Your opinion on "customizing" your production knives

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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I just read the Blade June 2005 article on customizing production knives, adding new handle materials etc, and thought about the few folders I could do that with! I am currently saving up for a few customs and high end productions, like a Strider and Sebenza. I don't want anything too fancy, maybe some wood or stag handles, nothing fancy. Is this worth it?
 
I for one think it's definitely worth it. I sent an Emerson Mini-CQC-7 tanto (combo edge) to German knifemaker Jürgen Schanz for a lot of customizing work. The liners will be anodized (light blue), the G-10 will get a nice texture, the blade will be satin-finished. The screws, the thumb disk and the clip will get a bead-blast finish.

I'm sure that it will arrive looking awesome!
 
I love doing it! :D

A custom AFCK from myself and Marshall Noble of New Millenium Forge:
normal_afck-final1.jpg


A "Sebenza Meltdown" by Matt Cucchiara:
normal_Roos_Sebenza_front_open.jpg
 
:) I think especially if its a knife you intend to keep for personal use, and are not worried about keeping Factory original. I always enjoy adding personal touches to my EDC. So far the improvements made, I've done myself, and I enjoy the fact that..now the knife is more ME.
Lot of work I still wish to be done, I will have to pay someone to do for me. Is it wise to take a production knife and spend 3x its worth on custom work?
For me anyway...its easier for me to take an EDC and customize it, and still be willing to continue using it as EDC.
If I bought the knife custom built new...I'd tend to want to "keep it new" and stress too much over using it. :)
 
I think it's a great idea, I have thought about customizing one or two of my production knives for the same reason as SilentHunter, saving for new high-end custom. I think doing it to a production knife gives it that personal touch, makes it stand out from the rest.
 
I'm a big fan of the idea.

I have a fixed blade (Grohmann #4) that I have been taking on a yearly wilderness outing for several years now. The outing itself is an annual tradition that has been going on for 7 years, and I look forward to it for months in advance. In recognition of the good times had, I re-handle my #4 each year just for the occasion, using materials from the last year's outing. Nothing too fancy, usually just some maple with a nice finish. It makes for a great tradition.

I wouldn't mind having a go at some of my production folders some day, perhaps G10 slabs for my Buck Alpha or something like that.

Cheers,

Mentor
 
By the way, I'm thinking about sending another knife to Jürgen Schanz...my heavily used, "user grade" satin finished CRKT M16-03 with ugly (but fairly grippy) sandpapered Zytel scales.
This folder's liner is pretty much worn-out, not failing spinewhack tests, just awfully close to the other liner when engaged - needs some adjustment.

I'm sure it'd look neat with a real satin finish and silver G-10 scales and backspacer.
 
I'm sending my Sebenza off to Matt Cucchiara for some TLC (meltdown, Fizz, etc) after I receive my Munroe folder. I was sold on doing this after seeing the work done on the Sebenza of a certain fellow Californian (stares accusingly at Mr. Roos).
;)



B.
 
I think it's a great idea. If you find a knife you really really like, then you'll be happier fancying it up a bit then you will buying something fancy with a design you don't like as much. I LOVE the mini-AFCK and plan to do one up with ivory micarta scales in the near future. I've seen customs of similar design (like a Dubroski) that are very cool, but just doesn't fit my hand as well as that mini. Plus, customizing makes it YOUR knife.
 
arawn said:
I'm sending my Sebenza off to Matt Cucchiara for some TLC (meltdown, Fizz, etc) after I receive my Munroe folder. I was sold on doing this after seeing the work done on the Sebenza of a certain fellow Californian (stares accusingly at Mr. Roos).
;)
Click to expand...
Trust me, you will love it!
 
Sometimes modifying is the only way to get what you want. Besides, it's fun. :D Be advised that things don't always turn out the way you had hoped. :(

Paul
 
The knives that you mod should be intended to be keepers. Resale value on a non-stock production knife can be very, very low. Nobody cares that you put $300 into modding that XYZ knife, if they are interested in it at all, it will not command a premium. Just my .02.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I recently discovered the joy of modding my EDC's. The work I've done is simple but turned out nice , I did some filework on the pocketclip of my Byrd , I got a Meerkat that I thought would be nicer if it had thumb slots , so I added those and smoothed off a corner , now I dont 'poke' my hand when I reach in my pockets , and it has my 'touch'. :)
 
I really like to do it,
mostly on CRKT`s because they have cool designs but IMO you could enhance workmanship.

It could be to improve the materials

CRKT M16 bladefinish + Olivewoodhandles by a friend:
CRKT%20M16-03%20Z%20with%20Blade%20polished%20and%20Olivewood%20handles.JPG


CRKT M18 blade polished:
CRKT%20M18.jpg


CRKT PlanB blade polished by knifemaker, handles and mosaik pins made by me:
PlanB%202.jpg



or just for fun:

23_p901.jpg


:eek:
 
I customized my SNG. I polished the framelock side to a smoked finish. The flame striping is still there, just different shades of grey now, and it looks like smoke. I also did some polishing to the blade. It softened the tiger stripes a little. The knife looks even better than when I bought it.
 
I pretty much agree with what's been said, although I've seen people charge crazy prices for modded knives, to do the work. I've seen instances where the cost of the production knife and the cost of the modifcation is more than it would be to get a full blown custom knife.

But, overall, if the person doing the work knows what they are doing and is willing to stand behind their work (in the event that the modification results in an injury) I think it's fine to do. Like other have said, though, never expect to get recouped that money should you try to sell the knife at some later time.
 
Chiro75 said:
I pretty much agree with what's been said, although I've seen people charge crazy prices for modded knives, to do the work. I've seen instances where the cost of the production knife and the cost of the modifcation is more than it would be to get a full blown custom knife.

But, overall, if the person doing the work knows what they are doing and is willing to stand behind their work (in the event that the modification results in an injury) I think it's fine to do. Like other have said, though, never expect to get recouped that money should you try to sell the knife at some later time.
Click to expand...
Sometimes there is more work in customizing an existing knife than there is in making a new one!
 
Bigbore.45, that wood handled M-16 looks great. I really like the overall design of the M-21 and M-16 series, but I've never really liked the handle materials. Yours is very nice.

I modified many of my knives. I hate the thumb studs on some Bucks (I only like thumb studs when they are placed like in some CRKT folders and don't get in the way of the blade), so I took out the thumb studs from my Alpha Folding Hunter and my Cross Lock. In the Alpha I modified the handle a little and a friend added some "grippy" texture to the place were the thumb stud was so I could easily open it with one hand. It works great.
I also turned a Muela "Navaja del Cazador" (similar to a Buck 110, but with some Spanish influence) into a one hand opener with a thumb hole.

Most of my other modifications are merely cosmetic (a SAK with stag handles, carvings on my Opinels, etc.). All my plastic handled knives (or the ones with ugly handles) get their handles replaced by either stag (plentyful and cheap in Argentina) or some nice wood and brass guards. I've turned a couple of "tacticals" into more elegant looking knives with more natural materials. I usually replace the sheaths on most of my knives, mainly because I enjoy leather working as a hobby.
 
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