averageguy
BANNED
- Joined
- Jun 10, 1999
- Messages
- 1,599
I can only speak as a consumer. From where I'm sitting if computer enabled machines play a part in blanking or grinding or anything else for that matter I consider the knife a production piece. It may be a "limited custom production" or Mid-tech or just a nicely finished production knife but it is not a handmade custom.
The relaxed guidelines established by the Guild do make the Guild irrelevant.
It will only be a few years when custom makers are no more than a brand name - just a small manufacturing facility.
After all what makes this different than a major knife company.
They use CAM - they have employees do assembly and finishing work.
Just because the owner also does work in the shop doesn't make it special all of a sudden. Most business owners participate in the day to day operations of their business.
I suspect the modern well financed knife maker actually makes use of more automated technology than "production" knives did 30 years ago - that in fact older production knives were closer to handmade than some of the "customs" today.
Go ahead - make it easier on yourselves and continue to lessen the craft.
Just think how easy it will be to blank out that United Hibben style fantasy knife. If it's not handmade what makes it special? The use of CAD / CAM by knife manufacturers is turning out some pretty impressive knives today. How will you compete with what they turn out tomorrow? How do you distinguish yourselves if not by skillfully crafting by hand?
The relaxed guidelines established by the Guild do make the Guild irrelevant.
It will only be a few years when custom makers are no more than a brand name - just a small manufacturing facility.
After all what makes this different than a major knife company.
They use CAM - they have employees do assembly and finishing work.
Just because the owner also does work in the shop doesn't make it special all of a sudden. Most business owners participate in the day to day operations of their business.
I suspect the modern well financed knife maker actually makes use of more automated technology than "production" knives did 30 years ago - that in fact older production knives were closer to handmade than some of the "customs" today.
Go ahead - make it easier on yourselves and continue to lessen the craft.
Just think how easy it will be to blank out that United Hibben style fantasy knife. If it's not handmade what makes it special? The use of CAD / CAM by knife manufacturers is turning out some pretty impressive knives today. How will you compete with what they turn out tomorrow? How do you distinguish yourselves if not by skillfully crafting by hand?