Custom Letter Openers

J

jforbush

Joined
Sep 29, 2007
Messages
1,244
My dad has been making Custom Knives for years now. I have finally convinced him that he needs to let me post them on the forums. He wants me to gauge the interest out there. He has given me 8 Custom Letter Openers to place on the forums.

For the record...these are all made from "kit" style blades. The handles, pins, and everything else are all custom fitted. All are made from 440C Stainless and synthetic handle materials. It does not take away from the fact that they are still very "custom" as the choices for scales, blades, pins ect are endless. Not trying to represent these as something they are not.....but they are great hand crafted letter openers.

PLEASE REMEMBER I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
I can provide better pics tomorrow when the sun is out. I don't have a light box so.......and I do have more pics available.



1. Silk Blue Poly Pearl with blue liners.............
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2. Tortoise Celluloid with yellow liners.............
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3. Red, White and Blue Unipearl with red liners.......
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4. Green Unipearl...........
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5. Abalone Celluloid with white liners............
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6. Pink Unipearl with red liner and mosiac pins..............
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7. Red Earth Dymond Wood with red liners.............
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8. Winewood Dymond Wood with mosaic pins.........
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IF your dad ground the blades himself, the grinds are fine, the shapes are fine.

His choice of handle material is atrocious, imo.

Most of us here like natural woods, pearls, and ivory or on the synthetic side, micarta, G10 and carbon fiber....no poly pearl, no stamina wood....that screams CHEAP!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
and with that welcome to the forumm

its the best way to learn and get better (you will need thick skin )
the weak and meek get sorted out fast
other then the pic of scales (thats all buyer choice) the finish dont look too bad

tho i would do something abut the flat cutof at the front of the handle
read that as make them slightly rounded and with a slight bevel on the front so its not such a sharp transmission to the blade from the guard

there is a flow of look and a flow of how its handled both need to be smooth (that dont mean round every thing )
 
Thick skin I have.......

constructive criticism is the only way to get better.

Thanks for the input thus far. As far as cheep goes....its user choice....these are not designed to be "expensive"....just users. It is hard to tell in the pictures but at the front of the handle they are rounded....no sharp edges on the scales. "Flow of look and flow of handle"...I like that. Thanks!
 
Brett Bennett said:
Please go to page 12 of the Jantz catalog.
Click to expand...

Actually it's pages 14 and 18 of the current catalog, but certainly didn't wanna be the first to say it. I do like the blue and white swirl scales though. :o
 
Kiah said:
Actually it's pages 14 and 18 of the current catalog, but certainly didn't wanna be the first to say it. I do like the blue and white swirl scales though. :o
Click to expand...

Which is why I said "IF" his father ground the blades.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
lets just judge this for what it is
handle work he had said that he himself didnt make the blades

we all like or dislike some kinds of scales

things that are good are no burnt scales around the pins and nice even rounding of the corners of the handle

tho to post this in the custom forum might be a stretch (makers gallery would have been better )

all makers start someplace
 
Ok....this is not about what you are making it! This is supposed to be a "community" and helpful place. How do these comments help?

Yes, some of the materials come from Jantz and the handles are blanks. Not trying to hind that, never was.

I entire idea was to get opinions on how they looked, not to get ridiculed. Butcher Block is the only one thus far to provide any feedback, for that, thank you.

A Custom knife is a one of kind knife that is built from start to finish to a customers specs so I feel that this qualifies as such.
 
jforbush said:
My dad has been making Custom Knives for years now. I have finally convinced him that he needs to let me post them on the forums. He wants me to gauge the interest out there. He has given me 8 Custom Letter Openers to place on the forums.
Click to expand...
I'm glad you are open to constructive criticism, because here it comes.....

Those are great letter openers, and done well. I don't mind the handle materials. I see where you are coming from and those who buy these may really like the synthetic finished handles. Obviously the components were purchased through a catalog and crafted to the finish result that will make most folks/buyers very pleased. This is a customized Kit Knife.

Good stuff. I have made about 20 kits and was a moderator on a Kit forum for years to see the good work and to support this.

Here's the 'but'....

Signing the blade, whether a letter opener OR a knife is a designation that it's a true Handmade/Custom knife, and that the maker actually ground the blade and heat treated it. Kit componnents do NOT qualify for a profound etch with the maker's name on it.

Why not....?!

Because it doesn't distinguish to the neophyte buyer what they are really purchasing. Down the road they may educate themselves to what a 'true' Custom/Handmade knife is, and they will feel taken.

Furthermore, it's a slight to the makers who spend a LOT more skill doing their own grinding and construction (especially with folders) and are rightfully disclosing the methods.

Yes, we want to encourage new purchasers and users to Custom, and even Customized Kit knives. No problem. But the fact that this is shown in the Custom & Handmade forum, with no allowance about the kit components (above post entered while I wrote this one) points to me that you or your dad don't make a distinction? Don't understand the implications? I dunno.

Anyway, I have talked about this in other threads before. Its a sore spot when abused or taken for granted.

Bottom line for me: At most, initial the blades. At the least, openly disclose the construction points.

And I may be wrong on some of these points about what you have or haven't done. Educate me.

Thanks for listening. :)

Coop
 
I'd be a little more inclined toward sympathy regarding your feeling slighted by this snobby forum. BUT, nowhere in your OP did you mention that these are kits...
That and Coop's point regarding the 'maker's mark', well, it's true you gotta start somewhere. Hopefully though, it is an honest place.
 
SharpByCoop said:
I'm glad you are open to constructive criticism, because here it comes.....

Those are great letter openers, and done well. I don't mind the handle materials. I see where you are coming from and those who buy these may really like the synthetic finished handles. Obviously the components were purchased through a catalog and crafted to the finish result that will make most folks/buyers very pleased. This is a customized Kit Knife.

Good stuff. I have made about 20 kits and was a moderator on a Kit forum for years to see the good work and to support this.

Here's the 'but'....

Signing the blade, whether a letter opener OR a knife is a designation that it's a true Handmade/Custom knife, and that the maker actually ground the blade and heat treated it. Kit componnents do NOT qualify for a profound etch with the maker's name on it.

Why not....?!

Because it doesn't distinguish to the neophyte buyer what they are really purchasing. Down the road they may educate themselves to what a 'true' Custom/Handmade knife is, and they will feel taken.

Furthermore, it's a slight to the makers who spend a LOT more skill doing their own grinding and construction (especially with folders) and are rightfully disclosing the methods.

Yes, we want to encourage new purchasers and users to Custom, and even Customized Kit knives. No problem. But the fact that this is shown in the Custom & Handmade forum, with no allowance about the kit components (above post entered while I wrote this one) points to me that you or your dad don't make a distinction? Don't understand the implications? I dunno.

Anyway, I have talked about this in other threads before. Its a sore spot when abused or taken for granted.

Bottom line for me: At most, initial the blades. At the least, openly disclose the construction points.

And I may be wrong on some of these points about what you have or haven't done. Educate me.

Thanks for listening. :)

Coop
Click to expand...

I agree with your post 100 percent......I, nor my father are not trying to hide the fact that the blades themselves are "kit" blades. the scales, pins, and everything else is all hand done.

by your explanation these would qualify as a kit knife and should be treated accordingly. Thanks for the honest, upfront and level headed post. I will pm a mod and have them move the OP to the proper area. EDIT( I looked and can't find a "Kit" area)

No disrespect or ill intentions were meant and all I was looking for was feedback. Never intended to sell these in this forum and for perspective customers all is disclosed.
 
FWIW I don't believe any ill will was intended by the OP calling these custom knives. When I started I did kits for a little while and had to constantly explain to friends and relatives that they were customIZED but not custom knives. Easy mistake to make if you don't frequent custom forums or maker forums much.

These look to be nicely done. Switching to more desirable handle materials should be no problem and not cost much more than the types used on these.

Letter openers are good beginner sole-authorship pieces as the ht is not quite as critical and grinding tends to be minimal.

I agree in marking the blades...that's a slippery slope and even if disclosed to the buyer that they are kits doesn't mean it couldn't come back to bite you down the road when the next owner is unaware.

Don't let this thread discourage you or your dad! Most comments even if they seem rough are there to protect you. I'm sure you'd rather get this kind of feedback than have the same coming from a slighted buyer any day!

Keep your chin up and congratulate your dad for doing something few people have the patience to undertake!
 
Thanks and I am all about learning and growing within the forums.....you are right....these are customIZED.

I offer customIZED solutions but I never thought in terms of my fathers work as such.
 
Whoo, tough crowd! :eek:

I like em J, and I did read where you clearly said the blades were kits, I wouldn't know where to post these either if not here? Maybe "Tinkering and Embellishment"?
 
Since it looks like this thread may be at an end, I'll cap it off by saying "this is what a custom letter opener looks like".

Best,

Bob Betzner

orig.jpg
 
So..... this is what it has come to!!! Mine is better than yours?

Bob, to each their own...I could add a snoddy comment on yours just as you have done me.....but I won't give you that.....I am not into fantasy looking blades, letter openers ect. To each their own...your work and craftsmanship is nice but not my style.

All I wanted was to get was CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. I see that I am not going to get this from this sub forum.

FYI...I was talking with Dad today about this....we both expected a little of this but not near what I am getting.....he informed me that the small skinny ones were indeed ground by him...they were blanks he bought off a guy that got them from when Camillus closed down and auctioned off all their stuff.
 
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