What can custom knives offer over production knives BESIDES individuality?

[Walking Man]

I'd like to start this thread out by saying that I think there are lots of things that custom knives offer that productions still do not, BESIDE the uniqueness of the individual knife.. Yes, you can get production knives in most materials and sizes, but there are still things that a certain knife makers offers in a knife that is not available in a production model.
I'd like to start out by mentioning a few things:
1) better pivots! Take the Strider bull pivot or the Chew ball bearing pivot (or IKS or Martin) and you have a knife with a smoothness that will never quit.
2) Sheaths! Custom knife makers generally include great sheaths! And rare ones like Bud Nealy offer sheaths much more practical and versatile than any production knife.
.
I'd like to see this list grow. Your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[shaldag]

aside form the satisfaction of carrying a functional handmade work of art, I would say that the main advantage is carrying somewthing made exactly to your specifications---kind of like a tailor-made suit.

 

[crashlander]

Often You get better materials in Custom knives, especially folders. Where most production knives feature steel liners, zytel handles and sometimes only 440 blades with good designs, custom makers will offer You a knife with S30V or forged steel blade, titanium liners, costly handle slabs (wood, carbon, ivory).

 

[SharpByCoop]

A sense of personal value in acquiring a relatively handmade object that is a reflection of the designer/maker.

Building and supporting a small industry of talented craftsman who have made a committment to their individual work and collective growth.

It's the X-factor. Is this simply 'individuality'?

Coop

 

[RogerP]

This:

That:

The others:

Roger

 

[enoreeriver]

I would have to second the thought about improved quality of construction/fitment. I have held and used a production Kershaw E.T. and in no way approaches the quality and feel of the one I have that was made by Grant and Gavin Hawk. It really shows on this particular knife because there are so many joints and areas where precision fitment makes a difference. The heft of the nicer custom materials (Damascus and Timascus) makes a huge difference on this knife as well.

 

[T.K.C.]

One of the other things that I get out of getting a Custom knife, is getting to know the maker better.
And I agree with the other things that you guys have mentioned.

 

[Bigjohn]

Its probably just me, but the custom knives Ive handled through out the years that were made by other makers and friends seemed.....somewhat warmer, and nicer...even at the using/work knife end. I guess its a very comfortable feeling.

I firmly believe that today if a factory knife will give you what you desire work wise and or satisfy your collection jones..... then Buy it. Its just basic economies of scale.

Bj

 

[Larrin]

Two words: mosaic damascus.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

One thing making knifemaker's lives tougher in recent years is the VERY high quality of factory / small production knives. This applies primarily to Makers of useing knives NOT big bucks art type knives or forged, elaborate Bowies type blades: that's another market.

But if you're limiting it to knives designed primarily as USERS, well the lin between "factory" and "Custom" is really blurry. I've had this conversation with other Makers too... used to be one reason to buy a knife from a maker was because factory knives were perceived as crap... well not anymore!

Many factory knives or now made from Maker's designs under licence, using the finest materials on the market (often the same materials used in the Custom world) and often the factory knife is better engineered and has superior quality control to the Custom version.

I wish the factory knives would get crappy again!

But then, Custom Makers are now using so many types of advanced machinery and production technology that the lines between factory and custom are a matter only of how many people worked on the knife... one guy alone or 4-5 in a production envoronment and how many knives were produced.

I think for the buyer of a knife for pure utility, it basically comes down to matter of taste and personal preference: which knife do you like better; which company / Maker do you want to give your business to; do you want a knife that is unique or at least almost unique? Most of the reasons are subjective rather than objective.

Did I alread say I hope factory knives start getting crappy again?

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Aside from the obvious things mentioned above, it does provide a faster way to draining your bank account and a quicker way toward a divorce.

Actually there are many custom knives that can be had for reasonable prices, Dozier and Nealy are two that quickly come to mind, Pardue is another.

 

[Joss]

IMHO, the *only* things custom knives bring over production *outside individuality* are:

1) Innovation - in designs, in steel & materials, in technology (pivot, locks, etc).
2) Unique materials and embellishment - you'll never see a production run with antique turtleshell or bollino engraving.
3) Brand appeal - i.e., name mystique.

If you look at custom knives, they will all have something of those 3 things, sometimes several.

 

[T.K.C.]

Don't worry Mr. Wilkins, I am a huge fan of yours, and many other custom makers. There are a lot of people who really appreciate what custom makers do!!

 

[Fooj]

IMHO, the *only* things custom knives bring over production *outside individuality* are:

1) Innovation - in designs, in steel & materials, in technology (pivot, locks, etc).
2) Unique materials and embellishment - you'll never see a production run with antique turtleshell or bollino engraving.
3) Brand appeal - i.e., name mystique.

If you look at custom knives, they will all have something of those 3 things, sometimes several.

Hmmm . . I like the list, but would like to extend #1. "Innovation" implies to me something new. In custom knives, we observe time-tested design aspects that either require hand-crafting because they don't lend themselves to a production environment, and/or do not posess the mass appeal such that it would be integrated into a production unit. An example would be some of the incredible locking mechanisms by Warren Osborne that he's been doing for years. I doubt that the function, fit, and finish can be mass produced w/o seriously degrading the aesthetics; furthermore, to attempt to do so would make the knife cost prohibitive for the masses. I, however, appreciate this aspect (and others) of the knife enough that I'll go the extra mile (wait time, $$$'s, travel) to own one..

 

[Shing]

A custom knife has two facets. It can be a knife tailored to a customer's precise specifications and could be unique or a variation of that maker's patterns.

Or what it should be is a unique creation made to exacting standards of functionality and useability.

One of the problems of being a knifemaker is one always tend to make the same types of knife with the same materials and look. I think patterns are the death to creativity and spontaneity. I would rather create a different, unique knife everyday of the week rather than three of pattern number 1 and two of pattern number 7.

Factories are all set up to churn out thousands of knives of good quality at prices lower than even the most efficient custom maker so the custom maker has only his/her uniqueness to rely on to keep ahead of the factories

 

[commodorewheeler]

I think the main thing for me in terms of custom knives over production knives is that you get much better artistry and attention to detail in a well-made custom, even when compared to a production knife based on a custom design.

 

[severedthumbs]

there are still things that a certain knife makers offers in a knife that is not available in a production model.
I'd like to start out by mentioning a few things:
1) better pivots! Take the Strider bull pivot or the Chew ball bearing pivot (or IKS or Martin) and you have a knife with a smoothness that will never

Isn't Strider mainly a production knife and don't the custom Striders use the same pivot as the production.

Kevin Wilkins is dead on here. I own/have owned production knives that had better fit and finish than some custom folders that I owned (from very popular makers).

 

[commodorewheeler]

Isn't Strider mainly a production knife and don't the custom Striders use the same pivot as the production.

This is true.

Kevin Wilkins is dead on here. I own/have owned production knives that had better fit and finish than some custom folders that I owned (from very popular makers).

I will also agree with this, but to a lesser extent. The overwhelming majority of custom folders that I've owned have had significantly better fit and finish and build quality than production folders, but there have definitely been exceptions.

 

[T.K.C.]

I think the main thing for me in terms of custom knives over production knives is that you get much better artistry and attention to detail in a well-made custom, even when compared to a production knife based on a custom design.

BINGO!! That expresses my sentiments exactly!! THANK YOU!

The customs that I own now and have owned in the past, have all been superior to any production knife. (I count my Sebenzas as more of a custom knife than production.)

 

[commodorewheeler]

I think the fancy Sebenzas and William Henry pieces are kind of the exception to the rule for production knives. They are made with really nice fit and finish, on the level of a well-made custom.