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vinny72xx

vinny72xx

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Nov 9, 2005
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I decided to use and edc a Ray Cover slipjoint I recently acquired. I really like the knife and won't abuse it, but what if it someday needs some tweaking, repair, or refurbishing? What then?
This is my first (and only) custom, therefore I am used to just sending a knife back to the factory for whatever is needed. I just got a Benchmade back from being repaired, and that got me thinking.
 
Generally, if the maker is still alive/making knives, they will refurbish for no/low charge.

The big tweaker is how long it will take. Some makers turn around asap, some have them sitting on their bench for a while.

Either way, this is the situation with most makers of note, and should not be an issue.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks.
Anyone have any info about Ray Cover Sr., in particular? I've found some of his knives online at custom purveyors, and plenty of praises for his work, but haven't been able to find any contact info, etc. I also read somewhere that he may not be making knives for much longer. Any info would be appreciated, google searches are getting tiresome and non-productive.
 
vinny72xx, I know Ray Cover very well and he will generally refurbish a knife for little or no fee. As for Ray quiting making knives any time soon....I heard a guy ask him when he was going to stop making knives at a knife show in Saint Louis last January and his answer was, "When I quit breathing." Ray did tell me he was going to "slow down" some next year, but slowing down for Ray would still be a lot of knives to most makers.:thumbup: Ray stopped taking orders for a while a couple of years ago because his wait times had gotten too long, I think this is where some of the confusion came from.

As old fashioned as it sounds to us guys on the internet, the best way to deal with Ray is order a knife by mail. I've seen him refer to his mail orders many times before telling me how many knives I could get and when.:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
That's great news. Thank-you.
Do you think he would mind a phone call one of these days? I may just get it refurbed sooner rather than later.
I just got his phone number tonight by sending an email to Ray Jr.'s engraving website, requesting contact info for Ray Sr., and got a reply back a few minutes later. No address though, just phone#.
 
Call him. You wouldn't have been given the number if it wasn't appropriate.

Consider though that a slipjoint is a very basic design and has a good proven track record of handling abuse over time. It shouldn't need adjustment if properly built for service and Mr. Cover's is one of those. Your slipjoint should give you 50 years of service before wearing out.

Unless you want it to look prettier, there is no need to have it "refurbished." Deep scratches can't really be removed and additional polishing can soften a knife's lines and may not be desirable. A new edge, no matter how carefully applied will change the blade profile. You may want to just keep it and care for it. That being said, I just had a 25 year old knife polished and a new edge put on it by the maker. They would due it for postage, but I sent $30 more anyway. The reason I had the knife refurbished was that the knife had a lot of scratches and it was designed with a mirror polish, it was pretty flat so buffing wouldn't change the lines and it was dull and needed a new edge. I got a prettier and more useful knife back, but you can tell it has been worked on, primarily by the new edge and the deep scratches that couldn't be removed vs. polished surface where there was just light scratches.
 
Good food for thought. I guess I'll think it over for awhile. On one hand, I would like it to look as pretty as possible. On the other hand, if it were prettied up, I probably wouldn't use it as much, if at all.
Hmmm.
 
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