Custom traditionals?

[mrknife]

For those of you with custom traditionals, when or how did you decide that it was time to get one?

 

[BigBiscuit]

Probably once you've narrowed things down to one particular pattern and cover material that really "does it for you", but you can't find the exact combo in a factory production piece. A factory version might be lacking the size, covers, blade steel or whatever the case may be. You can order a custom to your exact specifications.

 

[mrknife]

Probably once you've narrowed things down to one particular pattern and cover material that really "does it for you", but you can't find the exact combo in a factory production piece. A factory version might be lacking the size, covers, blade steel or whatever the case may be. You can order a custom to your exact specifications.

ah yes, thats a good plan, barlow with all bolsters im up to 7 now i think, thanks again Bob. schatt and morgans in cpm 154 should be interesting! I guess glenn's mod makes that 15 customized. wonder how his worklist is now, i got a 48 two blade ive been trying to figure out how to split open

 

[Ryouchijtx]

ah yes, thats a good plan, barlow with all bolsters im up to 7 now i think, thanks again Bob. schatt and morgans in cpm 154 should be interesting! I guess glenn's mod makes that 15 customized. wonder how his worklist is now, i got a 48 two blade ive been trying to figure out how to split open

Schatt and Morgan doesn't use CPM154, they use ATS-34 which is equivalent 154cm which is a great steel but nowhere near CPM154.

I agree with Bob, with customs being a higher price range as well..make sure you get what you want specifically in a knife that 'does it for you'

I decided I wanted a higher/"perfect" level of fit and finish than GEC that I was used to coming from Custom Modern knives. Don't get me wrong, GEC makes beautiful knives but I wanted a higher level of refinement.

 

[Augie]

Probably once you've narrowed things down to one particular pattern and cover material that really "does it for you", but you can't find the exact combo in a factory production piece. A factory version might be lacking the size, covers, blade steel or whatever the case may be. You can order a custom to your exact specifications.

Bob, you pretty well nailed it. I went that route with this Lloyd, a very unique knife.

 

[mrknife]

Schatt and Morgan doesn't use CPM154, they use ATS-34 which is equivalent 154cm which is a great steel but nowhere near CPM154.

I agree with Bob, with customs being a higher price range as well..make sure you get what you want specifically in a knife that 'does it for you'

I decided I wanted a higher/"perfect" level of fit and finish than GEC that I was used to coming from Custom Modern knives. Don't get me wrong, GEC makes beautiful knives but I wanted a higher level of refinement.

they just released them, its on NON BF DEALER MEMBER blog, im not sure if i get infractions for mentioning them. Queen's new release, theres 18 of em? some in clip, 4 sheep 4 spear

 

[major_works]

Schatt and Morgan doesn't use CPM154, they use ATS-34 which is equivalent 154cm which is a great steel but nowhere near CPM154.

The photos below of an S&M Barlow in CPM154 were shamelessly borrowed from a dealer's website (IOW, it's not my knife, unfortunately).

 

[justsomedude]

For me, it was when I looked at my collection and saw a bunch of GEC that I never really used and realized I could consolidate them into one, much nicer knife that I would use and appreciate more.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Schatt and Morgan doesn't use CPM154, they use ATS-34 which is equivalent 154cm which is a great steel but nowhere near CPM154.

I agree with Bob, with customs being a higher price range as well..make sure you get what you want specifically in a knife that 'does it for you'

I decided I wanted a higher/"perfect" level of fit and finish than GEC that I was used to coming from Custom Modern knives. Don't get me wrong, GEC makes beautiful knives but I wanted a higher level of refinement.

Queen uses 154CM for their Tuna Valley line. They started with ATS34 but upgraded. I have no issues with ATS34, CPM154 is my favorite steel however.

I grew up on Schrade knives, and abused a Schrade 7OT Cave Bear lockback, and unfortunately broke the tip off of it. I can't believe I sold that. My father swore by Schrade, I think it was because of the price, cheaper than a Case or a Buck back then I surmise.

I rekindled my love affair with traditionals with GEC, Queen and some Case. I then started finding older knives, approximately 65 years or older, and found some even older Remingtons which were still great specimens. I then got hooked on the Case Bose yearly collaborations. At the time, I tried to go the custom route with modern folders fixed blades. I got a few, but stuck with bushcraft knives, and the Idaho work knife . But I got started on a few custom slipjoints, which I later sold or traded. They were really well made, but not exactly what I was looking for.

Now, I've got a Gene Wiseman spear point barlow, two from Tracy Larock (smaller Lanny's Clip and a dogleg jack), a J Oeser Zulu, and two from Dr Taber (Zulu and Lannys Clip). I carry the Larocks and Wiseman, I am afraid of losing the others but I carry them occasionally. The Tabers are the only ones that don't have micarta scales. The scales on the LC from Dr T are amazing! Both have red bone covers.

I am planning on getting a peanut from Tracy, and a gunstock jack from Brent. My favorite pattern is the Zulu, with the peanut and LC tied for second. Except for the peanut, I'm pretty much stuck to Case 2010 Tribal Spears and 2011 LC's for examples (or was the LC 2012?). I've already got an ebony Tribal I EDC, an antique bone Tribal, a Damascus Tribal, and a red bone LC. No, I don't carry them all. I can't find a stag Tribal, so I might just have one made for me by one of the many makers out there. The prices aren't bad either, kinda comparable to some of the crazy prices I've seen on the giant auction site.

The quality is far and above better than the current factories. Of course, these are hand fitted etc. Great Eastern function and Queen looks, that's what you get in a custom.

Pretty much only customs and hunting for golden oldies gets me excited anymore.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

they just released them, its on NON BF DEALER MEMBER blog, im not sure if i get infractions for mentioning them. Queen's new release, theres 18 of em? some in clip, 4 sheep 4 spear

The photos below of an S&M Barlow in CPM154 were shamelessly borrowed from a dealer's website (IOW, it's not my knife, unfortunately).

Thank you, I just checked them out and I must say...those look amazing! Especially for the fact that they've upgraded to CPM154 + they're in stag? Great stuff.

 

[brownshoe]

To me, the best way to buy a custom traditional is to go to a show and fall in love. That way you get to see the knife completed and you can find something you never thought you wanted, or existed. I find you don't really know a knife until you have it in hand. You cannot do that with a custom order. A good middle ground is to go to a knife show, coonfinger the knife you want and then order it to your specifications. If you are a picky person, having a knife made for you could lead to disappointment, unless you know both the knife and the maker. For example, some people make their slipjoints too thick. You cannot tell that from pictures. Some makers don't know how to properly fit stag to a slipjoint (think Case stag) you won't find that out until you get your knife.

My last custom traditional was bought at a show this September. I got a 4" lockback made by Dennis Bradley. It has a one-piece spring/lockback assembly, bushing at the pivot, integral steel liners/bolsters and some yellow/black mammoth tooth that is stunning. It's got a high polish and not a sharp edge anywhere except on the blade. I would have never thought I would buy it, but I found it on the last afternoon of the show and fell in love. I never even knew about the one piece spring/lock back construction, and combined with a bushing, makes an interesting system. I was always leery of mammoth tooth, until Dennis told me the lengths he goes to stabilize it. I actually carry it in my pocket, so the high polish shows some scratches, but his stabilization of the mammoth tooth has held up perfectly.

 

[mrknife]

Thank you, I just checked them out and I must say...those look amazing! Especially for the fact that they've upgraded to CPM154 + they're in stag? Great stuff.

no problem. yes, i have the clip and the spear on the way, couldnt convince myself to get the sheepsfoot, i found out im not really into that blade shape. the clip in 1095 is on the way from a mr.bohn

 

[mrknife]

To me, the best way to buy a custom traditional is to go to a show and fall in love. That way you get to see the knife completed and you can find something you never thought you wanted, or existed. I find you don't really know a knife until you have it in hand. You cannot do that with a custom order. A good middle ground is to go to a knife show, coonfinger the knife you want and then order it to your specifications. If you are a picky person, having a knife made for you could lead to disappointment, unless you know both the knife and the maker. For example, some people make their slipjoints too thick. You cannot tell that from pictures. Some makers don't know how to properly fit stag to a slipjoint (think Case stag) you won't find that out until you get your knife.

My last custom traditional was bought at a show this September. I got a 4" lockback made by Dennis Bradley. It has a one-piece spring/lockback assembly, bushing at the pivot, integral steel liners/bolsters and some yellow/black mammoth tooth that is stunning. It's got a high polish and not a sharp edge anywhere except on the blade. I would have never thought I would buy it, but I found it on the last afternoon of the show and fell in love. I never even knew about the one piece spring/lock back construction, and combined with a bushing, makes an interesting system. I was always leery of mammoth tooth, until Dennis told me the lengths he goes to stabilize it. I actually carry it in my pocket, so the high polish shows some scratches, but his stabilization of the mammoth tooth has held up perfectly.

god i love that term, coonfinger it is just hilarious to me. and yes i believe im guilty of that. ooo stag is a big deal for me, i spent quite a bit on stag knives. still hunting for Eric's Jack

 

[trey999]

My main reason was to get a great knife that nobody else has.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

My main reason was to get a great knife that nobody else has.

Yep, it's nice having a build that's unique for sure. Even if they're the same build..there may be some variances in the cover material / over all look etc. It's nice to be a unique snowflake
To provide some eye candy for why you should get a custom traditional..here you go

Some of these are gone..many of these are still here to stay but there's a level of refinement that you do not get in productions that you can notably see in photos along on customs.
Something so finely tuned requires far less upkeep as well. 2 more on the way

 

[NormP]

Those are really nice looking. Really nice. That first one is amazing.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

Thank you NormP, I actually don't have that one anymore but Todd makes a fine knife.

mrknife

If you're really interested in the next step onward I can give you a list of makers I quite enjoy for the quality and price.
In my opinion. Any custom traditional made with crisp finishing is worth selling off a couple production knives for. When you get them in hand you just 'know' it's another level of build quality.

 

[SadSappySucker]

Tim, that carbon fiber clip point Davison is quite a looker. I think I remember viewing it while window shopping in the for sale section.
Todd makes one heck of a birds eye/ shadow pattern. One day I hope to own one. His blades are just so crisp and clean. Between him and Bose I could just stare at their swedges and blade grinds for days!

 

[mrknife]

Thank you NormP, I actually don't have that one anymore but Todd makes a fine knife.

mrknife

If you're really interested in the next step onward I can give you a list of makers I quite enjoy for the quality and price.
In my opinion. Any custom traditional made with crisp finishing is worth selling off a couple production knives for. When you get them in hand you just 'know' it's another level of build quality.

much obliged Tim, at this moment I dont think im ready for a custom. still enjoying a lot of the productions even if they just sit in their boxes. still on the hunt i suppose