Moving from semi to full custom

jacobconroy75

jacobconroy75

"Brain Cloud" is real.
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I've been a knife collector for my whole life...in spurts. Recently, I've jumped into the knife world again after ~ten years. So much has changed!

Though I have a few preferred makers, I'm finding that none of them are currently offering anything I really want to buy. This month, I purchased six semi-custom knives. It's a bit shocking to see where quality vs. price has landed. One half were functional (though of lesser quality than their predecessors) and the other half had various issues. Blade rock. Lock stick. Blade play. Scratches in the finish. Blasted finishes (in lieu of polishing). Etc.

I won't go into details, but we are talking about paying 2X retail for a semi-custom folder with lock-stick and an off-center blade that some armchair jockey (like me) has flicked 3400 times, swapped parts between it and the last screwy knife he bought, AND THEN sold it for a 100% markup online, simply because he has a faster Internet connection and more practice in scalping when the "drop" occurred?

I have no idea what lead to this market situation and I have no idea to solve it. However...I won't be playing this game.

After browsing through a site tonight that has South African-made custom knives available, I noticed that a whole lot of them in the $600-$1500 range have LSCF, polished blades, and RKBS. Holy Cow! For the first time in my collecting obsession, I'm thinking about "art". These knives are beautiful.

All that said, I'm thinking about ordering my first custom folder tomorrow. It will be cheaper than the retail price of either of my U.S. made preferences (much less their going market prices of 2X).

Am I crazy, or is it time to abandon the insane U.S. semi-custom folder and start shopping for real custom knives?
 
As a collector of South African knives for over 40 years I can tell you that we have some of the best knifemakers on the planet.

That said you should remember that the only two basic inputs that make a South African knife are the maker and electricity he uses.
Everything else is imported, mostly from the U.S. (there are exceptions for local woods)

Once you have a properly made full custom in your hand you quickly see where the money is and why they are so good.

Personally I am a huge fan of Andre Thorburn and Andre van Heerden and their collaboration called A2 Knives. But anything made by them individually is going to be good.

If I can be of any assistance you are welcome to message me.
 
Vincenzo Ballistreri, an Italian, makes full custom knives, mainly traditional but some modern. He is on Instagram @vincenzoballistreri and shows one of his new knives almost every day. I own 2. His prices are well under 1K. They are handmade, no CNC, etc.
 
Well, I thought I'd report back. In the past two-three months I've picked up four CRKs and four Hinderers. I'm not impressed with any of them. The CRK large 31 is a very usable knife...but something is missing IMO. I fell in love with CRKs Regulars. The new stuff isn't the same stuff.

As a person that has had CRKs for only a decade, I can tell that the level of fit and finish just isn't what it used to be and not what I expect for knives in the $700 range (the model I happened to pick up and like the most). This isn't going to be a popular opinion and I'm not trying to poopoo anyone's choices. It's just time for me to try something different. Don't get me wrong, I'll keep the CRKs and Hinderers. Sunk costs and all that.

A2's stuff looks very nice. Kosie Steemcamp makes some smaller folders that keep catching my eye too. AB looks very interesting too (especially his fixed-blades).

Lorien said:
some brilliant knife maker will invent a flickometer, that way you'll know the mileage when buying second hand knives
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:) I typically won't buy second-hand knives (or second-hand anything for that matter). Every once in a while I'll snatch one, and there is always something off about it. That might be why someone sold it.

Can I ask if anyone can recommend one of these South African makers that is known for being very thin behind the edge and uses hollow-grinds?

Edit: The reason I'm focusing on South Africa is they seem to make the style of folders that interest me aesthetically. No offense to makers from elsewhere.
 
jacobconroy75 said:
Can I ask if anyone can recommend one of these South African makers that is known for being very thin behind the edge and uses hollow-grinds?

Edit: The reason I'm focusing on South Africa is they seem to make the style of folders that interest me aesthetically. No offense to makers from elsewhere.
Click to expand...
Almost all the South African stock removal flipper makers use a deep hollow grind with a thin edge.

However let me say that what I consider thin edge, you may not. It's not a definite description.

You could look at Andre Thorburn, Andre van Heerden, A2, Koosie Steenkamp, Rucus Blomerus, J.D. van Deventer, John Arnold, Des Horn, Francois du Toit to name a few.....

I don't know where in the US you are but if possible it might be worth planning a trip to Seattle and visit Blade Gallery where you can handle and personally select the knives you like. Alternatively we are not too far off Blade Show in Atlanta where most of these guys will be en masse.

If you want to consider a US maker Richard Rogers makes phenomenal knives. I have several, they are fabulous.

You are welcome to PM me if I can help.


 
Steven65 said:
Almost all the South African stock removal flipper makers use a deep hollow grind with a thin edge.

However let me say that what I consider thin edge, you may not. It's not a definite description.

You could look at Andre Thorburn, Andre van Heerden, A2, Koosie Steenkamp, Rucus Blomerus, J.D. van Deventer, John Arnold, Des Horn, Francois du Toit to name a few.....

I don't know where in the US you are but if possible it might be worth planning a trip to Seattle and visit Blade Gallery where you can handle and personally select the knives you like. Alternatively we are not too far off Blade Show in Atlanta where most of these guys will be en masse.

If you want to consider a US maker Richard Rogers makes phenomenal knives. I have several, they are fabulous.

You are welcome to PM me if I can help.


Click to expand...
Thank you Steven65. Those are more-or-less the makers I've been looking at since BG is really the only web store I've found yet that carries these sorts of knives. Seattle isn't too far away from me and I may think about taking a trip.

Also, thanks for the videos. I see a lot of sheen and details in the videos that a fellow just doesn't get from the pictures.
 
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