I don't know how much, if any work on the knives is done by Chris himself these days but that wouldn't have any bearing on whether they are custom or semi-custom.
I guess it all depends on how you define the term. To me, a custom knife is one which is made to order, from scratch, to a specific set of instructions, specifying everything from materials used to blade/handle length, shape, size, blade style, finish, etc. In other words, one designed by the customer and made to that customer's design. Custom made usually means one of a kind.
A semi-custom knife is one which is made to order from an established plan or design but uses materials and variations as specified by the customer. A good example of this is a Randall Knife or, perhaps, something from "Pete's Custom Shoppe" over at Buck Knives. They both use basic designs, customized by and built to order for each individual customer.
Anything else, to me is a production knife. Whether it is made entirely by hand or by machine, on a production line or at a bench makes no difference. If they are produced, one after the other the same, they are production.
If one can order by model number or name and know that what will be received is the same as that which anyone else has ordered, it is production. It can be hand made, hand built or machine made but if it is of a common design or pattern, it is production.
If it is unique in appearance or finish but still of a common model or design, it could be considered semi-custom, however that stretches my definition a bit, unless the unique appearance or finish or decoration is specified by the customer.
For example, a plain Sebenza in either current or classic pattern is a production knife as is one of the Computer Generated Graphic (CGG) models. The same goes for the One-Piece Range. These are produced, one after the other, the same. There is just no way that would qualify for the "custom" or "semi-custom" definition.
The Unique Decorated Models, however, may qualify for the Semi-custom label in that, although they usually can't be ordered with a specific design, they are one of a kind patterns drawn to the specific design of the maker and not repeated. They are not a common design customized by the end user but they are unique and individual.
I have ordered and received Projects 1 and 2 without serrations and Shadows 4 with single guards and, although they aren't what are usually delivered, I don't consider them to be semi-custom as the variation is available to anyone who asks.
This isn't an indictment of quality, by the way. Anyone who equates poor or inferior quality with production is making a mistake. Quality control is the key and can be just as exacting in a production facility as on the custom workbench.
Based on this, the One-Piece Range is production and a fine example of such.
Class dismissed.
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Dennis Wright
("Have a knife day!")
