General Question: Makers buying knives?

tryppyr

tryppyr

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Feb 5, 2010
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It occurs to me to wonder whether knifemakers buy knives from other knifemakers.

I ask this because in another thread people are discussing the relative merits of custom versus production knives. The thought occurred to me that most makers probably don't spend their money buying the competitors products... they spend the money instead on tools, supplies, and perhaps other incidentals (like food, housing, and the occasional travel expense for hammer-ins).

Obviously, I don't know the answer since I'm not a knifemaker, per se. But even at my hobbyist level of involvement, I'd say I'm disinclined to buy an expensive knife from someone when it's FAR more interesting for me to attempt (with varying degrees of success) to make it myself.

So do you buy the competitive products in order to compare to what you make? Or are we all wallowing in a sea of ignorance about what our competition is doing?

- Greg
 
This is a good question Greg- I totally understand your curiosity that spurred the post.

To answer your question, I would buy customs if I could afford it. Because there are many makers whose work I love and admire, as well as their friendship. But I cannot afford to do that, so no, I do not buy custom/handmade knives.

I think makers that confidently stand behind their own work most likely have some very solid ground to stand on. But for a fella to make a sweeping generalization that custom/hand-made knives IN GENERAL are better than productions is a slippery slope.

Are there MANY, MANY high end makers that put out work on a completely different level than productions??? OF COURSE!!! And it would be a long, long list!!!
But in all honesty, there are many back yard makers that put out knives that do not rival production knives. At any given time, there are many knives for sale here in the custom for sale section that are proof of this. So am I willing to stick my neck out and say those knives are better than production pieces? Nope. If a knife has shoddy fit and finish, poor grinds, poor blade geometry, and questionable heat-treat--- then it's probably not going to do well if put up against a WELL MADE production piece.

All that said, I am still standing on the side of customs--- cheering everyone on to continue to learn and do better--- as there is far more potential on this side of the field! :) :cool:
 
I do buy other makers work. For two reasons. I started out collecting knives before making them and I still enjoy collecting. On top of getting cool knives it is also good to see how others do what they do. A picture is worth a thousand words as Nick proved in his monster WIP thread, but if a person could actually hold the knife in his hand day after day then I guess it brings it all together. Hope that made sense.
 
I would buy knives from a couple of makers whose work I admire if I could afford to, unfortunately with my budget and the value of the exquisite works of art they produce that is not a possibility. Other than that I buy Gerber multitools because they are workplace safe (read unintimidating and usually not viewed as weapons) and the tools work. The blades suck, but I am working on replacing the blades with ones of my own slowly (I will also be replacing the blades in my old Buck 110 lockbacks because I never liked the blades, just the rest of the knife, and I hate to throw anything out but they were workplace safe at most of my old jobs. I will likely be making myself EDC pocketknives at some point in the future once I get a new day job, but no point in that until I know what their tolerance levels for personal cutlery will be

-Page
 
Workplace limitations never really occurred to me, though I do know that the company I work for has them. Truth be know, I don't "carry" a knife... but I have them around wherever I am. For example, I have two in my desk now... a tiny Wenger Swiss Army knife (with USB flash drive, scissors, screwdriver, pen, flashlight and a small blade) and a Schrade folder. The Schrade is mostly for opening boxes. The Swiss Army knife most often sees duty trimming my moustache.

Other than that, the only knives I have here at work aren't really knives yet... just WIPs that I use to keep my hands busy during boring phone conferences.

If you've followed my WIPs you probably know I have bought two blades from expert makers and finished them out. That's about the extent of my purchases from other makers, and probably about as much as I will purchase. Don't get me wrong, I really admire some of the work I see here and at Epicurean Edge... but mostly the admiration turns to inspiration, and I follow that muse rather than spend my coin on someone else's handiwork.

Amusingly, my family now has the notion that I collect knives, so people have started sending them to me as gifts. I keep telling them "I don't really collect knives..." but apparently my hobby confuses them. ;)

- Greg
 
I hope you mind me taking this off on a tangent. Still the same general subject.

First of all for full disclosure.
I used to think I was a knife maker.....sort of.
I made several knife-like, sharp pointy objects.
I got a big wake up when I first came here a few years ago.

I think a lot of makers really enjoy seeing well made and creative knives from other custom knife makers. Based on the threads in this and other forums.

Do any of you guys do any trading back and forth?

It may be a character fault on my part but I just can't resist when someone says, "Would you be interested in a trade?" Without thinking I always answer, "What did you have in mind."

My idea of a good trade is when both people are delighted and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
 
I wish I could afford it but seems everytime i get enough money to afford one I end up buying tool, steel, etc etc or spenidn on somethiong for the family. Maybe down the road when cars are paid off or soemthing but for now I just cant afford it.
 
I own plenty more knives from other makers than I do made by my own hand, and a TON more production knives than that. The bottom line for me is that I got into knifemaking because I plain-and-simply love knives. I still love knives, and as such, I buy what I can when I can when I see something that tickles my fancy (that I can afford).

I hesitate to even call myself a "maker" anymore, though; I'm more of a has-been, might-be. I haven't been to the shop in probably over 4 months. Life gets in the way sometimes, I guess.

--nathan
 
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