Next Custom

U

UW Mitch

Joined
Nov 2, 1999
Messages
1,437
I feel like it's time for my second custom. A few months ago I posted about how to choose my first custom. I ended up going with a Gene Osborn, because I like his scale release mechanism.

I'm looking at makers again, for custom number two. My problem is there are so many makers whose knives I really like (I'm pretty sure this is a comon problem here). I've been looking at Darrel Ralph, Larry Chew, Dale Reif, Jim Weatherly and a few others. I guess what I really need to do is sit down and think about WHY I want that knife and WHAT I'll use/not use it for. I've been wrestling with this for a while, and I still can't decide. I suppose I can't go wrong either way, and eventually I'll get another, so it'll boil down to what order I get them in.

Sorry for thinking out loud.

How do you guys deal with picking your next knife purchase?

Thanks,
Mitch
 
I "feel your pain" UW. Too many fantastic makers out there to make the choice easy.

Buying what I like from makers I feel comfortable with never has caused regrets for me.

Seems to me you have gotten off to a great start and that the work of any of the guys you have mentioned for your next one that you like would be a great choice.

Not much help huh.



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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.
 
Mitch, Some people have theme collections. They collect knives of master smiths, Loveless, Scagle, or regioal such as a Virginia knife makers collection. Other collectors target folders with pearl handles or stag handle fixed blades.
A good example of a very impressive collection that was auction off a few years ago was the William R. Williamson Bowie Knife collection.


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Ray Murski
Photo page
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=935667&Auth=false
 
UW,

I think trying to put a scientific method to knife shopping, such as figuring out why you want it, what type of knife you want etc. can sometimes be a waste of time. You spend all the time making up a list of what your new knife has to excell at, who can make that type of knife. Then when you are finally finished, you see a knife that in no way fits the description of your carefully planned out knife, and it just calls to you. You know you have to get it.

The most planning I would do(unless I already had a specific design to bring life to) is to pick a catagory and browse the sites of every maker you can find. I personally think that this is the fun part. Something will "call" to you. If not, at least now you have looked at a bazillion knives and have enough ideas to have the perfect knife crafted.

Whenever I feel the itch, the exact knife that I want falls right in my lap. I don't know if that is a gift or a curse. Take care.

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
 
Louis is right. It's a curse. Or a gift. Hard to tell. Thinking too much while buying custom knives gets in the way. It's a good idea to have a budget, but I have always found knives I like just by waiting. They seem to find Me.

I find it's the same thing with books, and art of almost any kind. Sometimes you find the best things when you aren't even looking.

I do have a 'theme'. But it's only because I like certain things. All of my custom knives are different in some way. All are unique. And all are fixed blade hunters (with one exception). But I'm getting really interested in folders, and have two on order from two different makers. The old adages

Buy What You Like

Buy the Best You Can Afford

are good advice. Buy what you like and you will not make a mistake. I think it also helps to assume that you will have the thing for life. Resale value should not be the main focus for collecting fine knives. When the money is gone, you have the knife. If you choose to sell it at some later date, you will probably not lose much money buying knives directly from the maker or from a dealer selling at or near the makers price. And it might go up in value.

Paracelsus, being no help at all

Oh Mitch, I think you and I were involved in some threads several months ago when you were struggling with the idea of buying a custom. Welcome to the club...and the pain. There are Always more nice knives than you can afford. Just buy what you like and the collection will take care of itself. You don't need a plan
wink.gif


Para's Knives

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 08-04-2000).]
 
I agree with Para and Louis, set a general idea of what you want, but don't get too bogged-down in the details.

Aren't custom's fun?
smile.gif


--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
I just got a nice folder from a maker from Washington named Ray Rogers.Great folder with a Cobalt 6 BH blade.Wanted a carry custom and am very pleased with his work.His webpage is www.rayrogers.com
Check him out.I think he is a great maker.

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have a"knife"day
 
Lately I've been using two different themes to choose my next purchases. These are (1) Loveless-inspired fixed blade hunters, and (2) hard-use/tactical folders. I've been running through Knifeart.com and Bladegallery.com, and also going to every site listed in the BFC "custom maker" links. I also visit Les Robertson's site quite a bit. When I see one I like, I contact the maker and seriously annoy them with lots of questions. When I see a folder I like I run multiple searches here on BFC to see what others think about it.
When the one(s) I want are just a bit outside my budget, I take a hard look at the collection and see if there's one there that I can do without. I then agree with myself that there isn't, and buy the new one anyway!
It's a sickness.
 
I think I'm going with Ray Rogers for this one. He lives in Everett, which is just north of Seattle. I've been emailing back and forth about what I'm looking for, and he seems to be a really nice maker who will stand behind his knives 100%.

However, I realize that eventually I'll end up getting a Reif, and a Ralph
biggrin.gif
, it's all just a matter of what order I get them in, and when I happend to have some money for knives.
smile.gif


Thanks for all the help!

~Mitch

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My Hobby Page
 
Keep an eye open for the WhiteWing folders, the one I have is sweet with stag scales and CPM3V blade, very thin ground and strikingly sharp!

I hear tell they had a couple with Mammoth Ivory in the Warlock style, that's a wharncliff blade shape and nice contoured handle with a mid lock.

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...

G2 LeatherWorks
 
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