Why do I have no desire to buy a custom/handmade knife??

[ginaz]

i felt the same way at one time. i also was really into a lot of things that i'm not now. as i've used my knives more over the years i've developed a set of "must haves" and some "deal breakers" as well. like someone mentioned, you get to the point where the current production world doesn't really offer you anything you don't have. for a while i'd get something just to try the steel it has. i slowly crept up the price ladder. i remember buying the first benchmade forum knife, the 705CFHS. that was over $200.00 and i thought i'd never cross that threshold. then i finally got my hands on a sebenza. now we're up above $400.00! the ZT0888 set me back a bit more than that. so now it's not that big a jump to a custom AD-10 from Demko. the wait makes it easier to offset the cost as well. ironically, i've gone back to some cheaper knives and been very pleased with them all over again so i guess i just love knives

 

[bodog]

UI agree, it's not for everyone. After having been a knife nut for so long I started to find my taste moving from one genre to another. I'm lucky to have sampled many fine knives, mostly folders, production and midtech, also traditionals and wood carving tools.

More recently I've started looking more closely at handmade and custom knives. I got a stunning kitchen knife for my wife in CTS XHP.

Custom makers, from a pure performance perspective, can do things that a production company cannot. For me this means a very acute geometry. In this way I can have a knife that out cuts any production piece I've ever had. I have the ability to get similar geometry from a production piece, but not without sawing at the bevel for an hour (or more) on the edge pro and ending up with a 1/8" tall bevel. I like the refinement of a wicked slicer almost zero ground. Production companies can't do that due to warranty concerns which is totally understandable.

As for quality, warranty etc... All it takes is a little research. I won't buy from someone that doesn't test and offer an excellent warranty.

And to SouthEast- a Fiddleback is a great way to get a fantastic handmade knife. Andy's quality, history and warranty are first class. I just got my first two from him a few days ago, and the Kephart he made me in particular, is bordering on perfect.

Good luck guys. There's room for all of us.


Fiddlebacks-

Custom Santoku from Ian Hall (HallHandmade) -

How's that Ian Hall knife treating you? His knives are beautifully made with some seriously tight lines for a very, very reasonable price.. The heat treat up to snuff? Balance and handling good to go? I ask because I'm waiting on a custom from him myself. Couldn't help it once I saw what he was putting out. Cheaper than a bark river and I'm betting they're just as good if not better because of the personalized treatment. I'll support a small time business man putting out quality products over a corporation any day, even if that means the price goes up a little bit. I can't call benchmade or ZT and talk with the company CEO any time I want like I can with smaller companies. I appreciate the personal aspect of custom knives. I'd buy everything custom made from small American businesses if it was really feasible. Knives are a very personal tool that can save your life or take another's and it's something that can be carried daily and passed down to your son if properly used and maintained. Why skimp on a production knife with no soul when you can have something made for a reasonable price and make it a father to son birthright type of item?

 

[marthinus]

Just another side of the coin from a South African

At our current economic situation a Spyderco Starmate at retail with import, tax etc works out close to what I would pay for a custom piece from a local maker.

A Sebenza costs significantly more then some of our local makers at retail price.

Note: Almost all our products are sold at MSRP + customs etc as we do not have the internet/street price market as the US.

For me, personally, it makes more sense to buy from the local maker as I can get hold of him easier for warranty if need be, I get a handmade/custom in the process and a lot of the time build a relationship with a maker that money cant put a price on.

 

[WRGreen]

If one is questioning 'no desire' it leads me to believe there is either a hidden, latent desire, or possibly just a desire to get forum traffic attention. It is ok to just not like something, though. Asking advise about one's individual desires (or lack thereof) might best be left to a psychologist.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Bo- You're gonna love it. He's using a lot of XHP lately, so I'm guessing that's what you spec'd? He sends the blades out for professional heat treat and includes a cryogenic treatment. If you chose a stabilized burl you done good. Ian has a great eye for picking the best imo. If you chose a synthetic, you'll still love his excellent fit and finish.

I can't really comment on how good the steel is yet. My wife has used it extensively in the kitchen and it hasn't needed sharpening. I haven't even stropped it, although I've been meaning to because I prefer to maintain knives instead of letting them get dull. Cutting food on a wood chopping block, I imagine it will be some time before any noticeable edge degradation takes place. The knife came very sharp, shaving hair with no effort. The finish on the hollow has a really cool machined look while the flats are satin/rubbed.

Let me know what you think when you get it. I can't imagine that you'll be anything but very satisfied. And you're right. In terms of cost versus what you get, Ian's work really stands out.

Crappy pic. Trust me, it's fantastic in person.

 

[numbersman]

I have never bought a custom, and quite possibly never will. But I went to a local knife show last year and saw knives that just made me tingle. The bowie with engraved blade that I saw was just amazing. I would love to own it (40 hours of engraving in that blade), if ever I can have so much money that I want extra ways to spend it all.

 

[22-rimfire]

Custom knives done right can outperform any factory blade. If you want the best of the best, get a custom. If you want something that'll get the job done that you're not afraid to scratch up, get a factory blade. As a custom maker, I myself would not want to scratch up the finish that I put hours into achieving. And although I know the blades I make are superior to factory blades, all I ever personally USE is factory blades. So I understand what the OP is saying.

Sometimes I wonder "why" a custom will out perform a factory blade. Fit and finish, I can understand. Handle materials and variety, yes... but steel, not so sure...

For me, my purchases go back and forth between custom and factory. Regardless of how many customs I might own, I find it difficult to give up carrying a Victorinox SAK. That's all I need actually. There have been some theads on sub 3" folders lately and I found myself wanting to handle and use a Cold Steel Tuff Lite. Got it and I'm pleased overall after some prudent use of a lubricant and some break-in.

If you enjoy knives, I find it hard to not buy a custom or three eventually. But I use factory knives a lot more.

 

[LX_Emergency]

In general (there are always exceptions to the rule) custom knives are ground thinner (better geometry) and have a more optimal heat treat.

Both of these because they can take more risk in heat treating a blade. If a custom maker messes up he loses 1 blade in heat treat. If a factory messes up they lose hundreds.

THAT is why most custom knives will out perform most factory knives.

 

[marthinus]

Sometimes I wonder "why" a custom will out perform a factory blade. Fit and finish, I can understand. Handle materials and variety, yes... but steel, not so sure...
.

Two key aspects for me.

- Usually ground thinner than a factory blade
- No batch hardening, thereby each blade gets optimal heat treatment

 

[Rolex John]

I've had the best of what the production/mid-tech world can produce, and it left me wanting. The production world just doesn't produce the right combination of knife type, size, deployment, blade shape, steel, materials, and finish that I would consider my ideal knife.

In terms of my price threshold, I could *maybe* see paying upwards of $1000.00. And that's as little as half what some custom makers would charge...for the luxury of being put on a waiting list, and giving them a 50% deposit with no assurances of when the knife will be completed. Some are out a year or more.

I'm not patient, nor do I enjoy working with prima dona "artists." I'll pay for quality, but not for a run-around. And that's why I've not bought a custom knife.

That said, I'm going to Bladeshow this year. I'm HOPING (sort of against hope) that some maker will have something readily available for me to buy on the spot that I can't live without. But that may be wishful thinking on my part...I've not been to Bladeshow before.

 

[LX_Emergency]

In my experience very few knife makers are prima Donna s or give you the run around.

Also there are MANY makers who will be able to produce something amazing fire WAY under 1k.

Sounds like you've been looking at the wrong makers.

 

[22-rimfire]

I'm not patient, nor do I enjoy working with prima dona "artists." I'll pay for quality, but not for a run-around. And that's why I've not bought a custom knife.

That said, I'm going to Bladeshow this year. I'm HOPING (sort of against hope) that some maker will have something readily available for me to buy on the spot that I can't live without. But that may be wishful thinking on my part...I've not been to Bladeshow before.

Even some of the biggest custom knife makers aren't full of themselves. You might expect that with some of the top of the profession, but not what I have seen.

I'd say you will have a good chance of finding something you can't live without for $1000 or less at Blade. Go early if you can. Locate the makers that have the highest potential to meet your needs and make a note on the show map. Head for those tables first.

 

[Rare blade]

I will be buying a Morris friction folder not because it is a custom handmade knife but because I like the looks of it.

 

[cantulope]

At the end of the day, it's up to each individual as to what floats your boat - for me, I cannot find a production knife that even comes close to the likes of Burch, Les George, Medford, or Steve Ryan. For me, the knife I carry is likely the single most important thing in my pocket, and as such, I can justify the cost of getting the fit, finish, design, and quality from the custom knife maker. Yes, I hate the wait time and the increased price, but to me it is worth it.

 

[Rolex John]

Sounds like you've been looking at the wrong makers.

Well, that could be...who are the right ones? Are there makers out there who make titanium frame lock flippers who will work with you on the choice of blade and scale materials and finish? Who are taking orders now and can deliver a finished product in maybe 30-60 days time? Is that asking too much?

 

[LX_Emergency]

Well, that could be...who are the right ones?

That depends. .... What exactly are you looking for.

 

[Rolex John]

That depends. .... What exactly are you looking for.

See above - post #35.

 

[suedeface]

To start, I wasn't seriously asking if I had a psychological problem Also, I'm not totally against buying a custom. I've read good points here that I never considered before, and I do think it would be nice to buy a nice custom hunting knife someday, or a "first blood" custom survival version. I have made some basic knives myself and believe me, I know and appreciate the work and craftsmanship that goes into making a quality cutting tool. For the price of a single custom knife though, I would almost rather invest that $$ into tools and materials and make them for myself. I guess there is another option I didn't think of. Hmmm..

 

[Hairlesstwinkie]

For the price of a single custom knife though, I would almost rather invest that $$ into tools and materials and make them for myself. I guess there is another option I didn't think of. Hmmm..

Don't forget, you're paying for the skills cumulated over years upon years of experience. Knife making is fairly simple, but to produce quality knife is difficult.

I had originally thought that $100 for a knife is stupid until I tried my hands at blade smithing and watching two master blade smiths work. The levels of perfection and attention to detail can not be produced by a factory at a cost effective rate.

The amount of work that goes into a custom folder is just amazing. My custom Elishewitz is a knife like that. No production knife that I own can compare to it in every aspect. It's like things that separate a Lincoln from a Maserati.

 

[HwangJino]

Most of my kitchen knives are handmade, but are not custom (I didn't get to choose materials).

I do have 2 machine made kitchen knives and are no slouch.

While I want a custom, they go into the thousands, and will not perform much better (unless I pay for honyaki finish).