Help understanding custom/mid tech

Weasipoint

Weasipoint

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I've seen the definition of custom and mid tech but am still confused by it. When someone is selling a custom knife, like a hinderer or ddr for example, does that mean rick or darrel actually touched the knife themselves? Or does it mean they ordered specific builds and the company made it? The definition says the maker themselves made it, but it also seems to be used for the way I described? Im just confused by custom and mid tech and how the terms are used. Im afraid of spending alot on a blade and thinking im getting one thing when it's actually something else. Any help understanding the terms would really be appreciated
 
Could be wrong but my understanding of 'Custom' is that all parts and assembly should be made/performed by hand and mid tech is one that is just assembled by the maker,perhaps a popular 'custom' model that they have put into production minus a few frills to streamline the process. Would be nice to have someone a bit more knowledgeable clarify too though :D
 
Generally custom is hand made and mid tech is some combination of personal touch and machined parts, but it can really mean whatever the maker/manufacturer wants it to mean. Benchmade calls their knife customizer the “custom shop”, but it’s just parts taken from a bin and put together.

Best bet is to ask the maker/manufacturer what personal touch went into making said knife.
 
In the true sense of the term a custom knife would be a one-of-a-kind knife made to your design and specifications. But, since most of us lack the artistic and design skills to come up with a practical and unique design, the term has come to mean any knife made by a Custom knife maker.

The Mid-techs would refer to knives made by any process which exceeds the abilities of a sole authorship, but which falls well short of an established factory facility. It might refer to a maker who out sources significant parts of the process, or who relies heavily on automated machining tools (CNC, water jets, laser cutting) but most often it refers to knives made by a small team of dedicated craftsmen.

n2s
 
Ok gotcha, that's where my confusion came from. When I Google the definition of the 2 it says a custom knife is made by the designer themselves which I find hard to believe that for $400 you can get a knife that rick hinderer sat down and made himself. So basically a knife thats not a production model for the company is a custom?
 
both your maker examples make custom knives, and have made for them mid techs.
when I saw this thread, first I laughed, and then I realized it's actually a really good question.
 
I agree it is best to go to the seller- maker and ask what they mean. (ask specific questions about the process) I'm an artist as well as knife maker and 'legally,' a craft item only has to be 10% your work to call it made by You by hand. I personally would not accept that. We may all have our own idea. In my mind, in terms of function, whoever heat treats the blade, did half the job. Normalizing, heat treat, temper, cryo treating, in my view is very critical to what kind of final product we have. By example, in a masters hands simple 1084 steel still wins many competitions for performance.) I know a lot of makers farm that part out- send it off to someone else- we may not know who. A factory. A big part of 'custom,' might be whose name is associated and who guarantees it. I know on Ebay classifications, 'gem,' can be cut glass, silver and ivory can be colors. It is confusing for sure, at what point a custom knife is not meeting the understood standards, and understood by who? Possibly our word, reputation, name?
 
Many iterations of a 'Custom' knife progressing to 'Mid-tech' and then 'Production':

Scale 1-10: Custom made knife on top, Production knife on bottom:

1. Maker creates a one-of-a kind piece designed and inspired by his client.

2. Maker creates a one-of-a-kind piece designed and inspired by themselves.

3. Maker replicates a piece designed by themselves with single shop tools.

4. Maker replicated their pieces by building the components in batches.

5. Maker replicates their pieces by building the components in batches with assistant(s).

6. Maker replicates their pieces by building the components with CNC technology in-house.

7. Maker replicates their pieces by jobbing out the building of components to another source, and assembles them in shop.

8. Maker replicates their pieces by jobbing out components to another source and has assistant(s) assemble and build them.

9. Maker replicates their pieces by jobbing out components, having assistants build them, and shipping from home shop.

10. Maker sells design to production company who (may) modify (improve?) the design and build it completely through outside technology and workers.

Just a rough outline I thought of. NONE of the steps are invalid. Most important is: At what level are YOU comfortable paying their asking.

Good questions to ask your favorite makers.
 
Thank you all for your responses, It really has cleared up my confusion on this topic. It still appears to be a fluid term that gets used in a number of ways, but now I wont think of it so single minded and as having a set definition. This all really does help
 
I like and agree with what Sharp says. I'd add that any time the word 'custom,' is used in combination with any other words, it comes down to an individual guarantee, not a company. Custom usually fills a nitch market, something created for a limited number of people for a specific purpose. The quality could actually be lower than factory! For example ceremonial made, thick may not even be heat treated, but created to be decorative, or meet a low budget market. As Sharp says, it's best to ask and be clear and decide if you are happy with the price. Yes, an interesting discussion.
 
I like your list Coop, and I'm happy to say that I've got a #1 from your list on its way.
(actually, I expect that you will see it before I do...)
 
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