Curtiss F3. Midtech or full custom?

H

Hertz33

Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
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So I've recently got a used Curtiss F3 wharnie. Joy of a blade and my first high end top dollar knife. It's a beautiful piece of craftmanship and I fought it's considered a midtech. But seeing a YouTube review(by Jim Skelton), he said that Dave Curtiss makes the whole knife by himself and dosen't outsource anything to be done. So do I have a pleasure of owning my first full custom knife?

F3 and Coffee by Ladis Ryadinsky, on Flickr
 
I've owned 3 of Dave's knives so far ( kept 2 of the 3) and Im in the same boat as you; great knives and are a joy to own. As for the Custom versus Midtech question I believe it is a custom. It may not be a handmade custom, but it is a custom.

The reason I say that is because even though Dave doesn't outsource any of the work, he does however use modern machines (like water jet) to make most of the knives. Then puts the final grinds and finishes on the knife. Actually, Jim skeleton did a great video on the differences between the classifications of knifes. Highly recommend watching that.

Now, I have seen lately on Dave's instagram that he has been sending some scales to Preacher Customs to have work done. So, technically that falls under "outsourcing" and is starting to cross the line of custom to Midtech.

These are just my opinions and nothing more. I love Dave's knives and am a huge fan of the F3 line and Cruze. Glad to see someone else starting up threads to discuss his work. Congrats on the new knife. You'll definitely enjoy it
 
Definitely CUSTOM!! The tools humans use always evolve, so use of a waterjet can still mean custom.
What about knife makers that dont heat treat their own steel? Are they custom? What if you dont make the steel yourself, are you custom?

Mid- techs are high end productions, not low end Customs. I can make a true custom knife and call it custom, but it wont be better than the lowest end production out there.

Things like hand forging, chisel and hammer milling, etc are additional descriptors that can make one custom more desireable than another. I guess when we find a custom knife maker who starts with iron, adds his own carbon, chromium,
Molybdenum, vanadium, wolfram, and whatever else, then we will call that a custom and have to come up with a new term for the rest of them!
 
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Not to mention use of IKBS....does that disqualify you from custom? I dont think so....who makes all those little balls anyway? In house or outsourced? Am I allowed to cut the G10 or do I have to make it? Can I cut it by machine or do I have to hand saw it?

I may not be able to define a 'custom', but I sure do know one when I see one....and the F3 is CUSTOM!
 
Absolutely Custom.
I just bought a one off F3, featuring a two tone blade with tumble finish grinds and satin finished flats.
Stonewashed titanium frame with polished edges and a polished carbon fiber scale.
Polished titanium pocket clip.
Lanyard hole in titanium backspacer.
Number 1 engraved on the blade.
If this is not custom...
 
That exact knife actually belonged to Jim Skeleton doctorfab. I seen it for sale on Arizona custom knives and instantly knew it was his due to the number 1 engraved on the blade. Sweet buy, I was wondering who picked that up. He posted a video of the knife on YouTube. Should check it out.
 
Yes I checked the video and I was drooling...in fact I decided that I wanted an F3.
I looked here but it's not that common.
When I saw it for sale on ACK, I couldn't believe it, and I pulled the trigger.
And the fact that is the only one ever made in that finish, adds a lot of charm.
 
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