Ordering a Custom knife (PICs Added)

lmbhami

lmbhami

Joined
Aug 20, 2008
Messages
351
I have dozens of of custom knives in the past and for the most part have not had any issues.

I resently sent a picture of a knife to a maker to have it made. His response was no problem I can copy that pretty closely.

He has completed his work and sent me a picture I see differences right away.

My knife shows a full 4 finger groves in the handle, His has 2.
Blade in picture is full flat grind with a slight foldover on the top potion of blade, His has a high hollow grind line.
The guard while is similar but not the same.


I guess my question is when someone states "copy that pretty close" What would you interpt that to mean.

I did not mention the maker intentionally as I am not picking on anyone and I happen to like his catalog knives very much, was just looking for something different.
 
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Well man your having a knife custom knife made if you don't like it he shouldn't get paid until your happy with it...that's just my opinion but......any way this should be in the feed back section I'd ask a mod to move it..
 
I think there's a little "poetic license" on the makers behalf here. I do agree though, if you requested Flat Grind and received Hollow, that is a bit of a stretch. That being said, we do pay Custom Makers for their skill and sometimes the artists mind has to do what it has to do.
You could always look at it this way, you have a knife that is so unique, not even you could control how it was designed! That doesn't offer much help, but maybe you could contact the maker and find out where the miscommunication was if there was any.
 
I would ask him about it. A knife maker is providing a service just like anyone else. If you were clear with what you want, then you should get what you asked for. If I asked a painter to paint my wall red, and he painted it burgundy, I wouldn't accept it. I respect the hell out of knife makers, and I have made quite a few knives, but you have to remember, we need your business more then you need us. Plain and simple.

All this only applies if you were clear and concise with exactly what you wanted. If you left a little to be imagined, then you are stuck with it. Also, did you pay for it yet?
 
I had the same issue with a knife that I commissioned from a local maker. I concluded that they do somewhat they want to do and you can't control it, by choosing a maker you choose to accept their ways of doing things.
 
bdmicarta

I agree to a point with poetic license and all but my issue is the change the maker nhotified me of was that I requested a kydex sheath and he informed me he wasn't verey good at kydex and would supply a leather sheath.

I would think that if he made a point to notify me of that , I would have expected to be notified of handle design change and type of grind change

Just my thoughts THe sheath was not a deal breaker as I mess with Kydex or I could have one made
 
When a restaurant gets my order wrong, and they give something I don't feel like eating, I send it back. Goods and services.
 
Can you post pictures of the two knives?

The only reason I ask is because if you sent the maker a picture of another maker's work, he may not be all too comfortable copying the design exactly and putting his name on it. A maker might change the pattern slightly or the grind so as not to copy another's work. I've heard of this before and it is not uncommon. Was the original picture a knife of your design or was it another maker's design?
 
Never assume. It is the reason for 99% of posts in GB&U (not actual fraud), and I'm willing to bet that it is probably the reason for this post. State explicitly exactly what you expect and get written confirmation. Don't be upset when someone doesn't meet an expectation that you only assumed they'd understand.
 
I would have liked to see the knife you wanted and the knife you got, but heres my input.

Ive had a few custom knives made.
In some instances the matter is clear and there are hardly anything, which can be misunderstood. In other cases, its not so clear cut (if you'll permit me to say so).
One of course discuss the knives that one likes with the knifemaker and mails pics.
Sometimes I send a sketch to the knifemaker and write the specs, that I would prefer. This includes arrows pointing to details on the knife. Details, that I would like to have included and deem important enough to point out.

More importantly, in some instances the knifemaker sends ME a sketch back after he has pondered my input, pics and sketches.
Had that happended, Im sure you could have avoided any unpleasent surprises (or some of them).

I wonder why you guys didnt do that. Its hindsight of course - maybe you didnt think of it, but now you know till next time.

I sincerely hope, that this hasnt soured you on getting another custom knife.

IMO its a fantastic feeling - there is nothing quite like it.
 
I find communication very important, if the differences are that big he should have sent you a sketch before he made the knife.
If I really like a certain knife model I look for a custom maker who has knives in the same line.
I don't ask a knifemaker to make a knife that's completely different from his usual work.
I don't know if this is the case, but if all his knives have hollow grinds chances are he was going to put a hollow grind on your knife.
 
9blades said:
Well man your having a knife custom knife made if you don't like it he shouldn't get paid until your happy with it...that's just my opinion but......any way this should be in the feed back section I'd ask a mod to move it..
Click to expand...

I don't think this should be in the feedback section.
No names are mentioned, this can be a general topic.
 
OK beow are the pictures. My question isif the knifemaker took the time to inform me that he would rather make the sheath out of leather than kydex, should he not have taken th time to inform me of his design changes?

Knife requested
t-britton-saipan-1_zps89bff658.jpg


Knife made
DSCN0294_zpsf3320b66.jpg



If anyone recognizes the makers please do not mention them as I am not trying to complain about anyone. This is a general discusion
 
Honestly, looks like damn fine work that approximates the original in an unmistakeable way. Especially given that "His response was no problem I can copy that pretty closely." He did copy it pretty closely and added his own flair. If you wanted an exact replica, down to the finger grooves and grind, it should have been explicitly stated and agreed to by the maker.
 
Other than the finger choils it looks pretty good to me. In fact that is a very handsome knife, no question. Bummer that it doesn't meet your expectations. :(
 
No argument here that it is a fine looking knife, Just was bent on the finger choils I think it changes the overall appearence of the knife.
 
I would say if he didn't agree to make it exactly the same, then I would expect some difference. I had a maker make me a knife based on what I wanted it for. It was different than what I imagined but great all the same.
 
lessismore said:
...if you requested Flat Grind and received Hollow, that is a bit of a stretch...
Click to expand...

egally08 said:
...If you were clear with what you want, then you should get what you asked for...
Click to expand...

The operative word being, "if".

Tony8179 said:
Can you post pictures of the two knives? The only reason I ask is because if you sent the maker a picture of another maker's work, he may not be all too comfortable copying the design exactly and putting his name on it.
Click to expand...

That's a good point too. Does this maker typically do FFG's, or is he basically a HG guy? All I can really say at this point is that it's a communication problem. "Copy it pretty closely" is fairly ambiguous, and not something on which to base a contract (or dispute thereof).

That's easily avoided - I don't even begin work on custom orders until the client approves a measured drawing, which includes grind style, steel type and so forth, or at the very least a detailed description. Sometimes, my initial drawing isn't quite right and the client lets me know what he/she needs changed. If I didn't match my drawing/quote to a pretty high degree of accuracy, that would be my fault.

EDIT on looking more closely at the pics, I gotta side with the maker on this one. For all practical purposes, it's the same knife, just in his style.
 
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