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

[DAVE_M]

yup, put an add on craigslists in your area... i met several of my good knifemaker friends this way.

That may be true for your area, but it is not true for all.

To my knowledge, the few makers around me (within 100 miles), don't make anything close to what I want.

 

[longbow]

I have owned many many custom and higher end prod. knives through the years. Never ever found a better hunting knife than the original Master Hunter in Carbon V. Same goes for large camp knives, TrailMaster in 01 is hands down the BEST large camp knife for the price and then some, made today. Now folders is a different story. You can not beat a Sebenza. Resale is always there. Now a knife I just picked up and probably will buy another and then quit buying folders all together is the CS Ultimate Hunter. BEST folder I have purchased bar none in a good long while. SUPERBLY made and a 100 bucks. Frankly I don't why Mr. Demko would give permission for CS to reproduce his AD-10 which essentially this knife is. I can honestly say my folder craving has been satisfied. It just don't get no better. keepem sharp

PS Shipley made camp knives and hunters are a bargain too.

 

[bladeninja]

Personally, I like custom fixed blades and own several. Reputation, experience, a solid warranty and great customer service means everything. Treat people right and follow up with their requests immediately and you'll be fine.

If you lack in one of these areas, get help. This criteria is a must for me do drop $ otherwise, I'm out.

 

[ichor]

. Never ever found a better hunting knife than the original Master Hunter in Carbon V.


Same goes for large camp knives, TrailMaster in 01 is hands down the BEST large camp knife for the price and then some, made today.

QUOTE]

2nd the motion on Carbon V Master Hunter and Trail Master and Recon Scout and SRK. Haven't had the opportunity to put my newish 0-1 Trail Master to the test. As someone has said, hard to imagine the 0-1 being an "upgrade" over Carbon V, but only time will tell. Of course, Carbon V is only as good as what Cold Steel was using at the time, but all of mine are at least 20 yrs. old and they have performed admirably for a long time.

 

[Jhansenak47]

I always thought "life of the smith" was the best warranty possible... but a good point was made about my own mortality vs the longevity of a company.....

If they live in another state it can be a PITA to do a warranty claim. At the multinational corporation that I used to work at they told us as part of our quality training that people in western U.S. states tend to not report defective products, they tend to not say anything and not buy them again. That isn't a rule, it is a tendency.
Warranties are nice but I don't like using them. I don't even like taking defective products back to Wal-Mart to swap out and they will exchange pretty much any dry good.

 

[Quiet]

I can't speak for others on my view of the matter, although I DO share the opinion that a couple others voiced in how the OP was framed in a sort of absolutist way. I can tell you that having a custom IS nice, however there are also many, many production models that are just fantastic. Well made, relatively inexpensive, great fit and finish, materials selection, and there are many pleasing designs that I like. Not to mention, availability, warranty coverage, and a response in timely fashion for all those things.

I think there's a great argument that everyone should own a custom (or more!) at some point in their lives, but to say that folks should be buying primarily customs? I don't see that as useful dialogue.

 

[Inazone]

Since the whole idea of production and midtech knives being a known quantity has already been addressed, I'll shuffle that around a bit to include the craftsman's perspective - whether a custom maker or an employee for a major manufacturer - as to the relative quality of the product. While every person who makes anything would like to say that his or her creation is the best (knives, furniture, food, artwork, etc.) there has to be that realization that sometimes there is a lot riding on a name, and if a known quantity costs the same or less, it made hard to sell the unknown quantity. I'm a musician, and while part of me likes to think that my music is better than what someone else comes up with, that doesn't necessarily make it so. I'm lucky to sell a few CDs or iTunes downloads per year and am unlikely to rise beyond playing dive bars, because if nobody knows who I am, why would they take a chance on an unknown when the "sure thing" is readily available?

Knives and tools and collectibles of all kinds are commodities at one level or another. Some of us are more willing than others to go beyond marketing or published specs, but that has a lot to do with appreciation for the intangible qualities of a custom creation. For some, a knife is a work of art, while for others it's like a physical extension of his or her self, a tool used for some satisfaction that only that one piece of steel can achieve. Me, I have only one custom knife, and it wasn't made for me, but rather being sold by the maker by way of a shop in his area that made a point of having a couple of his knives in stock. It's nice, no question, but if held side-by-side with a production knife made from the same materials, it's not all that unique on the surface, nor necessarily better.

It's the intangibles. Unfortunately, money isn't intangible, so if it's just about performing a certain task, I'm going to more likely than not buy a production knife that I know based on other users' experiences is up to that task.

 

[Velitrius]

I've owned many customs. Ordered some of them to be made to my specs... Damascus, scrimmed, hell even the sheaths were to my specs.

Why do I choose to buy some of my FB selections from production houses?

Price.

Do not say "And don't say price" to me.

Dash over to the makers for sale section right now. I can spend $400 plus shipping for a custom paracord handled piece with no sheath in 1095 steel ... OR I can go out and get a very good piece of production cutlery close to those specs for a fraction of that price, with a sheath.

I'm not disrespecting anyone's work here... like I said, I've spent more than that on some pieces. I'm sure somebody will be very happy with that maker's work. Hell, I would myself. But for some folks, 300 bux cheaper is a hell of a feature on a knife. And that feature is called "price".

 

[crom]

I like both. But you will have to pry my David Farmer clip point in maple from my cold dead hands. Oh, and I have monkey grip.

 

[ev13wt]

The bonus in customs is uniqueness. That alone is worth the price premium. There are many makers out there making crap. But also many making great products with awesome design.

 

[GronK]

. . . I bought this polished stag 440C beauty from a maker who was local to me for under $100. Unfortunately that was 35 years ago and he retired about 10 years ago.

 

[craytab]

. . . I bought this polished stag 440C beauty from a maker who was local to me for under $100. Unfortunately that was 35 years ago and he retired about 10 years ago.

Nice knife. But to put this in perspective, that $100 you spent back in 1980 would be $285 in 2015 dollars. Some might say it is still worth it but almost $300? boy.....

 

[GronK]

Nice knife. But to put this in perspective, that $100 you spent back in 1980 would be $285 in 2015 dollars. Some might say it is still worth it but almost $300? boy.....

This particular knife is special and even nicer in hand. I've turned down $500 offers on it in the last couple of years.

 

[welsh]

The bonus in customs is uniqueness. That alone is worth the price premium. There are many makers out there making crap. But also many making great products with awesome design.

It's only worth a premium to people who care. "Uniqueness" never cut a thing.

 

[Divine_Madcat]

$500+ for a 440c knife? Sold in a heartbeat (though i understand if the knife has sentimental value...)

 

[co556guy]

I guess it really depends on your intent, and what "production knife" you area talking about.

If I want something that is unique, feels great in the hand, etc....sure.....custom. If I'm just looking for a quality blade...production.

For a heavy user, some brands offer a good value and have a good reputation. You break it, at worst....you buy another. At best, you get another for free.

Then you have companies like ESEE, and Busse (and kin) that have warranties that pretty much cover anything responsible you could do with a knife (Busse's being more forgiving along the what constitutes abuse vs. use line).

So......I guess, like everything else...."It depends."

 

[GronK]

$500+ for a 440c knife? Sold in a heartbeat (though i understand if the knife has sentimental value...)

It is a one off by a highly thought of maker who has retired. Look at the fit of the "blind pinned" slabs, the tapered tang, the silver solder job. Makers at the annual custom knife show in Denver have asked to borrow it to use as an example of what's possible. There is a sentimental value but it is backed up by exceptional craftsmanship. It is my only non-user. It could have 440A for steel and it would make no difference.

 

[ev13wt]

^^ Just nice, that knife. Simple things, like the tapered tang, how many "customs" have it?

It's only worth a premium to people who care. "Uniqueness" never cut a thing.

True. But then again, a 20 dollar kitchen knife cuts like da devil.

 

[savage99]

Mora, and that's all I have to say about that

 

[savage99]

^^ the above post is a joke I respect moras quality/ price ratio but tend to lean more on the side of the custom argument. I honestly don't understand how some of the makers on the exchange can afford to sell their products at such low prices