Dull and duller....sounds like a movie...

[Lenny]

Gary,
I know this'll sound controversial, but without naming names of the makers delivering dull blades, this topic is almost useless.
We're not trying to slam anyone here, just correct a problem. We as consumers have a right to expect a hair popping sharp blade from a custom maker. Thus, we deserve to know which makers to be wary of. Plus, I'm sure the makers would like to know if purchasers are unhappy with their blades so they can change the way they do things. It really is a Darwinian world out there and knife purchases should follow suit considering the amount of moolah we spend on our toys.
What I propose is that anyone who has received a less than satisfactory edge from a custom maker should email everyone who responds to this thread notifying them of the blade's condition.
As for me, the only customs I've ever purchased have been Doziers.
And I don't think I need to tell you if they were dull or sharp!
DOH!!! I'm surprised that Dozier knives don't slice right thru his Kydex sheaths because they're so close to them!
Lenny

 

[not2sharp]

I would rather the knife arrive slightly dull (hence my forum name). Each of us uses knives in our own way. Some are surgeons, other are more like butchers. It is easy enough to put a better edge on a knife. It is much harder to deal with a chipped edge from an overly sharp knife.

n2s

 

[db]

Edges are like steaks, most everyone likes them done their own way. I have never gotten a dull edge from a custom, but I have never gotten one I liked more than my own either.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Originally posted by Lenny
Gary,...
I know this'll sound controversial, but without naming names of the makers delivering dull blades, this topic is almost useless.
We're not trying to slam anyone here, just correct a problem...

Lenny, yep understood, one of the reasons for the me not naming names is that I would do it offline to help the maker in question to come up to the bar so to speak. If mine were a lemon, they can happen, it can put a dark cloud over a maker's name, so the reason for the post...venting mainly...warning to current makers of what others are looking in the final product and for them to think over their process so it should be a Thinkin' mans post as Mr. Win Heger stated, without the unintentional slamming of anyones good name. Also to let us, the consumer, know that we don't have to take it? Get back in touch with the maker and set things right...as to who to avoid, well from the posts so far there are many to choose from that Don't have that problem...good starting point and I certainly agree about Mr. Dozier!! those D2 blades come splitting sharp! I've owned several and all arrived in razor condition!

Oh...Win? I'll be bringing my sharpening stones for your yearly tune up of that Terzoula, now this folder is very nice folks, ATS-34 but it takes a very good edge and keeps it...it would appear all year!

Thanks for the comments Lenny and if it was a maker that was consistently BAD or refused to correct, then by all means a name should and would be listed to forewarn all who read...

G2

 

[pyrguy]

Gary

I have been following this thread and need to post now.

I know from earlier posts that you and I “tinker” with the edges on most of our blades. They may be “vaporial” when we get them but, sooner or later, we just gotta try to get it better on most of the users.

I have a couple of pattern-welded blades from a local Georgia JS. Both of them were almost scary sharp ™ but still had enough edge strength to get the job they were designed for done. One of them skinned, quartered, and mostly butchered two GA deer. (I used a chopper to cut through the bones.) It would still shave hair with no drag. I try to keep that one at the same edge geometry I got it.

I have come to expect an edge that is useable out of the box but understand, in this litigious age we live in, why some makers hold off on the edge they should be able to produce. We all have seen someone at a show pick up a blade and run a thumb over the blade to test the edge. I carry band-aids just for that reason.

If you custom order a blade then the maker should know from you just what the knife is being used for, etc, and should deliver the best edge for the steel and use; a thicker edge for a “chopper” and a razor edge for a slicer/dicer.

Win, I’ve never played with an Emerson but agree that Spyderco is the best, most consentient edge in current production. Some of the older Microtech knives I have will cut you before the edge touches skin, or that’s what it seems to me. I was cut before I could get the blade open all the way on one of them.

 

[OwenM]

Originally posted by Lenny
Gary,
I know this'll sound controversial, but without naming names of the makers delivering dull blades, this topic is almost useless.
We're not trying to slam anyone here, just correct a problem......As for me, the only customs I've ever purchased have been Doziers.
And I don't think I need to tell you if they were dull or sharp!
DOH!!!

I don't know why we're supposed to "warn" other people, but I'll save myself the trouble of sending you an email, and warn you about Doziers, since the Dozier I bought (*secondhand*, but no use, not a mark on it) had the poorest edge of any custom knife I've received.
It was one knife. Doesn't mean a thing.
Sounds to me like you just want to see somebody get slammed.

 

[Quiet Storm]

In defense of Lenny I have to state that I don´t think this kind of "name calling" is equal to badmouthing someone.

I´m that a reputable maker is willing to leran from valid customer complaints and potential new customers should be able to find unbiased opinions about the work of different makers. Or should we just keep problems with some maker´s quality control to ourselves and leave the newbies uninformed?

 

[Gary W. Graley]

In retrospect, which seems to always have great vision , perhaps this was not such a good thread to start?

For one, listing names often ends up on a contest of sorts, as one person will add that they had such and such a knife that had problems, while another 5 people will come to his defense saying they have only good experiences, and that would certainly confuse a newbie, so hard as it is, a newbie will need to make certain mistakes, part of being a newbie and hopefully they will learn from them. But if the said newbie is smart and does a little homework on his/her own, it shouldn't be too hard to discover very reputable makers that they can spend their hard earned money upon...

And as with most of my polls, this one lacks the benefit of having the basic members being able to vote which limits the information from the masses...oh well...I never do learn when it comes to polls...

G2

 

[John Chong]

My folders from Sawby and Terzuola came shaving sharp. Oh, and Murray Carter can also put a scary sharp edge on a knife.

As for production stuff, Hattori is in the same league.

 

[lifter4Him]

My edc Carson model 4 holds a good edge.
Gary, I agree about the Terzuola ats-34 blades. I carried an ATCF for over 2 years and only had to touch it up on a sharpmaker(fine stones) 5 or 6 times, and I use a knife at work every night in a large newspaper pressroom. I know Bob uses the sharpmaker to put his edges on so the angle was consistent.

 

[papathud]

All of the above!!
I have received Busse knives at all stages of sharpness,
Most were Drag up a few hairs sharp,- to shaving sharp
Some were so sharp you could hold up one hair and cut slices from it
or cut it like a fuzz stick, you know split one hair ten times so it looks like a brush!!
Some had not been sharpened yet.
Some were just dull.
Some I sent back to be re-sharpened.
Some I touched up before I sold.
Some of the sharpest I kept
We are talking about a couple hundred knives here