Cost of Custom Tacticals vs Slipjoints?

[Locutus D'Borg]

I have 2 or 3 full custom slip joints and while I currently have only one custom modern (I call them tactical but you know what I mean) - a Michael J. Smith - but have owned a Michael Raymond and Emerson customs. So I know what both are like to a degree.

This is anecdotal, but it seems that custom traditional knives are at least half the price of a custom Ti frame lock flipper. Some makes make both styles and, again, the price delta is considerable.

This is opinion: it seems to me that traditional customs have the F&F equal to modern customs, and while I don't know, it would seem that making a fine traditional might even be more difficult because modern makers, for the most part, rely on CNC, which trad makers do not.

I'm not complaining about pricing (otherwise I'd be in the GEC thread lol), just curious. And it can't be just materials because some custom trad makers use CPM 154 and CF, etc.

 

[Danke42]

The tradional blades need way more hand work. The custom tactical knives can be cranked out on a NC machine all day long and then need only minor hand fitting in comparison.

 

[Silent H]

It comes down to what's popular, and modern tactical knives are more popular than traditional knives, so they end up costing more due to demand.

I agree that in general a traditional slipjoint probably takes more hand finishing and skill to make than many modern tactical customs might, but the market is driven by demand, and there just aren't as many people who want traditionals.

 

[Danke42]

OK had to reread that now the coffee is on.

Can you provide some concrete examples for comparison?

 

[Arathol]

Try buying any traditional pattern knife made by Tony Bose.....