productions, what's the point? (fixed blades in particular)

atavist

atavist

Joined
Nov 29, 2012
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This post is inspired by Pat's previous post about mid techs....

As a knife maker I'm obviously biased... when you like a custom design and want a knife like it but can only afford a mid tech I get that.... but why production knives? ever?

And don't say price...
My custom blades are fairly priced (not meant as a self-promotion) and I know a handful of local craftsman who make knives just because they love making knives and practically give them away...

Granted with folders there is a certain level of machining involved to get a slick action (that's why I don't make them)... so not talking about high end folders here... but why on earth buy a production fixed blade when every town has a handful of local craftsmen who make quality knives and will sale them at close to materials cost to be able to keep doing it?
 
I like being able to go and buy a knife now, when I want it.

I don't always feel like waiting, and some of the production knives have the fit, finish and materials I want.
Some of them have great warrantees as well. :)

When I want something really custom, I can always make it myself (and occasionally do). :thumbup:
 
Just like midtechs - they will be harder to replace if something goes wrong.

If I break a production fixed blade I could probably send the company a note and get a new one within the week.

Getting a replacement or refinish from a custom maker that is a one-man operation would be subject to the maker's schedule, workload, personal concerns etc.

Materials might be a concern too, as your local custom maker might not be able to make a duracoated, serrated fixed tanto in S30-V with neoprene handles and a kydex sheath with a Tek-Lok. Some people want that.
 
The factory knife is a uniformed product. It carries a warranty, reviews of the exact product are available, and if you are dissatisfied, you can usually return or exchanged the knife, frequently through the very store where it was purchased.

n2s
 
good points...
serrations take a lot of file work, or tech...

... as to warranty though most guys i know (including myself) warrant there knives for the life of the smith, and make making it right a priority.
 
atavist said:
...when you like a custom design and want a knife like it but can only afford a mid tech I get that.... but why production knives? ever? but why on earth buy a production fixed blade when every town has a handful of local craftsmen who make quality knives and will sale them at close to materials cost to be able to keep doing it?
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Ask the nice folks at Randall Made - they've had the answer to your question for over 75 years, and still have a four year back log of orders. (it's popularity, BTW, if you want to save the dime calling)... http://www.randallknives.com/
 
Consistency, predictability, availability, replaceability. And "every town has a handful of local craftsmen" with virtually no reputation to speak of and could be utter flakes as far as I know. And I know you say to ignore price, but when a $20 Mora or $50 Kershaw or $90 Becker will handle every conceivable need I will have for a knife, what's the reason for me to invest 2 to 10 times as much for a custom? When I use a fixed blade, chances are I'm doing something a bit rough-and-tumble and I'm not overly concerned with the aesthetics of my blade. And no matter how willing you are to make something right, how willing are you to work with me if, instead of damaging my knife, I lose it in the woods somewhere or drop it over the side of the boat?
 
I actually understand where you're coming from on this, atavist. I am very picky on my fixed blades as far as what features and look I want in a particular knife. I have decided against several knives because there was just something I didn't like about them, and in many cases a custom would be the best option for me. (Ontario I'm talking about you, great designs in general that just don't seem to fit right for one reason or another. Love Old Hickories though) The only production fixed blades I buy are cheaper knives wether for heavy use where I wouldn't want to damage an expensive knife, or knives specifically for storing in a vehicle or bag for camping or whatever. Moras are great in this regard. For a knife I want to use and carry for regular use, I have always either made the knife or heavily modified a cheap one myself. One of these days I will get around to getting a custom made if I can ever get down on paper what exactly I want in a knife, as usually my process is "design as I go." I don't like heavily embellished knives so I'd imagine getting a custom I like would not be very costly, but I have yet to do so. For a fixed blade, they are so simple that it just isn't worth it to me to spend even $60 on a knife that I don't fully love.
 
I doubt any maker would sell a comparable fixed blade with S90V for about 210.00 shipped, with sheath, NIB. Which is what you can buy this SouthFork for. The custom Phil Wilson made fixed blades sell for much more. So, I think the Spyderco is a raving deal. You get performance and a design by a custom maker, whose blades run 100's of dollars more for a fraction of the money.
xeeh4y.jpg
 
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I get the point as well. I mostly agree with you. My fixed blades have went from fallkniven and becker to jr's and lt wrights. One thing we are forgetting about is marketing. There's a reason so much money is spent on it - it works. We are all subject to it.
 
jill jackson said:
I doubt any maker would sell a comparable fixed blade with S90V for about 210.00 shipped, with sheath, NIB. Which is what you can buy this SouthFork for. The custom Phil Wilson made fixed blades sell for much more. So, I think the Spyderco is a raving deal. You get performance and a design by a custom maker, whose blades run 100's of dollars more for a fraction of the money.
xeeh4y.jpg
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And it even has a thumb-hole for ease of opening!
 
I've bought both production and custom fixed blades. Sure, there are plenty of makers out there with good prices...that doesn't mean I appreciate the aesthetics of their work. I'm easily turned away by a blade shape that is a little different from what I want, the placement - or appearance - of a maker's mark, running a steel too soft, as well as a host of handle issues.

Further, a single experience can turn one away from custom makers...for example, the knife for which I've been waiting 27 months. The maker has a few hundred dollars of my money, we're well past the time frame I was given for completion, and I get nothing but BS responses to my inquiries (when I get a response, at all).
I had another maker offer to make something for me, and I've heard nothing from him for over 6 months (the last question I asked upon agreeing was never even answered...I figure he forgot about me; but maybe I'll be surprised. He doesn't have my money, so it's no big deal.
 
atavist said:
This post is inspired by Pat's previous post about mid techs....

As a knife maker I'm obviously biased... when you like a custom design and want a knife like it but can only afford a mid tech I get that.... but why production knives? ever?

And don't say price...
My custom blades are fairly priced (not meant as a self-promotion) and I know a handful of local craftsman who make knives just because they love making knives and practically give them away...

Granted with folders there is a certain level of machining involved to get a slick action (that's why I don't make them)... so not talking about high end folders here... but why on earth buy a production fixed blade when every town has a handful of local craftsmen who make quality knives and will sale them at close to materials cost to be able to keep doing it?
Click to expand...
The point is that we all don't have money for mid techs and customs. Two dumb threads don't make a good thread.
 
Majority of USA made customs are too expensive especially for someone who live in Europe.

For you $450 is maybe not such big deal, for me it's like for you $1800. I don't want to use such expensive blade which often offer nothing more in compare to cheaper custom or production knife beyond fit and finish.

I can afford generally to custom knives made in my country and fixed blades only. And I don't want to wait for it year or two. I buy ready custom blades or I order knife from proven maker who made it in a month.
 
LX_Emergency said:
Never ever pay up front.
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That's a great plan; but it doesn't always work in reality...especially when the maker has a good following and a wait list. Sure, one could simply choose not to purchase - but, if one wants this knife from that maker, and that maker won't accept your order without 50% (or more) paid in advance....well, sometimes it doesn't seem wholly unreasonable. After all, the makers don't want people deciding they can't/don't want to pay that much after their knife is completed.
 
Plenty of makers out there who won't have you take that risk. Especially makers with a waiting list have no business asking for money up front since they're knee deep in orders.

Only exception is if you're ordering something exotic.
 
What plenty of makers do is irrelevant when you want something from a particular maker...(and, yes, his work could be considered exotic, unique, etc).
It isn't as if I don't think I'm going to get the knife - I'm sure I will, at some point. The issue now is that I'm frustrated & annoyed, to the extent that I no longer want the piece. If I hadn't paid that 50%, I'd have cancelled some time ago.

Hopefully, when it's done, he'll be willing to simply post it for sale; if not, I suspect that he'd post a link to my ad (I've seen him do that several times when his knives have appeared for sale).
 
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