Custom Proto??

Chefget

Chefget

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Nov 2, 1998
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Been seeing the 'Proto' thing really start to take off...a quick question about the logic behind it:

Doesn't the mark 'Prototype' pertain to an object being created prior to a production run?

Production run... Custom knife... ???

Just a little confused, was wondering if anyone had some feedback.

-Michael
 
A lot of makers have set patterns for quite a few of the knives they make. That means that other than materials the purchaser really has no choices in the what the final knife will look like. We could get into a discussion of whether this is really a custom knife or not, but that has been hashed over enough times already.

When a maker designs one of these patterns he will have a few prototype knives as he tries to come up with the final product. Since there are only a few prototype knives made, people buy them thinking they will be more valuable as collector pieces. Some will be, some won't.
 
Michaeal,

I'm not sure what the deal is behind the marketing of prototypes. I make ONE!! After I'm done with whatever R&D is involved, tooling, etc. I might sell it. If so, I provide a letter along with it describing the knife and stating that it's a prototype, THAT's IT !!

To me, making a SERIES of prototypes might be somthing a factory would do for evaluation purposes. I could be wrong, I'll follow this thread to find out ;)


Neil
 
I can make several variants of a model before a final pattern is cut and hung up on the wall for future orders. All of the variants are considered prototypes.

I use a metal pattern to trace out the blades because some people will look at the description on my web site and see that the blade length is 3 3/4" and get upset if their order arrives and the blade is 3 13/16". I can't quite understand it but if they wanted "cookie cutter" production methods why did they order a handmade knife?
 
For most of the Vanguard knives there is a prototype.

A prototype may or may not be what the final knife looks like.

However, each of the Vanguard prototypes are completely finished.

Afterall if you don't build the knife the way your going to build the rest..it's not really a prototype is it.

The Vanguard prototypes are sold for the same price as the knives in the series.

So any extra valuation is based soley on the collector and the aftermarkets point of view.

It almost seems that some people think that prototypes may be worth more than a numbered knife. Almost as if they would be a better investment of your money.
 
When a customer orders a knife from me that I've never made, the knife is a prototype. The first of it's kind. Any time I make a prototype I make a silent choice if I want to make more of them or not. In most cases, that one prototype is the only one I'll make. But it's still a prototype because I had no pattern to go by and came up with it from the seat of my pants with input from the customer. So, the term 'custom prototype' makes perfect sense to me. I make them all the time.
 
Thanks for the input guys!

Les, in terms of the Vanguard or other series, the proto makes perfect sense in that it is a test model before the "run".

Neil,
Exactly what I was thinking...Proto 1 of 25, Production of 2!

I guess maybe a dish can be run as a special before it is put on the menu, eh? (It always seems to sell better as a special...) :)

-Michael
 
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