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- Oct 4, 1998
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This got started in another thread and the insight was building up well.
Makers, when you are about to push yourself into a releatively new area (I.E. "adding another rung" - see below. How do you decide and what influences the decision?
Collectors, when you are considering that new knife other than the trust that you have with the maker what else influences the decison on who to ask and what to ask for. I am talking about that special knife here, it does not have to cost thousands it just has to be what you want.
I am adding some food for thought from the other thread:
_______________________________________
It's great to see the makers of high end knives offer something in the lower priced range to give the little guy a chance.
Wouldn't it be sweet if the idea caught on and there was a working mans Walker or Lake that wasn't made by spyderco.
One knifemaker that comes to mind that makes lower priced versions of his higher priced knives is Ron Newton. His $2000 knives can be ordered in a plain model for $500.
That's another thing I like about new(er) makers...why pay $500 (+) for a plain "field" model, when you can have it all for $400 - $750? Though it would be cool to own a true Walker knife. However, I guess, if you can afford it, or are such a hard core "collector," spitting out $3,000 (+) for a knife is no big deal...but I can't see using or even carrying such an animal...kinda takes the fun out of it.
TO EACH, HIS OWN!!!
Ummm, Jackyl, which new (or experienced) maker produces Anything like a knife made by Tim Herman with all the bells and whistles for $400 to $750? I would be very interested to learn about such a maker. Tim's offer to make a limited number of plain slivers (standard fluted model starting at $1500 and increasing in price very rapidy depending on inlays and carving) in a 'working' version is greatly appreciated. I also would never carry a $1500 knife.
But I do like Tim's work. I will gladly pay $650 to own a plain version of his knife. And I Will carry the knife and use it. I agree with your sentiment: to each, his own. I plan to own a Tim Herman knife a lot sooner than I thought I might.
Tom and Paracelsus "stole my thunder" on this one". Makers with a "name" got there for a reason (actually more than one). I get excited when someone like Tim offers their work at an introductory level.
I stay away from the newer stuff unless I get the feeling that they are a rising star.
I look at quality as well as the makers attitude (call it passion if you will)towards their professionm to make my determination. If I see a lot of hype, I get out my 10 foot pole. Everything else being equal, I would rather purchase one work from a master, before 5 or 6 from someone unknown to me.(In 5 or 6 years most of those unknowns would be gone from knifemaking, but as Jackyl says to each their own. (The world would be a boring place if everyone shared my opinions.)
It is a rare happening when a person with a year or two of experience can deliver with the consistancy of some one who has "been there done that", made those mistakes, learned from those mistakes and have had the input from their contempories over time no matter what the field of endeavor.
Interesting where this is going.
Like Gus said, Mr. Herman is where he is for a reason. And it ain't because he's cute. He's at the top of the ladder in quality and design. Just when we think they are about to top out, they just add on another rung. While us new guys at the first few steps keep nipping at there butts pushing ourselves and those above us. Some of us (very few) will make it up there as long as there are makers and buyers at each level. The guys at the top need the guys at the bottom, the guys at the bottom can't continue without the guys at the top. The same is true from the buying side. Need knives at all price ranges and styles. We slam the cheap lookalikes, but the ladder needs them. We need guys like Tim to keep making the ladder higher.
Interesting how capitalism works. I love this country.
quote:
Originally posted by Gus Kalanzis:
as Jackyl says to each their own. (The world would be a boring place if everyone shared my opinions.)
The custom knife community definitely needs both Jackyls and Gus's.
If not for the folks buying knives from new unknown makers, new makers might never get a chance to make a name for themselves. If not for the folks who are able to shell out big bucks for top name makers, the new makers wouldn't have as much of an incentive to make it big time.
[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 04-13-2000).]
Makers, when you are about to push yourself into a releatively new area (I.E. "adding another rung" - see below. How do you decide and what influences the decision?
Collectors, when you are considering that new knife other than the trust that you have with the maker what else influences the decison on who to ask and what to ask for. I am talking about that special knife here, it does not have to cost thousands it just has to be what you want.
I am adding some food for thought from the other thread:
_______________________________________
It's great to see the makers of high end knives offer something in the lower priced range to give the little guy a chance.
Wouldn't it be sweet if the idea caught on and there was a working mans Walker or Lake that wasn't made by spyderco.
One knifemaker that comes to mind that makes lower priced versions of his higher priced knives is Ron Newton. His $2000 knives can be ordered in a plain model for $500.
That's another thing I like about new(er) makers...why pay $500 (+) for a plain "field" model, when you can have it all for $400 - $750? Though it would be cool to own a true Walker knife. However, I guess, if you can afford it, or are such a hard core "collector," spitting out $3,000 (+) for a knife is no big deal...but I can't see using or even carrying such an animal...kinda takes the fun out of it.
TO EACH, HIS OWN!!!
Ummm, Jackyl, which new (or experienced) maker produces Anything like a knife made by Tim Herman with all the bells and whistles for $400 to $750? I would be very interested to learn about such a maker. Tim's offer to make a limited number of plain slivers (standard fluted model starting at $1500 and increasing in price very rapidy depending on inlays and carving) in a 'working' version is greatly appreciated. I also would never carry a $1500 knife.
But I do like Tim's work. I will gladly pay $650 to own a plain version of his knife. And I Will carry the knife and use it. I agree with your sentiment: to each, his own. I plan to own a Tim Herman knife a lot sooner than I thought I might.
Tom and Paracelsus "stole my thunder" on this one". Makers with a "name" got there for a reason (actually more than one). I get excited when someone like Tim offers their work at an introductory level.
I stay away from the newer stuff unless I get the feeling that they are a rising star.
I look at quality as well as the makers attitude (call it passion if you will)towards their professionm to make my determination. If I see a lot of hype, I get out my 10 foot pole. Everything else being equal, I would rather purchase one work from a master, before 5 or 6 from someone unknown to me.(In 5 or 6 years most of those unknowns would be gone from knifemaking, but as Jackyl says to each their own. (The world would be a boring place if everyone shared my opinions.)
It is a rare happening when a person with a year or two of experience can deliver with the consistancy of some one who has "been there done that", made those mistakes, learned from those mistakes and have had the input from their contempories over time no matter what the field of endeavor.
Interesting where this is going.
Like Gus said, Mr. Herman is where he is for a reason. And it ain't because he's cute. He's at the top of the ladder in quality and design. Just when we think they are about to top out, they just add on another rung. While us new guys at the first few steps keep nipping at there butts pushing ourselves and those above us. Some of us (very few) will make it up there as long as there are makers and buyers at each level. The guys at the top need the guys at the bottom, the guys at the bottom can't continue without the guys at the top. The same is true from the buying side. Need knives at all price ranges and styles. We slam the cheap lookalikes, but the ladder needs them. We need guys like Tim to keep making the ladder higher.
Interesting how capitalism works. I love this country.
quote:
Originally posted by Gus Kalanzis:
as Jackyl says to each their own. (The world would be a boring place if everyone shared my opinions.)
The custom knife community definitely needs both Jackyls and Gus's.
If not for the folks buying knives from new unknown makers, new makers might never get a chance to make a name for themselves. If not for the folks who are able to shell out big bucks for top name makers, the new makers wouldn't have as much of an incentive to make it big time.
[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 04-13-2000).]
