Debating on a Bose knife

A Bose knife (like many other custom slipjoints) is a luxury item and that's how you should look at it.
He obviously makes an extraordinary slipjoint (in design and execution), but the market is the main factor determining the price. Clearly, his market is very high end and for a number of reasons.
Is it worth the price and wait? No one can answer this question but you.
Would a knife made by another maker (maybe for less $$$) make you as happy? It's up to you.
Would a drawer full of GEC, CSC and Queen knives make you happier? Again, your call.
Good luck for your choice. Whatever you choose, just make sure you're 100% confident and fine with it.

Fausto
:cool:
 
I've collected quite a few of the Case Bose annual collaborations, and their fit and finish is above some of the customs I've bought. However, in buying a Tony Bose knife, it will hold it's value. Like Bill Moran was the godfather of the Damascus blade, and reintroduced the style, Tony is the one that reintroduced these patterns to the collecting market. Sure, Case, Buck, Camillus and Schrade kept these patterns alive, but Tony really took them to the next level. Brought back some of the old patterns that were obscure.

My grail knife is a single blade Zulu, with bolster and jigged bone scales, from Tony. I've already got an amber bone Tribal Spear from the Case line, a molasses bone with Damascus blade Tribal Spear from the Case line, an ebony Tribal Spear from the Case line, a J Oeser Zulu with micarta scales and bolster and a Dr T with bolster and jigged bone.

I still want the original, from the master hisself! However, I'm looking at buying a house, and getting a new truck. Can't have everything. Might have it if I sold all of my customs and Case Bose annuals.
 
supratentorial said:
I think it's one of those times that if you have to ask then maybe you don't really appreciate it and aren't really ready for it. When you are ready for it, it may take some time for your name to get to the front of Reeses list. But it will be worth the wait. My opinion and $5 will get you a salted caramel mocha frappuccino with whip at Starbucks. So take it with a grain of salted caramel.
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It's not that I don't recognize the quality or the time that goes into the production because I do. I've paid about the same price for some custom fixed blades that are sitting in my collection right now. However with that being said, I'm really debating the cash drop on a user knife. I have the cash for it, as a collector knife I'll buy it, question is, if I want to drop 3k on a daily user when sub $500.00 Blade will work as it has been working for the past few years...oh who am I kidding, I buy knives like it's going out of style lol! I've been rotating 20 something knives for a while now.
 
Increasing price does not get you better user knives. Increasing price gets you knives from increasingly popular knife makers.
Popularity is a bit like fashion, it changes over time. There are many fine USA knife makers (folders & fixed blades) who make great user knives, but don't have a large following, so their knives can be obtained for a fraction of the cost of knives from the few most popular knife makers. When it comes to using them, all are good cutters and a few will be stand-out. The less expensive knives could well be the 'stand outs'.
So buy what you like and don't assume that less expensive customs are not as good as the most expensive ones.
kj
 
I completely relate to your quandary: super expensive user that I'd love and cherish or super expensive collector piece that will at least hold its value as long as it's in mint condition. As a collector, I've promised myself that if I'm gonna spend the $$$ on a custom, I've got to use it. That's why I personally purchase them. I have no desire to make a knife purchase as an "investment". Just don't see the point. With that being said, I have a feeling a Bose will be in my pocket in the not too distant future ;)
 
There's part of this equation that has not been stated, Tony is semi retired and does not take orders any longer.
One of the ways to get a knife directly from him is to bid on one at a knife show, or on the secondary market. A Bose
is a work of art from a master, an icon of his trade to be admired not so much by it's functionality but it's place
in the history of American cutlery. He has basically recreated the traditional pocket knife and for that I give him the
highest honors. Many aspire to the crown, but none will duplicate his accomplishments, except maybe Reese.

Jeff
 
jeffsaul said:
There's part of this equation that has not been stated, Tony is semi retired and does not take orders any longer.
One of the ways to get a knife directly from him is to bid on one at a knife show, or on the secondary market. A Bose
is a work of art from a master, an icon of his trade to be admired not so much by it's functionality but it's place
in the history of American cutlery. He has basically recreated the traditional pocket knife and for that I give him the
highest honors. Many aspire to the crown, but none will duplicate his accomplishments, except maybe Reese.

Jeff
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I could not have put it better myself Jeff, Tony has been a great help to me, and is a real Gentleman.


All the best

Paul
 
MY OPINION.

nothing compares with a Bose knife.
i only want to collect Tony Bose, Tony Bose, Tony Bose, and then some Tony Bose.

i have been collecting Case for a long time, Gec for past three years and some Custom slippies by Dr T, Davison, Manefee, Dunlap, Halfrick.

but my Bose knives are just special.

no one works stag like bose.

i regret selling my Reese Bose last and only Bose knife i will ever sell.

i hav a lannys clip in stag, a zulu in ivory a backpocket in ivory and a wharncliffe in stag made by Mr Bose, (Hand picked) at shows and on forums , paid a premium price but worth every penny.


Tony knives are just great to the feel, perfrct fit and finish and smooth action.

btw

anyone interested in selling their bose knives please contact me.
 
tony bose knives are different in a special way.

hold one and you will understand what i mean.

i had several knives from many current makers. to me mr bose adds something no one does. even if its same pattern, a Bose is a Bose,

i have paid aftermarket price on some of my Bose knives they are worth every penny.

i want to expand my Bose collection.
 
kootenay joe said:
Increasing price does not get you better user knives. Increasing price gets you knives from increasingly popular knife makers.
Popularity is a bit like fashion, it changes over time. There are many fine USA knife makers (folders & fixed blades) who make great user knives, but don't have a large following, so their knives can be obtained for a fraction of the cost of knives from the few most popular knife makers. When it comes to using them, all are good cutters and a few will be stand-out. The less expensive knives could well be the 'stand outs'.
So buy what you like and don't assume that less expensive customs are not as good as the most expensive ones.
kj
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Well said sir!:thumbup: I would love to have a Bose knife but reality sets in in the fact that I cannot afford one and at my age never will. I do have a couple of Case Bose colabs and they are fantastic knives that I am grateful to own. So I say if you can afford one and it is what you want then go for it I know I would.
 
I agree with everything said about Tony Bose, he is truly THE master and I bet every maker mentioned along with him would say the same. Many that he had personally helped and mentored them.

But just considering the traits mentioned in the original post, "The slabs, the steel, the fit and finish and attention to the smallest of details" there are certainly other makers worth looking into, to learn more about the hobby if nothing else.

I finally broke down and contacted Ryu Kawamura, going to have him make me a three blade cattle knife and I plan to carry it all the time. I'd love to have one from Tony himself but I was able to actually communicate with Mr. Kawamura to get the exact knife I want, made for me, and the price is lower than a Bose.
 
Tony Bose is an icon in the slipjoint world, just by looking at his knives one should be able to tell the subtle nuances which differentiate his production from i.e. Reese's on the same patterns, and i love Reese's work as well by the way.
In my opinion, at those levels it is not a matter of technical ability, it just boils down to the different ideas a maker has about a specific design...his own personal interpretation.
That said i have seen many (actually maybe not so many) makers on this forum who have great ideas and amazing interpretations which are not second to anyone's.
 
I'll have these two,by Tony, on me opening day this year

DSCN8164_zpstb2kn0vq.jpg
 
justsomedude said:
I agree with everything said about Tony Bose, he is truly THE master and I bet every maker mentioned along with him would say the same. Many that he had personally helped and mentored them.

But just considering the traits mentioned in the original post, "The slabs, the steel, the fit and finish and attention to the smallest of details" there are certainly other makers worth looking into, to learn more about the hobby if nothing else.

I finally broke down and contacted Ryu Kawamura, going to have him make me a three blade cattle knife and I plan to carry it all the time. I'd love to have one from Tony himself but I was able to actually communicate with Mr. Kawamura to get the exact knife I want, made for me, and the price is lower than a Bose.
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Ryu is a top notch slipjoint maker. IMO, first tier (Tony Bose is a legend and has his own special Tier :)) along with maybe 5-10 others. I am sure that you are going to be very pleased. I hope that you will consider sharing a picture of it here when you receive it.
 
The Virginian said:
Ryu is a top notch slipjoint maker. IMO, first tier (Tony Bose is a legend and has his own special Tier :)) along with maybe 5-10 others. I am sure that you are going to be very pleased. I hope that you will consider sharing a picture of it here when you receive it.
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Due to the frustrating lack of pictures I found when researching, I plan to do a massive shoot with it and post it all over the internet, SEO the heck out of it!
 
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