William Henry's lack of QC?

R.W.Clark · Jun 27, 2001

WH really dropped the ball on this one. Take a look at the beaded bolsters on this one. The one side is OK, good spacing and layout, just some slag in the corners. But the other looks like it was done by an untrained spider monkey (and yes I have one for an apprentice so I do know what their work looks like). The center ring on the one side is seven nice little beads, but on the other MAN what the heck is that. And the entire surface is that way. Not to mention the tons of slag all over the place. I have heard that they do not make these bolsters in house but have them done over seas. But, did they even look at them before they started slapping them on the knives.
<img src=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1663783&a=13142472&p=50989768&Sequence=1&res=high>
<img src=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1663783&a=13142472&p=50989766&Sequence=1&res=high>

The customer that gave this one to me said this is the second he has gotten. The first he said was worse, and when he returned it they sent out this one. When he called about this one they said that they would take it back but that it was the best of the lot.

So since he was going to have me replace the bone with ivory, I am stuck with cleaning up WH's mess. And on a $400 knife. How sad. Are they just sitting fat on their "99 winnings?

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R.W.Clark

Proud Member : California Knifemakers Association

blademan 13 · Jun 27, 2001

The spider monkey remark was uncalled for! Everyone knows they are capable of better work than that. What you are seeing here is probably more akin to either a lemur or a gibbon

Seriously, that is shoddy work to go out the door on a $400 production knife, or any knife for that matter.

redvenom · Jun 29, 2001

Given their stellar rep and the fine products they've made in the past this really comes as a rude shock...

You're right though, it really looks like shoddy work and this is on a limited edition "special" to boot. Guess they were only meant to be photographed/displayed on one side...

Andrew L

GigOne · Jun 29, 2001

Let me hit several issues here. . .

First, $400 for a "production" knife ? Don't think so !
- Unless, of courese, it has one of those real cool automatic features and said production blade ~ with a real cool automatic feature ~ came from a specific company.

Second, for a $400 folder. . .I'd be more inclined to go to a custom maker and have one made.

Third, have him or her send it back, to WH, for a full refund.

Finally, pretty expensive crappy work !

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Livin' Life ~ Full Throttle
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[This message has been edited by GigOne (edited 06-29-2001).]

Knife Fumbler · Jul 2, 2001

I saw this model knife at Beck's cutlery shop here in NC.
And...well...it looks like crap. The bolsters look like someone took a hammer to them.
The overall fit and finish of the knife was great...except the beading in the bolsters...

Fox Creek · Jul 3, 2001

$400 Dollars..sputter,

This is probably a case of the bolsters being made in a small shop in Asia, primative by our standards, by quite a few different workers. Some of them skilled and conscientious, some not so good; Of course the best of the best knife gets selected for the publicity shots and with the knife being successful and demand up, quantity gradually overtakes quality. ship more! more I say! ......Seems a better approach for manufacturing this would be to take a "perfect" example of the bolster as a pattern for high quality casting, etc. I know it would NOT be unique or hand made, but the look would be much the same and uniformity of quality insured.

Bugs3x · Jul 5, 2001

Its funny, but whenever there is a discussion of less expensive knives, some Sebenza or WH owner, or someone who "only" buys customs, will insert "you get what you pay for" into the discussion. They never seem to be around when situations such as this arise.

Those who look for true "value" know that often the old axiom is far from the truth. At $50, $100, $200, $300, or the $400, that bolster looks like crap! A company truly concerned about quality would not let something that crappy go out of the shop with the company name attached. A company focused on profit will try to ride their past reputation, and attempt to get all the profit possible, knowing they're selling crap.

Have to say this thread has completely changed my perception of William Henry. Sure wish the vendor who said the pictured knife is the best of a bad bunch had the integrity to instead ship the whole bunch back to the wholesaler/company and let it be known he/she won't sell crap at any price, particularly high ones. Sure would like to know the size of the sample base from which the knife was selected.

I can understand your reluctance to name names, RW, but would like to know the vendor. :barf:

R.W.Clark · Jul 5, 2001

The "vendor" was WH themselves. It was ordered through a middle man shop. When it arrived and was viewed by the buyer, the first was sent back - as so it goes.

The knife shop was acting as an ordering agent, but did not "sell" the knife. But the " thats the best of them" statement was made by WH.

Pretty sad. I had aways had high views of WH, but now.....?

garyz · Jul 6, 2001

I got 2 of those and they were beautiful. I also got a proto at blade that is perfect. The bolsters are done by hand, you can't just toss them if they are not perfect, I'll admit some are better than others. Handmade is the key word.

R.W.Clark · Jul 6, 2001

So, by your logic. I, as a producer of custom and handmade knives, can put a huge price tag on a slapped together piece of junk. If anyone has a complaint I can just tell them "hey its worth the price, its handmade". I DON"T THINK SO! Regardless of how something is assembled, it still must be of high quality. WH is capable of doing these bolsters right (as witnessed by the one side), but the fact that the other side looks like it was done by a blind chipmunk (didn't want to offend the monkeys again) just shows they are shooting for the cheapest labor and highest profit margin. If they really wanted to provide the best product, they would have shipped this junk back to the pacific rim sweat shop where they were made.

There is never a reason to let a POC like this out of your shop! Period!