Knifemakers - What do you carry?

U

UW Mitch

Joined
Nov 2, 1999
Messages
1,437
I was wondering what custom knifemakers (or people who work for knife companies) carry. Do you carry your own work? Or do you carry something else?

Thanks,
Mitch
 
Excellent question Mitch!

I am always amazed when I see a custom knifemaker or dealer for that matter, pull out a factory knife out of their pocket.

Always makes me wonder!

Les
 
I carry both my own and some Spydecoknives. When ever I carry a fixed blade its one of my own. Would´nt setle for anything less. I love my Spydecos but if was was better at making folders I would carry my own too. And then ofcourse my trusted Sog Paratool. Allways on my belt.Allways!

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Jens Anso, ansoknives@hotmail.com
(check out my homepage)
home6.inet.tele.dk/ansoe/ansoknives


 
Since I fly almost each week, I don't want any hassles going through security. So I carry a very small Swiss Army knife. I know that the FAA says keep the blade under 4", but those rent-a-cops make up their own rules.

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A.T.
http://www.customknives.com
AKTI #476


 
Most of the times i carry a self made replica of a small viking wives knife. As i do not make any folders yet and have collected knives for 20 years before i started making my own i carry some custom made or factory folders from time to time, too.

To Les Roberts:
I think that there are a lot of knifemakers which are not wealthy enough to buy a knife like the one's they make. Most of them don't get rich by making even expensive knives. Maybe thats the reason why some of them carry factory knives.
smile.gif


Achim
 
To Achim,

First my name is Les Robertson.

Second, a maker should always carry his own work, or at least something equilvelant. Some of the following are reasons why:

1) That way they always have some of their work to show.

2) It allows that maker to field test for him or herself their knives. By doing so this will improve the next knife.

3) It shows they belive in their product. This is very important to some customers.

Finally, the cost to the maker in outlay of $$$ is minimal on any knife. Unless the materials or the way to work them are intrinsecly expensive (gold, jewels, etc.)
So the cost should not be the factor as to not carrying one of your own knives.

If you expect someone else to spend a lot of money for your knife, then you should be willing to do the same.

Les
 
I carry one of my own G10/440C hawksbill folders and use it to open boxes, slit sanding belts, scrape burrs off stainless steel pipes, check rough cut wood for grain appearance before purchasing it and generally abuse it. After the new year I plan to make a couple of jacks that I can carry in my suit pocket and not get told by my wife that they are ugly.

Sorry I don't sell folders, I just make them for my own use.


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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
I've got to agree with Les on all points. A maker should be carrying his own work (or a production model of his design), if just for marketing.

I don't, however, fault a maker when he pulls out a knife and says "so-and-so made this for me", or shows me a neat custom that he traded for. Just like I enjoy carrying knives made by friends, I can fully understand why a maker would want to do the same.

 
Great thread, Guys!

I carry a liner-lock knife of my own design and manufacture. I just started making them last summer and it is a great way to test my own work. So far it has performed wonderfully. I have to agree with Les. The cost wasn't much because I only had to pay for the materials and not my time. It also is
great self promotion. OH, If you don't have enough faith in your work to carry one on a daily basis, then how can you convince someone else to do it.

When I go into a bad section of town I carry my CARSON model 4 as a backup.
 
I remember Nemo starting a similar thread awhile back. It seems that several makers couldn't keep a knife in their pocket because someone always wanted to buy it from them!
 
Hi Damon,

You hit on the final reason I did not mention.

There are a lot of collector's/users who think it is interesting to get the knife the maker carries in their pocket.

More times than I can remember I have had the knife I carried bought out of my pocket as well.

Les
 
I always carry a slip joint pocket knife that I made awhile back. It is not for sale [I don't currently offer any folders for sale]. I have used it hard, and have dropped it with my keys on concrete more times then I would like admit. I carry every new design that I make to test it. I carry a fixed blade 99% of the time. I use my knives in my shop as well, and I use them very hard.

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Lynn Griffith-Knifemaker

My website
GriffithKN@aol.com


 
I agree with Les, and I'm miffed at George and Lynn. So, you guys do make folders, but you keep 'em for yourselves. That's kind of selfish, don't you think?
smile.gif

I realize that a lot of first rate makers stay away from folders. Is it because they're too much aggravation for the money, which, kidding aside, I can understand, or is it something else? Much as I love fixed blades [I seem to have one in every nook and cranny], they are very hard to carry in the city. That's probably why folders are in such demand. Would you consider offereing up one every now and then as a collector's item?
 
I always carry my own knives. I carry a neck knife all the time, sometimes it is a damascus with bone or stag. I almost always carry a friction liner lock (no detente ball) I made and usually have several different knives in my vehicle or coat pocket. I enjoy and am honored that a person would rather have the knife I carry than one just like it. Sometimes I think it is because the mood to buy is there and I want to satisfy the urge. There have been a few times that I know that the knife I sold was bought on impulse. Impulse buying is not always bad especially if it leads to more knowldge of custom knives and an appreciation for a better tool for cutting.
I think I got caught rambling again but as was said before. If you can't be proud of your workmanship, don't expect any one else to be. Ray Kirk RAKER Knives
 
Day to day I carry a small (2.5") fixed blade of my own work. chisel ground 52100 with blue/black G-10, in a horizontal kydex sheath. This rides on my belt above my left front pants pocket. I also carry a a large 5160 camp and a 5" tanto on my rucksac when in the field or TDY.
I agree with Les on a maker carrying his own work. The only problem that I have, is that people keep insisting on buying the knife I have on my belt! I thought I had this problem licked a year ago, when I made myself a small mosaic damascus blade with fossil ivory and all the bells and whistles, my thought was that if I made it too expensive, folks would run when I told them what I would take for "my" knife. That lasted for about a month, when a fellow came up to me in a resturant and asked to see the knife I was wearing......that was the end of that one!
http://www.mtn-webtech.com/~caffrey

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Ed Caffrey
"The Montana Bladesmith"


 
Heck, that's why I started making folders in the first place, The old gent that made the ones I used to carry had to quit for health reasons and I wasn't going back to the off the shelf knives after having a good hand made. I have carried a two blade spring back of one form or another for over 50 years
, since Art Wiman quit making, it has been one of my own.

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old pete
 
Hello!

First, Les, excuse me for the wrong name.
And yes, you are completely right concerning the point that a maker should carry his own work.
Personally, for me there are some exceptions. I like the work of other makers, too and if i do not carry something from another maker or factory from time to time i have no possibility to compare my work with others and maybe find some insufficient qualities. For field testing, i like it not only to test them by myself, but to give knives to hunting friends of mine and especially to women in my family for kitchen use. In my opinion there are not many cutting and ergonomic tests in the knife world which can be harder than the work in the kitchen.

Have a nice christmas time,

Achim
 
Holding out on your folders, eh, fellows? Well, the cat is out of the bag now! I'm sure the request will begin flowing in soon...

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
And yes, i had that "buy it from your pocket" experience several times, too.
Maybe all makers should have one of them "thousand-pocket-adventure-vests" filled with their knives?
smile.gif


Achim
 
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