Does anybody use their fancy custom knives?

[JParanee]

Good For those that use there customs

Life's to short to go around with ugly girls , guns or knives

 

[Mr.LCV]

Good For those that use there customs

Life's to short to go around with ugly girls , guns or knives

Ha!Haha!:thumbup:

 

[JParanee]

Ha!Haha!:thumbup:

At least you and I have the same sense of humor

 

[Sam Wilson]

I'm a big believer in using the knives I buy, especially the customs. I find, like others have said, that despite the fact that production knives have come a very long way, well made customs still have an edge, in general. I believe this to be particularly true in longevity. I hear many people say that a particular knife is just as good as a custom, as far as feel, materials used, or whatever. However, that is initial quality. Ten or fifteen years of hard use later, does it still lockup as tight, open as smoothly, etc? Maybe, maybe not. I used that Sebenza so much, and quite hard, I might add, that I finally had to send it in to get a new blade fitted for it. It was just as smooth, and with lockup just as tight as the day I got it. CRK fitted a new blade, good as new. The knife in the video is a Greg Lightfoot .458 Magnum chisel ground tanto. Another great performer, it does exceptionally well in the woods, or anywhere else for that matter. Locks up like the proverbial bank vault. I agree with most, a production knife will cut just fine, but there is a satisfaction from using a handcrafted tool that's hard to equal. Just my thoughts.

[video=youtube_share;k11OB5WzA1I]http://youtu.be/k11OB5WzA1I[/video]

 

[mcrow]

I don't think I could bring myself to dirty up something that expensive which is the reason why I don't buy them. If I'm not willing to use them, I don't buy them.

 

[GarnetandBlack]

I was given a nice Jason Knight custom as a gift a few years ago. I've yet to use it. I'm very tempted because it's such a sweet piece of steel, but seeing as it was such a thoughtful gift, i'd hate for it to be damaged or lost.

 

[Daft Slice 1986]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm going to start thinking about what I'd want in a custom.

 

[Daft Slice 1986]

At least you and I have the same sense of humor

That's a gorgeous piece you have there. I like the tuxedo look.

 

[liamstrain]

If I'm not willing to use them, I don't buy them.

I think this sums it up for me too. I wouldn't buy a knife that I was too afraid of breaking/damaging/losing to use. What price point that puts me at will likely vary with my financial situation over the years. Currently I use some production knives and some customs because they were actually the same price point as production blades I was considering - I'd rather support an individual craftsman where possible - but that price point is still pretty low for the customs world.

 

[Kletsou]

I am not a collector but love functional (and sometimes not so functional...) knifes. I had fancy customs made to my specification with custom knife makers which include knifes for my dad and brother. We all use these them.

I have some “semi customs” I bought for my children as users when we go hunting. The childrens “semi customs” I keep in the safe when not used for hunting. My definition of a semi custom is a knife by a specific maker which is not build to your specific design but a design which is generally available from the maker...... might not be aligned to this forums definition so accept my apologies if I am totally out of line.

I have fancy customs like a custom Corrie Schoeman build for me according to “my specs” on some input I saw on his older work and he combined it. The precious stones use which is his trademark I had no input to I carry this on “special” occasions and is my “carry knife” to church

So in summery have limited fancy customs but the ones I have is purpose specific so that I can have the enjoyment of the use in more than just looking at the beauty but also experience the functional “excellence” of a fancy custom

 

[nozyk]

That's a gorgeous piece you have there. I like the tuxedo look.

She's not wearing a tuxedo!?

 

[jhakken]

Interesting topic. I think it gets more interesting if we increase the dollar threshold and re-define what is meant by fancy. When I see a micarta handle in the earlier post I'm not surprised to hear it's used. It looked like a brute. But I was looking at some of the Coop's pictures from last year's Boston knife show and I see that most are ornate. If it's a little embellishment I, again, would not be surprised to hear it's used. But I would be surprised if any but a few of those knives are ever used to dress a deer or chop wood in camp, unless it was a camp where the owner could park a half-million dollar Mercedes RV. I'm not hating on anyone who has the disposable funds to buy anything that brings him pleasure. I see many of these knives as non-functioning pieces of functional art. There's a line somewhere though, because I heard a collector decry the horrible ergos of one of these high-end makers. Nevertheless, I have a hard time imagining any of those bejeweled handles could be comfortable but must admit I've never actually handled one.

 

[sevilla]

My favourite custom is this beautiful 2G scagel hunter. Forged 52100, moran grind.
There´s lot of use (hunting, bushcrafting, cooking) between this first image

and this one.

I love the way carbon steel ages. Unfortunately, wood used in handle shrinks and cracks too badly. Nothing a bit of superglue cannot fix.
Best regards.

 

[evanPGH]

I think this sums it up for me too. I wouldn't buy a knife that I was too afraid of breaking/damaging/losing to use. What price point that puts me at will likely vary with my financial situation over the years. Currently I use some production knives and some customs because they were actually the same price point as production blades I was considering - I'd rather support an individual craftsman where possible - but that price point is still pretty low for the customs world.

This. Once I realized that you can get a good custom for the same money as a Large Sebbie with inlays or a Wilson Combat Eagle it was a no brainer.

 

[Sonnydaze]

The extra money "sometimes" buys you a great blade-steel, but not always. The steel is always a compromise, as is the heat-treat. Massively-thick blades will not normally do a good job in slicing, although they might pry screws out of a 2x4" block of wood. They might cut through a car door...if that's what you need. I try to stay away from heavy knives; for me, five ounces is about the top of my comfort zone for EDC. Sebbies and Umnumzaan are right in there. I carry one of these every day. Never worried about losing one. Still don't.

 

[PS-RagE]

I am both collector and user.

This AT Barr is the second most expensive knife in my collection (due to the engraving) and sees regular use and looks it now:

This gentleman's folder by Brian Tighe was the first custom I bought and is still my favorite and most carried. The damascus does a wonderful job of hiding any scratches and wear:

(old photo that one)

On the flip side of this coin, this balisong from Chuck Gedraitis will probably never see use:

Nor this bowie by Jerry Fisk:

(gotta get a better photo of this one)

 

[Presa canary]

This isn't custom, but sure cost like it

And yes, it's used every day

 

[Bigfattyt]

Claudio's work would make a great user. Especially the stuff with the full tang, and micarta handles.

I have used Busse's for years now. I am starting to gravitate towards customs, rather than the Busse knives.

Infi is crazy tough stuff, honestly. If some one says "hey, I want to do stupid crazy things with this knife" I steer them toward Busse. I still have 4 (B11, KZII, CABS, SarQ). I have owned 12 or more?

Those choppers from CAS, and other custom makers, like that Khukri from Knight are going to be as tough as you will ever need.

I feel like a knife made to cut appropriate to it's task won't be a choice to cut apart a car, or chop though a logging chain, or take apart a motorcycle frame. They, unless designed for throwing, are also not knives I would throw. ( I have and do occasionally throw my Busse knives, and have no qualms).

I would bet a dime on a dollar that the Customs are going to have thinner edge geometry (for many makers. Some Custom makers also suffer from apocalypse edge syndrome too!)

My chopper Busse tend to be a bit thick in the edge for me, for what I do with them. I chop wood. Limb smaller trees. Split firewood when camping, etc.

Part of the draw to the custom knives is just the effort and uniqueness of them.

Both the CAS and Knight knives, they are forged pretty close to shape. No two will ever be exactly the same. They are just special.


Busse are more machined beauty. They make some great knives, but odds are, unless you have a special, very limited version (or custom), you can get another like yours. Some models are ground overly thick at the edge, and some are great.

If you are really going to do silly things with it, I would suggest the Busse. If you are going to use it as intended, you can find beautiful customs, often right in the same price range.

 

[crossada]

This damascus Matt Lamey bowie is one of my most frequent users in a bowie pattern. I need a better pic but the damascus hides scratches very well and Matt's blades are some of the sharpest out there.