Custom Knives - Point of No Return?

First of all that Dowell is unbelieveable!!! very nice Vince.

As for the question I bounce back and forth, whatever catches my eye ends up in my pocket. Right now I am on Brets list for my second one from him, My second Michael Morris just showed up on Saturday( very cool knife ) already thinking about another one from him, and at the same time I got an opinel on the way and a sak that I am very excited about. My case sodbuster jr in cv gets used just about everyday and I love it, it's also one of the cheapest knives I have, I don't think any less of my productions. They are all quality pieces in their own right.
 
Lately, I have been disappointed with production slipjoints. Just last month I was in a Bass Pro shop looking at Case knives and ended up with not buying any. The GECs don't do it for me, either. The thing is, when I compare production slipjoints with modern construction knives (also production), the latter have a higher degree of F&F. And they use more modern materials, too. A $100 Spyderco or Bechmade just seems better made than a $100 GEC or Case.

That's what made me step up to custom slipjoints. I prefer to pay more, but have more in return. I'm eagerly waiting for that Case/Bose tribal spear with Ebony. I wish case would make more at that quality level. Right now, in my pocket there is a Warren custom jack with a single wharncliffe blade in S30V. I guess I'm getting more demanding with age...
 
Any custom I had I couldn't bare to put an edge on it or use it.They just seemed too valuable and art worthy to use.
 
VCM3 said:
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
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That jigging is AMAZING! :thumbup:
 
I only own 4 custom traditionals: 3 slippies and 1 lockback, my most expensive the John Howser lockback. As much as I really like and appreciate the quality of materials and workmanship on the customs, it doesn't take anything away from my enjoyment of my S&M and GEC knives, down through Case and even Rough Riders.

I have found knives in every price range which have something special to admire, from perfect grinds, to excellent jigging or gnarly stag, to an amazing, buttery action . . . yes, even on Rough Riders, though not usually all on the same knife!
 
Some pics.
Ken Erickson swell center jack.
KenSwellCenter.jpg


A couple of oldies.
Electric Knife Co. and a Camillus stockman
ElectricCamilus.jpg


A whittler in 52100 by Bailey Bradshaw:
BaileyWh3.jpg


Menefee Shadow
Rick.jpg


Some 2009 Traditional Forum Knives
BFCGroup.jpg


Jack Davenport all gussied up.
JackTDOpen.jpg


From the top:
Rick Menefee, Reese Bose, Tony Bose, Ken Erickson, Mike Zscherny, Rick Menefee, Kerry Hampton.
singles.jpg


Sway back Jack in CV.
CTBSJ.jpg
 
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I lucked out on that one Rob. Ken had it up for sale on the makers forum here. The usual suspects were asleep early that night. :D
 
Bastid said:
I lucked out on that one Rob. Ken had it up for sale on the makers forum here. The usual suspects were asleep early that night. :D
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I wonder whom you're reffering to *grins* :D but those are really beautiful knives. I love those Swayback jack's (they're really wanting me to own one aswell) Menefee's shadow is really beautifulThat VCM3's ivory scaledk nife is amazing. I'd love to own Ivory scale knife but I am affraid custom's would probably sieze it because of Ivory... I am not exactly sure but its really hard to bring any ivory item's EU area. If they're made after some year they get confiscated. Of course I am not sure if that law is still on...
 
There's plenty of great factory knives out there, thats for sure. But there's something about a custom that just makes them feel speacial, esp if you know the maker.
You pick out the materials and decide on the pattern(toughest part,lol), so when that knife is made just as you want it you'll really appreciate it.
 
Ken44 said:
There's plenty of great factory knives out there, thats for sure. But there's something about a custom that just makes them feel speacial, esp if you know the maker.
You pick out the materials and decide on the pattern(toughest part,lol), so when that knife is made just as you want it you'll really appreciate it.
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Yep, there's just something about picking up a knife and knowing that it was made just for you, exactly the way you wanted it.
 
wagglebee said:
Yep, there's just something about picking up a knife and knowing that it was made just for you, exactly the way you wanted it.
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...and then you know exactly, what the next one should look like :D

Honestly, customs have turned me into a much, much more critical collector.
Customs showed me how perfect a knife can be.
I still have factory knives and like them a lot but just not as many as I used to have.


Best, Peter
 
My usual carry is one of my toothpicks, but I have no prob carrying a "honey-bone"
stockman by Case that I bought for a pattern and didn't have the guts to tear it apart
Ken.
 
kc custom said:
My usual carry is one of my toothpicks, but I have no prob carrying a "honey-bone"
stockman by Case that I bought for a pattern and didn't have the guts to tear it apart
Ken.
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Ken made an awesome 2 bladed swayback for me a while back. I am sure he shuddered at least a little when I asked him to put a coping blade on what would normally be the pen blade.

That request sure messed with the lines of the knife, when I am in one of my shops that knife is in my pocket and used safely and often to cut mats of hair away from a dogs body. It has also been used on collars where the quick release steel latches have rusted shut. Seldom does more than 2 or three days go bye when that coping blade is used in order to accomplish something in close proximity to one of my clients pets.

Knife looks great from this angle:
KenClosed.jpg


But when you open it showing Gus' request :eek:
(Forgive me Ken :D).

KenOpen.jpg
 
I've got some Customs and I love them!! I also love all of my Production Knives!! The difference for me other than the quality of course!! Is the people you meet when dealing with Customs, the Makers, they're all good people and very helpful when trying to come up with what you want! And then there's the folks who buy customs!! All the people I've dealt with when buying a custom " not straight from the Maker" They all understand what it's like to want, wish, and love a certain type of custom and they will do whatever they can to help you get the Custom Knife you want!! And you can make a good friend in the process!! So get off the fence and buy one!! lol!!

Jason
 
One thing about buying a custom slipjoint,that is built already,like at a show,or from previously owned,is the idea of a Pre- view.
-Vince
 
My favourites are custom, that being said I''m still partial to an opinel.
Over the years I've had the pleasure of meeting some great makers & the privelage of becoming friends with a lot of them.
mitch
 
VCM3 said:
One thing about buying a custom slipjoint,that is built already,like at a show,or from previously owned,is the idea of a Pre- view.
-Vince
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Also inspires you to contact the maker & have another knife made. I'm sure you've not done that Vince.......:D
 
Thanks everyone - awesome knives, even Bastid's swayback with a coping blade - that thing hurts me when I look at it :D. You've inspired me to spend some money.
 
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