Why buy factory knives?

protourist it was good that you did start a thread like this. It just goes to show that everyone has their own way about them when it comes to knives or for that matter any of the outdoor related gear we buy. A good discussion always comes about with gear choices such as for example, packs. You can spend several hundred bucks for a pack or less then 50 bucks.
Brand loyalty will always be something we all will share. Just look when a knife recomendation thread comes up. You go to several different forums and you will see knife brand loyalty is different on each forum.
I still am loyal to my older Buck knives, I grew up using Buck. Since my main outdoor passion is hunting, I see Buck as the original all American hunting knife. It just has that nostalgic hunting magic for me.
Something else I'd like to point out about Buck, take a look at an older 1970's Buck phenolic handled fixed blade and a newer one, let say the model 119. You can see where the older one was hand ground and the newer one is CNC machine ground. I prefer the hand ground over the machine ground knife. I remember seeing an old photo of the Buck factory with a room that had alot of grinders lined up where many Buck employees did the hand grinding. Even though Buck was considered a factory knife back then, there was still a bit of craftsmanship with those older Bucks.
It is such a shame that alot of the original American made knife companies that manufactured knives in the same way Buck used to are mostly gone.
Scott
 
I know what you mean. For a long time I had nothing but Gerbers from the early 80's and late 70's. I still have most of them and although they weigh a ton I still carry them occasionally.
After using a couple of custom fixed blades though I am hooked. Unless I need something immediately I will buy from guys like you.
Thanks to you and all the makers that supply us with the knives we love.
 
Of all the good custom knives that I have, I still want a Buck Vanguard, one of these days I am going to get one. No idea why I never have yet although I did have a Cabela's version which I sold and regretted doing so. Customs have not ruined my appetite for good factory stuff.:)
 
I like and own both. And I'm very happy with them both. Would I but custom again...yup! Would I buy factory again....yup!
 
I think the value of a production knife is often overlooked. That being said there are a handful of custom models that I have my eye on. I will say there are more Spyderco's that I'm eyeing than customs. Like the OP stated, there is not much difference between all the knives I'm eyeing either custom or production. Interesting thread!
 
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