Originally posted by stab1:
Mac, I have to disagree with your definition of custom and I think there are several makers here that would also. Makers make a number of knives that are not to a "customers" unique specs. but to their own unique design and I think you would get a very valid argument if you were to say these one of a kinds are not customs.
This is a good point. Makers DO produce one-offs where they themselves are the initial "customer". They need to be distinguished, however, from prototypes, which are one-off, and produced to an individual spec. They're only custom until the first production knives start rolling out, then they're just serial number #000.
Additionally there are very good makers that don't necessarily make their own steel.(damascus for example) Yet they make the knife to the customers spec. does this mean it is not a custom or handmade?
As for handmade, it's questionable, because of the possibility of mass produced steels. But the knife, being made to individual specs, is a custom.
Keep in mind that it's also possible to customize a production knife.
Ruana uses a mold to pour the handles on their knives. Want to see if you can get away with calling them "not custom, not handmade".
I don't know about handmade, because I don't know the method they use for the molding process. I don't consider the use of implements to "disqualify" a knife, but an automated method used more or less without human intervention might.
As to whether they are custom or not, it depends upon how they are employed to produce knives.
Are the molds individual to each knife? I'd say custom.
Are they individual to a particular limited style, which is produced to order, or for a finite, limited run? Semi-custom.
Are they used as a standard handle for the bulk of knives produced by the shop, or for a standard model produced repeatedly? Semi-production, and depending upon the remaining methods employed, possibly full blown production.
Before anyone answers this question, it should be required that they own at least one completely sole authored, one-of-a-kind custom, produced specifically for them.
These knives are different from knives made using other methods, and unless you want to come up with new terms other than "custom" and "sole-authored", no other knives meet the criteria to wear the labels. Even then, you'd just be defining a new class for the true customs - they are not the same as semi-customs, regardless of how painstakingly produced those semi-customs may be.
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The only milling- and steel fabricating machines I find over here in Germany require lots of training and substantial experience operate.