Custom knives borrowing production knife characteristics...

[goodeyesniper]

Okay, so I was browsing a thread the other day and someone posted a picture of a custom folder which apparently had a blade profile almost identical to some benchmade knife. Another user saw this and kind of went off on it for being a "knock off" or something, even though the knife was a one off which probably cost a lot more than the BM...

This seemed like an overreaction to me, but I'm wondering your thoughts on the issue.

A custom is made to user specs, if they really like the blade from the production folder, but wanted upgraded handle and blade materials is there anything bad about a maker making it? IMO there is not anything remotely dishonest about that. As long as they are not illegally using a copyrighted lock or symbol or something without the right licensing.

Its especially amusing to me because the blade he was concerned about had a pretty generic drop point shape, certainly nothing unique to my eyes, other than the spine being a bit wavy.

 

[3migo]

I don't see a huge problem with it. Like you said, a custom knife is made to the customer's desires, and if they want a certain blade shape with a different handle style, then they can get that. Now if a "custom maker" was just copying production models straight out then charging a premium for their handmade work, then there'd be some problems.

 

[9blades]

I think I know the thread your talking about and the knife in question. I think that knife resembled the production model, but not enough to be called a fake, and quite honestly with all the custom makers/knife manufacturers out there it's darn near impossible to come up with a original design, inevitably there's going to be a knife that it at least resembles in some way. Just my 2 cents