Custom Knives - Worth it?

[MarkCO]

I have a handmade Ghurka (from India) and a Orinka (Massai Club) that I was given as a gifts. One custom fixed blade as a gift as well. They are cool, and the stories behind them are cooler still.

After that, I guess I am a McDonalds knife kind of guy. I USE my knives. I have EDCs from Buck, Cold Steel, CRKT, Blade-Tech and Spyderco. Hunting knives are pretty much Buck and Gerber. Much above $50 and it better be pretty amazing for me to look at it. I dabbled in knife making for a while and it is not a complicated tool like a 1911, so I actually fail to see the direct comparison I guess. If I want a $200 knife, I will buy a quality blank and then craft it the way I want it...to me, that will make it worth more to me.

[Marine24]

More about the "custom" terminology than a comparison of crafting knives or 1911. My reference point is 1911s, so that is where that came from. The discussion, though, is similar.

Knives costing more that $50 is new ground for me. When I paid $79 for my current one, I thought I was really splurging.

Interesting to watch the destruction videos that knifetests has posted. Amazing to see how much abuse the Busse took before breaking. The ESEE did very well too. The Reeve Green Beret, not so much. Tests are extreme and don't reflect how you would typically use a knife, but illustrate the point that just because it costs more doesn't make it better.

[StagLefty]

Aren't these two criteria mutually exclusive?
I read this a lot, and have always been confused by the concept.
What am I missing?

Some of the blade shapes I've seen do not look easy to sharpen.

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

If it makes you happy it's worth it

[hatidua]

Interesting to watch the destruction videos that knifetests has posted. Amazing to see how much abuse the Busse took before breaking. The ESEE did very well too. The Reeve Green Beret, not so much. Tests are extreme and don't reflect how you would typically use a knife, but illustrate the point that just because it costs more doesn't make it better.

Once upon a time, I bought an ESEE 5, with its 1/4" thick blade as I figured it was going to be super durable (which it surely is!), but having gone to thicker and thicker blades, it became quite clear that I was getting away from what knives are supposed to do well: cut.

[lex137]

The ESEE 5 is the best trial/outdoor knife I have ever bought. I want to buy an Izula but need to sell that microtech to free up funds first.

[gmerrell]

Here is the input from a knife maker, there are really 2 reasons to buy a truly custom knife, one investment and you have to know what you are doing here.

Second is selection I hate making the same knife one after another, that's why I don't do it. I like to work with the person and find out what he really wants and expect in the knife and make him a one of a kind that they will pass to their grandkids.

If you work with someone who knows what there are doing and take pride in it you will get the best knife you've ever seen. I'm talking fit and finish, it may not work any better than a $19 kmart blue light special but everyone in the deer camp will what to cut something with it.

The trick is finding the maker that really takes pride in his work (and it really helps if he/she isn't trying to feed their family by making knives) so you don't have to pay through the nose for it. If the maker you are working with doesn't spend a good half hour talking to you or 10-15 emails then either they are much better than I ( not hard to do) or you are not getting a true custom but one of his models that he makes every day.

If you are thinking about a custom please pick up a copy of Blade magazine and if you go to amazon or other book store the publishers of blade put together a yearly knives book that is great with 100's of color pic's of custom knives and has the name and info on 100's of makers in the back (i'm not in there) and you can get say Knives 2003 for about $4.00 (http://www.amazon.com/Knives-2003-Wo...ref=pd_sim_b_1) Warning once you buy one year you will want more.

If any one is thinking about getting a custom let me know and I'll post a thread on things you should ask the person you want to make your knife, there are a lot of very simply ?'s that will tell you quickly if they know what they are doing. (I am not trying to sell anyone anything, I just don't want anyone to get burned because there are a few guys out there claiming to be custom makers that don't know what there are doing.
Greg

[Marine24]

If any one is thinking about getting a custom let me know and I'll post a thread on things you should ask the person you want to make your knife, there are a lot of very simply ?'s that will tell you quickly if they know what they are doing. (I am not trying to sell anyone anything, I just don't want anyone to get burned because there are a few guys out there claiming to be custom makers that don't know what there are doing.
Greg

Greg: Was hoping you would chime in. I'd be interested in those questions.

[DVC357]

Definately a collaboration.
Fit to hand.
Designing and fabricating a custom for a buyer
made for a specific function, to exactly fit their
hand is something to hold close and show off.
IMHO, anything over $500 is pure art, but price is
subjective.
A lot of the older makers, the Brends, Hammonds etc.
produce art and function, demand >$500, but i would be
afraid to use them for fear of damaging them as well.
At what point is it PURELY art?

[Marine24]

Well I decided to explore the world of custom knives and see how close I can get to the line that separates function from art. Function is the primary objective, but making it distinctive as well. Most of my folders see pretty lightweight use but have been known to double as a skinning knife when I forget my field kit, so seems like a good place to start.

Here is another example of the craftsmanship. A little too much art for me, but not far off the mark. Damascus steel with mammoth molar scales/handles and comes with a Cape Buffalo pouch.