What do makers carry?

I am just a hobbyist knifemaker, not a fulltime $3k per knife type of guy, and as my real job, does not permit knives, I carry a Gerber folding utility knife (with replaceable blade) or a Leatherman. I also carry my own stuff, normally a sub 6" fixed blade, and if I am out in no mans land, my 12" camp knife.
Good Question by the way!
Zach
www.zachtateknives.com
 
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I carry one of my own occasionally, but since I don't have a folder out I can only carry my fixed blades on my property. Lately I've been carrying a Kershaw Volt or a Shallot. Only issues with either blade is the lack of grip on the handles.
 
I only make fixed blades; and I really just do this for fun. Where I live I can't carry a fixed blade.

That said - I carry a Spyderco P'kal and an s90v Military. I always have my messenger bag with me when I leave home in the morning; I always have a Victorinox Spirit (and other goodies) in the bag.

I do currently have a 4.5 inch long 50100-b, fully convex, zero ground, homemade hemp-micarta handled puuko next to the shifter in my car. I made that one....
 
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I try to self promote, but I also like to carry productions ( nothing made in communist china:thumbdn: ) and stuff made by friends. One thing I am never without is on of my Titanium pocket combs. It makes for a engaging conversation when presented to someone. For folders I pack one of my 1911 TDT ( Take Down Tools ) which I have been packing for about 2 years, and I am anything but easy on this poor knife. If I have one available ( always sold out ) I like to also carry a SARclops fixed blade which seems to appeal to lots of people.

There was a time I did not carry anything, maybe a production slipjoint. I found in that case I personally presented a pretty weak statement that I was a full time knife maker.

Comb

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SARclops

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1911 TDT framelock

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Personally, I think it reflects poorly on a custom maker who carries a production knife over a custom. What message is he sending to the public? It doesn't bother me too much that a maker carries/uses another makers knife. Many do so for various reasons, i.e. to support the maker, or perhaps they don't make folders themselves etc. Those that claim that they don't have time to make themselves a knife, you can always pick one up on the secondary market. Growing up in northeast Ohio many of my friends, relatives worked in the auto industry. If you worked at a GM facility, you better buy GM cars. You won't see anything else in the parking lots. If you did, it didn't last long. If you are in the custom knife business, then I think you should support it.
Bob
 
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Don't make folders yet, but I rotate a few modified production folders along with standard production models.

I personally don't have a problem with what people choose to carry, I'm sure everyone has their own reasons ... to each their own. :)
 
Starkman1 said:
Personally, I think it reflects poorly on a custom maker who carries a production knife over a custom. What message is he sending to the public? It doesn't bother me too much that a maker carries/uses another makers knife. Many do so for various reasons, i.e. to support the maker, or perhaps they don't make folders themselves etc. Those that claim that they don't have time to make themselves a knife, you can always pick one up on the secondary market. Growing up in northeast Ohio many of my friends, relatives worked in the auto industry. If you worked at a GM facility, you better buy GM cars. You won't see anything else in the parking lots. If you did, it didn't last long. If you are in the custom knife business, then I think you should support it.
Bob
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Bob,
I'm Sorry people find it so hard to believe that a person doesn't have the time to make there self a knife but it is so. As far as buying one on the secondary market goes I choose to spend my hard earned money on something beside knives I find that spending some time on something beside knives keeps me motivated and looking forward to get back in the shop. As far as supporting the custom knife business carrying your own does not make that so. I fell supporting knife organizations does however and this I do.
All the best
Cliff Parker
 
Bob,
I should have also stated that I don't have alot of money and can't afford to buy a
$1000 plus knife to put in my pocket. I collected for a few years before I started making and spent every dime I could on knives and even Than I could not afford to put A knife like that in my pocket. Let alone the fact that I lost 2 or 3 knives in the last year or two and it took about an hour and $40 to get over it. I would still be kicking and screaming if I had lost one of my own.
All hobbies are cool as long as no one gets hurt by them so please dont hold it against me because I choose old corvettes over knives.
Cliff
 
Hi Cliff,
Not to worry, I may have my opinion, but I certainly don't hold anything against you or others that wish to carry production knives:D.
Bob
 
the only maker that ive asked that very same question to gave me this as a reply: "my knives are too expensive for me to carry".. he is a master smith and makes all high end very well made prong horn style knives, swords, kitchen knives and folders..

I personally carry everything I make(along with a spidey enduro 2 FRN) ... just because I am not comfortable selling or showing what I make yet. I do that ot test my progression as a new maker.I am learning from this master smith and have a very high bench mark set that I know I havent met yet. I love carrying all of my knives and using them as well.

I dont think carrying a production knife while being a maker is a bad thing or seen as pathetic. It shows that I have a good opnion of that company and would strongly recommend to any person as a viable option to a custom knife.

my 2 cents.
 
I figure makers are knifenuts like the rest of us. A maker may carry his own wares, but I don't begrudge him one bit if he wants to carry another maker's knife or even a factory blade. Let's take Don Hanson for example. I know he grew up selling Case knives in his family's shop. It's not hard to imagine him having a CV sodbuster in his pocket. He's also mentioned being a fan of Tony Bose. Would you blame him for wanting to carry one of Tony's Swaybacks? I didn't think so.

I don't think it means anything if a knifemaker carries knives other than the ones he makes. It would make me think though if that maker never carried one of his own knives.
 
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Kamagong, Thank you!

I have carried my own folders in the past, just found one that has seen a lot of use, made 15+ years ago. I use a hunter I made, just don't carry it every day, no need to. And like I said, I have a half dozen kitchen knives we use that I also made.

But I still like Case knives, CV carbon only, no stainless steel. And I will carry them! :D
 
kamagong said:
Would you blame him for wanting to carry one of Tony's Swaybacks?
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Or maybe even one of the 2 (mind you, two!) of the ones he won at BLADE this year. :eek: :thumbup: :p
I don't see how anyone could blame you for carrying a Bose slippie.
 
I can't think of any makers I know personnally except Bill Burke who carry one of their own knives daily. I carry a V&D double action daily, a Wade Colter saddle back folder at knife shows and a Bill Burke 52100 pronghorn when hunting. I believe the majoraty of well known knife makers do not carry their own knives and that is just fine with me as a collector and maker.
Gary
 
Different strokes for everyone. I have a little Swiss army knife on my key chain, and sometimes I carry my favorite great uncle's little folder that he carried for much of his life :).

But under the seat of my van is my own mosaic damascus Bowie with ornate guard, butt cap & filework, and a super stag carver I hand picked for myself. It has a hand-sewn Paul Long-style sheath with Nile Crocodile inlay. When I'm in the field it is always on my belt. Needless to say, it's seen some usage. On my table it would fetch $2300. I carried my own knives for twelve years in the Amazon rainforest and all points between. I trust my work and I use my knives personally. My choice.

Point being? When someone asks you, "So, you make knives? Can I see one?", what do you show them? I've always called this my three dimensional business card. And I've sold my personal-use knives on several occasions. What do I do then? Cash the check and make myself a new, better, cooler one. That's why I make knives. I love doing it! It's also why I don't do it for a living. It's not my job and until I retire, it will remain a hobby. A very sophisticated hobby with real money involved, but still a hobby.

We all have different reasons for what we do. Bills to pay and time we'll never get back. Carry what you want. Someone once asked Bill Moran why he carried a big Bowie knife. His reply? "Because it's fun!"

Cheers,

TV

Terry Vandeventer
ABS MS
 
Wolfjohn said:
I carried this small damascus sheath knife for a few years, it's just under 7 inches long total, fits in my pocket just right. I keep it hair popping sharp and use it on just about everything from opening letters to peeling an apple. This little dude has served me well........and in my other pocket..I carry a Emerson A100...why?...CUZ I LIKE IT. :)

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I was just gonna make a thread asking if anyone actually carries or gives a damascus blade a decent amount of use. I know they're expensive to make, I'd be really worried about losing one, and because they look amazing I figured they'd spend a lot of time on display.
 
It doesn't matter much to me whether a maker carries his own, another maker's or a production knife because people choose the knife they carry for all sorts of reasons. Perhaps for sentimental reasons or even that it simply feels good or fits just right in the pocket.
I carry two production knives the most because they were both given to me by good friends so they mean a lot to me.

It bothers me more when makers don't subscribe to knife magazines, don't join knife organizations, don't participate in knife benefit projects and bitch about everything positive others do. You know, the old take, take, take but never give back syndrome.

So what if Don doesn't carry a Hanson knife, the man supports custom knives in every way he can. There's certainly others who don't.
 
really enjoyed your post, Terry.
 
I rotate between one of my friction folders and a small fixed blade carried in my back pocket. I like to carry and use my own on a daily basis. It lets me know if I need to change or improve on anything.
Scott
 
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