So many choices..how do you pick a maker?

U

UW Mitch

Joined
Nov 2, 1999
Messages
1,437
In my in-depth search for my first custom, I have been contemplating many things. Fit and finish, style, materials, etc. One thing I overlooked in my search was that maker him/herself!

I hadn't really thought about it, until I started emailing makers, to inquire about lead times and costs. Some makers are VERY friendly, others just have too many other things to care about your project. I think that character and interest is going to be the primary factor in my first custom purchase. I figure that multiple hundreds of dollars are a lot of money...I may as well buy fomr someone who I respect.

How do you decide which custom makers to buy from?

~Mitch
 

I'm not just saying this because they might read it, but for starters you might consider the makers who participate here in BladeForums. I think it demonstrates a desire to stay in touch with a broad range of knife fans. It's also nice to know that you can probably contact them if you need to.

-Brett


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brett@rahul.net
www.rahul.net/brett
 
Brett, I totally agree. I have found the BFC member knifemakers to be very friendly. I know that my "collection" once it gets started, will give priority to BFC makers.

~Mitch
 
Mitch, I agree also with supporting makers here. Also, I have found the most satisfying way to buy a custom and to get to know the maker is at a show. You get to handle and check out the knife,you get to talk to the maker direct, and you get the knife right there with no waiting. Also, dealers like Les have variety at shows and you can handle them all and ask questions. For myself, this has been much more preferable and satisfying than buying from looking at pics which can be deceiving.
Hope this helps.

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Phil. 4:13
Dave
Wharton,NJ

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
 
I know I have a handful of makers who, in my mind, do it "right". This is a totally subjective opinion on my part, but some makers designs just grab me. Other makers my use the same materials and be excellent craftsmen, but they lack that certain, undefinable something that makes my favorite makers my favorites.

Is there anyone out there whose designs "speak" to you? Trust your instincts and you won`t go wrong.
 
Each Maker has his on style and the thing is I would recomend looking at some of the different websites in the International Knifemaker's Directory or just do a search on the web and look till you find a style that just make's you drool and go from there we cant tell you what to like but we can show you all we offer
I Hope this Help's

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TbarK Custom Knives
http://vip.hpnc.com/~tbark Therefore I erge you brother's in view of God's Mercy to offer your body's as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship Romans 12-1
 
The most important thing here is to decide exactly what type or style you like then start narrowing the list of makers down from there. There might be a maker out there who is the nicest guy in the world has the best fit,finish and overall selection of anyone out there but if his knives don't grab you. Remember the first rule of thumb is always buy what you like foremost.Find the maker who grabs you and makes the style of knife you want and work from there. The custom guys on this form is the best place to start. Chances are if one of them can't do it for you then maybe it can't be done.
Bob

[This message has been edited by Strider (edited 02-11-2000).]
 
I strongly recommend going with a maker you can talk with, especially one on the forums, or TKC-L. It makes custom knives much more special when you and the maker know each other.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"That which does not kill me just postpones the inevitable."
 
Mitch,
You hit the nail on the head. I just went through the same scenario as you are currently, ordering my first custom. E-mailed and called various makers looking for the one. Most were extremely helpful and courteous. But some made me feel like I was a bother and they were doing me a favor by letting them build my knife. While I realize that they would rather be working in their shop than answering questions, I believe that this comes with the business. I also came to the conclusion that no matter how badly I thought I wanted to own work from a particular maker, I would not purchase from someone who would not make the process enjoyable. To many great ones out there willing to walk the extra mile. I really wanted to work with the maker and get that warm fuzzy feeling after talking with them. After a lot of searching I finally chose a maker. My questions on models, materials and recommendations all received very prompt and friendly answers. He seemed to want to make the knife as badly as I wanted him to. I am very sure that I have made the right choice. Enough rambling, so here's my advise. You are on the right track on choosing a maker that you can respect. While there will always be the latest and greatest in designs and materials, you only get to purchase your first custom once. Make the best of it.
 
Is the maker professional? That is, does he make his living, his profession creating knives?
Does he have a shop/studio you can visit? There, you can get the true flavor of his accomplishment.
Will he work with you, not just offer you his "custom" designs?
What is his track record? Where is he going? Is your investment safe, and appreciating in value?
If he is a professional, chances are his work is of impecable quality, and his styles are already more than attractive...
Works for me.

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Read, Study, Learn, Grow
-DO-
Jay
www.gilanet.com/JayFisher/index.htm
 
Let me give an alternate view to Jay's. (BTW, checked out your site, Jay, very nice work). I'm on my fourth custom with a guy who is a part-time maker. No shop, just a few shows. Saw a knife on his website I liked and had him make me a little different version. We went from there. I've been very pleased. Quality is high, price is good and turnaround time is reasonable. He's a nice guy and I've enjoyed developing a relationship with him. My investment in these knives will go up after I have spent years using them and then passed them on to my children. For me that is as good as it gets.

Jack
 
That's what I like to hear, Jack. Everyone starts sometime, and makers need any and all the support they can get. It's encouragement that keeps the feedback flowing and the creative wheels turning.
Guys ask me about making, grinding, etc. They say they're just going to keep it simple. Yeah, that's how it starts, innocently enough...
Bravo.

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Read, Study, Learn, Grow
-DO-
Jay
www.gilanet.com/JayFisher/index.htm
 
I have to agree with Brian...the knife is MUCH more special if you can talk to the maker and become friends. It's the little details that make the knife YOURS, instead of everyone elses. It's a custom knife, for God's sake! Like a custom suit, it'll fit you to a T.

TALK to the maker. Ask him questions. Make him squirm and sweat and worry. Make him please YOU. After all, the customer is always right, and you are the customer. (Hey all you custom knifemakers out there. I'm just kidding about the squirming and sweating part. Seriously.
wink.gif
)

CHANGE your mind at least a dozen times, and then go with your original choice.

ASK for something impossible, like lunar moon rocks for a handle, or better yet, for a blade.

OFFER personal feelings about your vision of the perfect knife, and then totally disagree with everything you just said.

I have done the above with several knife makers, and they STILL want to make a knife for me. Go figure!
 
Mitch imho you should never order a custom knife from a maker if you have not seen his work.i have been in your exact position.i bought a decorated sebenza first.then i went for custom makers. i went to their sites,read the forums like the bible,ask for every one's opinions and then ordered a custom knife.i talked to the maker and explained to him what i wanted.I waited the wait time and when the knife arrived it was just not was i was thinking it would be.i had never handled the makers work so all i could go be was what i had read.i kept trying to compare it to my sebenza and the fit and finish was just not there.i have found that if you can go see a maker and personally tell him what you what that you will be alot better off.in seattle you should try Roger Dole (i know you have his number because you gave it to me)i went to his place and talked to him for a long time and he is one hell of a guy so i ordered a knife with him.His wait time is about 5 to 6 months and his prices are fair. you should go talk with him i'm sure you will like him.one thing that i realy liked about his pricing is that on the wall in his shop he has a time clock.when he starts working on a knife he clocks in if he stops working on YOUR knife he will clock out.this way he knows exactly how long that knife takes him and how much to charge for it.i thought this way was really fair to him and me.

[This message has been edited by elim (edited 02-12-2000).]
 
The best thing you can do is get to a custom show.

We have all thought we'd "seen" the perfect knife for us only to develop a different impression once the knife was in hand. It is very important (to me) to have contact with the knife and see if it "wets your whistle." The best way to do this is at a show, where you can handle knives from all those makers...you may be surprised. Some of the knives I'd blow through while browsing pictures on the net really impressed me once I had an opportunity to handle them. It's just like buying a car. There are lots of great cars out there, but which one "fits" you the best? Get to a dealership for a test drive!

While I agree that it is enjoyable to buy a knife from a maker you can communicate with...it is not necessary. An example...at the NY Custom Knife Show, I purchased two Koji Hara folders that literally stopped me in my tracks...gorgeous! Impeccable work...fit me like a glove. Koji just stood there & smiled...can't speak a word of english, but didn't have to...the knives did all the talking.

Just remember...the chase is always better than the catch...keep looking for that "perfect knife..."

Ron
 
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