Best Custom Survival Knives???

[Hoodoo]

Thanks for the info, Chad. No doubt about it, Livesay makes some great knives.

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Hoodoo

Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

The Merchant of Venice, Act IV. Scene I.

 

[matthew rapaport]

OK, I'll bite...

matthew rapaport intimated that he could see but few people actually using a custom knife for survival purposes.... I agree there also, I being one of those few.

I was using the term "custom" in Les's sense, of being a true one-of-a-kind knife, and not merely "customized". So please I am curious, what is it that you do that makes the cost of a true custom knife (which we remember can be lost even if it isn't broken) worth it out in the bush?

 

[Richard]

Its true that they can be lost Matt. As far as cost though, there are literally tons of nice customs out there that cost less then some production knives. For instance, Mike Cooper's knives are genrally lower priced than many high end production knives. And IMO he makes a great knife that is just plain fun to carry and use. If you shop around, you can see that you can find a heck of a custom knife at a very reasonable price.


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Richard
icq 61363141
Just some knife pictures
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=4518795
UPDATED and REVISED

 

[matthew rapaport]

Does Mike Cooper have a web site where I can see some of these? Are you sure we are talking about the same thing, "custom" vs "customized"?

I think Newt Livesay makes some great knives, but he's also a good example of someone who is not factory/production, but isn't a true custom (one of a kind) either although he does make true custom knives as well as his standard line. I've seen "semi production" knives less expensive than production knives, and of course higher quality, but I've not seen any true customs in that price arena.

Last time I was at a blade show and asked around for custom knives (I was looking at folders at the time) in the $150/$200 range, everyone laughed at me.

 

[Richard]

It seems the definitions different people have between custom and customized can get a little foggy

Anyways, here is mikes web addy http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel Trying to stay within your definition, I will say that Mike can customize one of his standards for you (customized) or, I suspect he will work with you to come up with just the design you are looking for (custom). As for me, the cooper I have is the only one of its kind (custom)

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Richard
icq 61363141
Just some knife pictures
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=4518795
UPDATED and REVISED

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Matthew :

I was using the term "custom" in Les's sense, of being a true one-of-a-kind knife, and not merely "customized".

That is not how Les uses it. If I buy a Walter Brend #2 and lay it down with another 10 of them, odds are I can't pick mine back up again. They are hardly one of a kind. Many makers will grind "custom" blades in batches.

what is it that you do that makes the cost of a true custom knife (which we remember can be lost even if it isn't broken) worth it out in the bush?

It performs better which makes less work for me to do. They are also safer, and have a wider scop of use than lower quality blades. The really good ones are actually enjoyable to use. Basically, the same reason I would want a high quality blade for anything.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 09-15-2000).]