I've talked to a couple knifemakers about custom folders lately. After showing me some of their wares, most asked me how much I'm ready to spend. Usually if the answer to this question is under $500, the responce is almost universally "You're not ready for a custom knife", followed by a reccomendation for their favorite flavor of production model. So is this what determines when one is ready for a custom knife, how much money you have in your wallet?
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Determining when you're ready for a custom knife?
- Thread starter JDBraddy
- Start date
You are ready for a custom knife if you can't seem to find a mass-produced knife that meets your dream/wants/needs - usually in that order.
You can find custom folders for under $200. Not many, but some.
You can find some outstanding folders between $300 and $400 and even more so if you are willing to spend up to $500. Some of these will even have special materials such as damascus steel, pearl or mammoth ivory scales, feature unique mechanisms and/or blade steels, etc.
Go to any decent knife show with $500 in your pocket and if you don't find a truly outstanding folder that outstrips your expectations, you weren't looking.
You can find custom folders for under $200. Not many, but some.
You can find some outstanding folders between $300 and $400 and even more so if you are willing to spend up to $500. Some of these will even have special materials such as damascus steel, pearl or mammoth ivory scales, feature unique mechanisms and/or blade steels, etc.
Go to any decent knife show with $500 in your pocket and if you don't find a truly outstanding folder that outstrips your expectations, you weren't looking.
I agree 100 percent with Architect!!
How big you wallet is, is not the way to tell. But when your not satisfied with the production stuff, although there is some good production stuff out there. Or if you are looking for a one of a kind, or possibly a picture of a knife stuck in your head, that you`d love to own. That`s where makers ( like myself and lots of others ) could help you out. I personally haven`t made a folder yet that cost $500 USD.
sorry for the shameless self promotion
How big you wallet is, is not the way to tell. But when your not satisfied with the production stuff, although there is some good production stuff out there. Or if you are looking for a one of a kind, or possibly a picture of a knife stuck in your head, that you`d love to own. That`s where makers ( like myself and lots of others ) could help you out. I personally haven`t made a folder yet that cost $500 USD.
sorry for the shameless self promotion
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JD,
I don't think you'll find a 'custom' or 'handmade' knife for $29.95 so I guess money does enter into the picture as well as time. In my case, I was ready for a 'custom' when I couldn't stop thinking about the idea for a knife I had in my head for years. I started to 'daydream' about what it would look like & feel like in my hand. I managed to put aside some money, contacted a knifemaker willing to turn my idea into reality, listened to his input & knowledge, gave the go ahead, sent his required deposit, waited months for the finished knife, sent the balance payment & had my 'dream' custom knife in my sweaty palm! So far, (and I'm a relative newcomer) I have repeated this procedure for about 5 customs. I'd have to say - you will know when your're ready for a custom knife. You are paying for the knifemaker's knowledge, skill, and for possible exotic materials for a knife that suits you to a 'T'.
BTW - none of my 'customs' have reached the $500 mark, yet! Good luck, take care & move slowly; it can become very habit forming!
I don't think you'll find a 'custom' or 'handmade' knife for $29.95 so I guess money does enter into the picture as well as time. In my case, I was ready for a 'custom' when I couldn't stop thinking about the idea for a knife I had in my head for years. I started to 'daydream' about what it would look like & feel like in my hand. I managed to put aside some money, contacted a knifemaker willing to turn my idea into reality, listened to his input & knowledge, gave the go ahead, sent his required deposit, waited months for the finished knife, sent the balance payment & had my 'dream' custom knife in my sweaty palm! So far, (and I'm a relative newcomer) I have repeated this procedure for about 5 customs. I'd have to say - you will know when your're ready for a custom knife. You are paying for the knifemaker's knowledge, skill, and for possible exotic materials for a knife that suits you to a 'T'.
BTW - none of my 'customs' have reached the $500 mark, yet! Good luck, take care & move slowly; it can become very habit forming!
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What winds up being addicting is not only the "fits you like a glove" idea, or the wonderful materials you can get, but a handmade knife usually has a nice, authoratative feel that is hard to find in production models.
I like my production knives, but really go for the handmades as my every day carrys.
There are excellent buys out there - visit some of the handmade sites and you'll certainly see something that will strike your fancy in your price range. Better yet, do get yourself to a show and expect to be dazzled. This is the best option, as you'll get a chance to pickup and handle the knives - as sometimes a picture can be deceiving as to a knife's scale or how it handles.
I like my production knives, but really go for the handmades as my every day carrys.
There are excellent buys out there - visit some of the handmade sites and you'll certainly see something that will strike your fancy in your price range. Better yet, do get yourself to a show and expect to be dazzled. This is the best option, as you'll get a chance to pickup and handle the knives - as sometimes a picture can be deceiving as to a knife's scale or how it handles.
Les Robertson
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JD,
Any knife maker that would tell you your not ready to buy a custom knife if you are only willing to spend over $500 is FULL OF S##T.
You tell who ever told you that, I said so.
Just about all tactical folders are under $500. Generally if they go over that, it is because of the materials used.
In general, there are a lot of really good knives for $500 and under.
You will be ready to step up to custom knives when you see a custom knife you like that you feel is a fair price.
Take your time, do your homework and make every dollar count.
Any knife maker that would tell you your not ready to buy a custom knife if you are only willing to spend over $500 is FULL OF S##T.
You tell who ever told you that, I said so.
Just about all tactical folders are under $500. Generally if they go over that, it is because of the materials used.
In general, there are a lot of really good knives for $500 and under.
You will be ready to step up to custom knives when you see a custom knife you like that you feel is a fair price.
Take your time, do your homework and make every dollar count.
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Who the heck have you been talking to? There are a lot of top notch folders for under $500.00. Of course there are many makers that have prices that start higher than that, but there are many more whose prices are lower, and in some cases much lower.
You are obviouly ready for a custom knife right now. If something has sparked enough interest in you that you have started talking to custom makers then you have the bug. Now you just have to find the right knife.
What kind of folder are you interested in?
Edited to correct a typo.
You are obviouly ready for a custom knife right now. If something has sparked enough interest in you that you have started talking to custom makers then you have the bug. Now you just have to find the right knife.
What kind of folder are you interested in?
Edited to correct a typo.
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All my folder models start under $300, and my balisongs start under $400. Most handmade folders by most makers are a similar range; as has been noted, its when the knife has more expensive materials that they tend to jump. -- Charles
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My price range tends to be in the $350-$850 range for a custom. I do have a few more expensive knives, some gotten in trades, but $350-$850 is the normal price range i tend to look at.
Thats $350-$500 for a good tactical model, generally with CF scales and plain blade, and $650-$850 for a relatively fancy folder, with nice damascus bolster/blade, pearl/ivory handle and filework.
Honestly, while its true that there ARE many tactical models out there for $500 or less, JW Smith, Frederick, Obenauf, Carson, Mayo, Lightfoot, Tighe etc., its not THAT common to find a high quality FANCY folder for less than $750. Its right at about $750 where you start to have some nice choices, choices in both the maker, and the materials. The fact is, i see VERY few, well made fancy folders, with damascus blades, colorful pearl or mammoth ivory and aesthetic designs for less than $750, when i do, i usually buy it!
A few makers i see who do sell nice stuff for around $750 are Mel and Joe Pardue, Frank Centofante, Mike Zscherny, RB Johnson, Ken Steigerwalt, Joel Chamblin, Weston, McLurkin, Aaron Frederick, Corrie Schoeman, Murray Sterling... to name a few. If any of you have other makers to add to this list, PLEASE do so, im always VERY interested in finding new possibilities. And yes, Im guilty of starting more than one "Best Bang For Your Buck" thread.
Show me a fancy folder, with a nice design, interesting damascus blade and bolster, deep blue mammoth ivory scales, for $750 or less, and im ALL over it.
Not that many around unfortunately.
Seriously, if anyone knows where to look for a very well made, fancy folder, with top notch materials for at or under $750, PLEASE tell me.
As an example, here is a nice little fancy folder by Sterling for only $600. It looks like a great little knife for the price.
Thats $350-$500 for a good tactical model, generally with CF scales and plain blade, and $650-$850 for a relatively fancy folder, with nice damascus bolster/blade, pearl/ivory handle and filework.
Honestly, while its true that there ARE many tactical models out there for $500 or less, JW Smith, Frederick, Obenauf, Carson, Mayo, Lightfoot, Tighe etc., its not THAT common to find a high quality FANCY folder for less than $750. Its right at about $750 where you start to have some nice choices, choices in both the maker, and the materials. The fact is, i see VERY few, well made fancy folders, with damascus blades, colorful pearl or mammoth ivory and aesthetic designs for less than $750, when i do, i usually buy it!
A few makers i see who do sell nice stuff for around $750 are Mel and Joe Pardue, Frank Centofante, Mike Zscherny, RB Johnson, Ken Steigerwalt, Joel Chamblin, Weston, McLurkin, Aaron Frederick, Corrie Schoeman, Murray Sterling... to name a few. If any of you have other makers to add to this list, PLEASE do so, im always VERY interested in finding new possibilities. And yes, Im guilty of starting more than one "Best Bang For Your Buck" thread.
Show me a fancy folder, with a nice design, interesting damascus blade and bolster, deep blue mammoth ivory scales, for $750 or less, and im ALL over it.
Not that many around unfortunately.Seriously, if anyone knows where to look for a very well made, fancy folder, with top notch materials for at or under $750, PLEASE tell me.
As an example, here is a nice little fancy folder by Sterling for only $600. It looks like a great little knife for the price.
Thanks for the support guys, I was getting a bit disillusioned. I won't name these makers, I think they may be popular and I may want to buy somthing from one of them some day. I don't think either was being intentionally demeaning, but they both came across that way. Both where looking to get around $800 for their knives. I had recently bought a couple Microtechs, but then I saw a Sebenza. I'll keep an eye open. What I'm wanting an EDC knife, that's about the size and shape of a large plain Sebenza, with mabey some really nice filework or even damascus, and nice scales. I'll keep looking, maby my budget will increas with time. I don't imagine I'll ever really be a collector. I'm just hoping to find a special EDC, I'll be content to call my prized posession for years to come.
JDBraddy
JDBraddy
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You'll find one prized possession isn't enough, then two isn't enough, then three.... There are plenty of makers and dealers who know that $500 is still a significant amount of money (and getting more so in this economic climate). You were probably just unlucky in your first encounters.
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Too bad it has to be a folder! You have a <b><i>lot</i></b> more options under $500 with a small fixed blade! By small I mean 3.5" blade or under, so no larger (at the most) than an opened large Sebenza.
Your friends' point though was still valid to some extent because as with higher quality production knives (like that Sebenza), one is almost never enough! You know you are ready for customs when you can actually see laying down $300+ per knife anyway, so whats a few hundred between friends! The better (stronger, faster, more rugged) tactical folders I saw at BAKCA last month that were under $500 were pretty darned close like $425!
There may be some cross over where high end production knives (like the Seb, though this includes even knives from Spyderco, Benchmade, and others) actually outperform customs in the $400+ range! What you get in the custom here is more intangible, the privilege of owning something unique, having some individual artistic value. To some people, that can be worth the price, even aside from sheer performance considerations.
Your friends' point though was still valid to some extent because as with higher quality production knives (like that Sebenza), one is almost never enough! You know you are ready for customs when you can actually see laying down $300+ per knife anyway, so whats a few hundred between friends! The better (stronger, faster, more rugged) tactical folders I saw at BAKCA last month that were under $500 were pretty darned close like $425!
There may be some cross over where high end production knives (like the Seb, though this includes even knives from Spyderco, Benchmade, and others) actually outperform customs in the $400+ range! What you get in the custom here is more intangible, the privilege of owning something unique, having some individual artistic value. To some people, that can be worth the price, even aside from sheer performance considerations.
You're ready for a custom knife when you can afford it.
Now, As I see it you can afford it not when you have the purchase price in your wallet but when your finances allow you to buy and keep it.
It always disturbs me to see people selling their beautiful custom knives at a loss as soon as the first little problem in their life happens.
Obviously if they have to sell their knives a short time after they buy them they really couldn't afford them in the first place.
If you keep in mind that custom knives are a luxury to be owned after the necessities of life are met and you have a reasonable cash bufer to hold you over the bumps along the way you'll do ok. Knives are a very poor investment.
Now I'm sure everybody is saying that everything I've said is obvious but if you look at the for sale section you'll see it isn't quite so obvious to a lot of people.
Maybe the knifemakers you talked to are thinking more along the lines
of how I'm thinkig than trying to shoot you down as not being able to afford their knives.
Now, As I see it you can afford it not when you have the purchase price in your wallet but when your finances allow you to buy and keep it.
It always disturbs me to see people selling their beautiful custom knives at a loss as soon as the first little problem in their life happens.
Obviously if they have to sell their knives a short time after they buy them they really couldn't afford them in the first place.
If you keep in mind that custom knives are a luxury to be owned after the necessities of life are met and you have a reasonable cash bufer to hold you over the bumps along the way you'll do ok. Knives are a very poor investment.
Now I'm sure everybody is saying that everything I've said is obvious but if you look at the for sale section you'll see it isn't quite so obvious to a lot of people.
Maybe the knifemakers you talked to are thinking more along the lines
of how I'm thinkig than trying to shoot you down as not being able to afford their knives.
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Although people surely get in debt, all customs sold at less than face value are the result of financial hardship. As Les Robertson pointed out, it is hard for someone who does not have the infrastructure of a dealer to make a profit off of previously owned knives. Personally, I have sold knives to get extra cash, buy another knife once my fancy had worn off older knives, and even to pay for a vacation. As I have gotten into knives, I have come to realize that my taste and interests will change. Knives that I thoought were the ultimate two or three years ago hold very little interest for me now. Tactical knives, which were my great interest, have been gradually pushed aside by gent/art knives. I see nothing wrong with selling knives that I no longer have an interest in so that I may buy others, even I lose some money. It beats going into savings or using credit.
Furthermore, on occassion, even I make a profit selling knives when I decide to part with a valuable item like a Model 4 or a TNT.
Back to the original question, there are some really great custom knives for under $500. Speaking from experience, I say go slow. It is very to easy to get to enthusiastic and end up with "toys" that no longer hold your interest.
Furthermore, on occassion, even I make a profit selling knives when I decide to part with a valuable item like a Model 4 or a TNT. Back to the original question, there are some really great custom knives for under $500. Speaking from experience, I say go slow. It is very to easy to get to enthusiastic and end up with "toys" that no longer hold your interest.