Customization that costs more than the knife? Why?

A factory knife costs the manufacturer very little to produce.

Custom work requires time, tools, materials and expertise.

Those things come at a price that is often far greater than the purchase price of the knife.
 
I've done that with two knives, a ZT 0200 (base $90, customization $100) and a Benchmade Gaucho (base $115, customization $125). Worth every penny.
 
I wanted the knife with Ironwood scales for a long time. I loved my Native5.
I love this one even more. It is near perfect.

Now I have taste of it and I would rather spend my money on the knife, which I like to make it even more desired, than buy another OK knife.
 
Why would someone spend 2 X what a knife cost just to scales on it?

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Good question.
 
Comeuppance said:
This is something I keep seeing on forums and eBay - customized knives or custom scales for knives that cost more than the knife itself. Custom G10 scales for the Cryo or Tenacious... At $40+ for the scales alone? I've seen customized versions of both of those models go for over 80 bucks. Seriously? I could get a S30V Spyderco for that much.

I don't get it. People are dropping 70+ on 8Cr13MoV knives. To me, that's like buying a regular toothbrush for 100 bucks just because someone put a custom handle on it. Yeah, it looks nice, but you could get a really nice electric one that will last longer for the same price.
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For me personally, there is still one knife I want to have customized. The knife was bought by my fiance for $80 at a renaissance festival here. It's genuinely not some amazing knife. However, she's very proud of it and having bought it for me. But she's pretty sad that I don't use it. Simply because in its current form I can't. the hilt has a few extremely sharp pieces of the tang sticking out for "style" but my hands are too large and those would tear my hands up quite easily. So, I'd like to get a grind done to it and perhaps some g-10 or micarta scales put onto it and effectively transform it into a nice little boot knife. It was originally a thrower so it should work well.

Of course I've been unsuccessful in finding someone to do it. So the search continues.

My reason for it though? Simply pure sentimental value. I love her and love to see her smile. So giving this blade a genuine purpose would be worth it to me.
 
wait, what did he say?

I was busy slappin these fancy new white-gold slabs on my mora that came in the mail today.
 
I paid over $220 for a pair of John Grimsmo Titanium scales for my $200 Spyderco m390 Paramilitary 2.
iz nice tho... :D :D :D
 
I've been tempted to buy scales for my grip many many times, but then I think: Would I rather have another grip in some other options combination of just a pair of scales to replace the one I have that still work? Hmmmmm.

That being said, if my stock scales were to somehow get destroyed, I think I could justify getting some Wilkins scales to myself :D
 
A well made cheap knife can last someone for years. Maybe it's their favorite knife, maybe they don't like super expensive knives but would like to make the cheap knife they have a little nicer, it's all really personal preference. I want to put custom scales on my Spyderco Squeak($40) because I believe it will change the whole feel and look and make it just that much better. Why not make it your own(also better, more comfortable, or more desirable for yourself) if you are so inclined? I love my Spyderco Squeak and find it to be an amazing value, but if I put the Blue G-10/CF scales on it it will change the look and feel and be more desirable for me.
I'll be making it look, feel, and become, like an $80+ knife and that makes it worth it to me. It will be better and more comfortable for me.
It may not make a lot of sense, but if you really like a design and a knife overall, why not tweak it to better fit you?
 
Why not , you like the knife , why not adding personal touch to it .
I love customized knifes and built lots of them myself .
 
The grip scales are the ones I don't understand. BM makes a lot of models with the axis lock, M4, M390, 154CM, G10, titanium, aluminum, etc. Not sure why people aren't just getting other axis models for the same or less money.
 
For me it's all about making it mine.
Simply put, a one of a kind knife.
My Grail.
Hopefully yours too.
A new set of scales can be the difference between; an LE Grip with M4 steel and what appears to be a Gold Class Grip.
A stock 710, or something really special.
What's that worth to you?
To me it's sooo much better than a new knife.
But, to each his own.
For example....

Before:


After:


I have more examples if you need them. ;)
 
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