Timothy La Combre

[RayseM]

Being a maker of custom items myself I understand how elusive "perfection" can be in spite of best efforts.

Items such as folders which must be made to close tolerances, with disparate materials and high expectations for the end results must be especially challenging - even with true trade professionals. "Custom" always has an element of risk associated. That a maker is willing to acknowledge that his/her own expectations have not been met but that one dare not (chooses not to) drag the client through yet another extended wait but rather says - here use this but no worries, because as Joshua, JTB_5 writes "However, just because Timothy has such a high standard for his work, he offered me a full refund or a free future build. I don't imagine there are many makers out there who uphold such a standard just for a little blade wobble!".

I'd say the maker and the owner are behaving (have behaved) with respect and grace that makes the entire endeavor well worth while regardless of the "iffy quality" of one out of 3 knives - all 3 having intrinsic beauty, value and function. Joshua might, in fact, get another knife after all, that meets all his expectations. Meanwhile he has some knives in hand and a better story too. I'd say - All Good

Ray

 

[dispatch184]

Read the whole thread if you haven’t already. I took part in every aspect of review and could have asked for a different knife.

With regards to offering refund, I agree that most makers would offer replacement for lost knives but I insisted on waiting. I’m referring to offering a free additional knife or refund while still sending the knife I ordered as requested. I don’t think that is common, but please notice I didn’t say that no makers would do that. I only said I don’t think many would.

I get it that some people won’t like Timothy’s work—he is a bit eccentric and does things his own way. However, I think he offers a unique product at a better than reasonable price with a satisfaction guarantee that ensures you will get what you seek. Yes, I’m a unique case in that I was willing to do things others might not, but don’t let that difference take away from the other objective elements.

I will say this: if you order from Timothy, insist on courier mail

I bought one of the sister knives from your clip point and I also got caught in that batch that was flagged and returned. Tim also offered a replacement and was giving as many updates as he could. He is a good egg, none of it was his fault and he was very humble and gracious nevertheless. The knife has since arrived and it instantly became one of my favorites. If photo bucket will cooperate I will share. I will buy from him again, cheers!

 

[dispatch184]

 

[Fodderwing]

Just popping in from my hiatus to give a very important update to this thread. The knives arrived!!!!

That's fantastic news Joshua! Thanks for the update and the knives appear to be quite unique. I love the custom sheaths too. It is disappointing to hear the negative aspects of the original knife requested. Cortopar's honest and forthright opinion has merit and I cannot and do not argue a single point he made but your attitude is more in line with what mine would be, all things considered. You have three special knives no-one else will ever own. Thanks again for bringing us up to date. I wish you well.

 

[Jody744]

My knife came as ordered, no issues, carry often. In fact it sleeps beside me on nightstand. It is one of his budget knives, packs way more bang for the buck than other knives. I have customs with mammoth ivory, stag, ebony, micarta, and I carry this one the most. I would buy another with no hesitation. However I am trying to gather different patterns from different parts of the world. I have a budget, am very ocd and particular about details, will have and use this knife for life

 

[cortopar]

Read the whole thread if you haven’t already. I took part in every aspect of review and could have asked for a different knife.

With regards to offering refund, I agree that most makers would offer replacement for lost knives but I insisted on waiting. I’m referring to offering a free additional knife or refund while still sending the knife I ordered as requested. I don’t think that is common, but please notice I didn’t say that no makers would do that. I only said I don’t think many would.

I get it that some people won’t like Timothy’s work—he is a bit eccentric and does things his own way. However, I think he offers a unique product at a better than reasonable price with a satisfaction guarantee that ensures you will get what you seek. Yes, I’m a unique case in that I was willing to do things others might not, but don’t let that difference take away from the other objective elements.

I will say this: if you order from Timothy, insist on courier mail

Joshua,

To be clear, I’m not criticizing you, your behavior, or your knives. My only point was that you or I or most people might be magnanimous, but I would certainly never order another. I read the whole thread and while you “went along with it” at each stage, this knifemaker:

1. Couldn’t complete a blade in a fairly standard shape, and failed to meet one of the most critical requirements - a straight edge.

2. Uses a standard shipping method from a developing country which routinely takes up to 50 days in transit, and this time took 100.

3. Delivered a knife with poor fit and finish.

4. Delivered a knife with an obvious flaw - a loose blade.

At step one, a competent knife smith would have thrown out the blade and started over to make what you ordered and they committed to deliver, not said, “here’s how it came out, I can start over again or can you live with it.”

At step 2, I’d expect him to encourage or mandate the use of international priority/tracked shipments.

Step 3 may just be caveat emptor with a knifemaker newer or less skilled than others.

Step 4 was obvious to the knifemaker before it ever went in the box. It was obvious before he installed the wood covers. He had ample opportunity to recognize his construction flaw and fix it. This isn’t a factory where one out of ten thousand slipped through quality control.

Again, I’m very happy that you’re happy, and you’ve obviously been a gentleman in how you’ve handled the situation. I expect others considering a commission have a lot to think about before deciding if the low(er) prices from this knifemaker are worth the risk and subpar outcome.

 

[Ratbert]

I had Tim make me a knife earlier this year, one we had talked about for awhile. I asked him for a sodbuster pattern with a stainless drop point type blade and drawn swedge, pinchable but with a nail nick. 4” closed, with brass liners and pins and covers of smooth natural giraffe bone.
My exact words were, “a solid user that you are still proud to show off”. This is the result and he hit on all points.
I didn’t ask for courier service and it did take 5 weeks to arrive, with no tracking after it left his local post office, which was a little unsettling.
Tim’s work can be rustic and I think he shines most with fixed blades and bushcraft knives, but he certainly does some solid folders. He will admit he would rather spend a lot of time being creative with material and design and obsessing over perfection, but that doesn’t pay the bills.
Communication was through Instagram and he was very prompt and always answered any questions thoroughly.
While not as perfect as my other customs, it was exactly what I requested, at a more than fair price, and I am very pleased with it.

 

[JTB_5]

Joshua,

To be clear, I’m not criticizing you, your behavior, or your knives. My only point was that you or I or most people might be magnanimous, but I would certainly never order another. I read the whole thread and while you “went along with it” at each stage, this knifemaker:

1. Couldn’t complete a blade in a fairly standard shape, and failed to meet one of the most critical requirements - a straight edge.

2. Uses a standard shipping method from a developing country which routinely takes up to 50 days in transit, and this time took 100.

3. Delivered a knife with poor fit and finish.

4. Delivered a knife with an obvious flaw - a loose blade.

At step one, a competent knife smith would have thrown out the blade and started over to make what you ordered and they committed to deliver, not said, “here’s how it came out, I can start over again or can you live with it.”

At step 2, I’d expect him to encourage or mandate the use of international priority/tracked shipments.

Step 3 may just be caveat emptor with a knifemaker newer or less skilled than others.

Step 4 was obvious to the knifemaker before it ever went in the box. It was obvious before he installed the wood covers. He had ample opportunity to recognize his construction flaw and fix it. This isn’t a factory where one out of ten thousand slipped through quality control.

Again, I’m very happy that you’re happy, and you’ve obviously been a gentleman in how you’ve handled the situation. I expect others considering a commission have a lot to think about before deciding if the low(er) prices from this knifemaker are worth the risk and subpar outcome.

Those are fair points, although I think the individual details of my interaction with him put more responsibility on me for some of the things you mention. I don’t think a more exacting buyer would have trouble working with Timothy to get exactly what he wanted, or get a refund if anything wasn’t up to expectations.

The biggest issue I have is with the mail, which I think he should change, since buyers who are willing to pay for quality should be willing to pay for more reliable shipping. He is too stingy with his pricing there in my opinion.

 

[RayseM]

Well, in regards to the mailing option - next customers could request that he use some form of expedited shipping as the customer will pay the freight. How could he argue if the client is willing to pay extra and requests faster S&H?

Ray

 

[Ratbert]

Well, in regards to the mailing option - next customers could request that he use some form of expedited shipping as the customer will pay the freight. How could he argue if the client is willing to pay extra and requests faster S&H?

Ray

He does offer to ship via courier rather than parcel, but I deferred to save a few dollars. I didn’t realize that there was no international tracking between South Africa and the States.

 

[brownshoe]

International tracking capability varies by country. Not being able to track, doesn't mean it won't be delivered, or deliverd late. Mail has been delivered w/o tracking for hundreds of years. That's not a failure on the part of Tim, but a choice made by the customer.

I wouldn't classify South Africa as a developing country, Western civiliazation came there to settle only 50 yr later than US.

In my mind, cortopor is incorrect and harsh implying the maker is incompetent. Perfection is not a sign of quality in a handmade product. I have an early Hanson/Sunfish forge with more than a few flaws, but it's a great knife I got at a great price. I've used/abused it and got rust pits in the O1 blade. I'm quite happy with it.

I have some "customs" that are unique & handmade knive and yes, crude knives, but they work and are sweet in their own way.

 

[Will Power]

Tracking sort of helps, but let me tell you it often has a mind of its own between the USA and EU...I've had tracking say it's been sent back to the US when I've got the knife in my hand Hardly developing societies, except perhaps in the awful digital way

South Africa certainly is a developing society it has infrastructure problems, has a high rate of crime and corruption, so a signed for courier service would seem the correct method to use when exporting goods-both for the buyer's and seller's peace of mind.

The OP Joshua is very pleased with what he got, that is all that's important and he was transparent about the whole project-allowing us to draw possibly different conclusions-also important. I'd tend to agree with C cortopar points if it were me on the receiving end of this situation. Custom is a very loose word, custom built cars can be extremely expensive and unreliable...custom made clothes could be exquisite or a load of shoddy rags In my book, if a person aspires to the mantle of Custom Cutler/Knifemaker, they must have exceptional skills and expertise in certain styles of knife, and confine themselves to that speciality. I've contacted some custom makers and they've declined to take on the order as they were not at ease with the pattern, respect that- this is how it should be not having a bash at something You can't be a custom maker if you are still in the process of journeyman and learning the skills, you are a developing knife maker then Too crude or rough and ready, you should then be making knives and offering to the public to see how they go, before taking commissions. Nor should you take on a project and then impose your vision on the customer, it's too dicey.

Nothing like getting a knife you're really pleased with though, that's grand

Thanks, Will

 

[Chui]

I've contacted some custom makers and they've declined to take on the order as they were not at ease with the pattern, respect that- this is how it should be not having a bash at something

You can't be a custom maker if you are still in the process of journeyman and learning the skills, you are a developing knife maker then Too crude or rough and ready, you should then be making knives and offering to the public to see how they go, before taking commissions. Nor should you take on a project and then impose your vision on the customer, it's too dicey.

- indeed. Recall going to pick up a knife from Andre Van Heerden. We sat over a drink and had a good chinwag - one of the things he mentioned was not taking silly orders for customs - point being, he (including many other makers) never takes money up front, so if the customer ordered a folder with Toxic Green handle, Brimstone Yellow screws and bolster...........if he ends up saying he doesn't want it - who'll buy it then......!?

Nothing like a good exchange between customer and maker and both being happy in the development and proposal for the knife

 

[Chui]

Nothing like getting a knife you're really pleased with though, that's grand

- sometimes exactly that

 

[brownshoe]

T...In my book, if a person aspires to the mantle of Custom Cutler/Knifemaker, they must have exceptional skills and expertise in certain styles of knife, and confine themselves to that speciality...You can't be a custom maker if you are still in the process of journeyman and learning the skills, you are a developing knife maker then Too crude or rough and ready, you should then be making knives and offering to the public to see how they go, before taking commissions...

Your bars are set very high. Most custom makers would not meet your standards. Most custom makers do not stick with "certain styles of knife and confine themselves to that specialty". That's because the knife market changes and makers get bored.

The ABS would take exception to the statement "you can't be a custom maker if you are still in the process of journeyman and learning the skills." There are plenty of ABS journeyman smiths who make and sell custom knives of very high caliber every day.

Every custom maker starts out crude and gets better with time. However, during that period they still have to feed, clothe and shoe their little bastards Taking commissions before a maker reaches perfection is a good way to stabilize your income.

In the 20th century, quality is defined by customer satisfaction through meeting customer requirements. People who are satisfied with a product have every right to call it good or even high quality.

 

[Will Power]

Maybe, but I'm saying that Custom is perhaps an overused term. Have to disagree that every custom maker starts out crude and then get's better with time. No, real talent is innate and yes it will improve until it reaches a zenith, decline also sets in...Yes apprentices can and do make wonderful knives but they don't overreach themselves nor do they use the customer as an experimentation device-unless approved first.

However, strongly agree with your last paragraph-even if you seem to be living in the previous century 20th? Where a client is satisfied they should praise the work and then let others' judge, we all agree on that one.

 

[JTB_5]

Just an update. The original custom I ordered ended up having a fatal flaw in the pivot, causing the liners to begin separating from the pivot. When I spoke with Tim during the process, he had mentioned trying to do something different with the pivot, in order for it to be hidden behind the bolster. Obviously it didn't work out. Of course he had already said he was giving me a free one anyway before he knew that the pivot failed, but he also said he'd see if he could fix it when I asked if he was willing to try, so I've sent it back to him.

I feel awful that I've been so transparent about what I think is a fluke in Tim's knife-making process. The other knife I purchased from him (the clip point) has outstanding fit and finish, wicked action, and I cannot find a flaw in it. I think my enthusiasm for the knife I collaborated with him on may have caused him to send what he otherwise wouldn't have. In any case, he's going to make it right.

For the record, I wouldn't call Timothy an aspiring knife-maker or an apprentice-level knife-maker. He's been doing it a long time. His skills aren't in question so much as 1) his limited equipment, and 2) his independent attitude. He isn't going to just make patterns everyone clamors for, but he also is going to hold himself to a high standard and charge a fair price. I agree with Will on the point about customs--if I'm going to pay an extra $100 - $400 for a knife, then it should be better than the best quality production knife in terms of 1) meeting the agreed upon details of the knife, and 2) quality of the build and overall value. That isn't to say that a $300 or $500 knife needs to be flawless (perfect centering, no blade rap, flush in all three positions, perfectly even cut on the backspring, etc.), but it shouldn't come with huge gaps in the liners or a dull edge or extreme blade play either.

I perfectly understand why any other person might be dissatisfied or even furious if they sent in the picture I sent and got the knife I got--IF--it was as simple as sending and receiving. My point has always been that Timothy communicated throughout, I agreed to each of the choices, and I got a great knife in all respects except one (and it turned out to be a major one). Given what others have said who have bought knives from Timothy, and given the other example I have of his, I think the flawed knife was an anomaly.

I couldn't be happier with this one:


And I look forward to the one or two I'll be getting eventually.

Cheers,
~Joshua

 

[Leslie Tomville]

View attachment 1165383 View attachment 1165384

I fully agree with Joshua that his experience should not be used to fully define Timothy LaCombre and his work product. Tim does not make conventional traditional knives. They push artistic and stylistic boundaries. You either like them or you do not. It is just a matter of personal preference.

However, he is a very nice young man who builds high quality knives for about 50% of what they would cost here in the states. I believe his knives are best bought as finished products rather than custom orders. Just take a look at his Instagram site. If something there speaks to you then buy it with confidence and no regrets. (But definitely pay extra for secure shipping!)

Custom orders are always risky. Knife makers are often not the best business managers. Tim’s knives seem to cost less than $300 in most cases. This is not a price point where someone should expect bespoke treatment.

BTW, my LaCombre has handles made from a local South African tree that Tim refers to as the Monkey Apple Tree. The knife is built like a tank. Tight as a drum with the snap of a Crocodile. Even though it is a slip joint, it feels like it is locked open. There are no build quality issues whatsoever.

You are exactly right Alan, joeradza . I cannot pick up this knife without thinking about Tim and his family living on his earnings as a knife make in beautiful Richard's Bay, South Africa surrounded by Monkey Apple Trees!

 

[joeradza]

Leslie Tomville Well said Greg. Another aspect of customs that I find very satisfying is the relationship I've built up with the maker. I get to know the man that made my knife and to my way of thinking I'm more than just a customer but a steward of of someone's work. It may sound a little over the top but that increases its value to me.

 

[JTB_5]

Leslie Tomville Well said Greg. Another aspect of customs that I find very satisfying is the relationship I've built up with the maker. I get to know the man that made my knife and to my way of thinking I'm more than just a customer but a steward of of someone's work. It may sound a little over the top but that increases its value to me.

Yes, this is the same for me.