What is the lifetime of a good custom folder?

C

Cliff Stamp

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Specifically the lock? Lets put the price in the $275 - $375 range. The reason I ask is basically because of this :

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum29/HTML/000803.html

It does not seem reasonable to me that a lock give out in such a short period of time. And paying $100 ever couple of years seems an excessive upkeep. Is it something to be expected of custom folders similar in price to the Sebenza?

-Cliff
 
I find it very hard to put a chronological figure on the life expectency of a knife. It is much more dependent on the amount and type of use it has seen over that time. Kind of like asking how long a car should last without taking into consideration the mileage.

As the owner of a Sebenza, this thread was particularly interesting to me. I have owned mine for 18 months and if anything it has only gotten smoother. This knife was a daily carry for over a year and while never used to extremes, it did everything I typically ask a folder to do. It was used a lot and cycled twice as much just for the sake of doing it. Yeah, I even flicked it open some
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If it was to develope blade play at this point, I would be slightly discouraged but I would also realize that I have gotten a lot of use out of it. The $100 figure quoted also included a replacement (almost new) blade. I would consider this a deal and look forward to my next 18 months.

I find it funny that no one seems to question a maker when they charge them for reconditioning one of their knives (I guess this is because it is their choice to have the work done), but are appalled when charged for a repair due to wear. I would guarantee that when the knife is returned it will look like NEW. What does CRK charge for a complete reconditioning?

I guess what I am trying to say is that I expect things to wear when used. I have a 3 yr. old BM mini-Stryker that has been through quite a bit. If it fell apart tomorrow would I go and tell everyone what a piece of crap it was? No, I would proudly set it aside as it had served me well. What would be sad is that I was never given the opportunity to have it reconditioned
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This is part of what separates customs from most production knives. If it wears out you can have it fixed. The knives that you come to love, do not have to be set aside when they begin to show their age with less than perfect function. You have the chance to make them new again even if it does come with a price.



[This message has been edited by blademan 13 (edited 01-10-2001).]
 
Cliff: First off, you are not discussing a custom knife-the Sebenza is a factory knife.
I would not charge $100 to repair one of my folders in such a manner.

Maybe this should be a factor in which knives people invest in.

RJ Martin
 
I should have clarifed, I don't think the Sebenza is a custom. I posted here because I wanted to know the expectations of custom folders from those that use them as well as the thoughts of those that make them.

-Cliff
 
I bought a well used Sebenza back in March. Before I recieved it, the previous owner shipped it to CRK for a refurb. I paid $75 out the door for the refurb work. A little much, but it is a factory knife and factories are all about pushing knives out the door.

I would not expect the same thing from a custom maker. Fair or not, I psychologically hold them to a higher standard. I don't think I'm alone here.

To address RJ Martin's comment. I think people would have to be fools to "invest" in production knives. I highly doubt the value of a Sebenza (for example) would ever be greater than it's original price. Custom knives on the other hand do sometimes increase in value.

I think a well engineered, well built custom knife should outlast a factory folder. But really, if I need to beat on a knife, it's not going to be a custom.

~Mitch

------------------
My Hobby Page
 
Blademan 13 is right on the money. Time does almost nothing to your folder, usage does. You can keep a POS in your sock drawer and it will last longer than the SIQ (Sebenza in question) which gets used daily.

Regarding replacement cost. It's utterly up to Chris Reeve what to charge. An integral lock is naturally more costly to replace than a little piece of titanium for a liner lock. That this has to happen every couple of years is the one-in-a-million exeption from the experience we all made with high end folders no matter if production or custom. I expect my folders to last quite a time since I use fixed blades for the more heavy duty stuff.

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited 01-10-2001).]
 
Cliff in your hands I would say about a week. Like already said depends on the useage.
 
I'm with db. Any maker that reads the Forums and is familiar with how you treat knives and sells you a knife, needs to have their head examined.
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This really surprises me about a frame lock knife. Wouldn't surprise me at all with a conventional liner lock. I've owned maybe half a dozen hand made liner lock folders, and three of them had to go back to the maker for tuning or liner replacement within a month of delivery. That's 50% for the arithmetically challenged. That is with zero inertial openings. My disregard for the Walker lock is almost absolute, but if one made it three years with perfect service under normal hard use (say as a hunting, camping, utility knife), without needing tuning or replacement, I would be pretty impressed.
 
about as long as it takes you to put it in a vise. The sebenza on the other hand should last for many many years.....if not...it should be fixed for FREE!
 
In my humble opinion, the lock should outlast the blade. I use a carry knife up in a year or less, whether it be a fixed blade or folder. I demand razor sharpness in my knife and don't balk at any chore. If I had really deep pockets I might select one of those $300 knives for everyday use. I doubt it though, my sensiblities would be affronted. Knives are tools and are made to be used up and tooling wears out if you use it. I am not putting down the art knives, but they have no place in the field, particularly if you wish to retain their value.

Ted Frizzell
MMHW
 
That is interesting Steve - maybe you're picking the wrong ones! I've gotten about 15 custom liner-locks over the last 5-6 years from Allen E., Kit, Darrel, Rob Simonich, Crawford, Larry Chew, Deryk Munroe and never had a problem with any of them regardless of the usage - they all locked up solid from day 1 and still do. A poorly made/designed liner-lock can be bad but there are a lot of exceptional ones out there that will provide years of use - liner-locks aren't inherently bad - they are just harder to get right than integrals. To answer Cliff's question, some of mine are going on 5-6 years and are doing great.

Bill
 
As db and PhilL said, anyone who sells this guy a knife is crazy. Knives are not axes or prybars. Custom folders that are used and not abused should last a lifetime. The makers that I deal with all fix a linerlock problem for free(of course they are entitled to the cost of shipping).
As has been said, the sebenza is not a custom or handmade knife. It is however, a good and serviceable production knife.
Folks, as long as we keep answering posts from this knife abuser, it gives him credibilty and will keep him posting.
 
This problem has never occurred to me. I carry a Terzuola ATCF and open it at least two or three times daily. Every day for the past year its been opened, occasionally flicked open, and used without any looseness at all. Frankly, I don't expect it to need replacement ever. But if it does, I'm positive Bob will take care of it for a modest sum, just as RJ, and a host of other makers would do. Thats why buying a custom knife for $350 - $450 is a bargain compared to production knives.
 
Steve,
The only custom liner lock that I have had 3 or more years is my old ATCF. It's going on 5 years of solid use[ with alot of flicking], and still locking up tight as a drum. Bob T knows what he is doing.

I have recently aquired a Carson that has the same "feel" about the lock, and I have total confidence that it will last the long haul.

There are good liner locks out there, sometime in production knives, sometimes in customs. You just have to look for them.

------------------
Stay Sharp!
Will Fennell
Camillus Cutlery
www.camillusknives.com

[This message has been edited by Will Fennell (edited 01-19-2001).]
 
I never even considered that I could wear out a custom liner lock.

My every day carry, a Kit Carson #18 with Ti scales and a Talonite (r) blade is something I expect to hand down to my kids when I get too feeble to use a knife.
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Eldest daughter was impatient, so I gave her one of her own. She loves it. Walt
 
I purchased a small Sebenza from Chris in 1995 and carried it off an on most of that time, stopping to try others. I use the knife for what ever needs to be done at the time plus I open and close it while sitting around watching t.v. or what ever. I probably open and close the knife 20, 30, or 40 times a day without even thinking about it. It has never failed and seems to only get better.

Now on the other hand I purchased a custom liner lock from another maker, a well known and respected custom maker, and carried it for a short time opening and closing it the same as the Sebenza but never using the cutting edge. With in a week or two the lock began to not lock up unless I opened it quickly, allowing the lock to "pop" over into the back of the blade where it would catch and stop.

Needless to say I went back to the Sebenza and the other knife remains in my knife cabinet.

My hat is off to Chris in providing a great tool and constant companion.
 
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