At What Price point…, .

DanF

DanF

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Apr 17, 2017
Messages
1,443
Hoping to get some feedback from the guys buying edc slipjoints.
In my world (as a Knifemaker), I make every slipjoint backspring flush with the liner in all three positions (opened, half stop and closed). All of my brethren (talking about custom makers here), consider this to be the gold standard in slipjoint making and I too subscribe to this.
But, this past year I have had conversations with several buyers who Pooh-poohed the idea as being a waste, and only of interest to collectors of fine knives.
Is this an accurate sampling of sentiment across the knife buying community, or just the feelings of a few?
And finally, at what price point do you expect (if you do expect), the back spring to be flush in the three aforementioned positions?
Thanks for you input.
 
I don’t expect a half stop to be flush in the half position. It might have bothered me at one point, but since it doesn’t impact performance, I barely notice it.

Maybe if I was buying a 400-500 dollar slip joint I would expect it, but that’s so far out of my realm of possibilities.

Diminishing returns on the effort.
 
Tough call as some don't care one way or another and others are SO picky that if the blade isn't dead center, it's dead to them ;) myself, I don't mind off center too much as long as it's not rubbing or the back spring not perfectly flush in all positions but I will admit that is something that I look at when getting a knife. To put a price on it, also hard to wrestle with what you'd accept or give a pass, as others have mentioned they count on a hand made knife to be up to snuff in all areas.

Having not made a folder but seen some sketches, it certainly looks like a mathematical type problem and finding that correct ratio is certainly key and worth while exploring and coming up with your own set of parameters so you are getting those back springs just right.

Price wise this folder, when it was available was around $90 or so, varying from site to site, it's the Civivi Rustic Gent and I've owned far too many of them. But just checking it now it does have the back bar flush in the three positions

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and a beauty shot of one I had previously, overall length about 7" with a 3" blade

IMG_7426 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Tough call as some don't care one way or another and others are SO picky that if the blade isn't dead center, it's dead to them ;) myself, I don't mind off center too much as long as it's not rubbing or the back spring not perfectly flush in all positions but I will admit that is something that I look at when getting a knife. To put a price on it, also hard to wrestle with what you'd accept or give a pass, as others have mentioned they count on a hand made knife to be up to snuff in all areas.

Having not made a folder but seen some sketches, it certainly looks like a mathematical type problem and finding that correct ratio is certainly key and worth while exploring and coming up with your own set of parameters so you are getting those back springs just right.

Price wise this folder, when it was available was around $90 or so, varying from site to site, it's the Civivi Rustic Gent and I've owned far too many of them. But just checking it now it does have the back bar flush in the three positions

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and a beauty shot of one I had previously, overall length about 7" with a 3" blade

IMG_7426 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2
Click to expand...
Dang it, another one I gotta buy, lol!
 
Like with blade centering, I would prefer a flush back spring in all 3 positions, but I wouldn't get upset if it wasn't prefect. When it comes to slipjoints, I value good walk and talk higher than about any other characteristic.
 
DanF said:
Dang it, another one I gotta buy, lol!
Click to expand...
Gary's pictures have made me buy knives that I didn't even want!

As those pictures of the Rustic Gent indicate, precision machining in CNC production knives can provide a flush back spring across the board. Not trying to equate a budget production knife for one of your fine customs, but I think the bar has been raised for quality expectations in all facets of knife making. It might be counter-productive to back away from a perceived level of quality that you've already obtained.

Hope that makes sense.
 
DanF said:
Hoping to get some feedback from the guys buying edc slipjoints.
In my world (as a Knifemaker), I make every slipjoint backspring flush with the liner in all three positions (opened, half stop and closed). All of my brethren (talking about custom makers here), consider this to be the gold standard in slipjoint making and I too subscribe to this.
But, this past year I have had conversations with several buyers who Pooh-poohed the idea as being a waste, and only of interest to collectors of fine knives.
Is this an accurate sampling of sentiment across the knife buying community, or just the feelings of a few?
And finally, at what price point do you expect (if you do expect), the back spring to be flush in the three aforementioned positions?
Thanks for you input.
Click to expand...
I think what you're seeing is people who've found knives as a hobby and started to spend without having a base of knowledge or even a true appreciation for what folks like you make.

Their main driver is to get a cool knife to post on Instagram for likes; then it gets flipped for a new one and the cycle repeats. For them a flush backspring is secondary to other eye catching features that will look good on a smartphone screen. They're the same people behind the surge in popularity for GEC; those knives are just hard enough to get, & just unique enough in the short runs for serious IG and other social media clout.

I'd say keep doing what you're doing.
 
For me, all 3 should be present on a custom, along with a centered blade and the appropriate “walk and talk”. Price range for a new maker should be in the $500-600 range; more for multiblades
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top