This is not a Us V Them thing. First, there is no such thing as a "handmade" knife, in the literal sense of the word. All knives are made with tools.
Now, this being said, is there a difference between someone using a band saw or having the blade laser cut, water jet, CNC, etc. The answer is yes.
Having the blade laser cut, water jet cut, CNC, will do two things for the maker and ultimately the customer.
First, using any of these methods will provide the maker with a cleaner more accurate "blank" to start with. Remember, none of the aforementioned techniques "grind" the blade.
Second, because the maker is not using a band saw or some other method, he/she is not wasting their time doing "Monkey Work" as in "you could train a monkey to do that work".
This should lower the cost of each knife made. Hopefully, the savings will be passed onto the customer.
For the most part Custom now comes with two definitions. First, the literal word, meaning it was a one of a kind or custom ordered piece. The second and more common meaning, it is a category of knives.
Like it or not, the true test of any makers work in this now "Globalized" market, is the aftermarket.
While there are 10 - 20% of the buyers out there who buy for the thrill of collecting with no thoughts of the future value of their knife.
However, reality is, 80-90% of the buyers, will get rid of most of their knives, either by selling or trading. This process both annoys and baffels makers. Makers, this is not a personal attack on you, collectors, are just that and therefore are always looking for a way to add a new piece to their collections.
The amount of makers that are entering the market place right now is tremendous. Most will not last 5 years.
This will be for 1 or more of the following reasons.
1) Their work does not improve at a rapid pace.
2) Their work costs more than it should
3) They do not advertise or market their knives correctly or at all.
4) They make the same knife as 100 other makers.
5) They lack the technology or ability to compete "successfully" in the open market.
Don't belive me? Take out Knives 99 and Knives 94 and look through the maker directory. You will be amazed at the amount of makers who are no longer listed.
Some die or retire, but for most, they just couldnt sell enough knives to make the business pay for it's self.
Why couldnt they make the business pay for it's self, refer to 1-5.
Which makers will be successful and which won't. Actually, once you have been buying and selling knives for about 14 years, it get s pretty easy to figure out which will make it and which won't.
This is no joke. When I go to shows I take a book with me. I put a makers name in it. I talk to him, ask him some questions and check prices. If the prices are appropriate and he answers the questions correctly, I keep his name. If not I put a line through it.
Generally, I get these guys within the first 3 years of making knives. Not one of the 372 makers has made it past 5 years.
Don't get me wrong, this has nothing to do with me. I have no influence on these individuals, as I don't buy any knives from them. These makers are doomed from the start.
Yes, some of these makers are still making knives today. No, I won't tell you who they are. Never ask a magician how a trick works.
Remember, buy what you like!
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Les Robertson
Moderator
Robertson's Custom Cutlery
http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/rcc/makers.shtml
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.