FEEDBACK~ On "" ZU KUSTOM "" Knives ??? Opinions Please.....

bacustomknives

bacustomknives

FULL THROTTLE / FULLTIME KNIFE MAKER
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BladeForums is growing bigger and better daily! I have seen so many new makers and members join in the last few months , Which is a great thing. As a custom handmade knife maker I take this serious..As I want every single knife maker on here to shine one day an make it big..Its a passion and a full time job for me. Here lately I have ran into some issues I wont bring up with other so called makers..Now I see "ZU KUSTOM KNIVES" I look at there product , It looks amazing.. But in real life its completely machine made from top to bottom.. Like a production knife.As it states all of this on there site.. Should this really classify as "" A HANDMADE CUSTOM KNIFE "" While us makers stand at grinder for long hrs every week to complete are creations.A machine does this for them.This is not a fuss about being quality or craftsmanship.. I just don't think it should be in the same CLASS OF A CUSTOM KNIFEMAKER FORSALE SECTION?? Correct me if im wrong..Give me your alls thought please..

Bests Bill


From there website~

About Us

We are an Australian owned and operated edged tool manufacturing business, specializing in CNC manufactured, industrial strength, edged tools. All our products are 100% Australian made, from the initial machining right down to the final edge sharpening. We use high impact tool steel for all our knives.



Our customers include sportsmen, hunters, soldiers, first responders, collectors and anyone who appreciates a high quality tool. Our tools are made to withstand hard use and are all engineered to reduce stress points and damage to the highest level possible for an edged tool.

All our tools are warrantied against manufacturer defects and damage during normal use. We expect our tools to be able to handle abuse, but our warranty only covers against reasonable use, not deliberate abuse.Our tools are completed in batches via preorder. Our designs constantly evolve. If you would like to get on our preorder list please contact us via the site or our facebook page.

There are no gimmicks, no tricks. We don’t manufacture offshore and pretend it is local made. We don’t skimp on materials or processes. No expense is spared in our final product. When you buy from us, you get what you pay for.

We do at times use the services of companies in the USA, specifically kydex benders (TIE Tactical), and may use Spec Ops accessories/sheaths in the future.
 
I was told they are a very small shop, about 2 people. I don't see this has a problem really. The problem is that no one is able to accurately define the difference between what a custom "handmade" knife is and what a semi custom knife is, or a semi production knife is. When you get people trying to define these things, it turns into a dozen pages of "what if" questions and arguement.
 
RevDevil said:
I was told they are a very small shop, about 2 people. I don't see this has a problem really. The problem is that no one is able to accurately define the difference between what a custom "handmade" knife is and what a semi custom knife is, or a semi production knife is. When you get people trying to define these things, it turns into a dozen pages of "what if" questions and arguement.
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Brother Rev , I completely understand your action,And perspectives..But if you set back press buttons and let the machines do all the work for you without laying a hand on it besides putting it in another machine,Is it a custom handmade piece ? If you feel this needs to be put to rest before it goes any further I can lock it up..You tell me boss.
Thanks Bill
 
Bill, it's not "for me to tell" as I am not the one person to state the definition. I already said my piece, and that comes from discussion on the exact same subject matter. The debate is there, and has been there since midtech knives went mainstream. Things also changed when people started using mills and CNC machines more and more. This should be an interesting thread nonetheless. It is what it is.
 
RevDevil said:
Bill, it's not "for me to tell" as I am not the one person to state the definition. I already said my piece, and that comes from discussion on the exact same subject matter. The debate is there, and has been there since midtech knives went mainstream. Things also changed when people started using mills and CNC machines more and more. This should be an interesting thread nonetheless. It is what it is.
Click to expand...

Thanks that it should be,But it will be kept in a orderly fashion,As there wont be any slander ,name calling and ignorance allowed or I will close it immediately..Its for discussion purposes only..To see what the average joe and other knife makers think.. Aswell let ZU KUSTOM properly tell us how there product is made.Then maybe the decision can be left on the table after these points are made for you all or Spark to make a decision as of were they should post..
Many Thanks Bill
 
I have to agree with you on this one, Bill. I don't see anything about their knives that makes me think "hand made" and I'm not sure it could be called a "custom" when they are taking pre-orders and then making them in batches. For $400-$500 I'd like them to maybe identify the materials beyond "high impact tool steel" as well.
 
I believe that they are dealers, when I think of customs blades, I think of choosing a handle material, matching it up with a known steel, forging/grinding it out, finishing it out to a nice edge and sending it off to some lucking person. Not taking a piece of tool steel putting it into a machine, letting it do the work, putting handle material on it sharpening then sending it off. I would rather have a creation from an artist, then something made by a machine.
 
Well Bill , I have to agree with you of course and Woodysone , they are dealers.

Now since the BF is having Randall made knives for sale listed in the " Production knives for sale " section , so should these , especially since Randall made knives are still HANDS ON .
 
I am with you Bill, a knife that that is CNC manufactured SHOULD NOT be posted in the same area as knives where individual knife makers spend countless hours to hand make one knife that is unlike any other while they are producing one after the other that are exactly the same in a fraction of the time. In my opinion these are production knives regardless of how many people operate the machines that produce the knives.

From the World English Dictionary

handmade (ˌhændˈmeɪd)

— adj
made by hand, not by machine, esp with care or craftsmanship
 
We've been seeing mid-tech knives sold as custom because originally custom knifemakers run the shop. I don't even know what those originally custom knifemakers call them, custom or production, but the after-market sellers on the Exchange are calling them custom.
 
I think you need another category. However, I respect all methods and own handmades as well as a "Nathan the Machinist" version. Nathan's stuff would be considered similar as they both use similar methods.
 
Their knives are, to me anyways, production knives. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing custom about them, nothing hand made about them. If they made rifles/pistols/AR platform rifles the classification would remain the same...production. Just my $0.02 from a user/consumer standpoint.
 
While there is a certain cachet to "custom" we see production knives going for similar prices, especially on the secondary market.

I suppose some day we will figure out what to call them all. It isn't easy as a moderator to control these categories.
 
Alan Davis Knives said:
I am with you Bill, a knife that that is CNC manufactured SHOULD NOT be posted in the same area as knives where individual knife makers spend countless hours to hand make one knife that is unlike any other while they are producing one after the other that are exactly the same in a fraction of the time. In my opinion these are production knives regardless of how many people operate the machines that produce the knives.

From the World English Dictionary

handmade (ˌhændˈmeɪd)

— adj
made by hand, not by machine, esp with care or craftsmanship
Click to expand...

This is all that needs to be said.:thumbup:
 
As an overall definition, I see "custom" as a knife designed and built by the individual knifemaker / craftsman.

He can use forge or stock removal, he can have an apprentice, he can have blanks cut out, and a sheathmaker on call. He can have CNC that he programs to the specifications he and his customer agree on, can't he? :)

There was a time, not so long ago, that "handmade" was taken for granted. It is not now. The level of other participation may be questionable, but if the knifemaker can describe and show how he works, it can still be "custom".
 
As an overall definition, I see "custom" as a knife designed and built by the individual knifemaker / craftsman.

He can use forge or stock removal, he can have an apprentice, he can have blanks cut out, and a sheathmaker on call. He can have CNC that he programs to the specifications he and his customer agree on, can't he? :)

There was a time, not so long ago, that "handmade" was taken for granted. It is not now. The level of other participation may be questionable, but if the knifemaker can describe and show how he works, it can still be "custom".
 
Esav Benyamin said:
As an overall definition, I see "custom" as a knife designed and built by the individual knifemaker / craftsman.

He can use forge or stock removal, he can have an apprentice, he can have blanks cut out, and a sheathmaker on call. He can have CNC that he programs to the specifications he and his customer agree on, can't he? :)

There was a time, not so long ago, that "handmade" was taken for granted. It is not now. The level of other participation may be questionable, but if the knifemaker can describe and show how he works, it can still be "custom".
Click to expand...
If your interpretation of the word "individual" means a one person operation, then in my opinion ZU CUSTOM does not qualify.
 
Pretty simple and easy.
In the KNIFEMAKER For Sale section and in the HOSTED forum area, there is no distinction between custom knifemaking, knifemaking, bladesmithing, craftsman or service provider. You make knives, sheaths, craft knife related items or provide service and sell....and have the proper paid membership to do so.... you are welcome to post in that area. No special forum required.
 
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In all due respect to custom makers as far as hidden tang guards or blood grooves done with mills are one thing. When u let machines do every part of the knife for u it is a diffrent story,It is considered production in all aspects. From start to finnish.. an if that is not right I don't know what is?
 
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Karda said:
Pretty simple and easy.
In the KNIFEMAKER For Sale section and in the HOSTED forum area, there is no distinction between custom knifemaking, knifemaking, bladesmithing, craftsman or service provider. You make knives, sheaths, craft knife related items or provide service and sell....and have the proper paid membership to do so.... you are welcome to post in that area. No special forum required.
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Thanks .... You ansewered it all.

Well guys looks like theres no use to keep these open anymore I see no change in the future ,Do to the above response..So will just let this go..Are memberships or opinions don't matter..Theres rules..
 
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