Does this "crack" seem natural?

In my opinion, that's not a crack, that's a CRACK!

I would consider that totally unacceptable, and I would be disappointed in the maker for sending it out that way. I don't see how anyone could miss that during a basic inspection or consider it acceptable to give to a customer.

What I find most disturbing is that it sounds like the maker has tried to convince you that it's perfectly normal and that you should accept it. Although I'd be a bit disappointed in a maker for sending me a knife in that condition, I wouldn't mind so much if they acknowledged and accepted their mistake and agreed to replace the handle scale without question at their own expense. Mistakes can be forgiven if they are properly remedied in a professional manner.
 
That's a mighty big crack, and would probably split out as the years go by. I'd return it, and the maker should be ashamed of themselves for that line they tried to feed you.
 
Not sure which bothers me more, that the maker shipped it out with that extensive a crack or that he tried to convince you that it was normal.
Absolutely Send it back.
 
That is a big crack, & would have been 10 times bigger before shaping. The maker is hoping you are a sucker, IMO.
 
If he tried to assure that it was normal, then the folks on here should know his name. That is Not the type of maker that would get Any of my money!

I have made custom fixed blades and put new, highly figured slabs of wood on factory knives and I would Never send a knife out that had a crack in the scales. Hell, I wouldn't send out a knife with an accidental ding in the wood slabs!

On top of that, in the first photo:
- it looks like the gap between the liner and wood slabs widens towards the top of the photo.
- There seems to be a ding, rust, pitting or discoloration on the liner, near the top of the photo. This can also be seen in the second photo.
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Send it back, get a refund and get a knife from a maker that supports the forum and has a good reputation that they want to uphold.
 
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It doesn't matter if it is natural: it is a major fault.
It is not an acceptable natural phenomena. It is due to the wood being mistreated; perhaps it was left in the sun, dried to quickly, cracked when falling. Who cares, that piece should have been tossed on the fire.
 
Natural or not it wouldn't pass inspection. Some guys are so full of themselves they figure it's a blessing to even have one of their knives.
 
I wouldn't be satisfied with it. If it were filled with epoxy to stabilize it I'd be OK with it as I kind of like the look, but I wouldn't keep it knowing it's eventually going to break.
 
Natural or not, I'd not accept it.

Surprised any craftsman would send that out with his name attached to it.
 
Hard to tell from the pics but it kinda looks like an end cut or crosscut on the wood. Even though these end cuts (if it is) have really cool grain patterns, as this piece does they are gonna crack. Not if but when. Done it twice for friends on knives I made em. Replaced both handles. Don't use end cuts any more.
 
Thanks for all the responses. I may be misusing and misunderstanding the meaning of a custom knife by the way you guys are talking...haha. I basically ordered it from a guy who made it and had it available on his online store front. The pictures on the listing did not clearly show that there was a crack, nor was it mentioned. Fortunately, the dealer opted to setup a return with me.

Sadly, this was a going to be a gift for a groom who's wedding is in less than two week...Do you guys have any suggestions for handmade knives in the price range of about $350, that can hopefully ship within a week?

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Beautiful knife. That's too bad.
Yeah, try custom exchange here. Maker could probably rush it to you.
 
BeardlessBuckeye said:
If I'm shelling out custom money I'd want it to be to my standards out of the box. Cracks in scales, no matter how small, should have been communicated to the buyer and resolved before shipment.
Click to expand...

Yup - have to concur. This is unacceptable unless you agreed to it in advance and paid accordingly. Even then, if I were knife maker I would not send a knife out like that, especially if it had my maker's mark on it - huge discount or not. This one would have been undone.

AND - to your question about options - check out this beauty - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1426282-Custom-Gentlemens-Flipper-Folder

Others available in the Individual Custom Sales threads or on the Knifemaker's For sale forum.
 
I was curious if there have been any updates to this?
 
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