Dave and all
This will probably fall on deaf ears, but:
I've spoken to Ernie about this very subject. I think the guy has made mistakes, but I also think he's a talented knife maker.
I have my opinions and observations on the backorder situation. Don't we all.
I'll tell you that I ordered a CQC6 before the BM deal was inked. I was quoted a delivery date that came and went. I was discouraged and dejected.
But here's the difference. I ordered the knife because I wanted it. I didn't order the knife to turn a profit. I'm curious how many of the estimated thousands of "customers" that are clogging the list are doing so for profit, not because they seek to keep the knife to use or for their personal collections. Look at some of the replies above.
Does he make his customs at a different location than the productions are made?
I haven't been to Ernie's shop. I couldn't tell you about the production facilities. Sorry.
I can tell you that I spoke in depth to Ernie about the upcoming C/P project. Someone out there
(wonder who) started rumors that the price of customs is going to drop through the floor once the "Custom/Productions" are released. The C/P models are simply Ala cart built production knives. A better term for them would be "Individualized Production Knives". There still only production knives, just prettier.
The custom versus production logos. I'll try to shed some light. There are several generations of Custom logos. An explanation of the older logos can be found
here.
And if you recall, there did seem to be some at a NY Show last year with the production and custom logos.
As for the situation your speaking of. You obviously know that production pieces are logoed with the EKI logo. When a new production knife is introduced, there are usually some hand ground "Pre Production Prototypes". These in the past have been logoed as customs, as they are hand ground. As an example, I have a
PPP Commander that has a Specwar (custom) logo. Up through the 2000 Atlanta Blade show this was the case. (example,
PPP Damascus CQC7B). This changed recently and PPP models are currently being marked with the EKI logo. (example,
PPP Damascus Commander) I spoke with Mary Emerson about the change in policy and was told that as the PPP models were not full customs, the decision was made that they would now receive production logos. The blades are hand ground by Ernie, but the bodies are off the production line.
I know from firsthand experience that guys like Bob Terzuola, John W Smith, Darrell Ralph, etc, dont mind me asking any questions of how their knives are made.
Personally I've found Ernie to be very open and forthcoming with any questions that I have asked.
As to the wait. I'm trying to think of a . . . tactful way to put this. Ernie's quoted wait time has been three years+ since at least 1995. There was a reference to an 18 month wait in the Spring 1996 issue of "Tactical Knives". The wait had lengthened between when the interview occurred and the article was printed.
In my opinion, Ernie should have cut off orders years ago. Customers have an expectation that when they are quoted a delivery time, they should get their knives. As I posted earlier in this string, more then one maker has had to do that to keep their wait down and their customer (at least the ones on the list) happy.
While I was waiting on my CQC6, I ordered and received quit a few customs. Most of which I love every bit as much as my CQC6.
The origin of this string was should OKG stick it out or tell Ernie to stuff it. My best advice to everyone with a knife on order, "Stick it out", you'll get a great knife. If your in it to turn a profit, bow out. The folks that actually want knives behind you will appreciate it.
By the way, I still own my
CQC6.
Hope this helps
John
