What's your reaction to a minor cosmetic flaw?

TorzJohnson

TorzJohnson

Joined
Aug 4, 2001
Messages
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I had a weird one. I have a beautiful hand made knife that has a tiny section of one layer of micarta that didn't take the color. Before he sent it, the maker said he'd make me a whole new one from scratch if I wanted. I declined his offer because when I saw it, the flaw was not that visible and I planned to use the knife anyway. Frankly, once I held it in my hand I couldn't send it back.

I found that the flaw makes the knife feel much more like it's my own, different from anybody else's. Like it's the one I was fated to get.

If somebody offered to trade me a flawless one for it, I wouldn't take it. I thought it would bug me after a while, but I actually get a good feeling every time I see that tiny bit of discolored micarta. It's kind of liberating to feel this way. :)
 
Well, first of all, it is a user, so it doesn't matter. :D

Second, it is a hand made knife. Even the best makers aren't perfect. I would be perfectly happy given that the maker offered to fix it if I wanted.
 
good question. i've often pondered this one myself. truth be told, whenever i buy a new knife, i'm quick to scour its surface and look for flaws. i always find at least one thing, and for the next couple of days it drives me up the wall. after i overcome my obsessive-compulsive mania, the annoyance fades and i get over it.

...then i can finally appreciate the knife.

abe m.
 
It would all depend on the knife, and the flaw. A minor flaw like you descirbe on a knife I intend to use, and the maker offering to fix it if I wasn't satisfied, I would be perfectly happy. Afterall with use it will only gain more minor flaws. I also agree that it is part of the beauty of owning a custom knife, it won't be 100% perfect or an exact copy of any other knife. Even if it is of a standard pattern each knife is unique.

If it was a bigger issue like sloppy lockup in a folder on an expensive custom, or even better production knife, I wouldn't settle.
 
If I was going to use it I wouldn't have an issue with it. In a way, it let's me know it's mine since no others will be like it. Also, custom guys are human. Don't think I want something that is perfect.

Unless you're buying strictly to collect or for it to be an art piece I don't see a minor flaw as an issue.

My 2 cents.
 
If the knife is a user, and the price is adjusted, I'd keep it. Otherwise I'd return it.
 
All custom made knives have a flaw if you look close enough.They are hand made and things made by hand have flaws. As far as i'm concerned it's no big deal as long as it's minor.
 
Torz,
I'm kinda with you on this. It's like the first (tiny) scratch on a car makes me relax a bit. I have two really nice customs that came that way (I was told when I ordered them)...and I like them a lot. Keeps my obsessiveness under control and, at the same time, reminds me that the knives I buy are really tools.
Steve
 
I don't think of them as cosmetic blemishes, but maybe as special birthmarks :D

All my knives are for using, and quickly get their own history of use marks.
 
Maybe I'm not too picky... got a SOG x42 autoclip that looked like it got too hot when sharpened or maybe wasn't heat treated quite right (slight blue tinge in places on the edge and was quite hard and brittle so it got little chips in the edge... knew BG-42 shouldn't chip like that)... just took it to my DMT diamond lap and reprofiled it (grinding past the maybe 1/10" of crud into good steel) and quite like the knife now. Might be peeved if it was an expensive custom though.
 
If it's a flaw that I can fix or at-least make better, I do it. If I can't fix it, I either live with it or trade it off...Generally, 'tho', I'm able to fix most flaws.
 
G'day,
I haven't yet bought a knife that didn't have some sort or minor flaw--from a toolmark or two to an uneven edge bevel. If I can fix it I usually do. Sometimes I do so right away, sometimes months later.
If I can't fix it I just learn to live with it.
A major flaw (major depends on the price I paid) would be cause for me to ask that it be fixed or the knife replaced.
Greg
 
glockman99 said:
...Generally, 'tho', I'm able to fix most flaws.
Click to expand...

My wife wants to know what ya charge to fix flaws, she says I have a few that need tending to.(What the hell does she mean by that?) :confused:
 
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