As I ponder the thought of buying a production folder, I've also thought about waiting longer and saving up more money for a custom. What would be some of the reasons why one would go for a production folder over a custom? If you wait longer and save more money, isn't it better to get a custom?
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Buying a Custom folder, is it worth the wait and money?
- Thread starter csisland
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2010
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- 4,981
First, do you have BOTH the patience and the moola to go through it?
Patience for dealing with maker's timeline as he/she isn't making yours only. Take aside the all the requirements that you want, make sure the communication is crystal clear; everyone has a special thinking process. Do a lot of sketchings, renderings (no matter how suck your drawing is). Makers might be able to read minds but let's make everyone's life easier. A crocodile and an alligator ARE NOT THE SAME.
Some very complicated work like grinds on an exotic steel, working with gold or ivory and etc- is it for performance, aesthetics, conversation piece? Are you going to carry it?
There's also the hassle of having something too similar from maker A that you want maker B to make, whom might infringe the design (it's not a pleasant thing) or losing his/her style of making their own. You will be lucky enough to persuade both to collaborate for yours only.
Could you wait for a year or 2? Some that i know have since quit taking orders because it's enough to fill them up till 2017/18.
Do they have partial charge for their material and misc, as a sort of commitment from you? Some that i dealt with will only charge when the final product fits into my criteria.
Or you could suggest to the maker after you get a list of buyers. The makers might think it's worth the effort to do a run.
Make sure you know what you want and will eventually know how to use it, sharpen it and taking care of it. After all it's a bespoke blade.
I have heard too many who said : That's not what i want.
Question is: Is that what you asked for OR you don't know what you want.
Patience for dealing with maker's timeline as he/she isn't making yours only. Take aside the all the requirements that you want, make sure the communication is crystal clear; everyone has a special thinking process. Do a lot of sketchings, renderings (no matter how suck your drawing is). Makers might be able to read minds but let's make everyone's life easier. A crocodile and an alligator ARE NOT THE SAME.
Some very complicated work like grinds on an exotic steel, working with gold or ivory and etc- is it for performance, aesthetics, conversation piece? Are you going to carry it?
There's also the hassle of having something too similar from maker A that you want maker B to make, whom might infringe the design (it's not a pleasant thing) or losing his/her style of making their own. You will be lucky enough to persuade both to collaborate for yours only.
Could you wait for a year or 2? Some that i know have since quit taking orders because it's enough to fill them up till 2017/18.
Do they have partial charge for their material and misc, as a sort of commitment from you? Some that i dealt with will only charge when the final product fits into my criteria.
Or you could suggest to the maker after you get a list of buyers. The makers might think it's worth the effort to do a run.
Make sure you know what you want and will eventually know how to use it, sharpen it and taking care of it. After all it's a bespoke blade.
I have heard too many who said : That's not what i want.
Question is: Is that what you asked for OR you don't know what you want.
Last edited:
There's an old saying that goes something like.... "If you have to ask, the answer is probably no"
Just realize, that what you get with a custom knife is *hopefully* better fit and finish, and various levels of input on the design/materials etc. and something that caters to your needs/wants. However, also realize that if you are more of a utilitarian person, a custom knife is not going to cut significantly better than a high end production knife.
Unfortunately there's a learning curve with custom anything, golf clubs, 1911's, mountain bikes, etc. etc. and usually your first couple of attempts at it are a learning process. It's like building a home, I know many people that have built their own homes and most never get it just right on the first attempt, or the third. I think in order for a custom anything to be successful the customer really needs to know exactly what they want, blade steel, handle material, thickness, blade/handle size, overall weight and balance, edge grind, design, etc. so that the maker can really tweak the design to something the customer is going to be super pleased with.
Just realize, that what you get with a custom knife is *hopefully* better fit and finish, and various levels of input on the design/materials etc. and something that caters to your needs/wants. However, also realize that if you are more of a utilitarian person, a custom knife is not going to cut significantly better than a high end production knife.
Unfortunately there's a learning curve with custom anything, golf clubs, 1911's, mountain bikes, etc. etc. and usually your first couple of attempts at it are a learning process. It's like building a home, I know many people that have built their own homes and most never get it just right on the first attempt, or the third. I think in order for a custom anything to be successful the customer really needs to know exactly what they want, blade steel, handle material, thickness, blade/handle size, overall weight and balance, edge grind, design, etc. so that the maker can really tweak the design to something the customer is going to be super pleased with.
Some custom makers are just seriously booked up. Is it worth waiting a couple of years? Could be that in that time space you've lost the zeal for the knife, or you've decided that you want to spend your hard earned cash somewhere else.
I agree with the 'learning curve' comment regarding anything of a custom nature. Of course, if you want a unique piece, go for it. My customs have brought significant joy into my life. I tend to use them less than my factory knives and still have days when I wonder exactly why I paid so much for a blade that does not honestly cut any better than my old, heavily stained Mora that I picked up at a garage sale in Fresno twelve years previous.
I agree with the 'learning curve' comment regarding anything of a custom nature. Of course, if you want a unique piece, go for it. My customs have brought significant joy into my life. I tend to use them less than my factory knives and still have days when I wonder exactly why I paid so much for a blade that does not honestly cut any better than my old, heavily stained Mora that I picked up at a garage sale in Fresno twelve years previous.
Lots of good information here and a real eye opener. I never thought about alot of the things that were mentioned here if one wants to have a custom built. After reading these posts I'm heavily leaning towards not getting a custom, but I might try a CRK.
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2009
- Messages
- 11,678
Customs are okay, and can offer you a chance to provide some input into the type of blade-steel, grip materials, etc. However, many times the customs aren't made with the same tight tolerances of CRK or ZT, as has been already mentioned. Particular in a small shop, the custom guy may not have the availability of expensive machinery that is found in a larger facility, which allows for a much higher rate of manufacture with tighter tolerances. And...time is money.
Of course, you also have to be willing to last through the waiting period...and I'm not.
If you can't find something with ZT, Strider, CRK or Hinderer, you just are awfully hard to please. IMO.
If you have the money...and the time...there is some beautiful custom stuff out there...just not for me.
Sonnydaze
Of course, you also have to be willing to last through the waiting period...and I'm not.
If you can't find something with ZT, Strider, CRK or Hinderer, you just are awfully hard to please. IMO.
If you have the money...and the time...there is some beautiful custom stuff out there...just not for me.
Sonnydaze
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2011
- Messages
- 6,194
I reckon we all have our own ideas of what a 'custom' knife should be. In my mind, a knife that already has a model name ain't custom--'mid-tech' maybe, but not custom. To me, a true custom requires a relationship and dialogue between the customer and maker to come up with a knife built to the customer's specifications and to both party's satisfaction. It doesn't necessarily have to be made by hand, but it must be made to order. That is when the magic happens... and it is totally worth it!
Here's a pic of my one and only custom; a friction folder. It was built for me by fellow Forum member, defaultuser (thanks again, PY!) Such a fantastic experience and the end result was something even better than what I had first imagined! :thumbup:
-Brett
Here's a pic of my one and only custom; a friction folder. It was built for me by fellow Forum member, defaultuser (thanks again, PY!) Such a fantastic experience and the end result was something even better than what I had first imagined! :thumbup:
-Brett
Are the Hinderer's and Strider's flippers? ZT I know are flippers but I'm not into flippers.
Which Zt's are non-flippers?