One-Of-A-Kind knives!

ChazzyP said:
What is it with scale makers, PeteyTwoPointOne PeteyTwoPointOne and SpySmasher SpySmasher ? Both "he who shall not be named" (pretty sure I know who that is) and he that Smasher and I did name did great work and then went off the deep end, although the latter does seem to come back up for air occasionally. Is it something in the CF or Micarta dust?
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I've thought about this before and I think that the fully custom scale marketplace just isn't viable. The guys that seem to be stable are the ones who work on a limited number of machine-roughed-then-hand-finished models. If the guys like ShepCC who make/made fully-custom-fully-handmade scales priced their work realistically no one would buy them. Instead, they are/were vastly underpriced and over-promised in terms of schedule.
 
ChazzyP said:
What is it with scale makers, PeteyTwoPointOne PeteyTwoPointOne and SpySmasher SpySmasher ? Both "he who shall not be named" (pretty sure I know who that is) and he that Smasher and I did name did great work and then went off the deep end, although the latter does seem to come back up for air occasionally. Is it something in the CF or Micarta dust?

Here's one of mine that's unique. I think it's the sweetest of an often-pimped knife-the ZT0801--that I've seen. I can take no credit for it other than ownership, as I bought it as is from someone that had commissioned two different individuals' work--one being the custom pivot and the other the anodizing and hand-sanding. I love the way the blade is done with all the usual ZT Billboard info removed save the serial number. The contrast between the stonewashed grinds and the sanded flats is gorgeous.

I can claim a little credit, I suppose, as I discovered having scratched up the bolsters after carry and spending a night in front of the TV re-sanding. That was the last time I carried this one and have pondered selling it as I move to cut down on safe queens.

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So you’re the one with this awesome ZT! I’m going to copy this idea with my own anodizing using a slightly different technique.

Anodize the whole scales, cover the parts I want to remain coloured and strip off the colour everywhere else.
 
I'm pretty infatuated with this new custom from TRU. Destroyed 10lbs of potatoes in the kitchen today, amazing slicer. It works somewhere between a spyderco millie and nessmuk I think. The g10 liners with wood outer layer is growing on me.

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My CPM M4 camp knife from hardedge knifes with "grip ring" I conceived and wanted to bring to life with a deep acid wash. Makes it great in hand for chopping, kind of the opposite principle of the ring on Nepalese kuhkris. Kelley did a great job getting the balance right in front of the grip ring. I need to bring that grip ring concept to my BK4 eventually. Then my EDC mini-grip with a basic scale swap for different color scales. Discrete black on clip side and the nicer blue on the inside. I've been playing with that concept with orange and black in the BM customizer for a while to get an M4 bladed EDC but haven't pulled the trigger on the expenditure yet.

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JDRanger said:
Not sure if this is the kind of thing you are referring to but Olamic makes some great “one of a kinds” based on their line of knives.

I have one of only four bronze mini Wayfarer knives but mine has a hand carved skull image on the scale. There is no other knife like it.

Olamic seems to have one or two “one of a kinds” available at most times.

I bought mine a Epicurean Edge. If you go to their site (www.epicureanedge.com ) and look at the Olamic stock they have on hand you will see a “previously purchased” listing with photos and specs of models they’ve sold in the past. My knife and some other one of a kinds are listed there including pictures.

Sorry if this is irrelevant or TMI!

Eugene from Olamic called to thank me for buying the “skull” knife because there was some story behind why they carved the image. That was kind of cool.
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No pictures? For shame
 
SpySmasher said:
I've thought about this before and I think that the fully custom scale marketplace just isn't viable. The guys that seem to be stable are the ones who work on a limited number of machine-roughed-then-hand-finished models. If the guys like ShepCC who make/made fully-custom-fully-handmade scales priced their work realistically no one would buy them. Instead, they are/were vastly underpriced and over-promised in terms of schedule.
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I think you're quite right about this, Smasher. If you think about the time it takes to make one set of scales, then add in taking the order, obtaining the materials, the investment in equipment, shipping costs and handling, there's not much profit in that. How many can you produce in a day and how much can you charge? Likely not enough to make a living doing one-offs.

I've done some business with Kevin Wilkins and have had cordial correspondence with him as well as reading some of his thoughts on his business model. He produces scales in batches for a narrow range of knives and sells only from stock. He also makes a few knives as well as clips and parts, again selling only from stock--no custom--and runs a very solid business.

It's very telling that some custom scale and knife makers fall way behind on custom orders, sometimes failing to deliver product at all, but deliver pre-made product quickly and reliably on Ebay, Instagram, and the like.
 
Sorry, didn't mean to derail the thread. In an attempt to get back on topic, I offer this--my 943-1 Franken. I like the 940 package but am not a fan of the blade shape. I also love CF and long, thin blade shapes, so this knife really floats my boat. There's probably another one out there somewhere, but I haven't seen it, so this one's unique to me.
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Hopefully this qualifies for inclusion...

Based upon my usage of a knife in the field I drew a design on paper and commissioned a bladesmith to turn it into steel. I named it the WoodCrafter XL.

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The knifemaker is no longer in business and this is the only version ever made so in effect it is one of a kind.
 
theJman said:
Hopefully this qualifies for inclusion...

Based upon my usage of a knife in the field I drew a design on paper and commissioned a bladesmith to turn it into steel. I named it the WoodCrafter XL.

Custom_Feral_Wood_Crafter_-_3.jpg


The knifemaker is no longer in business and this is the only version ever made so in effect it is one of a kind.
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That's one of a kind for sure.
 
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I know this probably isn't what this thread is about, but I guarantee nobody has a copy of these fugly wonders:

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They're Cold Steels, a Tuff Lite and a Mini Tuff Lite, all the sharp bits but the cutting edge have been rounded off (e.g. the blade spine edges) and the pivots are cranked down and thread locker-ed in, then the handles have been wrapped in self-adhering silicone tape that merges with itself (in this case a product called X-Treme Tape from the big river site).

I use them for whittling; I have purchased piles of dedicated fixed carving knives but it turns out I prefer these CS folders for some reason. The silicone tape stuff is perfect, grippy without being sticky, with just a little give for comfort with no sacrifice of control or power. I have gone progressively fatter every time I've tried bulking up a large Tuff Lite, and this fat ugly beast is the most comfortable version I've come up with to date--I can carve wood with it for hours.

This thread was probably about pretty shiny things, though, so here are a couple of my one-offs for your perusal:

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I also have approximately a bajillion customized Southards or customized Southard scales, for brevity's sake here is a small sampling:

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These are all one of a kind miniatures, some costing way more than a large custom. Don’t know if the makers are even still on this mortal coil. We commissioned these from makers at the Blade Show when it was still held in Knoxville some 30+ years ago. The small folder at the top is sharp and a fully functioning lockback. If memory serves me correctly, the price was a tad over $1000.00. The hatchet is Damascus inlaid with gold. The serving set (knife and fork) were also a commission and appeared on the cover of Blade Magazine many many years ago. Some of these knives, and in my addled old age (71), I can’t remember which, were made by Mike Mercer. The push dagger is damascus, the handle or grip made from a Tauga Nut. It came with a leather sheath which can be worn as a keychain or a kneck knife. I think it was made by a man by the name of C.R.Lorditch. I have many large customs, but these miniatures were all purchased for my wife, but they hold an honored place in our collection.
Unkei
 
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