Customs over Factories

Dan Gray

Dan Gray

Joined
Jun 25, 2001
Messages
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Who likes Customs over Factories
And who likes Factories over Customs
and why? ***Just interested
Dan, Gray Knives,
 
I like them both, there is something special about owning a custom made knife especially for me when you know the maker. I can't afford to do all customs and sometimes a production knife just fills a need. I'll have three or four hand made knives on me most of the time and they all get used, but I'll still have one production knife on me as well and that gets the most use.

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Will Work 4 Knives
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I was perfectly happy with production knives until I bought my first custom. Now all I want are customs and I wish I hadn't spent all that time obsessing over production knives. The feel of owning and using a well made custom knife is much more satisfying for me, and worth the extra money. I still use my production knives, but don't plan on acquiring any more for a while.

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"I'm out there Jerry, and I'm lovin' every minute of it!"--Kramer
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Soloman:
I was perfectly happy with production knives until I bought my first custom. Now all I want are customs and I wish I hadn't spent all that time obsessing over production knives. The feel of owning and using a well made custom knife is much more satisfying for me, and worth the extra money. I still use my production knives, but don't plan on acquiring any more for a while.</font>
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Ditto
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I've only ever held 1 custom knife and that is my custom Pacific Cutlery Bowie Bali-Song. It is amazingly sweet and I love to flip it, the production Bali-Songs are fantastic as well but the custom is just a cut above IMO.

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If I like the knife, it doesen't matter. I look at design, materials, fit, finish, and value. I have seen "customs" that left me completely cold. It's a matter of design and execution.

Paul
 

I know what you're saying.
The custom will do the jobs OK but the Factory blade most(some)of the time
is not prized as much, I do the same, if I stick a knife in an electrical circuit.
I don't want one of my makes getting burned.
(that's one of the fastest ways to take the temper out of an edge.)
Put a Custom in your hand and you can feel the art that was put into it.
Plil, I see your into the pix how's business?


...Dan...<A HREF="http://www.kynd.com/~graydg/kniveslist4.html">Gray Knives</A>

 
Paul Work
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">If I like the knife, it doesen't matter. I look at design, materials, fit, finish, and value. I have seen "customs" that left me completely cold. It's a matter of design and execution.</font>
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Exactly.

I have yet to see any custom that beat the Spyderco Delica at what it does best.

On the other hand, I searched for years for a fixed blade that would function as a EDC for me, and it was not until I got my 'Daily' from Bill Siegle that I found it.

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Don't get me wrong. There are factory knives out there that offer great bang for the buck and are very well done. I still buy one or two every year. (My personal favorties last year were the D2 KABAR and the MT LCC).

If you are comparing custom and factory knives and the factory knives come out on top consistantly, it might be time to look at some other custom knives (at least that has been my experience).

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What about a Sebenza verse a Dozier Bone Hunter? One is production while the other is custom, but they are about the same, right?
Same price as well.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by CarlRexHubbard:
What about a Sebenza verse a Dozier Bone Hunter? One is production while the other is custom, but they are about the same, right?
Same price as well.</font>
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****
Just knowing who, what, and why, makes the difference for some buyers.
A one of a kind just for you knife, is like having that toy that nobody has,
This turns some on and then does nothing for others.
I have guys that buy from me and like productions also, there's no right or wrong here.
Productions will never be a competition to me
But when I buy a knife I wanta know who made it.
I think Chris Reeves Knows what he's doing with Sebenza
But I think productions verse one of a kinds are a world apart.

(just my opinion)

...Dan...<A HREF="http://www.kynd.com/~graydg/kniveslist4.html">Gray Knives</A>



[This message has been edited by Graymaker (edited 06-26-2001).]
 
What interested me first in custom knives, is the variety of options, particularly, steel choice, and the subsequent proper heat-treating that maximizes the steel in question. Specifically, a custom maker is more likely to offer both stainless and differentially heat treated tool and high-carbon steels, and be able to explain the pros and cons of each. As well, one can talk directly to the person who crafts and presumably tests the knife in question, allowing for greater design input on the part of the buyer, as per their specific needs.
 
Corey
You hit it on the head, with personalized attention
and service is hard to beat.


...Dan...<A HREF="http://www.kynd.com/~graydg/kniveslist4.html">Gray Knives</A>

 
I agree with PW and MDP...

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">If I like the knife, it doesen't matter. I look at design, materials, fit, finish, and value. I have seen
"customs" that left me completely cold. It's a matter of design and execution.</font>
Click to expand...

I buy production knives for the above reasons and also to 'test' things...a new steel, a new lock, will I like this blade shape etc. These things will help my search, like MDP, toward a more perfect custom.


Steve-O
 
Love customs. Love factory knives. Love knives.

I buy more factory folders than customs these days, partially because I can get the alternative lock formats I want, and partially because they're priced more affordably, and partially because factory quality and character has really gone through the roof. On the other hand, I do love my customs, and especially the ones that I use -- an old Elishewitz, a Ralph Apogee, and Chamblin gents folder.

Same comment about fixed blades, although in this case I love my TTKK custom above all (of course!)

Joe
 
Soloman wrote...
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I was perfectly happy with production knives until I bought my first custom. Now all I want are customs and I wish I hadn't spent all that time obsessing over production knives.</font>
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I agree with Soloman 100%! I love customs, because of the quality, and the uniqueness of them. Especially the auto's! With all the different releases, blade styles, and different steels... It's just a candy factory out there, and I'm getting a tooth ache just talking about them.
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I think I'm safe in saying that knives like the Chris Reeve Sebenza is a custom knife, even though it's basically Chris's production knife, and the same for any knife maker that has a run of knives that is his mainstay.

All I know is that, I will never buy another production knife again, except for the BM Balisongs... I like playing with them!
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Just my 2¢!

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[This message has been edited by narruc1 (edited 06-26-2001).]
 
Good point
But the difference between production and custom made will for a long time have
a fine/wide line to walk, this is a big issue with a lot of makers.
Where is the line between the two?
It's a big wide line. 2 more cents
Good for another topic.

...Dan...<A HREF="http://www.kynd.com/~graydg/kniveslist4.html">Gray Knives</A>

 
I'm only buying production knives right now, but I guess you could call it "training". I'm using all of the production models heavily, getting a feel for what works best for me. When I do finally order a custom, it'll have those features I've found most important on my production folders.
 
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