What do makers carry?

[couchknives]

i carry an old kit knife i built. i can't afford one of my knives lol

 

[Cliff Parker]

Well, Goodmorning All,

After alot of thought I have come to the conclusion I have no business on this forum. It just seems to often to bring out the worst in people. To much testosterone. Even me I find myself saying things that is just not me. I like to think I grew out of that because I much more enjoy getting along with people. Custom knife industry is way to small as it is for us sitting around bad mouthing each other. What word does that send? I think much worse than the fact I carry a case pocket knife.

I do think that Brownshoes post said it all. As far as the amount of pages and post goes like it or not Kevin's comment was dead on. Auguring and controversy always bring people out. Sad to say but that's what brought me to this forum in the first place.

Best example I can give about all the negativity that is said on some of these threads is bad mouthing Don Hanson in 12 years I have never known him to do anything but help anyone with anything they ever asked and to call him pathetic or to say in any way shape or form say he does not support the knife industry. Give me a break.

Well now that I have stuck my foot in my mouth again I'm gona close. I hope that I have not pissed off any collectors so bad that they wont stop by my table and take a look at my work at the next show we both happen to be at. I do make a pretty fair folder or if not to look at my work have a friendly conversation.

All the Best
Cliff

 

[RogerP]

I carry a fixed EDC of my own making most of the time. But-

1: I carry my own made EDCs to test and beat on, and often sell them to regular customers. it's fun, and forces me to carry a new one. So I'm occasionally without one.....

Don't be shy, let's see a pic.

Roger

 

[RogerP]

I do think that Brownshoes post said it all. As far as the amount of pages and post goes like it or not Kevin's comment was dead on. Auguring and controversy always bring people out. Sad to say but that's what brought me to this forum in the first place.

It would be regrettable for you to bail on the forum over something like this, but of course, it's your choice to make. Nobody is forced to participate in any forum or any thread, for that matter. When I find a thread not to my interest or not to my liking, I generally choose not to participate rather than engage in pseudo-moderator chastising of thread participants. If someone takes what I feel is an inapproriate shot at me, I am capable of addressing that myself without calling into question the merits of the thread or the forum itself.

Arguing and controversy aren't necessarily bad things - though I do dispute the suggestion that this thread has offered nothing but. Some issues regarding custom knives are contentious. In the grand scheme of things, I don't really see this as one of the biggies - or even close, for that matter. But it has been an issue worth discussing for those who chose to express their views. It has raised awareness of the issue for those who were previously unaware that it even could be described as an issue.

The candid expression of opinions will invariably lead to feathers occasionally getting ruffled. But I will accept that as the price of free exchange versus some enforced Happy Valley construct where every comment is as positive as it is predictable.

And let me just conclude that if you believe that the net result of this thread has harmed the reptation of Don Hanson in any way, you are seeing things VERY differently from me. Indeed, you may just be seeing what you want to see. You can't seem to see anything in this thread beynd the use of the term "pathetic" by one participant. That's a narrow view, to say the very least. Though I don't doubt that you will find support in your view from the very people you have implicitly called on for same.

Roger

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

And let me just conclude that if you believe that the net result of this thread has harmed the reptation of Don Hanson in any way, you are seeing things VERY differently from me. Indeed, you may just be seeing what you want to see.

I agree 100% , I didn't see any "bashing" of any one person , I didnt get the impression Don was being singled out.

It's just discussion folks , nothing to get totally bent over , and certainly not worthy of walking away from a forum over , here there is great information , topics , discussion and yes even debate.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Very well said, Cliff! Thanks for the good words. You also have been nothing but help to
all who ask, a hell of a folder maker, funny as hell, and a hell of a good friend!

Could this be why more makers don't participate here?

I'm off to the shop!

 

[Jon Brand]

Cliff, you are right it can get nasty here. I wanna say that your one of the nicest guys and one of my favorites in this whole game. Yes you make a great folder but your an amazing dude. Hope you stick around. If not, see ya in NY and we'll be in touch.

 

[dfarmerknives]

For fixed blades I carry what I make. I have a few I like to rotate through. For camping, I only carry my blades, camp size and choppers. I like to do evaluations of the quality. I also like to carry a few pieces from Al Polkowski.

For folders, I swap through Spyderco Tenacious and Endura, Bradley Alias I and a Martin Knives of Texas "Tejas Folder".

 

[Don Hanson III]

One more thing. Roger and John, thanks, I didn't feel in anyway singled out. But it was said that my carrying a production knife does not support the custom knife industry. I do not agree! I can also see how Cliff came to the conclusion he did.

Now I'm off to the shop

 

[RogerP]

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.

My most-used fixed blade is a damscus MS hunter / utility. See earlier post with pics.

Roger

 

[Lorien]

I think that there is a large group of newer makers who could really benefit from most of the content of this thread.

And what can I say? I've been at the receiving end more than once, and I'm still here and better for it.

 

[RogerP]

One more thing. Roger and John, thanks, I didn't feel in anyway singled out. But it was said that my carrying a production knife does not support the custom knife industry. I do not agree! I can also see how Cliff came to the conclusion he did.

Now I'm off to the shop

Don - just to clarify my position - I've not ever suggested you don't support the custom knife industry in general. I have suggested that a custom maker carrying a production knife sends a mixed message to a potential customer looking to transition from factory to custom and struggling with the "is it worth it?" question. I stand by that position. But I don't confuse my perception with intractable universal laws of general application. Others may have different views and are welcome to express them, as some here did. Those views are valid for all to consider and to take from the sum total that portion which they find to be of value.

And as I alluded to in a previous post - your market position is such that my point doesn't really apply to you anyway. A guy who has never owned anything but factory knives and is thinking about purchasing his very first custom slippie is probably NOT looking at a Hanson any more than he is looking at a Bose - it's too big a jump in cost.

Conversely, if he is looking to make such a knife his first custom purchase, it's because he has already caught the custom bug in a seriously big way and wants to go right to the top of the heap with his first buy.

I've seen both scenarios play out over the years and expect that you have, too.

Roger

 

[dbl-edge]

After alot of thought I have come to the conclusion I have no business on this forum.
Cliff

Since I seem to be the one who started the storm here I'll make a few points. First, Cliff, I wasn't singling you or Don or anyone else out with my original comment. My reference was to the situation, not you specifically. I thought I cleared that up with another post, as did a couple of other guys (and the back channel email comments seemed to back that up) but you've hung on to that one comment as if I'd called your mother something dirty! Go back and read the whole thread and maybe it will be clearer.

We are supposed to be professional knifemakers, especially us full time guys. (Yes, Les, for all his faults, is right on this point.) It's my opinion that a professional maker needs to carry his own work. People have mentioned new car dealers, etc. Hell, why buy a Chevy truck from a salesman who drives a Ford, or a Harley from a guy who rides a BMW? Of for that matter, someone who sells Case knives in his store but has a Buck on his belt? As Roger pointed out, we're sending a bad message to people when we carry knives other than our own, and I would add to that carrying cheaper inferior knives especially when we make the claims most of us do about our knives and ask the prices we do. But perhaps "pathetic" was too strong a word. Maybe I should have said "unprofessional" or "apathetic" or "maybe I just don't give a s**t what anyone thinks". Some makers have more work than they can handle from established buyers so they don't think they have to care (even though they should), but some of do care and want to see the custom knife industry grow.

As for hurting Hanson's career, that's ridiculous! Don could use a dried up piece of Labrador Retriever poop and sell it! I kinda assumed you were in that same category, Cliff. But maybe I'm mistaken about you two. Perhaps Don was right, you two should have a 3 way knife collaboration. Buy up a bunch of broken old yellow handled Case folders, make some damascus blades and slap them in. I just thought ya'll were doing work that was a few steps beyond Case. But if you don't think so, who am I to argue?

That's enough for now.

David

 

[brownshoe]

Sorry, "unprofessional" or "apathetic" is still rude. Why must you suck the fun out of this thread?

 

[koyote]

yikes.

Seriously, I thought maybe Cliff was over reacting, but this is a bit much.


Roger- I'll dig through photos here and try to get all 4 of the shop knives up. And my own maple sgian dubh.

I am thinking on this thread and I do believe I'll try and find at least a new maker who is assembling folder kits or customizing SAKs or something - sounds like a good idea (as much as I like a Boker congress, I can't afford a custom one right now)

 

[gthouse]

I would love to own a Don Hanson or Cliff Parker but I don't think I would want my handle made from dog poop. Maybe fossilized mammoth poop if it comes in blue.
Hang in there Cliff. Love your hamons Don
Gary

 

[LRosi]

My everyday carry is a Gayle Bradley Spyderco CPM-M4.I'm tuff on pocket knives and this thing is a tank of a knife.When outdoors I carry one of my own knives,but alot of times I end up coming home without my knife someone likes it more than me$ .

 

[Gossman Knives]

These are the two fixed blades I rotate carrying.
Scott

 

[wyattT]

if you make art knives would it be reasonable to take them if you ere planning on cutting drywall and shingles? or to a survival school? i think not.

unless a maker is a generalist, i dont see how one makers knives could be the best tool for every situation

 

[RogerP]

if you make art knives would it be reasonable to take them if you ere planning on cutting drywall and shingles? or to a survival school? i think not.

unless a maker is a generalist, i dont see how one makers knives could be the best tool for every situation

I think that the "carry your own" commentary clearly doesn't apply to art daggers and suchlike. The context was using knives - hunters, utilities, camp knives, slippies and kitchen knives were mentioned.

Roger