Closest folder to a custom?

[Django606]

What is the closest folder to a custom that anyone owns for less than $200? I want a custom quality knife, but don't want to spend large amounts of money for one.

Thanks,

Django

 

[dannyvi]

I think a Buck-Mayo TNT would be close.

 

[Hair]

I think the Benchmade Skirmish and Mini-Skirmish as well as the Buck Mayo TNT fit the bill. Custom designs made production. The Skirmish has great fit and finish but the action is a little rough. The TNT has VERY smooth action, but the fit and finish is a little rough.

A high-end Kershaw Onion like the Spec Bump, Titanium Bump, and Offset offer Ken Onion designs and good fit and finish.

These knives offer the custom styling of Blackwood, Mayo, and Onion, at a fraction of the price. But you can also try some good production knives that are not based on a custom, such as an Al Mar SERE 2000.

None of these are custom quality, but you cannot get custom folder quality for less than $200 from a production knife. The closest you can come is the Sebenza for $330/$385. However, any of the above knives will offer a very good level of quality for the price, and good performance.

I don't own a true custom knife yet, but I have handled many of them and do own a Sebenza. I think my Skirmish reminds me of a custom or ultra-high-end production knife the most.

 

[nolan raborn]

Now I think this is a dumb thread. If you want a custom knife, buy a custom knife. don't look for a non custom knife that is as good as a custom. This is like asking which Chevrolet is almost as good as a Rolls Royce. The answer is none of them.

 

[nolan raborn]

I think the Benchmade Skirmish and Mini-Skirmish as well as the Buck Mayo TNT fit the bill. Custom designs made production. The Skirmish has great fit and finish but the action is a little rough.action, but the fit and finish is a little rough.

Maybe the action on your Skirmish is a little rough, but mine is certainly not. It is very smooth and it closes like a bank vault.

Nolan

 

[VegasNick]

My vote goes to the Combat Elite RRF. It's one great knife.

Nick

 

[Hair]

Maybe the action on your Skirmish is a little rough, but mine is certainly not. It is very smooth and it closes like a bank vault.

Nolan

Well action is subjective. What is smooth to you may be rough to me. I have handled 3 large Skirmishes and a small, and they all were a bit rough to open compared to a custom or a Sebenza. It is hard to notice, though.

I am not saying you are wrong. Maybe your Skirmish is very smooth. But I think you got a fluke or your standards are different than mine. A Skirmish isn't as smooth as a Sebenza. The pivot construction is so different that they simply cannot have the same exact action.

The lockup is extremely solid.

Now I think this is a dumb thread. If you want a custom knife, buy a custom knife. don't look for a non custom knife that is as good as a custom. This is like asking which Chevrolet is almost as good as a Rolls Royce. The answer is none of them.

I think you are going a little too far. Of course no $200 production knife is going to be as good as a more expensive custom. I think he knows that. But he doesn't want to spend more than $200 and is looking for the production knife that comes closest to the custom experience. No, none of them will nail it, but some come fairly close. I do believe that knives like the Skirmish can give you a taste of what a custom is like for less than $200. The F&F will not be as good, but the design is there and the quality can be somewhat close.

 

[jlh2600]

lol Don't feel bad Django. I guess I'm just as "dumb", because I too have wondered which production folders most rival custom quality.

EDIT:

...compared to a custom or a Sebenza.

So is it pretty commonly accepted that the Sebenza is the highest of production quality in terms of F&F and action?

 

[JWBirch]

Now I think this is a dumb thread. If you want a custom knife, buy a custom knife. don't look for a non custom knife that is as good as a custom. This is like asking which Chevrolet is almost as good as a Rolls Royce. The answer is none of them.

I think this is an excellent thread. This is like expressing the opinion that a Dodge Viper is the closest production to a Ferrari or Ford GT. Maybe, maybe not, but it's definitely more bang for the buck.

I've owned more customs than productions, and while the customs have been more purposeful or more strongly built, most of them were just at or inferior to production levels of fit and finish. Many of them had noticeably inferior fit and finish. I no longer expect sub-$1000 customs to be significantly better than productions, only different.

Close-to-or-equivalent-to-custom production knives would include McHenry Williams, Benchmade McHenry Williams designs, Benchmade and Spyderco Terzuola and/or Elishewitz designs, and the Buck-Strider knives that aren't made with crappy steel... There are very likely more examples.

A Benchmade Ritter RSK is a better knife, at $130, than a $3000 knife hand-forged from a soft metal meteorite. Some customers buy customs for reasons other than the need for a useable knife. Everyone has their reasons. Next year the meteorite will be worth $3500, and the Ritter will be worth $70. The customs I keep are kept because of superior function, not necessarily Scott-Loscha levels of superior fit and finish, but that's just me.

 

[Hair]

So is it pretty commonly accepted that the Sebenza is the highest of production quality in terms of F&F and action?

Yes, but it is still subjective. It is most commonly accepted that a Sebenza or other CRK is as close as it gets to a custom while still being production, but your opinion may vary. Also, CRK is very close to custom prices, and some people do not even consider them production knives at all.

In my experience, CRK has flawless fit and finish and is about as smooth as it gets. I consider them to be on the same level as customs, though many customs are more elaborate.

I have also handled a custom knife from a well-respected maker that had some fit issues with the scales and bolsters.

 

[JWBirch]

So is it pretty commonly accepted that the Sebenza is the highest of production quality in terms of F&F and action?

Commonly accepted, yes. CRK regularly wins the Blade award for best production for one or another of its knives. But it's close. I don't have extensive experience with production folders, but I'm sure this'll get some good responses regarding CRK's competition.

Keep in mind that we're comparing a precision machine-sculpted Sebenza to what are generally precision hand-and-eyeball customs, and potentially union-wage quality control on the general production side. Don't let the Sebenza make you overly critical of the hand-made world, but it does make a fine benchmark of quality.

 

[robertmegar]

Well I disagree with some posts up there. Custom doesn't = high quality nor $$$$$$ = high quality. You are asking a valid question, and the answer is some production folders rival many "custom" makers (of course, not the better makers). Yes, better production knives are in general more expensive ( ex. CRK Sebenza) but you can find a fair compromise of price and quality if you shop around.

As mentioned above, many readily come to our minds such as the Skirmish and other high end benchmades, KO Kershaws and even some spydercos. Are you looking for a tactical or a gentleman lockback? Start by thinking what type of knife you are looking for.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

The 3" Bradley Cutlery Alias II is around $200.00, and though some don't care for it, others consider this to be a very good knife. I've handled one and thought it was pretty good.

 

[Planterz]

Ones to look at:

Benchmade 630 (big) or 635 (smaller) or 940TI-01 (rare, more expensive, but very nice)
Camillus Dominator
Klotzli knives (agrussell.com)
William Henry
Buck Mayo TNT

 

[Monocrom]

Now I think this is a dumb thread. If you want a custom knife, buy a custom knife. don't look for a non custom knife that is as good as a custom. This is like asking which Chevrolet is almost as good as a Rolls Royce. The answer is none of them.

Wait a minute! ....... It's been my experience that some non-custom knives are actually better than a custom one. And, I'm not the only one who feels that way. Here's proof of what I'm talking about.

Click here ==> http://www.folders-r-us.org/full_collection.htm then, click on the very short review for the Benchmade Mel Pardue 721.

 

[hardheart]

I have yet to see a custom that is 'better' than a quality production knife. IMO a custom performs no better, the only advantages are in aethestics and designs built to the customers specs. I buy handmades, but not because they outperform my productions. Knives are tools, does anyone make a custom combination wrench? Does it outperform a Snap-on?

 

[Temper]

The closest thing I have handled that is in that price range is the now discontinued Benchmade 690.

 

[jujigatame]

I think the Kershaw Bump models with the Ti handles are a good choice, along with the Buck/Mayo TNT. There are Benchmade models that could fit the bill too, but you can go a bit over $200 and find 630/635 Skirmishes that have been given extra polish (different blade finish, different handle color, etc) by Neil Blackwood or other custom makers.

 

[dannyvi]

Maybe the action on your Skirmish is a little rough, but mine is certainly not. It is very smooth and it closes like a bank vault.

Nolan

Now, what would make this any different from a custom knife that also has smooth action and closes like bank vault?? Maybe the price??

 

[T.K.C.]

Closest to a custom for UNDER $200..... I agree that Buck/Mayo TNT AND the Combat Elite RRF!! THAT is one FANTASTIC knife!! I highly, highly, highly recommend an RRF!! The flipper is sooooo smoooooth!! Over $200, I would say the Sebenza.