- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
I fall squarely into Blackhills camp here. Of course, I am another one of those tool-steel loving fixed blade W&SS's. What a custom knife brings is innovation in design elements, F&F, trust in the maker's reputation and warranty (most makers warrant their knife for the life of the maker and they are directly and personally accountable to the customer either in private or on the forums).
I think that even though most consumers who buy customs also have several productions, that customs buyers actually can be considered two consumer types in the sense that they have a completely different mindset when considering the purchase of a custom versus a production. For myself it is a very conscious decision. My next knife will be a production and I will think of these qualities....My next knife will be a custom and I will consider these makers. For me personally that is how I make these kinds of decisions. I almost never mix the two, i.e. getting a production when I originally set out to get a custom knife.
This statement makes perfect sense when you are talking about a production knife. The attributes that set apart production models are their specs. In your quote above, you already made a value choice on the knives you have and steel choice. For sure you wouldn't trade your knives for the ATS-34 model because you already perceive that the one you have is better quality and that is probably why you paid more money for the model you already have rather than the lower cost one in ATS-34.
Now try to apply that same statement to a true custom knife and it just doesn't jive. Custom makers make individualistic knives and while some will over choices of steel type for a given model it is pretty rare. Among the makers I deal with regularly they usually indicate to me that O1 and 1095 are their most requested steels. I've even talked to a few that tried to offer knives in 154CPM and their customer base doesn't want them. The reason is that the customer base wants the style of knife made by the maker, but doesn't want to pay more for one type of steel. This seems very common. Talk to Scott Gossman and I believe he mad similar statements in W&SS.
So in essence - steel type is a marketing technique that works for production companies. I think this is in a result of high competition between major production companies that sell to the masses and the steel mystique is a powerful attribute to that particular audience. Custom makers make their own niche do to the style of blade, design for specific function, ability for customers to tweak or alter designs, production of unique one of a kind knives etc. Steel type could be a factor, but I hardly ever see it as a main selling point of why a custom maker appears to be popular.
To answer you original question - No, I don't think production companies offering higher end steels at lower prices has any impact on the custom market.
I think that even though most consumers who buy customs also have several productions, that customs buyers actually can be considered two consumer types in the sense that they have a completely different mindset when considering the purchase of a custom versus a production. For myself it is a very conscious decision. My next knife will be a production and I will think of these qualities....My next knife will be a custom and I will consider these makers. For me personally that is how I make these kinds of decisions. I almost never mix the two, i.e. getting a production when I originally set out to get a custom knife.
This statement makes perfect sense when you are talking about a production knife. The attributes that set apart production models are their specs. In your quote above, you already made a value choice on the knives you have and steel choice. For sure you wouldn't trade your knives for the ATS-34 model because you already perceive that the one you have is better quality and that is probably why you paid more money for the model you already have rather than the lower cost one in ATS-34.
Now try to apply that same statement to a true custom knife and it just doesn't jive. Custom makers make individualistic knives and while some will over choices of steel type for a given model it is pretty rare. Among the makers I deal with regularly they usually indicate to me that O1 and 1095 are their most requested steels. I've even talked to a few that tried to offer knives in 154CPM and their customer base doesn't want them. The reason is that the customer base wants the style of knife made by the maker, but doesn't want to pay more for one type of steel. This seems very common. Talk to Scott Gossman and I believe he mad similar statements in W&SS.
So in essence - steel type is a marketing technique that works for production companies. I think this is in a result of high competition between major production companies that sell to the masses and the steel mystique is a powerful attribute to that particular audience. Custom makers make their own niche do to the style of blade, design for specific function, ability for customers to tweak or alter designs, production of unique one of a kind knives etc. Steel type could be a factor, but I hardly ever see it as a main selling point of why a custom maker appears to be popular.
To answer you original question - No, I don't think production companies offering higher end steels at lower prices has any impact on the custom market.
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