Custom slips

kamagong

kamagong

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2001
Messages
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How hard is it to get a slipjoint maker to make a knife that is not part of their normal lineup? I'm curious because there is a French slipjoint design that I like. While it looks like a nice knife, I refuse to pay over a hundred dollars for a pocket knife with a blade that is only 55 RC.

The knife I want is called the St. Martin. You can see it on this site http://www.covecutlery.com/item.cfm?ItemsID=588
 
Usually the french use sandivick 12C7 (?) which is a little on the soft side compared to the newest and greatest steel, but still is an excellent knife steel. I have an EKA and benchmade in the steel and it takes a razor sharp edge and holds it pretty good.
 
It depends upon the maker, how busy they are and what I have asked for.
Many if not all are very open to trying something they have not tried. Others are open for the most part, but they are also very knowledgable themselves and very busy. I have asked some different things from Joe Kios, Joel Chamblin and Richard Rogers in the past and they have all worked out well.

I am sure there are others, but I am just passing on the experience that I have had.

I always take it easy when I do something like that to make sure it would be something they would actually enjoy trying. In each case I have been involved with once the knife was done it generated more orders for the maker.
 
I have a Laguiole with 12c27. I agree that it's a good steel and takes a great edge. I wish it was harder though. I remember reading an article where the writer told a story involving a purveyor of Laguioles. The writer asked about the low RC. The seller replied that in France, people use their pocket knives to cut cheese, bread, salami, things of that nature. He questioned the need of people to have knives with super steel and super holding.

The Laguiole seller may have had a point. On the other hand, why shouldn't we as a consumer get what we want? Businesses should cater to me, not the other way around.
 
What specifically do you like about the knife? Shape? Size?

It actually looks like a lockback, one where you lift up on the front of the spring to unlock it.
 
I like the design of the knife. Specifically, I like the shape of the flat ground blade. It looks like a hybrid between a wharncliff and a spearpoint.
 
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