"Production Knife"

citytransplant

citytransplant

Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
232
Newbie question ... What is your definition of a "production" knife? Does a production knife differ from a custom made knife?
 
Same model produced in large number and are available at knife store.

Certainly differ from custom knives in design, material, and the way they are crafted.
 
customs are mostly handmade, more attention to detail, more work, more espensive. production are factory made, parts mass produced.

Any more though, customs these days have parts too that are mass produced. Thumbstuds can be bought in bulk, pocket clips, etc.
 
Production means there are more just like it (or that are identical except for minor cosmetic differences) that have been produced, often using jigs or other fixtures to streamline parts production.

Custom implies the knife was individually produced, and to me it implies the customer had some input into the design, materials and execution. I think it's still acceptable to call a knife that was handmade by a maker and then sold 'on spec' to be a custom---it was just customized to the desires of the maker and not a specific buyer.

People often refer to the Sebenza as a custom knife, but it is not. It's just a very expensive production knife built in multiple copies in a factory. Same with Randall---they have a number of established patterns that they use and your 'customization' is generally limited to handle material, if even that. Randall's are 'handmade' knives (I think) but not really custom in the sense that the maker consulted with the buyer.

Maybe we need three categories:

Production- multiple identical copies built using factory production techniques

Handmade- individual craftsman makes and fits parts and builds the knife, but it may be to a predetermined repeated pattern

Custom- same as handmade, but the buyer or maker has input about how the knife is designed or built

How about this: if the parts can interchange with another copy then it's not truly a custom knife? You can swap scales and blades between copies of a production knife like an Endura, but not on true hand fitted customs.
 
elkins45 said:
Custom- same as handmade, but the buyer or maker has input about how the knife is designed or built
Click to expand...

You could even split this further into one-off handmade customs that are built on speculation and bespoke knives built to a particular customer's specifications.
 
Elkins45 pinned it. You'd be surprised how many "custom" makers have their blades and Ti slabs water jet cut en mass. I know DDR does. Same with Strider. In fact, with Strider there is not much difference between production and custom. That's what I like about Reese Weiland and why I will continue to buy his work. He is building me a couple knives from the ground up with much input from me.
 
many 'customs' talked about now are midtechs. If the parts are cut out by the dozen at one address, heat treated at another address, tumble finished or coated at another, and assembled at yet another, that's not really a one man show.
 
elkins45 said:
Production means there are more just like it (or that are identical except for minor cosmetic differences) that have been produced, often using jigs or other fixtures to streamline parts production.

Custom implies the knife was individually produced, and to me it implies the customer had some input into the design, materials and execution. I think it's still acceptable to call a knife that was handmade by a maker and then sold 'on spec' to be a custom---it was just customized to the desires of the maker and not a specific buyer.

People often refer to the Sebenza as a custom knife, but it is not. It's just a very expensive production knife built in multiple copies in a factory. Same with Randall---they have a number of established patterns that they use and your 'customization' is generally limited to handle material, if even that. Randall's are 'handmade' knives (I think) but not really custom in the sense that the maker consulted with the buyer.

Maybe we need three categories:

Production- multiple identical copies built using factory production techniques

Handmade- individual craftsman makes and fits parts and builds the knife, but it may be to a predetermined repeated pattern

Custom- same as handmade, but the buyer or maker has input about how the knife is designed or built

How about this: if the parts can interchange with another copy then it's not truly a custom knife? You can swap scales and blades between copies of a production knife like an Endura, but not on true hand fitted customs.
Click to expand...

I think this is really splitting hairs but I agree for the most part. Although I've always considered a custom knife to be more what you define as a handmade knife. If that custom knife is an original pattern never used before then it's a one-off custom.
 
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