Fancy productions knives versus low end customs

Boink

Boink

Joined
Jun 6, 2002
Messages
2,986
It's been suggested to start a new thread rather than make another thread veer off course. So here it is.

Many production knife companies are now doing knives that are outside their normal offerings - some with better manufacturing methods and engineering in the work. Think Spyderco's ATR, or Buck's Mayo or even some of the nicer material in many commemoratives. Their price point is at or near custom prices, so I thought from time to time, why not go for the custom knife, rather than something that hundreds of other folks have?

One vote for the production is that you can get another pretty quickly if it's lost or stolen. One vote for the custom is that they are so darned excellent in materials and workmanship.
 
I suppose it depends on the criteria by which you want a knife, uniqueness or quality.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a custom that could meet or beat the Buck/Mayo for the same price.

To my way of thinking, what's the point of a custom unless it exceeds the quality of other offerings, including production pieces, at a certain price?
 
I just typed a long thing that got whacked, so here's the shorty:
1) Damascus and other materials can be had for much less.

2) You have a much better idea of what you're getting.

3) Options..... Axis lock.
 
To me you get a custom to get all the things you can't get in one production piece.

I like thick tips,big blades,thick liners,tip up,vg-10,an edge that runs the total lenght of the blade,a clip that rides high etc.Well with a custom I can have EVERYTHING I want,instead of a production piece that comes close.
 
production folders are loads cheaper than customs. wish the price gap was closer - I'd readily move over to customs.
 
I think that a person should buy a knife that they really like, be it custom or production! However, with customs don't forget that you can customize them! If you are buying a handmade knife that is already made, I liek calling them benchmade knives (small B). Lots of times when we say we have a custom knife, it is just a standard model offered my a non-production maker. But very often you can get changes in materials or other customizations for no charge or for a small fee. I'm not picking on any particular company here! But call up Camillus and ask for filework on that Fick OVB bowie - you won't get it! But I'm sure a "young" maker would be willing to, and easily could, make you a bowie with filework for no extra charge (dependin gon the filework of course!).

I like it that Factories are putting out high end stuff. It sure gives the consumer a lot of options. It does cause some interesting "problems" where the price of high enfd production blades overlaps with low-end customs. Consumers then have to decide which features they like best and get the most for their money.
 
It all depends on what you're looking for. I've got plenty of production knives, and I love the fact that you can get a quality piece of cutlery at a low price, and have a warrenty to back it up. I also love these collaborations that people are doing -- it's a great way to get a "design" that you like from a production company that gives you the price you like. But, it's still a production knife.

To me there's just something about a knife that has been painstakingly made, even from a novice knifemaker, just for me.

But the above sometimes really doesn't matter to me though -- if I see a knife I like, I buy it (if I can afford it), whether it's production, semi-custom, custom, collaboration, etc. . . .
 
One thing to also remember is that with the production piece it still will allow a degree of "exclusitivity". The Camillus Aftermath is a piece that comes to mind. At the price point it is not going to be in everyone's pocket but it can still be had for half to a third the price of the real thing and you get an EXTREMELY well done knife.......if they are anything like the MAXX's, which I've been assured they are.

Good thread Boink!
 
I collect a little of both, or I should say a fair number of both. What comes to mind with me is, do I like the production version as a user or strictly as a collectible? The Buck/Mayo comes to mind here, since this is really a using knife that I have a specific application for, since I spend a fair amount of time offshore fishing. They can be had for around $170, which although not cheap, is a far cry from the $800+ mark of the real deal. I couldn't really use a knife that was worth that much in an environment, where it could easily be lost very permenantly. (Sorry, no 500 fathom free dives):eek: !

Also in this vein are many of the Kershaw/Onion collaborations. They're cool, they're fun and the origional Random Task is a helluva knife. Since they made a left handed version I'm thilled with those, and have 2 of nearly every lefty model they made. One to use, one to store. They sell for less than 10% of the real thing, IF you can get one.

Then there are the limited editions, this is where things tend to blur a bit. Benchmade, and again Kershaw have produced some very nice knives in this category. The Whisper come to mind, and that lives in it's case. The Osborne/Benchmade collaborations have appeal to me since I collect Warren's knives, but they're really NOTHING like the real deal. Although the 960 Innova "vaguely" resembles the handmade version, and the 770 and other models are "similar" they are not even close in terms of fit and finish, or even size, but who walks around cutting open packages with an $1,800 knife?:rolleyes:

William Henry is an altogether different creature, since within their own line they have models that are functionally identical, but run the gamut from $200 to over $1,000, depending on embellishment.

Similarly, the Lone Wolf Knives have alot of appeal if you'd want a Loveless to use, but didn't care to thrash a piece of knife history gutting deer.

The factors that make or break the decision for me are:

-design/application
-aesthetics
-fit and finish
-the ever important PRICE POINT!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top