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

[SCWillson]

I don't think custom/handmade knives are only about performance or treatments, it's also about getting something exactly like you want. It's custom because you selected the maker, the steel, the blade type, the handle material, etc. It's unique, it's a reflection of the buyer every bit as much as it is the maker.

I finally ordered my first custom knife (A small fixed blade wharncliffe EDC from Alan Davis) last month because try as I might I couldn't find a production knife that had all the qualities I wanted. Yes, I added some fancy touches (damascus steel, mosaic pins) because I want it to be special for me, but I'm sure it would still have been great if I'd selected more utilitarian materials. I'm sure Alan will do a superlative job, but it's really special because it's my knife and not somebody else's.

 

[Sonnydaze]

They're not for everybody.

I've had customs, perhaps four or five, that ranged up to mid-$700. My favorite custom was a used one that I purchased for about $250. I do not own any customs at this point, and have no desire to. I am perfectly served by a wide variety of folders which are excellent and generally are less expensive ($150-$400) and still well-designed and built.
My CRK Sebbies and Umnumzaan, Sage 2, Gayle Bradley, Caly 3.5 ZDP, BM 710 and others are just fine.

 

[sirupatespecial]

I wouldn't consider buying a custom knife until I become proficient at sharpening a knife, understanding different steels, materials, and what type of knife works best for me. If you can't sharpen a knife properly, what's the point of buying a custom? That's like buying a Harley Davidson before learning how to ride a motorcycle. I'm happy with my production knives at this time and have alot to learn before the word custom enters my mind, if it does at all. My wallet dictates a lot.

Heck, you gotta sharpen a production knife too....I've confused "handmade" with "custom". I have no desire, especially, to custom design a knife. And if you are into folders I can't help you. But, if you like fixed blades then I'd encourage you to visit the knifemakers "for sale" forum here. No, they are not "custom" as in you didn't design it. But there is some beautiful, functional and innovative work for less than you could find a production knife for, considering steel, fit and finish, handles, sheaths etc.

I buy handmade to support small business and because I, or you, can get a knife that you may never see again, anywhere. Or, you could by a Buck
Vanguard that for 99% of folks would a great tool.

 

[celtic11]

I wouldn't consider buying a custom knife until I become proficient at sharpening a knife, understanding different steels, materials, and what type of knife works best for me. If you can't sharpen a knife properly, what's the point of buying a custom? That's like buying a Harley Davidson before learning how to ride a motorcycle. I'm happy with my production knives at this time and have alot to learn before the word custom enters my mind, if it does at all. My wallet dictates a lot.

Its more like buying a Harley Davidson without knowing how to change the oil, which I'm sure people do daily. While I personally agree with your main point, there are ways to get your custom knife sharpened for you if you don't know how just like there are places to get your Harley's oil changed.

 

[sodak]

2) Being physically oriented, working with hands, etc., they may be less gifted in the social skills/communications category. Their personality may not be suited to the business aspect of orders, updates, schedules, etc. This is common with artists. The good ones recognize this and hire someone good at the business side of things, and good at customer interface.

Also, your second "cause" is 100% ridiculous. To make that broad of a generalization about a certain profession or personality is foolish.

I will agree with your point of foolishness, if you will agree that this point below is just as foolish. Such blanket statements are ridiculous.

Custom knives done right can outperform any factory blade. If you want the best of the best, get a custom.

 

[daizee]

The knife is a solved problem. Custom knives are a luxury item. Craftsman Aren't constrained by manufacturing demands, and assuming you are willing to pay for their time, you can have a knife that speaks to you in a way that factory knives don't. But maybe you'd rather spend your money on 500 factory blades or expensive wine or a fancy motorcycle. It depends on your relationship with knives and things. Personally, I would rather have a few ideal items than a stable so large That I couldn't think about it all at once.

 

[Natedog351]

That's like saying why do you spend 50$ on a knife instead of 1$ for some flea market knife. There's different levels of quality and certain people pay for better quality which is why they will spend the money on customs. Quite frankly I love seeing the different designs that certain makers come up with. You say well productions have different designs etc...well to a certain degree yes but I dont see production knives creating a rolling detent (Jake Hoback), an entire subframe lock that acts as a built in overtravel stop and is entirely replacable (Todd Begg) or creating a completely unique lock thats never been done before integrated into the bolster while at the same time the bolster acts as the "flipper" (Stan Wilson non-flipper flipper). Talking to a maker and have a relationship is 1 thing having something they handcrafted just for you that reflects them as a person and where you can literally see the hours of hard work they put into is something you cant put a price tag on.

And I also do enjoy production knives not saying it's wrong for people to stick with productions I myself have rough 1000$ in just 8 production knives and will probably never sell any of them

 

[evanPGH]

I will agree with your point of foolishness, if you will agree that this point below is just as foolish. Such blanket statements are ridiculous.

Absolutely, to say that customs outperform production knives every time is absurd.

The best performing knife that ive owned is a custom, but ive had ones that couldn't cut much of anything and had a price tag north of $500.

 

[sunandsteel]

Referring back to a statement I made earlier about if I ever thought about buying a custom. It would have to be a fixed blade all the way. I would drive myself insane if I tried getting a custom folder made with perfect blade centering, deployment action, type of lock, etc... No thanks on a custom folder.

 

[Doug C]

Your income, and ability to spend will dictate your preferences and purchases.

This. ^
A lot of the design and performance elements in production knives begin in the custom world.
Buy what you like and can afford.

DC

 

[22-rimfire]

Referring back to a statement I made earlier about if I ever thought about buying a custom. It would have to be a fixed blade all the way. I would drive myself insane if I tried getting a custom folder made with perfect blade centering, deployment action, type of lock, etc... No thanks on a custom folder.

I agree with choosing a fixed blade first. Choosing a folder is harder.

 

[22-rimfire]

I wouldn't consider buying a custom knife until I become proficient at sharpening a knife, understanding different steels, materials, and what type of knife works best for me. If you can't sharpen a knife properly, what's the point of buying a custom? That's like buying a Harley Davidson before learning how to ride a motorcycle. I'm happy with my production knives at this time and have alot to learn before the word custom enters my mind, if it does at all. My wallet dictates a lot.

I have often considered buying a Harley and doing exactly what you said. Wife says I'll kill myself. So, I didn't. The steel choices aren't such a big deal with customs in terms of "which one" unless you have a very specific purpose in mind (say woodscraft). It is hard for me to choose some of the new steels with confidence.

As far as sharpening goes, I think you are mostly concerned about screwing it up rather than not being able to sharpen it. The one thing with customs that I pay way more attention to when sharpening freehand are my sharpening angles. I absolutely don't want scratches running down the sides of my new custom knife. My SAKs eventually end up that way as I frequently don't pay enough attention.

Buying a custom or three is the natural evolution of knife buying if you are interested in knives for themselves. But it is a matter of money and the desire to dedicate that much money toward a knife that you may well be hesitant to use and it just sits around and you fondle it.

 

[McVeyMac]

Over on the Custom and Handmade sub forum, there was a very interesting discussion regarding the use of modern manufacturing methods versus completely handcrafted. It was interesting having all of the different makers argue the points of CNC machining versus hand filing, etc. I do not know where the line of demarkation is between handmade vs. production. Many makers will utilize modern techniques if it makes a better quality product for them. But for me, part of the fascination for handmade is that there is no discernible difference between a part that was hand filed to one that was CNC machined. The hand filed part might take 6 hours to accomplish, where the CNC mill did it in 6 minutes, but isn't that what craftsmanship is all about. Sweat, tears, and blood of the maker being imparted into the tool that they are making for you. Then there is the level of the artisan, a sort of a cross between the pure artist and the pure craftsman. Artist make things that are appreciated for themselves, and have no other purpose, craftsman make things that will be used, such as cabinetry, houses, wooden toys, but are pretty much utilitarian. The artisan takes something utilitarian that a craftsman might make, such as a knife, and imparts their own art into the design, the form and the function of the piece. And the knife does not need to be custom. It might have some customizable features chosen from a menu of options, but Bark River does this to a certain extent. To me the look, the feel and the function of the artisan made knife come together in a way that just cannot be duplicated by any production made knife. And it is this that I have come to appreciate.

 

[ArchAngel]

The knife is a solved problem. Custom knives are a luxury item. Craftsman Aren't constrained by manufacturing demands, and assuming you are willing to pay for their time, you can have a knife that speaks to you in a way that factory knives don't. But maybe you'd rather spend your money on 500 factory blades or expensive wine or a fancy motorcycle. It depends on your relationship with knives and things. Personally, I would rather have a few ideal items than a stable so large That I couldn't think about it all at once.

Very well put daizee! I started out collecting and using factory knives as most of us did, but I find my dream blades and specific needs are usually filled by custom makers now. I enjoy the interaction with the maker and the feeling of having input into a blade that I use. That said whatever floats someone's boat is their way to go. We are all different. That's what makes the world exciting.

 

[mrdabble]

What a great thread. I have no solid knowledge of the custom world and I learned a lot here today. Thanks guys!

 

[sunandsteel]

Custom knives have their place like anything else but for me at this point in my life it's not important. Also I feel alot more comfortable carrying around a cheaper fixed or production folder as an edc and especially at a job site. It's all subjective though.

 

[McVeyMac]

Custom knives have their place like anything else but for me at this point in my life it's not important. Also I feel alot more comfortable carrying around a cheaper fixed or production folder as an edc and especially at a job site. It's all subjective though.

Production fixed and folders definitely have their place in my rotation. But my stable of these knives is rather large, and I doubt if I would wear them out or loose enough of them to require buying another. But I agree that I would not want to destroy or loose some of my handmade knives in the last concrete pour I formed up or have some other tragedy happen.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Truth be told, just about all of my factory blades cut perfectly well. However, I take special pleasure in using my Dozier K1, my Sebenza, my American Standard Tanto and Scandi by Ivan Campos.

 

[bronyblacksmith]

a large amount of custom knives cost nearly the same as higher end factory knives like Fletcher Knives, Doggwood knives and Fiddleback Forge.

 

[AddictedToGear]

Many times the edges and geometry can be better on a custom, the fit finish and tolerances is much better. They do not make FRN customs because it is a cheap material that makers just tend to not work with because it is low end. Yes Spydercos are great and I a like my production knives, but there is quite a difference. That saying they are not everyones cup of tea and that is fine, everyone likes something different. I would recommend trying a handmade knife the knifemakers market though, as many of the fixed blades come in at very reasonable prices. Being handmade adds character to me, as I am a hobbyist knifemaker I understand the amount of work that goes into them so when I get a knife from another maker I know how much time and effort he put into it.
It is ok not to have the desire to want one, but it does not hurt to do (sometimes it hurts your wallet.)