Why, oh why, didn't I take the Blue Pill?

guncollector

guncollector

Joined
Sep 6, 2001
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657
The pill reference is to movie The Matrix. Those of you who saw the movie will understand, those who didn't--well it'll take too long to explain.

Anyway, I was perfectly happy in the world of production and semi-custom/production knives until this year when I "took the red pill" and entered the world of customs. This custom knife thing is insidious, it grows and grows on you...its more costly and more addictive...and then suddenly there's no turning back (to production knives)!

Did this happen to any of you guys? Or, were you all custom converts from the get-go? Does any part of you wish you could go back to the blissful ignorance of the production-only days?
 
I guess that I'm still a mixture of the two. My purchases lately have been about even (in dollars) between production and custom knives. However that means more production knives. I'm still new to the world of knives and most of my production knives are for using and my custom knives are more to save. However, I do carry my custom knives at times.:D
 
I just picked up my first custom last week...Greg Lightfoot M1 with Stellite blade, Damasteel bolster, 24K gold screws, anodized titanium backspacers, carbon fiber scales, titanium liners and clip...you think I'm gonna go back to production!?!?!? Heck, I'm looking at Brends now ;)

8864975.jpg


RL
 
Well I'm now just entering into the world of customs. I placed an order with a local knifemaker a while back. Well last week I received an E-mail from Mr. Keith Coleman to come on over to his shop and take a look at my knife. :D I pack up a buddy of mine and we head across town to take a gander at it. Well it turns out some of our ideas didn't really work and Keith wanted to share his ideas on how we should proceed. A decision is made and my knife should be ready this Friday! I rather enjoy this custom knife thing, I can run across town to discuss an idea with the knifemaker! I'm thinking about getting a "Flightline" made. Something I can drop while on the flightline and not worry about it. Something a little larger than the gentlemans folder I have coming. Why do I have the feeling this is going to get expensive?
 
No, I am sure you are the only person this has ever happened to. You should have definitely taken the blue pill. ;)
 
I am fairly new to custom knives... actually I started with customs right away.:D
Well, my first real good knife was production (BM axis-lock) but after that came an Elishewitz Prodigy Folder.
And now.....I am waiting, waiting, waiting for my first forged custom from Terry Primos:)
But one thing I know, there will be no turning back!!
 
That's a beautiful knife, but not all customs have to be expensive, gorgeous looking things with damascus blades/bolsters and gold screws or pins... I have 5 "true customs", and all of them are less expensive than my 7 most expensive knives which all happen to be high-end production pieces.

Two of those high-end pieces are folders, and thus not fairly comparable to my customs which all happen to be fixed blades, but that still leaves 5 high-end-production fixed blades that are more expensive than any of my customs.

I don't collect customs for beauty. I got them because they had particular using characteristics I couldn't find in a production blade. A few go unused, but most of them get beat on all the time. Just this past weekend I used one of them to cut fibrous plant material which had become twisted into rope wound around the axle of my lawn mower blades!
 
I might have taken several red pills. I started off on productions, and I only own a couple now. Custom are very addictive, and I am hooked. I want more and I need more. Seriously, I have learned a lot more about knives since the custom plunge, and I don't plan on looking back.
 
Wow, just had to say NICE BLADE RL. WOW, that has some awesome lines.

I think I took the paisley pill. I'm taking all the money I would normally spend on other's knives (including production now) and using it to get into making my own.
 
Originally posted by matthew rapaport
That's a beautiful knife, but not all customs have to be expensive, gorgeous looking things with damascus blades/bolsters and gold screws or pins...
Click to expand...

True, but it helps :D

krept...thanks for the compliment!

RL
 
You got to remain calm and not go crazy with the custom pieces. Take a good long look at what you "think you like" and then "make sure you like it" before you buy. The doors will open from there. I haven't met a knifemaker that I didn't like yet. I just don't always like their knives. Don't let the current "must haves" take over your good sense. Have fun!!
Greg
 
Great thread Ron

RL - you are right on the spot - and that lightfoot is a great piece also...


I was gonna say: "what RL said" and that's it...

But I recall something a friend collector (he owns one of the largest collections in the world of primitive African weapons) once told me while I was admiring the tactical - modern section of his collection.

I asked for the price of a Sebenza- no less - and he said - 400+ (I am talking about the custom days...) and I said...

WHAT?????

He replied very calmly - there is this invisible line- somewhere around 250-300$ - once you cross it once - you are doomed...

Man, I AM doomed...

And yes - I am looking at Brends now...just looking mind you...for the time being at least...

I love blue pills...
 
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