Phil,
Actually a large percentage of the knives I buy are custom knives. Take for example my Vanguard series. Every Vanguard knife starts as a custom knife. Every knife is made to my specifications and a Protoype is built. No matter who's definition you use it is a custom knife. Just because I eventually re-sell most of them, does not mean it is not a custom knife.
To be accurate and really split hairs. The arguement can be made that not only are the prototypes custom knives, but the first of the series is as well. Many of the prototypes remain one-of-a-kind custom knives, as I make changes to the knife that will in fact become part of one of my series. So technically, serial number one, again would be a custom knife (using the "Hair Splitters" guide) as it was changed and built to my new specifications. As it now differs from the prototype, this would make it a custom knife. Again, no matter which definition you use. I will agree with you that this is really splitting hairs.
The knife does not become a "custom" knife (brand name custom) until the second knife is built. At which time many inaccurately want to call it a "handmade" knife.
Of course as well all know, no knives are actually built only by hand. As every maker in the world now (and for quite some time) has and uses some sort of tool(s). Making the word "handmade" completely inaccurate regarding the construction of a knife we find in today's market. On exception could be, finding a piece of flint or glass (if it was broken, we have to insure that no tool was used. It could be argued that a brick, rock, piece of metal or the ground it's self could be classified as a tool by the "Hair Splitter's" Guide.
This flint, obsidian or glass could be attached to a stick by a vine or sinew of some type. This by the accurate definition would be a "hand made" knife. Of course your fellow hair splitters could counter that the use of additional materials such as a stick (anthropologist after studying the Chimpanzee found it used a stick to get termites out of their mound. Classfied the stick as a tool and the Chimp as a "tool user") negate the accurate definition of hand made. I will leave that for discussion among your fellow hair splitters.
Phil, even a hard core hair splitter like you would have to agree that the word(s) "handmade or hand made" cannot accurately be used to describe how knives are built today. Making the word handmade no longer relevant when discussing any type of knife that used a tool in it's construction.
Accurately, they would have to be called something like hand held or free standing, manual or electrically aided, non-computer or computer assisted tool made knives. Phil, as a certified "hair splitter" you of course are a stickler for accuracy. So, as you can see you use of the term "handmade" is inaccurate should be removed from your knife lexicon.
Consequently, you can see there is no reason for the name Robertson's Handmade Cutlery, as this type of cutlery (using the "Hair Splitters Guide) currently does not exist in the true form, any where in the world. If it cannot be made with your bare hands (hand made)than it cannot be accurately called hand made.
Which is why I call my business Robertson's Custom Cutlery. Because in fact, many of my knives are custom knives (using any definition you like) and all are custom knives. Using the definition that describes a brand or category of knives that has become part of knife lexicon.
As I do sell only custom knives (using both definitions). I do not sell hand made knives (as we have accurately established that knives are not made by hand (the makers use tools of some type), there by negating the true sense of the word as you "Hair Splitter's" stive for.
Finally, Phil, the Geno Denning knife you bought from me is not hand made, not a factory, not a semi-production and according to the dead horse beaters not a custom knife. So, honestly and accurately now, what would you call this knife?
When you come up with a name, perhaps you could submit it to the knife magazines, the Guild, ABS and all other knife organizations around the world for approval and recomendation for acceptance into the future lexicon of knives.
Phil, Im sure all who read this thank you for helping clarify this and look forward to your truly accurate definition of what to call the knives that you and millions around the world buy, sell and trade every day. .
Until that day arrives, the millions of us who buy, sell and trade knives every day will have to carry on with the term known and accepted world wide as "custom" knives.
For my part I will steer well clear of what you and other hair splitters have shown us to be a completely inaccurate term...."hand made".
Oh, one more thing, when you do arrive at your definition you will of course insure it covers every method of tool and application of that tool that exists today and will exist at least 50 years into the future. You don't want the next generation of hair splitters coming after you!
, fits into that category, unless you consider it as a lubricant necessary to knife purchase.
