Maurice,
Millions of factory knives are sold each year, so someone is buying them. There was a time when I used factory knives as well. Truth be told, I love the Swiss Army knives, but then Im a sucker for a great gadget! I understand why people buy, use and loan out factory knives.
Where I get my ideas from actual use in the field. Not off a forum, not from a third party.
When I was in college I was an EMT. On numerous occasions I saw guys try and cut things and they couldn't because their knife couldn't hold an edge. Ever try and re-sharpend a Buck 110 in the early 80's? Forget about it. I would hope they have fixed that problem by now.
Of course they used their folding knives like pry bars and that broke off numerous tips. That would happen to any folding knife, custom or factory.
During my 5 1/2 years in the 101st. I saw at least one of every factory knife break or fall apart...to include two different Randall's.
The reason I got into custom knives was due directly to the poor QC of factory knives. My wife bought me a Gerber MKII just before I started Infantry Officer Basic Course at Ft. Benning. The very first field problem the handle came off the knife. Only 1 Day in the Field!
Now maybe it was just me, knowing I was headed to the 101st Airborne to be a Rifle Platoon Leader. A unit then and now with a WORLD WIDE MISSION. I was not about to take the chance on another factory POS.
During my time with the 101st I operated in just about every type of environment and temperaturs ranging from -35 to 125. I consistently saw factory knives fail.
Are all custom knives better than all factory knives? No. Are the best custom knives superior to the best factory knives? Without a doubt.
You are correct, there are custom knife makers who carry factory knives. Those who do tell me that they don't belive in their knives. Consequently, why should the customer. Remember, never buy a Chevy from a guy who drives a Ford.
Maurice, I don't know if you buy custom knives from dealers or not. Next time you do, ask them if they stand behind each knife they sell 100%. That is to say, if you want to trade in your knife in the future for another custom knife they have, will they give you 100% of your purchase price towards your next custom knife purchase. If not, ask them why not.
I would suggest to you that those custom knife dealers who will not stand behind the products they sell are meerly a "commodity" broker. These "custom" knife dealers are easy to spot...they sell factory knives to.
Nothing wrong with this, they are providing a big selection to a wide arrange of potential clients. Like shopping at Wal-Mart or K-Mart.
I saw a commerical on TV for both Wal-Mart and Penny's talking about their excellent Jewlery selection. Now is their anything wrong with their diamonds? Of course there are. The will be on the lower end of all 5 of the C's. But to the untrained eye, or someone who is just buying a ring, braclet, etc. one time. It won't make a difference.
I have been buying all ow my wife's jewlery at a place in Augusta called Windsor's. As you can imagine, they don't sell tires, baby clothes and fishing rods in addition to their jewlery. Guess what they sell....Jewlery and that is it.
You buy your diamonds, emeralds, etc. loose. You look at each one under a micro-scope. You get information on all 5 C's. You pick which diamond, etc. you feel is the best value for your price range. Each stone comes with a certificate of authenticity. You then pick the material for the mounting and they custom make the piece to your specifications.
Here is the part that seperates Windsor's from Wal-Mart. Come back 15 years later and buy another diamond and they will give you what you paid for yours. Why do they do this, because they are specialist, they know their product and they stand behind it 100%
Need it cleaned or the mount tightened, bring it they take care of it while you wait, free of charge.
Im quite certain that Wal-Mart and Penny's sold a lot of jewlery over the holidays. Mostly because it was purchased by people who thought they didnt have enough money, who thought they didnt have enough "education" to buy a better diamond or they bought it because it was convenienent.
It's the same with people who buy factory knives. They think they don't have enough money for a custom knife, they don't know enough about them to justify spending the money for a custom knife. Factory knives are everywhere so for many it the convenience.
I talked with a guy at a knife show last year. He boasted he had an impressive collection of factory knives, almost $5,000 worth. I asked him if he could trade them back in to the dealer he bought them from for 100% of his purchase price, he laughed and said "of course not". I asked him could you sell them to other factory knife users and get your money back. He said "no, they can just by a brand new one for the same money".
My final question to him was, why don't you buy custom knives. He smiled and said "factory knives cut the same, besides I can't afford a custom knife".
"I can't afford a custom knife", this from a guy with $5,000 worth of factory knives.
Maurice, unlike our friend (and possibly you)here with the $5,000 to spend on factory knives. I am not indepentantly wealthy, so I look for value in everything I buy. I encourage my clients to do the same when it comes to custom knives.
Ok Maurice, here is a question for you.
You are hiking on a mountain, you slip and fall off the edge. You find yourself hanging on a limb by your balls. You have only a few minutes before you either pass out and/or die. You have a fairly wid ledge just feet below you. In one of your pockets you have a factory knife and in the other a custom knife.
You do not know which factory or custom knife it is. You only have time to grab one and cut yourself free. Which knife do you grab?
The answer to those in this forum is "painfully" obvious. However, when I have posed this question in other "non-custom" rooms. No one has ever answered it. The reason for that is as obvious as the which knife you would grab for.
I guess ultimately that explains my love for custom knives. Because, when I bought my first custom knife I was in a position, where my life could have very well depended on my knife.
The Army had a $200,000.00 life insurance policy on me. I figured my wife wouldn't be to upset if I spent $200 to possibly keep her from collecting it.
I use and sell only custom knives because I belive in them. I believe in the makers who create these knives. I sell only custom knives because I belive they represent excellent value for the money.
My belief in the custom knives I sell explains why I am the only dealer in the US that does offer 100% of your purchase price on a trade in.
When it comes to value, craftsmanship, abilites, quality, value retention and/or investment potential. Custom knives are superior to factory knives.
Maurice, you still may disagree with me. However, the next time you buy a custom knife from a dealer, ask them if they have the same trade in policy I do. Oh, make sure it is writing like it is on my web site.
If they tell you they do not, ask them why.
I guess if I sold anything with an edge and didn't have to worry about ever taking it back, I wouldn't care either.
WTF...Out!
