Beautiful Work...Or, Highway Robbery...

In Megalobyte's defense,I think he just picked the wrong maker as an example.But a good point has been brought up anyway.I am not an A- list maker and am constantly trying to determine what to charge for a knife.I was a the Guild show and saw knives that I thought were overpriced and very many underpriced.We are not a regulated industry (Thank God) but we are subject to what customers will spend.I see many makers charging less than what I think they could get.But it is supply and demand and the reputation means dollars.The A-list makers have earned their dues and paved the way for the rest of us and deserve the respect and should command the higher prices.
I would also like to ask that all collector's who go to shows walk by the suppliers tables and see the prices of what your getting and then visit a makers shop to see what's involved.I then think your idea of how and where your money is going will be fully appreciated.Dave
 
Can''t help but add an illustration here to my point.

177726-Mvc-004f.jpg
 
The pictures are real nice...................


but you never bothered to answer my question................

Have you EVER held a Ron Lake knife?

or opened and closed one? Until then I suggest you have no idea what you are talking about. Not trying to start a war or be rude, just pointing out the simplist of facts.......the pictures show only a very small amount of the quality that goes into one of his knives.
 
.......the pictures show only a very small amount of the quality that goes into one of his knives.
Click to expand...

I would submit to you that this holds true for just about every maker out there. Pictures, be they on a computer screen or a magazine page, have NEVER done justice to a knife in my experience. "Been there, seen that, handled that" is about the only justification there is for a finely crafted piece.

But I gotta say....... DAMN! Just look at those PICS! Even looking at the digital images of those Lake pieces makes me want to justify selling one of my children for scientific experiments!

[Disclaimer: Just kidding 'bout the kid thing there. Just looking for appropriate impact value. ;) ]
 
Hi all,
Megalobyte has a valid point about a lot of knives being a lot of hot air and a little bit of knife, but picking Ron Lake as an example is about the worst mistake you could ever make!!!! I've met Ron and had the pleasure of examining one of his folders, and man I can say without a doubt, Ron's knives are worth every cent!!!

I agree that you can get a great knife for under $1000, no doubt about it, you can also pay more than $1000 for a total POS that is more like theatre prop than a real knife... sure great materials etc but the blade wobbles and the liner dont fit etc etc...

but I think that if you buy a Ron Lake folder and a bunch of other knives and then you get tired of knives and want start buying something else, the one knife you'd end up not selling would be the one from Ron Lake... and the prices now may even end up looking cheap one day... remember when Loveless was selling knives for $175 and that was afortune?!!!... wish I would of bought one back then...
 
Velitrius-that is my point entirely. You dont know how many emails I get from people who tell me the pictures of my folder never got them excited until they actually got to handle one.
Ron Lake's knives (and Steve Hoel and Timmy too) are so perfect is it hard to imagine someone can do that with the simplist of tools that they use. I have seen a fair number of these knives thru the years, and unlike a great number of VERY well known knifemakers that I will neglect to mention...........I have NEVER ONCE seen any sort of flaw on one single piece. These guys are consumate craftsmen
:eek:
 
tommy.....wow thanks for putting me in with my heros! i was lucky enough to have spent a week in Steve Hoels shop and make a knife the way he does so i learned alot from him and will always be grateful to him. Ron i have known many years too and use his methods for my inlays. Both of these guys are truly my heros in folding knives and helpful to anyone that asks their advice.

i have never got to handle any of your knives either.....please send me 1:D
 
(If you dont like The Beatles, my title may not make sense)

Hi guys (and Tom). First, no, my exposure to Lake's knives was from pictures alone, and i guess im realizing that you do have to hold it in your hand to fully appreciate it, though, i do believe that if the pictures are well taken, you can see an awful lot of detail, and get a decent sense of what the knife is. OK, next question.

To all you Lake fans, how would you rate Pease? I have seen several pictures of his knives recently, and some of them look unbelievable. In particular, i saw a knife of his with beautiful gold and silver scroll engraving on the bolsters, a bright ruby inlaid thumbstud, and the most AMAZING, deep, blue bark mammoth ivory handles i have ever seen. Is he in the same class as Lake, how do the 2 compare? Is a Pease knife a sound investment as a Lake knife apparently is? They seem to make similar types of knives, with some beautiful engraving, his prices are a little less than Lake, but not that much less. Thoughts? Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top