Choosing a custom

N

newyork

Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
931
Those of you with custom folders:
How did you choose? By looks? How do you know how much to spend? Are the customs expensive because of cosmetics or are they better thought out, hold an edge better and/or have better designs than production? For $400 why get a custom over say a Sebenza, ZT or Strider? I like the looks of Lightfoot, J Hall, Joe Caswell and a few others but I'm overwhelmed.
This knife would be carried as I am not a "buy it and put it on display" kind of guy.
 
At that price point, personal preference pretty much.

The performance advantages in knives over the $150 range provide rapidly diminishing returns. Even with very tough knives, I think you lose cutting performance for toughness and a great warranty.

I'd say buy several affordable folders in spread of different but interesting styles of blades, handles, locks, etc. and then customize the one you like the most or get a custom very similar to it. You might find slim knives very comfortable to carry but not to use, or that you want a sharper rather than tougher knife, or that you want one at least 3.5" in blade length with some belly for cutting food.

Even if you were convinced you wanted a Chris Reeve you wouldn't know whether to get a small or large Sebenza or a Mnadi or an Unumzan(sp). I personally am not satisfied with just carrying one knife anyway and carry two or three of different styles, looks, and sizes.
 
Thanks for the response. I too like carrying more than one knife and lean toward knives with blades 3"-4". So basically buying a Kirby Lambert or Jeff Hall or whoever for 400-$600 will not give me much more than extra cosmetics and close attention to detail without the benefit of warranty like BM, Spyderco or even Strider in that higher price range?
 
Research and questions my friend. I find a maker's design that I like and then I start researching online the person who made it and by asking questions in the forums. First and foremost I try to find out if the maker is trustworthy. After that I try to find out about their communication habits. I'll ask questions about how fast they create and deliver the knife. I try to find out as much as I can about the maker before I contact them about the possibility of a knife being made.

If I find the person isn't trust worthy, lacks communication skills, or is one of those makers that take two or three years to create a knife then no matter how much I like their designs I won't even bother trying to contact them. If everything seems on the up and up I'll try to contact the maker with a vague description of what I want. If they get back in touch with me within a week or so I find that to be a good sign. If you have to send two emails before a response I still see that as acceptable. If you have to send multiple emails for a response then that is a no go for me.

Once communication is established I find out which materials they can work with to create the knife I want. I try not to compromise on what I want. I'm paying for a custom knife so I want a custom knife to my specifications. I also find out how and when they accept payment. I never like to pay up front. I don't mind paying in installments. I prefer paying once the knife is complete before it is shipped to me. I like constant communication during the process. I think that one email per week isn't too much to ask and it gives you peace of mind. If the maker is extremely busy and doesn't have the time to check and write back an email to me once a week I understand, but I want at least two updates per month.

The whole thing about customs is that they aren't just cookie cutter knives. They are made the way you want them made with all the flair and personality that you want added. If you find that your personality (as well as the maker's) isn't coming out in the knife then why bother with a custom?

Anyone can buy a Sebenza or a Strider, but when you have a 1 of 1 made personally for you it really feels special.

As far as warranties go. I've never owned a custom that the maker doesn't stand behind 100%. Most makers will take better care of you than the big companies like Benchmade or Spyderco or even CRK or Strider.
 
For me it has been trial & error. Search for a good deal on the exchange for what you like. Get it & use it, if you like it great, if not resell to someone else. I have been through Striders & Hinderer knives as well as numerous fixed blade customs in this way. Most of these knives are not available anyother way than the internet.
 
At that price you have a lot to look at. I would check the online knife purveyors and find something that I like as far as a style and then keep going. Read a little in our Custom Forum and take a very good look at the folders for sale area in the Maker's forums. Once you spend some time doing that and maybe attending a show if at all possible you will feel good about the decision.

It is just too wide of a field, you have already named quite a few good makers and that is a great start.
 
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