Expectations for a custom knife?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
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I hope this is not as stupid as it sounds at first.

I'm used to evaluating production knives and generally some higher end production knives. I generally use a sebenza as a standard to compare against as I usually carry one of have experience with them.

When I'm evaluating a custom knife, do I use the same type of comparisons except even more so?

Or are there additional kinds of criteria I should consider that I haven't before? ( Besides: fit, finish, design, feel, ergos, attention to detail)

How much should I expect to exceed (or match) a sebenza, realizing the difficulty in assigning numbers or percentages restricted to "objective" issues?

I think I have handled five custom knives, two of which matched or beat what I would expect from a custom, three of which did not.

I guess it boils down to my feeling that if a custom knife exceeds the price of a new sebenza, it should be at least equal to, and better in some or many ways.

Or is this view to simplistic?

Thanks.
 
DaveH said:
I guess it boils down to my feeling that if a custom knife exceeds the price of a new sebenza, it should be at least equal to, and better in some or many ways.

Or is this view to simplistic?
Click to expand...
Simplitic isn't the right way to put it, but it's definitely not true that you will see that often. The focus of custom knives is rarely on this because buyers will reward design, elegance, & originality over F&F or other execution details (e.g., quality of the heat treatment). Largely, this is because customs are not used (this might be different for small / medium sized hunters)
 
I think your evaluation of the physical would the same for both custom and production. But for a custom, and the collectors there of, there is the added "intrinsic" considerations of exclusivity, scarecity, uniqueness and "participation" of maker and client.

Cheers,

Stephen
 
That could be an issue, I'm not big on intrinsics or what I would call "romantic" issues.

What matters to me is it has features and qualities I like.
 
For me the quality (performance, fit, finish) of a custom knife is a must. It has always been so since I started collecting knives (since 2000).
 
When you are talking about judging knives based on funtionality, factors that have nothing to to with functionality shouldn't come into the equation. For me, even though most of my customs will never be used, it is imperative that the knife be as well made as possible. I think using the Sebenza as a benchmark is appropriate (for folders of course). If a $400.00 or higher custom can not match the Sebenza, then as a user it is not a good value. Personal reasons for purchasing the custom are another matter altogether.
 
David I think this is a well thought out question. In the not so recent past, Fit and Finish was "VERY" high on the list. Still is in the upper echelons of custom knives. Think, Loveless, Johnson, Kressler, Young, T.R.O.,Weiss, Lovett, and many others. Of course I'm looking at straight knives. Folders are another game entirely. Since the strong surge in forged knives, and Tactical knives. Fit and Finish, and gone the way of the Dinosaur. Sad. But it is the way it is. A lot of the forged work is looking very professional now. Its a start back to clean work. Mike
 
Or, a combination of both?

Fundamentally, a knife is a tool. That said, I believe the characteristics of a "good" tool must be present no matter what.

I believe the "art" aspect enters into the equation beginning with the balance and flow of the knife. And, the selection and combination of materials is a portion of the "art" aspect in my opinion.

To illustrate what I am trying to say, here is a photo of the knife on my homepage at www.dknifeplace.com

Del

standard.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies.

It arrived today, it's a trade deal so it's up to the other person if they like what I sent.

At anyrate, I'm not into art, though a little embellishment is OK. Anyway I like it, I would say that once you get above a certain level, perceptible increases in quality becomes hard for me to distinguish. At least at my current level of experience.
 
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