discolored. I rubbed a small amount of metal polish
on the blade and it was as good as new. There is no doubt about it, this is
good steel”.

Actually, the collector who bought the knife wanted it tested during
that one full hunting season BEFORE having it shipped to him!!

David Darom (ddd)

 

[jdm61]

This is part of the caption to one of Edmund Davidson's knives from his book.
It speaks for itself and is actually quite a common story with many of
the knives he makes - even the engraved ones worth several thousand $$!!

The knife described here, a “Max’s Crooked Skinner”, is similar in design
to the one on display in the "Book Commemorative Knife" thread I had
recently posted, only slightly larger.

This is how Edmund tells the story:
“This is the first hunting knife Integral that I created using D-2
steel. When the hunting season ended and the game had been accounted
for, it had been used to skin, cut up, bone, and put into the freezer 11
White Tail deer. The edge had slightly rolled over, it had only 2 small
nicks and was slightly discolored. I rubbed a small amount of metal polish
on the blade and it was as good as new. There is no doubt about it, this is
good steel”.

Actually, the collector who bought the knife wanted it tested during
that one full hunting season BEFORE having it shipped to him!!

David Darom (ddd)

Get John Fitch to tell you the story about the Moran stuck in the ham at the country store he wandered into. The owner knew exactly what it was and wouldn't part with it for love or money.

 

[sierra11b]

Collectors, how much and for what purposes do you use knives and at what price point do do you consider your custom knives not a user?

I learned a valuable lesson growing-up as a collector of everything that really isn’t worth a damn or hasn’t increased in value since my childhood. Rocks, newspaper headlines, sports memorabilia, baseball cards, comics, autographs, etc. Looking back it brought me no joy or satisfaction. I didn't even use a card in the spokes of my bicycle tires.

Now my motto is that I can still be a collector (or purchaser) of fine things and enjoy them as intended. As a chef I use mine all the time for butchers twine, cheesecloth, packages, parchment, quickly chopping whole mirepoix from my hands into a stock pot, handyman tasks, etc. I've had most everyone of my >/= $1000 slips covered in beef blood, pork blood, and/or dunked in salt brine. I also carry them everyday outside of work and use them for everyday errands and chores. I use all of my knives responsibly and care for them just as well when they’re done for the day.

If I owned the most exotic cars i'd drive them. If I purchased the most sought after wines i'd drink them with a fine meal (and have). If some art knives were more practical i'd buy them and use them too. You only live once.

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

...........If I owned the most exotic cars i'd drive them. If I purchased the most sought after wines i'd drink them with a fine meal (and have). If some art knives were more practical i'd buy them and use them too. You only live once.

You're MY kind of customer!

 

[spyken]

about $500. anything above will depend on how quickly the maker can / is willing to refurb to like new in case I need to liquidate.

 

[T.K.C.]

I also use my custom knives on a daily basis, whether it be open boxes or whatever. I don't know what price point I wouldn't use it.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I was never a hunter or much of an outdoorsman. I find myself finding ways to use the knife I carry but it is not always necessary. For example: instead of ripping that wrapper open like most people, I cut it. I like having a knife for various reasons and would feel naked with out it but before I began carrying one, I didn't really need to.
My carry folders are in the $500 range because I like the quality (the feel). I spend alot of free time flicking the things opened and closed. Any cutting I do is rather light and would use a cheaper (even factory) folder for a heavier or messy job that doesnt happen every day.

Great point Jon.
We knife nuts will invent ways to use our knives.

Like lets go out and chop some firewood with that new Rhea chopper/camp knife. So what if we have gas logs in our fireplace.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Use what you can afford to use and collect what you can afford to collect. It's all good

 

[Morrow]

I really don't buy anything I wouldn't use. The customs I have get used. I don't buy customs to resell them so my initial motivation is liking the knife and wanting to use it.

 

[on_the_edge]

I have no compunction about using a knife that I have bought.

Price doesn't really come into consideration except when I purchase the knife. More specifically, it is for me just a question of whether I can afford it and whether I think it is worth the asking price. The next question is, "Will I use it?" Many knives will pass my price test, but if I know up front that I will not use it (awesome deal or otherwise) or do not think the knife is strong/practical enough for normal use (but more artwork than user), then I do not buy it. Of course, many makers are adept at creating both in the same piece.

So outside of price and use considerations, are there limits to what I will buy? In short, no. One-of-a-kind, super-rare, MS test knife, damascus blade, carbon blade, you name it--it's all fair game to me.

 

[stephen5]

Most of the knives I made and sold went to people who actually use them, perhaps not on a daily basis but on different activities though out the year. Mostly re-enactors, hunters and other sports people.

But even the collector "uses" his knife. I get just as much pleasure looking and holding my knives as I do by actually doing a chore with them.

If the knife is suited to the task, use it. That's what I go by.

Stephen
http://www.north-river-custom-knives.com

 

[Ghost_Reactor]

My exact same words.

I really don't buy anything I wouldn't use. The customs I have get used. I don't buy customs to resell them so my initial motivation is liking the knife and wanting to use it.

Buying customs to just slice paper and shave arm hair reflects on how manly you are.
Or worst. purely to 'flip' for profit. :thumbdn:

I need, I buy, I use it.
I like it, I buy it, I m keeping it.

 

[joeshredd]

At a fleamarket booth where the guy was reselling TSA confiscations,,, He and a customer were trading barbs about people buying any knife over 200 dollars as being something one would only keep in a safe,,, I'm standing there w/a $900 W ILLIAM MCHENRY that I've used on myself in the ER and a Darren/Devon Thomas folder worth $500 that I use daily in my pocket,,,