Inexpensive/Value Customs

Saldana, Wiseman, Lloyd, Aaron Cooper, and a few others that I'm failing to think of off hand is where I would start. Each has their own distinctive style but stands behind their product 100%.

I was 1 that had issues with Todd but I didn't make a big fuss over it. I ordered a Lannys Clip and paid up front. Received a knife that looks nothing like a Lannys Clip but I still liked it. It had blade play from day 1...but it was my first custom and I didn't really know what to expect. Fast forward a few months and I asked him to fix it because it had significantly worsened. He refused saying that it was normal wear and tear and it was not covered... Meanwhile the knife was still mint, obviously so. The pivot had loosened to an obvious visible wobble from coonfingering...

I ended up tightening the pivot myself and taking a big loss to sell it to get the bad taste out of my mouth.

Apologies if this should be GBU material, but it seems relevant to the OP.
 
Jfowl31 said:
Saldana, Wiseman, Lloyd, Aaron Cooper, and a few others that I'm failing to think of off hand is where I would start. Each has their own distinctive style but stands behind their product 100%.

I was 1 that had issues with Todd but I didn't make a big fuss over it. I ordered a Lannys Clip and paid up front. Received a knife that looks nothing like a Lannys Clip but I still liked it. It had blade play from day 1...but it was my first custom and I didn't really know what to expect. Fast forward a few months and I asked him to fix it because it had significantly worsened. He refused saying that it was normal wear and tear and it was not covered... Meanwhile the knife was still mint, obviously so. The pivot had loosened to an obvious visible wobble from coonfingering...

I ended up tightening the pivot myself and taking a big loss to sell it to get the bad taste out of my mouth.

Apologies if this should be GBU material, but it seems relevant to the OP.
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That's really disappointing to hear as I have a number of his knives. :thumbsdown:
 
What's the name of the guy who does the knives with the fish skeletons on the bolster? I like those and they should fit into the price range from the look of them?
 
Bobby does really nice work. I've looked as his work at few shows and never found anything to complain about other than I like knives a little bigger than he makes.

I think his knives are priced right and the others are too much :)
 
Anyone who is looking to get into customs but has little to no "hands on" experience with them, if they have the opportunity, should really try to make the big Blade show in Atlanta in June. You can likely meet most everyone named in this thread and MANY others who are not. Getting to see/handle hundreds of custom knives AND meet their makers is just something you can't put a price on. Some makers in the 'reasonable' price range are fantastic and some it is easy to see why they charge less than the household names around here. What you like or value in a knife may not be at all what most people do, and what most people think are acceptable shortcomings you may find to be deal breakers.
Pay the extra to go on Friday to get the best shot seeing a variety from each maker before they sell, and maybe even find something you can't live without.
 
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