Custom Knives - Point of No Return?

wintermute

wintermute

Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
3,018
I've been on the fence about ordering a custom slipjoint for a while. I don't know if I'll ever buy another one, and I wonder, will I enjoy my production models that much less? Will I turn into a custom junky that production knives just won't satisfy? Just curious on people's thoughts. Heck, post your customs to make this thread interesting.
 
Na,
Today I am carrying a sub 5 dollar closeout knife (Camillus) I purchased from SMKW about 22 or more years ago. I still appreciate any well made knife.
Tomorrow I might carry a Case swayback an Erickson, Bose, Menefee, Chamblin, Rogers, Bradshaw or an Imperial stockman my dad gave me as a kid. Who knows? I make that decision when I grab my keys.

It's all good in my eyes and a nice handmade can actually increase my appreciation of a production knife and visa versa.

(Of course I am a might sick fella so YMMV). :D
 
I still accumulate & love modern production folders.
I mostly carry a custom,but there are times w/ I carry a production.Like out on a boat,or out drinking with my rowdy (harmless but foolish :o) buds.

I still look at & enjoy productions,even though my main deal is custom knives,at this point.

Gotta love those Case Bose collab's,too,they really fit a spot .

DSC02741.jpg


-Vince
 
I am carrying a three blade stockman with a broken spring on the main blade. I have several bags full of customs. When you start collecting it becomes a mental problem. Going to custom your just branching out the problem.
 
rickmenefee said:
I am carrying a three blade stockman with a broken spring on the main blade. I have several bags full of customs. When you start collecting it becomes a mental problem. Going to custom your just branching out the problem.
Click to expand...

Geez,I send him "stuff" for patterns & they become his EDC knives . He can make,anything he wants :confused:
-Vince :)
 
I am not so sure about appreciating the production ones any less. I still have a hankerin' for getting another Case knife but am resisting. The thing with the customs is that you end up building this relationship with the maker and you appreciate the work and attention that was put into it just for you. Now, how cool is that? It certainly makes it all the more special.

That being said, I still carry my old Victorinox Tinker from time to time even though it looks like heck. :)
 
VCM3 said:
Geez,I send him "stuff" for patterns & they become his EDC knives . He can make,anything he wants :confused:
-Vince :)
Click to expand...

Huh? You send him broken knives and he sends you back customs? Why didn't anybody tell me that's the way it worked? :D
 
One thing I've found I like way better,is that on a custom,you can use the heck out of it & it'll hardly get dull. I've used production folders that got dull too quick for me.It was a turn off,knowing about the performance of a custom.
-Vince
 
You'll enjoy both, but might be a bit more discerning on what production knives you carry. I'm a pup in comparison to many in this Forum, in that I only have 5 custom slip-joints that I rotate through (Usually a different one each day of the week). However, that does make me more "picky" on what production slippies I carry these days, but I still have many more production ones than customs.

Good luck & anything particular custom you're considering to get as your 1st one? I believe my 1st custom slip-joint was a Ty Montel Trapper that I no longer have (But wish I still did).
 
Custom knife is not just reflection of makers skills but also your taste. It always will be a special but I doubt you won't give up production knives, I know I didn't. I don't have a custom slippie yet... I do have custom gents folder and such but I still buy now and then when I can pinch bit money Rough Rider, Case, older and used knives or something rare goodies like near mint Parker-Frosts when you get them.
 
wintermute said:
I've been on the fence about ordering a custom slipjoint for a while.
Click to expand...

Get off the fence and order one, it can be a great experience.
It's a whole lot easier than deciding if you really want to sell a custom knife you had made, I can tell you that.

But to answer you directly, you will still appreciate any knife that "does it" for you. That doesn't change, it didn't for me anyway.
 
I think the point of no return for me was when I started asking Vince's advice about what to buy, it just started to snowball from there. :D
 
You can order up some killer natural scales ..

DSC02745.jpg


-Vince
 
Hand jigged elephant Ivory,you can't get that in a production,I do not think

DSC02721.jpg


DSC02717.jpg


-Vince
 
wagglebee said:
Please say you've got more pictures of that!
Click to expand...

Sure do.
Here's a full set & every one,a "money shot",as Bret would say it
-Vince :)

PS This is a sorta collab,between Bret & Rick,as the ivory was jigged by Menefee

DSC02721.jpg


DSC02717.jpg


DSC02724.jpg


DSC02726.jpg


DSC02729.jpg


DSC02731.jpg
 
^^ Yowza!That Dowell is something else, Vince!:thumbup:

I still don't own any custom slipjoints, due mostly to lack of funds, but also because I share Wintermute's concern in the OP. I'm pretty sure I'll always love production knives though.

I've been considering selling off part of my collection of big "tough-guy" fixed blades. At this point in my life, it might be time to own up to the fact that I am now a city slicker, and by no means a survivalist or tough guy. I'm pretty sure I would use and enjoy a nice custom slipjoint a lot more than some of the big Busse brutes in my collection.
 
I've never seen jigged ivory before. That looks great.

As for the topic I am much less interested in lower cost knives or lower quality knives since I've gotten in to customs. YMMV
 
I'd love to get a custom, especially as one sees remarkably nice ones here, just can't afford any yet. Have to make do with production knives which I'm not entirely happy about. Still, it's good to have different kinds of knives and I'm quite sure the day will come when a custom slip joint is mine. What happens then will be most interesting to see. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top