Jerry and Mods and prices.

[Walking Man]

Hello, all,
I'm jus' awondrin someting.......
What mods (or repairs) can the shop do and what will it cost?
1)For starters, let's say I just want a knife sharpened and recoated, what's the cost.
2)Or will the shop take off a coating and give it a satin finish?
3)Will the shop take a black coating off of an older knife and recoated with a new, colorful coating?
4) Does the shop still recoat a smooth coat with a smooth coat? Do I have a choice?
5) Will the shop put serrations on my knife?
6) Will the shop put different handles on my knife?
7) what about a swedge or a false edge, or a sharpened back edge? Can I get one of those? (same with clip point)
8) Can I get a coating put on a satin knife (I wouldn't want to do this, but others might)?
9) Other crazy stuff?

.
Honestly, I don't care as much as pricing as what the shop will and will not do.
thanks.

 

[Fan of Steel]

You gotta bear in mind that Jerry ceased doing refurbs while the shop is busy with the war effort. Here are some answers based on my experience.
.

1. 9.95 shipping (sharpening)
2. No
3. No
4. Smooth coating has been discontinued. They may offer a new choice.
5. Only when being ordered new from factory as a custom
6. yes, but counts as a refurb
7. See #5
8. Possible #6
9. When ever Jerry's drunk any knife is possibe

 

[Walking Man]

Thanks for the info.
Any other contributors/ experiences?
Or maybe the name (and PICS) of other knifemaker
who have been know to do mods on Busses
(Weilands, Hankins.....)

 

[Eric Isaacson]

I would be very careful about what mods you have done outside of the shop. If it is just new handles and high polish (Weiland) it is one thing, but some of the other stuff I see I would consider that the knife has lost value.

I buy a lot of variants, but only ones that are done at the shop(and usually at the time the order was placed) I have no interest in after-factory modifications(such as sharpened clip or serrations) and would not buy a knife that has had this work done on it.

Just my opinion and I hope it helps

 

[Walking Man]

I would be very careful about what mods you have done outside of the shop. If it is just new handles and high polish (Weiland) it is one thing, but some of the other stuff I see I would consider that the knife has lost value.
I buy a lot of variants, but only ones that are done at the shop(and usually at the time the order was placed) I have no interest in after-factory modifications(such as sharpened clip or serrations) and would not buy a knife that has had this work done on it.
Just my opinion and I hope it helps

Thanks for the heads up, Eric, but one man's trash is another's treasure. Quite frankly, I don't really care what was done to it, as long as I LIKE IT.
Of course, concerns should be loss of structural integrity and messing up the heat treatment, but most reputable knifemakers should be able to do it. For myself, what I really like is a knife that fits my hands a little better than the Es... Too big for me., and serrations would add to the overall utility of the knife for me. Not that I'm going to get anything done right away,
I'm just flipping some ideas in my head.

 

[Walking Man]

Thanks for the heads up, Eric, but one man's trash is another's treasure. Quite frankly, I don't really care what was done to it, as long as I LIKE IT.
Of course, concerns should be loss of structural integrity and messing up the heat treatment, but most reputable knifemakers should be able to do it. For myself, what I really like is a knife that fits my hands a little better than the Es... Too big for me., and serrations would add to the overall utility of the knife for me. Not that I'm going to get anything done right away,
I'm just flipping some ideas in my head.

And did I mention the big one: $
Money, of course.
I am mainly thinking that a knife custom modded for me by a lesser known knifemaker would be WAY less expensive than by The Man, himself.

 

[Eric Isaacson]

Understood, and I was not trying to be critical. I just wanted to make sure you understood that it will lose some of the resale value.

In my opinion, I'll buy used, tortured, abused Busses of all shapes and sizes. However, when it comes to modifications my interest level goes way(way) down.

If you are happy with something, have it done. I just am letting you know the number of people that will be interested in it if it comes up for sale are one less that if it's not modded. (1 less as I won't be interested )

This only goes for blade modifications or grinding. I think that the stuff that Reese Weiland does is very nice (including your modded BA-e)

 

[Walking Man]

Understood, and I was not trying to be critical. I just wanted to make sure you understood that it will lose some of the resale value.

This only goes for blade modifications or grinding. I think that the stuff that Reese Weiland does is very nice (including your modded BA-e)

I'm sorry if I sounded defensive, I know you're a very helpful individual, and I thank you and value your wisdom and knowledge.
BTW, about my BA-e, it was thinned down,
also, I've noticed that the Hankins clipped points have not gone down in value. I agree that I will probably be losing money in getting my mods done, but I don't agree that the intial value of the knife will drop, especially if it's done well by a well known maker.
I'm not really too concerned about the value anyway, since any mods I have done will be done for me, alone. And if I ever sell, well, we'll just have to see. (again, unlikely that I will be getting mods done in the near future)