Mercworx Knives...

Originally posted by Nosamk
I want to see the guy that made it at a knife show and ask him
stupid questions and introduce myself....
Click to expand...

I've been wondering about this myself. Les says they're custom, but if they're custom why are they call Mercworx instead of Billy Bob's tactical customs? I don't like the idea that there's no face, no hand to shake, no guy to buy a beer. I guess it boils down to marketing :confused: someone thinks that armchair tacticians may find it more "tactical" that you don't know where the knife came from. :confused:

~Mitch
 
Well...I was just checking the email and found some replies were made to this thread, there was on the cover of a recent Knives Illustrated magazine, a damascus MercWorx blade, I remember that on the inside they gave credit to the maker/designer of that, I was just tearing apart my house looking for the issue and it's gone, but if someone has a copy, check the inside for details to the image on the cover. For whatever reason the maker was kept secret is a secret to me as well...they have their reasons I would suppose but agree that giving someone credit is a better relation to the public but it would appear that their knives are not too publicly known.

G2
 
I've been looking to buy 2 knives for about 2 months now. EVERY single knife I like from a custom knife maker has been either a limited edition that is sold out. Or it was like $1600 for a 7 1/2 inch fixed. My life does not depend on my knife, I don't care what kind of steel (to a point) it's made out of OR if Jesus Christ himself made it. I'm not paying $1600 for a knife. When I have $1600 to spend I'll buy 1 or several more guns or more ammo. If the BG (bad guy) gets through my Sniper rifle, several AR's, my .45, my backup 9 MM and all I have left to fight with is 2 Mercworx knives that cost me $783, do you really think the BG is going to know if the knife in his heart is D2 steel or RTSS (regular truck spring steel). Do you really think I need to be on a first name basis with my knifemaker to whittle the scalp off some Afgani puke? Not that any of that whittling is going to be done by me. I'm not in the military. Another reason why I just need a regular old knife to go camping with that in a pinch could be used to defend myself.

Not saying spending $1600 on a knife is a bad thing. If somebody want's to spend that kind of money on a custom knife, I'm glad he/she can do that. Really I am. I'm just saying it's not right for me, right now. I'm glad that there are really beautiful one of a kind blades out there for the collector. But when you go on several websites asking about a "production" product and all you get is a bunch of condescending, and conspiracy theory gibberish it's a bit aggrivating. Especially when the people doing all the condescending do not own the product they are bashing.

So far every person who tries to take sides with MercWorx or show any interest in the product, get's labled a employee of the company. You guy's should really take off the tin foil hats. I do not work for nor do I gain finances or favors of any kind from MercWorx or any parent company, I am in no way connected to them at all. I simply saw an ad in a magazine and started asking questions. FROM DAY ONE, THE FIRST RESPONSE to me was aggressive and condescending.

I may have misunderstood, but the response I've got from knife enthusiasts whenever I mention MercWorx is like I'm a traitor or just a stupid idiot. Forgive me for not being drinking buddies with (insert your favorite knifemakers name here), but I asked a simple question, what about MercWorx and I get a shitstorm. You know what.... there is room in the world for production knives. Some people want the product right now, some of the custom knifemakers I've spoke with told me I could wait as long as a year for delivery. That's fine if you can wait, I want my knife before 2004, thanks.

Again sorry if I pissed anyone off. I don't look down on knife collectors, it just seems I'm expected to bow before the masters. Just my humble opinion, based on experience, I could be wrong.

You might want to come down off the pedistals you've set yourselves up on. Recognizing that just because you have the "Picasso" of modern knifemakers products, there will always be the beginner or the 15 year old that will sneak in here asking questions about a production knife that is a perfectly decent product. Probably would be best to encourage and not condescend. Someday the beginner or kid may want to get something better, and since you discouraged his first purchase and made them feel like they were stupid, you might be the one who gets passed up later.

Again, just my opinion, and I recognize half the time it stinks.
 
dude. head guy....chill out. If you like the knives then by all means buy them. My main 'concern' with them is that they are called custom, but if you ask who makes them its like trying to get clearance into Groom Lake....

Personally I dont buy knives to 'carve up afgans' but for personal enjoyment.....part of that enjoyment comes with meeting and possibly corresponding with

[drum roll please]


THE MAKER.
 
I read that article in Knives Illustrated, and have it in front of me.
"Each blade is handmade by a single craftsman from start to finish. Although many of their prototype and limited-run work is made in Germany, all of the commercially available knives by Mercworx are made in the United State. Our blade designs actually come from our clients; their requirements in the field, and sometimes even their specific designs, form the basis for our blade enginerring," Mercworx's Izzy Issenstrach said.
I checked the other mags I had that they said on their website had articles or press releases, and found nothing as far as information.
The articles in KI had the most info, and said no more than their website.
I don't understand why the knives they make for the public has to be so hush-hush on the maker unless it is like a production manufacturer who has many people who make the knives.
Just my .02 cents here, and info I could dig up.

Larry
 
I've never said anything about the quality of the product, as I've never seen one in person. I suppose my hang up lies in the marketing of the product. It just doesn't make sense to me that they call them custom, made by a single skilled craftsman (or whatever their exact language it) but never give credit to that crafts man.

I'm not sure this is a direct parrallel, but Chris Reeve Knives makes IMHO a high quality product in a small shop environment, but he does not call his products "custom". Even then we still know who is behind the knives.

I guess the other thing is the perception. I saw and thumbed through the article Gary was referring to. The cover page had a Damascus bladed knife. I can only speak from my limited experience, but Damascus isn't terribly tactical...which lead me to believe it was more of a collector piece than a tactical use piece. Sure if the bad people got through my multiple layers of defense they would not care if it's S30V or 120 layer Damascus. But I don't know that's the point.

Mr. Head is attesting to his first hand experience that these knives are good hard use, tactical knives in the real world. Which is great! If it's a user piece then performance is utmost. As a knife collector, I don't think I like them being called "custom", but that's because if I ever bought one, it would be unlikely that I'd use one. BTW, have you checked into Rob Simonich's Midtech knives, like the Raven or Crowfoot? I've got a Raven that wasn't terribly expensive and is backed by someone I know!

~Mitch
 
Originally posted by LarryLuana
I don't understand why the knives they make for the public has to be so hush-hush on the maker unless it is like a production manufacturer who has many people who make the knives.
Larry
Click to expand...

Larry,

Osama's on the run, maybe he needed a paid in cash job, and he found one making knives, but only on the basis that they protect his identity! :eek: :eek: :eek: :rolleyes:

~Mitch (just trying to lighten things up!)
 
Originally posted by UW Mitch
...I saw and thumbed through the article Gary was referring to...~Mitch
Click to expand...

Man I think my wife throws those mags away! Still can't find it, but Mitch, it wasn't in the article, didn't say that, it was on the inside of the cover that talked about the image of the knife that made the cover...wish I had it here! :(

G2
 
I think that the main reason that you got what you consider a "shitstorm" is because you blasted in here with your first post like you were looking for one.

I own only production knives, the best that I like and can afford, but I own no custom knives. However, during the time that I have been participating here I have come to respect most of the custom makers who visit here and lend their knowledge and experience to the fund of knowledge available here. That includes Robert Hankins and Dr. Lathe who posted just prior to your first post and to whom you seemed to be referring.

I have never met them and doubt that I ever will or even be able to afford one of their knives but I have appreciated their occasional contributions that I have happened to read and so your pointed remarks struck me as rather presumptious and offensive as well as your remarks toward those of us that might take what they have to say seriously.

If I misread your intent I appologize.
 
Originally posted by WrayH
I think that the main reason that you got what you consider a "shitstorm" is because you blasted in here with your first post like you were looking for one.
Click to expand...


You're right and that is whay I apoligised.
 
On page 1 of the KI mag down in the corner it says:

"ON THE COVER: Mercworx and Mike Irie collaborated on the stainless steel Devin Thomas Damascus blade for Mercworx's limited edition Damascus Sniper model. The knife features a giraffe bone handle and a full tang."

Sorry I missed this part, and good eyes on your part for an old man:D

Hope this helps.

Larry
 
Originally posted by LarryLuana
On page 1 of the KI mag down in the corner it says:

"ON THE COVER: Mercworx and Mike Irie collaborated on the stainless steel Devin Thomas Damascus blade for Mercworx's limited edition Damascus Sniper model. The knife features a giraffe bone handle and a full tang."

Sorry I missed this part, and good eyes on your part for an old man:D

Hope this helps.

Larry
Click to expand...

Thanks Larry, I was pretty sure it was Mike, but without the magazine to confirm on my side, didn't want to guess, still not sure why the secrecy but must be their own reasons, glad that Mike was allowed a little credit towards that...
G2
 
bvmjethead, you wrote "I'm not in the military. Another reason why I just need a regular old knife to go camping with that in a pinch could be used to defend myself."

Then why don't you buy a couple of Moras for less than $20 total, save yourself $763 in the process(that'll buy a whole lot of tinfoil you know) and have a much more functional knife for your stated purpose. Looking at the Mercworx offerings, they look EXTREMELY ill suited for camping IMHO. Probably freak out the Park Ranger, not to mention the Afgans.

Gotta go now and adjust my tinfoil hat, I can feel the ionic neuron rays getting stronger.
 
I will add a totally subjective response. And, after all the dust settles, most of what we like and dislike about knives and everything else is as subjective as it is based on anything resembling incontrovertable evidence.

I simply find the name cheezy and the knives ugly. They may function well, but their appearance leads me to doubt that as well. "Mercs," like anyone else, will use their knives 99% of the time for mundane chores, not the sentry removal that chubby wannabes fantasize about. A good "camp knife" or "bowie knife" would be a much more useful blade. And guess what, for the 1% of the time, the bad guy won't know the difference between a "merc knife" and a good bowie.

John
 
I suppose my hang up lies in the marketing of the product

Precisely - as others have pointed out already, why the cloak and dagger :eek: angle?

The whole MW approach comes across as a bit amateurish, especially when you consider the reputations of knifemakers like Bo and Gary Randall, Jerry Busse, Mick Strider, and several others mentioned here - guys who can point to any number of personal testimonials from "operators" who use and endorse their products on a regular basis, with no reservations or need to impress anybody with their credentials.

If operators really carried all the crap people attribute to their kit, they'd need a porter or two to hump it all. If your product is good, it will find its way into the hands of folks who go into harms way regularly and on purpose. Those folks have few reservations about giving their opinion, and most of them aren't knife afficionados but they know what works for them, and what doesn't.

If this is the case with MW, fine, but I've yet to see the "community " types I know express the the kind of fire breathing, white knuckled, from-my-cold-dead hands passion for these knives that they express so often for knives from Busse, Strider, and Mad Dog, or even Mission.

JMO & YMMV!:cool:
 
Originally posted by bvmjethead

But when you go on several websites asking about a "production" product and all you get is a bunch of condescending, and conspiracy theory gibberish it's a bit aggrivating. Especially when the people doing all the condescending do not own the product they are bashing.

So far every person who tries to take sides with MercWorx or show any interest in the product, get's labled a employee of the company.
Click to expand...

Hey there bvmjethead. Evidently there's alot of discussion going on out there in cyberspace regarding these Mercworx knives. I've checked Knifeforums.com and USN, for example, but come up with nothing more than a mention in passing. Again, if you could point me in the right direction toward some of these sites where I can learn more about what others are saying vis-a-vis Mercworx, I'd really appreciate the assist. Thanks. :)
 
There, now that I've got my hat adjusted and can think more clearly.

I really take offense (and everyone else should if they haven't) to your "Afgani puke" reference. Hate mongering doesn't become you, and shouldn't be tolerated on these forums.
 
Y'know its pretty ridiculous when you cant even have a good ole knife discussion about "knives" without someone getting offended.Someones upset over this knife not havin a maker,or someone dont like afgan puke?Please people stop bein so damn sensitive!And thats all this white cracker merxworx carrying no named man has to say.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top