What do makers carry?

K

KFU

Part Time Knifemaker, Moderator
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
4,255
This question is to all the knifemqkers out there. Awhat knife or knives do you carry on a daily basis? Its funny because you always see where makers hardly ever use their own products, its usually some basic item that you never thought they would use. So, what do ya'll carry?
 
I carry a few knives..my most used is one of my own small fixed blades ( with a 2 7/8 blade ) . Been carrying & using it for almost 2 years now

I also carry a Strider PT CC , Case Sodbuster in CV and an Elishewitz Ghost.

If I opt not to carry my small fixed blade , I will instead carry a Trace Rinaldi Matrix.
 
I usually carry a folder from my collection of Kershaws, Spydercos, and Benchmades.

I use my own kitchen knives every day, and now that I finished my razor (just a few days ago), I'll be using that daily.

I enjoy using something I made myself. The only reason I don't EDC one of my blades is that I haven't made a folder (yet) and I don't like carrying fixed blades.

Phillip
 
I carry a number of Case, and Boker pocket knives, with carbon blades. Mostly the slim trapper, 48 pattern.
Also have a few T.Bose folders that see pocket time :cool:

Every time I make myself a knife, someone buys it :o But do use old Hanson cutlery in the kitchen...
 
I only carry my own knives. Usually it's one that didn't turn out good enough to sell, or if I'm trying out something new. Right now I'm carrying a hunter in M4. I under-hardened it, so it doesn't hold an edge very well, so I think I'll replace it soon.
 
Phillip Dobson said:
I usually carry a folder from my collection of Kershaws, Spydercos, and Benchmades.

I use my own kitchen knives every day, and now that I finished my razor (just a few days ago), I'll be using that daily.

I enjoy using something I made myself. The only reason I don't EDC one of my blades is that I haven't made a folder (yet) and I don't like carrying fixed blades.

Phillip
Click to expand...
It might help you to practice carrying a fixed blade or work towards making one that is acceptable for you to carry. If you carry what you make, it will allow you to say, "One thing I don't like about this design is.." and it will make your future designs better.
 
I think it's pathetic that makers who have the ability to create fine knives won't carry their own product. When you tell people that you make knives that sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars because they perform exceptionally well, are made by hand with an extreme level of craftsmanship, and are worth every cent you charge, but when asked what you carry you pull out a mass produced inexpensive knife, the real message they are getting from you is a.) that Case, Kershaw, Spyderco, etc is a better knife than what you make, b.) you don't believe in what you make, c.) your prices and the justification for them being so high is a joke, and d.) you will come across as a hypocrite. The same is true for carrying a knife from another maker. I own several from makers I have known over the years and am proud to have them in my personal collection, but I don't carry them. I believe in what I make.

The first folder was made as a prototype for Gerber in the late 90s. I carried it until a year and a half ago when someone bought it out of my pocket. I then placed the second knife in my pocket and didn't have to go buy a factory knife. When someone asks what I carry, especially someone who is new to what we do, I can show him that I carry what I make.

David
 

Attachments

  • MakersKnife3.jpg
    MakersKnife3.jpg
    50.4 KB · Views: 183
  • IKBS-Proto2.jpg
    IKBS-Proto2.jpg
    82.1 KB · Views: 204
I make fixed blades, and I carry them whenever I can which is most of the time. Only when I am in a social environment do I sometimes have to settle for carrying only a folder.

By carrying my own I have a good way of advertising my product. My knives stand out from most knives, and people come up to me asking me what kind of knife that is on my belt. This has led to making sales and orders, and this advertising doesn't cost anything.
 
I carry the first damascus liner lock folder I ever made, its used almost every day and has been on many hunting and fishing trips. I use to carry one of my edc's a long time ago, but the folder conceals and I like that especially when I head out to Wal-mart and Lowes. My wife uses a chef's knife I made every day.

Bill
 
I carry mine own slipjoint. It has sandvik 19c27 stainless with PB HT and olive drab canvas scales. It doesnt see light duty and rubs car keys and pocket change all day. Pretty good confidence builder for me.
 
dbl-edge said:
I think it's pathetic that makers who have the ability to create fine knives won't carry their own product.
Click to expand...

C'mon, David- tell us what you really think!:p
You bring up some very salient points that I've thought myself, and your delivery of said points is refreshingly straight up:thumbup:.

However, people do like what they like, and if a knife maker likes to carry a factory knife, I'm not going to hold them to a higher standard when it comes to what they carry than I would hold myself, being a 'collector' of custom knives. I think, using the logic you've presented, it's just as weak to collect custom knives, and choose not to ever carry or use one. But like I said, people like what they like and I'm not one to judge:).
 
WOW David,
I'm going to say this as polite as I can.
1 The reason I don't carry my own knife is it is all I can do to keep up with the shows I do and obligations I have to fill orders when I tell people I will and in a timely manner.
2 You can kiss my " PATHETIC ASS "

Cliff Parker
 
dbl-edge said:
I think it's pathetic that makers who have the ability to create fine knives won't carry their own product. When you tell people that you make knives that sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars because they perform exceptionally well, are made by hand with an extreme level of craftsmanship, and are worth every cent you charge, but when asked what you carry you pull out a mass produced inexpensive knife, the real message they are getting from you is a.) that Case, Kershaw, Spyderco, etc is a better knife than what you make, b.) you don't believe in what you make, c.) your prices and the justification for them being so high is a joke, and d.) you will come across as a hypocrite. The same is true for carrying a knife from another maker. I own several from makers I have known over the years and am proud to have them in my personal collection, but I don't carry them. I believe in what I make.

The first folder was made as a prototype for Gerber in the late 90s. I carried it until a year and a half ago when someone bought it out of my pocket. I then placed the second knife in my pocket and didn't have to go buy a factory knife. When someone asks what I carry, especially someone who is new to what we do, I can show him that I carry what I make.

David
Click to expand...

Well, David. I've never been called pathetic. Pretty harsh there, man! I could almost turn that around the other way, almost.....

My wife has a half dozen of mine, my mother and father both have a few each. But when it comes to making one for myself, I just don't have time. Too many orders, too many show, not enough knives.
 
Lorien said:
C'mon, David- tell us what you really think!:p
You bring up some very salient points that I've thought myself, and your delivery of said points is refreshingly straight up:thumbup:.

However, people do like what they like, and if a knife maker likes to carry a factory knife, I'm not going to hold them to a higher standard when it comes to what they carry than I would hold myself, being a 'collector' of custom knives. I think, using the logic you've presented, it's just as weak to collect custom knives, and choose not to ever carry or use one. But like I said, people like what they like and I'm not one to judge:).
Click to expand...

I guess I don't like beating around the bush!

I own the first fly rod Ray Cover made. I also picked a new one from him at Blade, a 2 weight, and am itching to give it a try. It was priced at $1500. If Ray said this rod was excellent for smaller trout in the Missouri streams (where I do most of my fly fishing) but he himself fished with a cheapo fly rod from WalMart, how much confidence would I have that my new and expensive fly rod was worth the price? (It's a trade, but the principle still applies.) Because Ray fishes with his own rods I know it's a square deal.

Back around 20 years ago in the "what do you carry" column in Blade I read in the same issue that two very prominent makers, one an ABS MS and the other one of the greatest knifemakers known, carried low end factory knives. It certainly didn't say much for their work! At that time the forging vs. grinding wars were in full swing, especially in Blade, and hearing that a Mastersmith, whose work had been shown off in the "war", carried a couple of factory folders (and they weren't collaborations) showed me that the ABS was just BS and that that maker was just using it to make sales. It certainly didn't say he believed in his own words and his own knives! I've softened up in my thoughts on the ABS, but I still don't particularly respect that maker.

That's not to say that Spyderco, Buck, Kershaw and the other factories produce poor quality knives. But it does tell people outside our little custom knife universe that we are full of malarky when we ask our prices and won't even carry what we make. Maybe some makers don't think they need new customers because they are backordered by the same group of buyers they've had for years, but if we don't grow the customer base we stagnate, and that in turn becomes a negative growth.

I think Bruce Bump's carry knife is an excellent example of a maker carrying his own work. We all know Bruce makes outstanding upper end damascus pieces for the most part, and his pocket knife is a far cry from one of them. However, it's a serious working knife and more importantly it's one he made himself. He can tell people that it's a basic working knife but his high end pieces are made to the same standards. And it would say volumes to me as a maker who also adds a knife to his personal collection now and then, even if I never carried it.

I hold makers to a different standard than collectors. Collectors have a variety of knives to choose from, but makers only make their own "brand". I realize that some makers don't give a fat rat's behind, and neither do some collectors, but others do.

And Don, are you trying to say that I'm pathetic for believing in my own work enough to actually carry one? I'm glad your family has your knives to use. Seems if you have the time for them, you could squeeze in a knife for yourself. You're the one who is responsible for promoting your own work, not your family. I have orders and shows myself, and I've managed to make my wife a knife now and then, and also for myself.

The same applies to you, Cliff. I don't buy this "I'm too busy to make a knife for myself" line. It's bogus. I could easily take from your first statement that you only care about the money, but not about your product. I wouldn't have thought that true before, but . . . I could take from your second statement that you are in fact not as polite as you said you'd like to be.

I have bills to pay and family obligations like everyone else, but I still manage to promote what I do, and that includes carrying what I make.

David
 
And Don, are you trying to say that I'm pathetic for believing in my own work enough to actually carry one? I'm glad your family has your knives to use. Seems if you have the time for them, you could squeeze in a knife for yourself. You're the one who is responsible for promoting your own work, not your family. I have orders and shows myself, and I've managed to make my wife a knife now and then, and also for myself.
Click to expand...
David, not saying you are pathetic, said, "I could almost turn it around, almost" I have more respect for you than that. But your first post is full of insults toward Cliff and myself. That's all...

I'll put my knives up against anybody's and love building them. But I do also like factory traditional pocket knives.
 
David, you been hanging around Les too long, starting to sound like him :D

Seriously, you could have stated that you carry one of your knives and said why, without all the insults.
You don't like being called pathetic either, right? ;)
 
David,
Believe it. I am to busy and yes I do need the money. Have two classic cars to support and find time to work on also and I enjoy them as much as knives.
And yes that is as polite as I could be.
 
I tried for a good time to buy discontinued Lone Wolf T3. I really like big and robust knives. After much searching I could buy one at an auction on the internet. The scales are of fiberglass, titanium liners and S30V blade. It's big, strong, reliable, and indestructible! Do not know why the Lone Wolf stopped making it. It is an excellent knife and makes a great partnership with my pistol .40 S & W. I never leave home without carrying them.
Eduardo Berardo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top