» Custom or Production Knife?
By Vince on December 29, 2011
If you haven’t heard yet, I like custom handmade knives. Since the first Randall Model 12 Confederate Bowie I purchased new in 1978 for the hefty price of $200. Like many knives and guns I wish I still had, I miss this knife.
When I sold it, years later, it sold for $800. Yes, I turned a profit on it…but I still wish I had it!
With a custom blade you can get pretty much what you want, be it blade configuration, steel type, handle/hilt shape, handle/hilt material, etc. All of this, of course, comes at a price. You are not going to get a custom knife, generally, for under $250. Remember, someone is making this tool/weapon by HAND.
The two now accepted methods of making knives are:
Stock removal
&
Forging
Stock removal is basically what it implies. A piece of bar stock steel is used, the blade shape is drawn on the bar and cut out. Usually with a CNC machine or EDM but they are also done with saws. The resulting blank is then ground down with band sanders and grinding wheels to the desired shape and heat treated. Final touches are added and then sharpening.
Forging is all of the above with the exception/addition of: the smith actually makes the steel blank using molten metal like the typical blacksmith you see in the movies. A much more difficult and time consuming task.
A superlative blade can come from these processes.
However…
Modern production techniques and automated machinery can also turn out a pretty dammed good blade too.
You are most probably not going to get features you’d like to see in a blade as you would with a custom knife/sword, but you will get a decent, sharp, usable blade.
I’ve owned and carried some pretty big names in the custom blade industry over the years; Onion, Emerson, Hinderer to name just a few. As stated earlier, I love handmade blades.
I’ve also carried some of the best production knives too. Spyderco, Benchmade and Cold Steel.
But somehow, it seems most of the custom stuff wasn’t getting used. It would stay in my pocket or ended up living in the safe.
It actually took getting one of my Grail guns, a Wilson 1911 pistol, to open my eyes as to why this was so.
The Wilson pistol was something I’d wanted since the mid 80’s. The, then, epitome of the finest 1911 available. When I was able to swing it I ended up trading a high dollar sniper rifle AND cash for. But man, I was happy! Finally! After years of lusting and drooling over them I had my own! And what a tack driver! Smooth and sweet trigger pull. Everything I’d looked forward to.
But…
I was scared to carry it. It stayed in the safe.
Why?
Because… what if it were lost? What if I had to leave it in my truck because I ended up going someplace that didn’t allow firearms and the truck got jacked? What if, heaven forbid, I had to throw it in a canal?
That’s $2,500 worth of pistol gone!
I like to carry what I own. I like to use what I own. What if I had to do that with a custom knife?
An eye opening epiphany, to say the least.
I love Glock’s. I didn’t at first, die hard 1911 guy. But they work. They are accurate and they hold a lot of rounds in the magazine for the same amount of space taken up by a 1911.
Somehow over the years, I’d carry a custom knife but always ended up with a Spyderco back in my pocket. Those Spyderco’s would be used daily.
Same principle… the “What if?” Does that mean I don’t own custom knives or guns? No. But now I only get what I’m more likely to use. So I don’t have as many of the customs as I used to have but I do have more of the production blades.
The difference? About an average of +/- $200. Each!
The quality is still there, if not the custom features I like and want. I am a flexible martial artist though, I can make it work.
Hey if you want to carry an expensive knife/gun, go for it. I am not here to blame or judge you. It’s your style/way/life, enjoy it.
I will still buy custom knives and maybe the occasional gun, but I will still carry production.
Another issue is warranty.
A custom maker will almost always stand behind his product. If it fails or breaks in an acceptable way, they will almost always repair it.
But keep in mind; these folks are a one man/woman show. These blades are hand made by one man/woman. The majority of the time, this is the ONLY thing these makers do for a living. They have to make knives daily. Repairs will mostly be done when they have the time to spare from a project.
Some makers are very good with their customer service. Sadly, others are not. Many will have your damaged blade back to you within the month. Other you might have to wait months or in some cases years to get back.
Production knives on the other hand, can get quick turnarounds because they simply send you a brand new knife. They have them in stock. Chances are you will have a knife back in your hand within the same week!
Custom makers rarely have this wherewithal. They make each and every knife they have.
So if you are like me, an end user, you might want to consider what I have said.
Just food for thought.