Les Robertson
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 10, 1998
- Messages
- 3,565
We are talking about this in the Custom Knife forum.
There are blurred areas right now. The word custom is used two different ways in custom knives right now.
First, the literal definition of the word. The other refers to a category "custom knives". Sorry folks, it's been around for 30 years and it's here to stay.
Is something a custom knife? As a starting point I would check with the US Knifemakers Guild (or the Guild in your country). For instance, while Chris Reeve is a member of the Guild, he is not allowed to display any of his current line of knives (whether they have a custom clip or no clip (custom job).
The Sebenza is now considered a factory knife (true a very small and gifted factory, but a factory just the same).
Some one mentioned LDC as benchmade knife. No, they are not. While the knives may have some of the parts laser cut, the maker still grinds, drills, fits and assemble's each knife. THE MAKER, not a helper. This is a custom knife.
This is the main difference between a Reeve and say Carson, Crawford and Elishewtiz. Chris no longer does any work on the knife.
For my part it seems the majority of the people who are confused about what is and is not a custom knife are those who deal mostly in factory/production items.
This I think is due in large part to the fact that factories try and capatilize on the Custom aspect.
Go to the for sale section of this forum, you will see titles such as Emerson, Viele and Elishewitz for sale. Once you go there you find they are talking about a Benchmade, Spyderco and Benchmade knife.
Why is it they don't list it as such. Mostly, I belive they are trying to confuse the buyer with misleading information.
Afterall if you deal, collect and use Factory/production, why not tell people what it is up front. How stupid do you think people are? How many of you think it is a custom knife when you see a price tag of under $100? I would bet that there is not a member of this forum that for one minute would think that is a custom/handmade knife.
If you ever have a question about what is a custom knife, please feel free to contact me.
------------------
Les Robertson
Moderator
Robertson's Custom Cutlery
http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/rcc/makers.shtml
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
There are blurred areas right now. The word custom is used two different ways in custom knives right now.
First, the literal definition of the word. The other refers to a category "custom knives". Sorry folks, it's been around for 30 years and it's here to stay.
Is something a custom knife? As a starting point I would check with the US Knifemakers Guild (or the Guild in your country). For instance, while Chris Reeve is a member of the Guild, he is not allowed to display any of his current line of knives (whether they have a custom clip or no clip (custom job).
The Sebenza is now considered a factory knife (true a very small and gifted factory, but a factory just the same).
Some one mentioned LDC as benchmade knife. No, they are not. While the knives may have some of the parts laser cut, the maker still grinds, drills, fits and assemble's each knife. THE MAKER, not a helper. This is a custom knife.
This is the main difference between a Reeve and say Carson, Crawford and Elishewtiz. Chris no longer does any work on the knife.
For my part it seems the majority of the people who are confused about what is and is not a custom knife are those who deal mostly in factory/production items.
This I think is due in large part to the fact that factories try and capatilize on the Custom aspect.
Go to the for sale section of this forum, you will see titles such as Emerson, Viele and Elishewitz for sale. Once you go there you find they are talking about a Benchmade, Spyderco and Benchmade knife.
Why is it they don't list it as such. Mostly, I belive they are trying to confuse the buyer with misleading information.
Afterall if you deal, collect and use Factory/production, why not tell people what it is up front. How stupid do you think people are? How many of you think it is a custom knife when you see a price tag of under $100? I would bet that there is not a member of this forum that for one minute would think that is a custom/handmade knife.
If you ever have a question about what is a custom knife, please feel free to contact me.
------------------
Les Robertson
Moderator
Robertson's Custom Cutlery
http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/rcc/makers.shtml
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.