QC Standards for Custom vs. Production

E

ErikD

Joined
Dec 5, 2000
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What do you expect, in terms or QC, for a custom vs. a production knife?

To me I would think that a custom maker should send out a perfect knife every time. The knives are made one at a time, and thus each knife should be individually inspected before leaving the workshop. The maker is putting his name on the knife, and it will forever speak of the type and quality of work he is producing. A production knife on the other hand can have more lax QC standards IMHO. It would be impossible for every knife to be hand inspected and tested for every possible aspect. If that were the case I am sure that the cost between custom and production knives would be much much closer. So to me some minor defect slipping out of the factory is no big deal.

What got me thinking on this was a recen custom knife that I bought. It is not my first, but it was the first custom piece I have bought where I was not 100% satisfied with the edge put on the knife. Now really I know how to sharpen a knife, so it is not a huge deal to me. So I had to spend some time getting the edge to where I wanted it, I would have had to do it eventually anyway after use. Other than that the knife was flawless in every way. I guess my question really is would that be acceptable to you?

Before this I tended to think that a custom maker had a much tighter control over what left the shop, and nothing left unless perfect.
 
Custom knives can run the full spectrum of fit and finish. Some knives are downright crude. Others are perfect in many ways, but one or two things, such as the grind, just isn't quite there.

However, custom knives reflects the full spectrum of knifemakers. Some makers produce relatively crude product for the quick buck. Some have great skills in bolsters, liners, handles, but maybe not with the final grind. Some have no patience for the hand fitting for that seamless look. Others have a gift and it comes easy. Some are con artists selling kit knives or mid-tech knives as handmade product.

My belief is buy what you can see and feel plus do your homework and talk with the maker. Don't buy customs from a middleman unless you've checked out their reputation, and even then verify. Then you won't be disappointed.
 
Since you are confident in your sharpening ability, you probably know what you're talking about when you say it wasn't 100% right. But was it really a bad edge, uneven, chipped, really dull, or was it simply too obtuse an angle, a "working" edge rather than a "shaving" edge? In other words, the maker may have put a perfect edge on the knife, but not one that was perfect for your use or your expectations.
 
The main reason I have largely moved away from custom knives is that often the level of workmanship was not worth the money spent. I have owned more knives than I care to admit that were made by well known custom makers that had noticeable blade play and bad lockups. If I can buy a $30 CRKT liner lock with no blade play, a $400-700 knife had better be perfect!

I recommend doing research on makers before buying and simply send a knife back if it is not up to your standards and don't accept it back until it is. If you want to go high-end and you're not sure of the maker, it is better to buy William Henry or Chris Reeve than to go custom IMO.
 
Overall I am very happy with my purchase, it was just this one minor issue that caused me from bieng totally satisfied. The edge was not ground to the same angle on both sides, but other than that it was pretty good. I really don't consider it that big an issue as I usually end up tweaking the edge sooner or later to fit the angles used on the Sharpmaker, which I use to sharpen my knives.

The knife is now nice and scary sharp, and it maybe an hour or so of my time to get it to my standards. I wouldn't make a different decision if I could go back and do it again. Fit and finish is top notch, action is smooth, and the lockup is great.

Funny, I am just really getting into custom knives. I dumped a bunch of my production models when I needed some cash. Now I am starting to buy again slowly and am going with almost exclusively customs.
 
I do love to look at customs, but when time comes to part with money i end up spending it on a chris reeve.
 
There's customs, and then there's customs. Some makers have a basic model they will sell you, or even modify it a bit if you like, but it's really a one-man shop production knife. It will probably be expensive but reliable, going by the experience that goes into it.

True customs are designed by the maker and the customer, although choosing a maker implies going along with some of his style -- after all, why work against his strengths? You can't be sure what will come of this unless the maker has tremendous gifts, and integrity.

The best way to buy a custom is either to go through a reliable dealer, who will help you be sure of the knife's quality, or by buying at a show, where you can handle it ahead of time, and walk away if it isn't perfect.

You may very well be better off buying second-hand, since the previous owner has taken care of any quality control problems.
 
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