Since Rob brought up my Vanguard series I thought I would chime in.
A couple of thoughts here:
First, I have said this before, the use of laser cut parts, CNC's, etc. Saved custom knives as a group. As a full time dealer who makes his living buying and selling custom knives I can tell you that for about a 3-4 year period Tactiacl Folders were the hottest things going.
This does not mean that other styles of knives were not selling, they were. This does not mean that makers who did not Tactical Folders were not successful.
Tactical Folders, because they utilized the technology discussed in this threads and others. Were able to become affordable to most collectors/users who desired one. Without this technology entry level Tactical Folders would have cost $500-$600 6-7 years ago, instead of the $275-$375.00. How many collectors out there, say 5 years ago would have stepped up and spent $550 for their first custom knife?
Utilization of the same technologies and equipment as what some of the factories were using allowed factories to engage in collaborations with cusotm knife makers. This benefitted both parties and brought even more collectors into custom knives.
When I was in Graduate School, I had to write a paper for my Production Management course. I was allowed to write it on my knife business. What I wrote in 1994 was a detailed plan on developing a production strategy for the incorporation of several aspects used successfully in corporate America.
This strategy called for a central location that would auto-cad designs, have access to "bulk" material, inexpensive delivery, and multi-types of cutting options.
Doing this, allowed me to purchase materials at a much better price, get the blanks cut at a much better price, and eliminate several thousand dollars in unecssary shipping costs. Also, to a degree developed a workable JIT (Just In Time) inventory control system. Although, admittedly this is still the weakest link of the process.
Personally, I have always held that what a knife maker is paid for is not the creation of a blank (by use of whatever cutting style you would like), nor is it for drilling hole. It is for providing the grinding, fit and finish that truly makes the knife....a knife.
I could give every collector out there the blanked out material from one of the Vaguard folders and tell them to "make it a knife". Few if any would be able to produce a knife that they would be proud to put their name on and even fewer would have produced a commercial viable product.
Point is, just because you have the parts doesn't mean you can be a custom knife maker. Even the makers with marginal name recognition have been making knives for at least 3-5 years.
One of the things that amazes me, even with all this amazing technology there are still only 500 makers (probably a higher than actual number) in the world who can truly utilize this new technology.
In my case utilizing the technologies I did as well as buying in bulk (this is where I really saved the bulk of the money), I substantially reduced the price of the Vanguard knives. Take the D/A Auto's for instance, had I not bought the materials in bulk and had all the blanks cut at once each of these knives would have cost $103 more. That equates to a little more than a 15% savings on each knife.
What I have found is that the consumer given the choice between two products of equal quality will chose the one that is less expensive.
This does not mean "Cheaper"
In Feb 99 when I first showed the prototypes of the Vanguard D/A folders at the Las Vegas Classic Knife Show. I had a customer come to the table and pick up Larry Chew's Quicksilver. He wanted to know, why (at $675.00) the knife was so "cheap"?
I asked him why do you say that, he then pulled out his limited edition Micro Tech, which featured a ATS-34 blade, hand ground by Walter Brend, Aluminium frame with neoporene rubber inserets and was limited to 30. He told me he paid $900 for this knife.
He was amazed how I could offer a knife limited to 25, 440V, titanium and carbon fiber for $675.00. This is why he thought the knife was so cheap.
Point to this is makers can provide an equivelant or superior knife for less money by utilizing the technology available. This in turn allows more people to buy custom knives. This in turn creates a market for those collectors who wish to sell their knives in the aftermarket. These collectors in turn, generally buy a more expensive knife the next time around. This is good for the makers who benefit from customers looking for a more expensive knife or those who are just looking for a different type of knife.
If affordable entry level custom knives did not exist, the current custom knife market would be a mere fraction of what it is today.
For those who are the collectors, the mind set is different. Each knife has a story or a special meaning to that collector. The knife is usually a culmination of desire, followed by the thrill of the "hunt" and finally the climax of actually obtaining the knife.
For those who create the items of desire, even if they are not full time, they have to pay the bill's. So the reality for the maker is that they have to make a profit to pay these bills.
If a machine or machines allow them to decrease the time it takes to build a particular knife. Then the maker has increased their profit margin without raising the price of the knife. This of course is good for the collector.
Additionally, because of increased cash flow from utilizing current technology, the maker makes fewer mistakes. Once again the collector benefits by receiving a better knife from the maker.
Of course all this technology is only a viable option if you can employ the "econony of scales" concept. This is why all this new technology ceases in the custom knife market at about $600.00.
As most makers do not have a standard model in the $700 price range and above. Consequently, it is not cost effective to have a single blade, auto-caded, laser cut and then utilized by the maker.
So in reality the majority of the knives that utilize the most current technology fall into the "tactical" category.
Personally, I like a maker who can utilize new technology. It shows a willingness to stretch, to improve their skills and learn new ones. Im not interested in a knife from a maker who's work has remained the same for the last 10 years. If they are not improving, utilizing new designs and materials, utilizing new technology and always seeking to provide the customer with the best possible knife they can make. Then I am not interested in doing business with them.
I realize that some collectors/makers enjoy the "good old days". They have expanded their comfort zone and like where they are at right now. They like living in the "box".
I don't like the "box" that is why I live outside of it. Which is why in my signature line it reads "Custom Knife Entreprenur". Dealers merely buy and sell, Purveyors generally represent a makers work with little or no investment of their own in the makers work. However, this is how it has been done for centuries. Which is the answer for a lot of people when asked why they do something in a partiuclar way...."because we have always done it that way".
So like it or not, new technology in custom knives is here to stay. The Guild will not be able to change anything. If you take away outsrourcing, then does that mean that makers who utilize Paul Bos for heat treating will be removed from the Guild. What about the use of jigs on a milling machine, what about using a micro-lathe, how about the hydrolic press and air hammers that so many of the ABS Master Smiths now use, how about a Pantograph. Does this now mean that makers have to buy their own screws and pivot pins. Take it to a ridiculous extreme, if they are using Stag, does that mean the maker has to hunt and kill the stag? Does this then become a collaboration between the maker and the animal who provided the handle material?
Now I agree with Ken and Al Polkowski who have stated that if these machines are being used and are saving the maker a lot of time, then the price should reflect this.
It is important that makers are forthcoming with how they made the knife. More importantly the collector has to do their homework so they know what they are looking at.
<br>DeltaZ Knives, Inc.
