The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Perhaps funny wasn't the best choice of words, but I suspect you knew what I meantIn case you didn't...what I meant was that custom slipjoints are greatly sought after and relatively few of them have forged blades. On the other hand, almost every thread about custom knives tends to gravitate toward forged blades and I find that especially odd (interesting) in the context of folders. What I'm learning (observing) here is that there apparently is a large group of people who consider forged and custom to be interchangable and synonomous with one another and I'm making a note of that
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Like most people, I was attracted to folders first. I incorrectly assumed that a folders more numerous parts made it more difficult to make and therefore more "advanced". Boy was I wrong. Most custom folders are no better than many high end factory knives in the performance area. They do look and feel a lot nicer though.....
That's interesting, as one would expect to get better performance and quality in a custom.
Most high end factory knives have better locking mechanisms than the liner-locks and frame locks on the typical custom folder, for starters. Les would disagree, but then again he is in the business of selling the stuff..
It depends how you define quality. "Prettier" yes. Better materials, sometimes.
Rarely better engineering or function from a strength or features perspective.
I have a couple of Benchmade folders. They are very nice little knives, BUT the blades are a bear to resharpen and they have that cold, flat, synthetic feel to them, whihc I don't really like in folders of fixed blades The feel is one of the things that would keep me away from a lot of folders, both factory and custom. I don't really like the feel of balisongs either. The one custom folder I have is about as tradtional as your can get in a lockback and I really like the feel of it.Since custom folder makers and enthusiast have not challenged Anthony's statements I assume he's right.
So I'm a little surprised as to why "custom folders" are so popular as one of the main reasons "custom fixed-blades" are popular is because they out perform and offer better quality than factory fixed-blades.![]()
Kevin, assuming will get you in troubleSince custom folder makers and enthusiast have not challenged Anthony's statements I assume he's right.
So I'm a little surprised as to why "custom folders" are so popular as one of the main reasons "custom fixed-blades" are popular is because they out perform and offer better quality than factory fixed-blades.![]()
Kevin, assuming will get you in trouble
There has been at least one other loooong thread with Anthony and this subject. WWG can fill you inI'm sure that there are some examples of this (mostly in liner locks) but not across the board.
Example, compare a Bose slip-joint with any factory slip-joint.
Perhaps funny wasn't the best choice of words, but I suspect you knew what I meantIn case you didn't...what I meant was that custom slipjoints are greatly sought after and relatively few of them have forged blades. On the other hand, almost every thread about custom knives tends to gravitate toward forged blades and I find that especially odd (interesting) in the context of folders. What I'm learning (observing) here is that there apparently is a large group of people who consider forged and custom to be interchangable and synonomous with one another and I'm making a note of that
![]()
Yep, Ray's a very good one, as are others. Just used Bose to make a point.And we might as well include Ray Cover's signature bank-vault style lockup on his slippys![]()
Kevin, assuming will get you in trouble
There has been at least one other loooong thread with Anthony and this subject. WWG can fill you in I'm sure that there are some examples of this (mostly in liner locks) but not across the board.
Example, compare a Bose slip-joint with any factory slip-joint.
Most custom folders are no better than many high end factory knives in the performance area. They do look and feel a lot nicer though.....
Kevin, assuming will get you in trouble![]()
Anthony. Kevin just seemed surprised by your comments and I wanted to point him to the old thread.
I'm not familiar with Spydercos or really any of the black handle knives. So I'll leave it at that.
I do know slip-joints though![]()
No kidding. Thats how factories stay in business!I would point out that ALL factory knives are still built to a price point, which entails compromises if for no other reason than to cover the extra overhead costs of being a manufaturer.
Remember that knife factories will generally have NO MORE than 60% of the MSRP of a knife into the product and that includes whatever profit margin they make.
don't forget SILVER handled knives too![]()
. There is nothing in this thread which prohibits the inclusion of stainless folders - everyone was invited to say and show what they like.
Roger
No kidding. Thats how factories stay in business!
The margin is much, much higher than that in general for factory knives.
A "typical"
Lets take this new Benchamde, which I like the looks of alot.
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=BM707P
It is $150. Dealer price is Roughly $80-90. Distributor is approximately $67.
Benchmade can probably make that knife for $18-20 or so IF they use offshore vendors for the handles, springs and clip. The blade is 154CM,so it is made in the USA.
That is how knives are made in production. I also don't know of any custom folders with a lock as repeatable and as strong over time as a well made AXIS lock.
Do you?
The knives made by whoever designed the Axis lock?
a lot of factories seem to have copied designs by guys like Michael Walker