silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
This weekend, I was given a real treat. The opportunity to watch a maker at work, and to see another makers wares. It was a good experience to talk with both makers, and it was a treat to learn the basics in a crash course from one maker. Larry Nowicki and Butcher Block. When I got home, changing out my productions for my home use knife (I gotta justify purchases somehow 
), I realized that I get more from my customs. Since joining BF, I have met a lot of custom makers. I have bought from a few, and still have a few of those, but the great people I have met in the community means more to me than a lot of the productions I have. Not to discount guys like Sal Glesser, Jerry Busse or Mike Stewart, but I just think I like customs better, mainly due in part to the accessibility of these makers. I know these guys are busy, I know that they are probably swamped, and most of them are self employed, if knife making is only a second job too. My online interactions with the above production makers does not compare though to the makers I have visited, spoken with, and even just bs'd with at shows. I have some knives on order from guys who are all charging less than 300 for their wares, and they should be commanding more, but don't tell them that. I think part of the fun of the knife is the interaction with the makers themselves. I felt like a kid in Larrys shop, and was amazed at the work Butch is putting out (I am amazed at Larrys work too!). Maybe its just me, but I think customs are going to finally be the way to go for me from now on. I haven't turned my back on customs, but damn. Not only are the knives cool, but the people are too!
), I realized that I get more from my customs. Since joining BF, I have met a lot of custom makers. I have bought from a few, and still have a few of those, but the great people I have met in the community means more to me than a lot of the productions I have. Not to discount guys like Sal Glesser, Jerry Busse or Mike Stewart, but I just think I like customs better, mainly due in part to the accessibility of these makers. I know these guys are busy, I know that they are probably swamped, and most of them are self employed, if knife making is only a second job too. My online interactions with the above production makers does not compare though to the makers I have visited, spoken with, and even just bs'd with at shows. I have some knives on order from guys who are all charging less than 300 for their wares, and they should be commanding more, but don't tell them that. I think part of the fun of the knife is the interaction with the makers themselves. I felt like a kid in Larrys shop, and was amazed at the work Butch is putting out (I am amazed at Larrys work too!). Maybe its just me, but I think customs are going to finally be the way to go for me from now on. I haven't turned my back on customs, but damn. Not only are the knives cool, but the people are too!