Pimped vs. Higher End

K

Krissig12

Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
3,121
Title says it all. Would you guys prefer to "pimp" or customize lower end stuff, or just buy a stock multi hundred dollar higher end knife, or even a more expensive custom?


I'm torn on this one because I like my sebenzas and Strider, but also really like a nicely customized lower end production. I've yet to get into the world of customs, but I suppose if I could handle the price Id go that route over a pimped production.
 
Before the ZT0620 came out, I had a few of my Emerson knives converted into framelocks.
 
I prefer "pimped" lower-end knives and higher end customs.

Customizing lower-end knives offer you the option of having very special work done in a design that's not offered by or not easy to attain from a custom maker. I'm having a 20-CV blade made for one of my production CQC7s. I invested less than $200 to purchase the knife, the blade steel, and the work that goes into making & finishing an all new blade. For me, it's worth it since it's an impossibility otherwise to have that design with that blade steel.

On the other hand, the 20-CV mod on my CQC7 will void its warranty and make the knife undesirable on the secondary market, probably reducing its resale value to next to nothing. I wouldn't want to have to do significant customization to higher end production knives for this reason.

And at the cost of Hinderers, Striders and CRKs, for example, I'd rather save the $400-500 dollars towards a custom knife. Lots of amazing custom knives can be had for around $1000, and if you own say a Hinderer and a CRK then that's already around $1000 tied up that could have been used to purchase an amazing hand-built knife. I'd rather have a handmade Terzuola, for example, than an XM18 and a Sebenza.

With the secondary market prices on custom knives getting lower these days, they seem a more and more attractive option compared to $400+ machine-produced production knives.
 
Last edited:
asdf12345 said:
Customizing lower-end knives offer you the option of having very special work done in a design that's not offered by or not easy to attain from a custom maker. I'm having a 20-CV blade made for one of my production CQC7s. I invested less than $200 to purchase the knife, the blade steel, and the work that goes into making & finishing an all new blade. For me, it's worth it since it's an impossibility otherwise to have that design with that blade steel.
Click to expand...
- Can you provide more detail on this? It sounds very interesting.
 
Remember that you will never get your money out of pimped knife if you decide to sell it.
 
I like having my production knives pimped a little more. I can change everything I don't like about them and they feel more personal to me. Can't get myself to do it with a custom, feels like I'm tampering with a Mona lisa. Tends to be cheaper to pimp a production too.
 
Customizing is far from an investment. It is for the end user.

Here is a crazy one in feb.

I was sent a Tenacious. I was asked to put shred carbon fiber on this knife , acid stone wash the blade, liners, and hardware. And last. Reprofile the edge.
The material that we picked up was 75$ alone. In the end with all the bells and whistles it was like 175$ for a 25$ knife.
This is the craziest but one of many.

So you can do a nice entry level pimp on any knife for 100$ or less as a starter point. You really accomplish alot with that. Unless your doing full framelock conversions.

If you consider how many guys are doing this now, that speaks as to how many of yal enjoy it. Sometimes CNC, sometimes hand made like myself.
 
I think it's smart for guys who don't have the money for full on customs to get lower end productions pimped to their liking.
 
If you customize a low end knife, you're still left with the bones of a low end knife. Might look cool but it's still got cheaper steel, cheaper materials etc.

Just order a custom knife in the materials/steel/style you want and be happy.
 
Scurvy092 said:
If you customize a low end knife, you're still left with the bones of a low end knife. Might look cool but it's still got cheaper steel, cheaper materials etc.

Just order a custom knife in the materials/steel/style you want and be happy.
Click to expand...

Let me clarify.... When I say "lower end production", I mean like spyderco, BM, ZT, etc., as opposed to higher end productions like hinderers, sebenzas, rocksteads, etc. I don't mean extremely cheap knives where quality materials and construction are sacrificed for the sake of value.

It's also worth mentioning that nowadays good materials can be found on knives that aren't all that expensive. The mini ritter m390 is a perfect example. It's got a great steel, and all you need to do is throw a set of custom scales on it and it's perfect. Thats what I did with mine anyway. And now it's on of my favorites.
 
I'll pimp a production knife (mid range cost with decent steel and build) if it is something I plan on keeping and there is something about it I don't particularly like.

If I am willing to spend more than $500 (so far I am not), I think I would go for a custom.
 
I go for both personally....of course I do my own pimping, so it makes it a bit easier for me. I think it all depends on the intent and the personality of the end user. Customs will have a high re-sale value....productions offer the possibility to get designs you like at affordable prices. I cant afford a Burnley kwaiken...but I was ably to buy a Boker version and pimp it out for a very reasonable price...and this is a relatively cheap production. It made for a great edc knife, and it satisfied my desire for that design. Most of my pimp jobs are on ZT's, which already offer great materials, so customizing them really just reflects the personality of the end user and doesn't add a huge additional cost. Pimping a knife does not always add to its value.....sometimes it does, but many times it does not. Anodizing titanium is another example of a relatively inexpensive way to add some custom touches to your production piece, but just because I like toxic green, doesn't mean a potential buyer will. I also have several customs and midtechs, and I use them. Personally I feel there is no point in buying a knife you wont use. I have customized my Chaves 228, Kwaiback, Kubasek Custom, Folts, and more...of course I don't plan on selling them either:-)
 
I like getting high quality production knives that aren't too expensive pimped with new scales and sometimes stone/acid washing. For example, take the Spyderco Junior:

soCfJ.jpg


Love the ergonomics, blade shape, and compression lock. HATE the "dialex" logo on the blade, the overly grippy G10 handle that makes it near impossible to get the knife clipped into your pocket, and the the lanyard hole and the left-side carry cutouts. So with the help of a couple people on Reddit's /r/knifeclub, as well as Blade Forum's own spketch, it was turned into this:

TAnKU7X.jpg


lB1Z4yN.jpg


All of the problems with the original have been solved, and now it's (I think) an awesome looking knife that's truly unique. For me, a lot more joy came out of this "pimping" process (and the end result) than in buying an expensive mid-tech that everyone else has.
 
BellaBlades said:
Here is a crazy one in feb.

I was sent a Tenacious. I was asked to put shred carbon fiber on this knife , acid stone wash the blade, liners, and hardware. And last. Reprofile the edge.
The material that we picked up was 75$ alone. In the end with all the bells and whistles it was like 175$ for a 25$ knife.
This is the craziest but one of many.
Click to expand...

God, that just makes my head hurt!!!
 
I personally like to keep my knives as I buy them trusting the makers choices.

Low end or high end, I buy it cuz I like it as it is... Though I could justifiably at some point see myself putting higher end steel blades in what was a lower end knife that I just liked the handle design.
 
I think of pimping as "personalizing" a knife....making it yours, one of a kind, unique.
Not cookie cutter, but limited...there's not 50 more of these exact same knives on the entire planet.
The beauty of pimping is that the user gets to make the decisions.
CF, wood, G10, smooth, textured........it's all up to you.
JM2C
 
singularity35 said:
I'm not really into pimping. Doesn't make my knife cut any better...
Click to expand...

Depends. Customizing a knife might include regrind work on a thick blade, in which case it it WOULD make your knife cut better.

Or say you've got a knife that isn't easy to hold on to and you customize it with grippy scales, it would make the knife better for use.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top