Production vs. Custom

J

JamesofArc

Joined
Apr 19, 2016
Messages
310
Is there any reason to get a custom made knife if I can find what I need in a production knife.

Lets say a BK7 is all I need. Is a custom knife going to do me any better?

Why do I need a custom knife when I can find a production knife that will fit my needs?
 
Pride of ownership, fit and finish, premium materials. That's about it. Really depends on the individual. Some people like one of a kind items. Some people don't mind if it's from Wal-Mart.
 
For me, I would say no. There are so many high quality production knives, that you can buy that are as good as custom knives (expect maybe the aesthetics) but I buy knives for function. Not the mention the extra cost, and often long waiting periods to receive the knife.
 
Yes, the reason is want.

Many can and will find a sub $30 knife that will fit all of thier needs. However, tastes change and evolve. Providing you have the budget, those higher priced production knives may start too look a bit more appealing. That damascus carbon fiber CRK may have been out of the question 10 knives ago but it is starting too look just right. Then after a few more, that sweet one of a kind custom fixed blade may just boot out the already perfect Becker 15. Then you have to have an Alan Davis in the stable.

So, while you don't really need anything beyond the pocket folder, multi tool, and camp fixed blade etc., you just may want something a little nicer or sweeter that may not even perform a whole lot better.

Welcome to the vortex, the sickness.
 
A custom knife is generally more about the emotions involved in using a knife than the knife itself, you're going to get what you pay for in fit and finish but as far as usability it'll most likely be marginal at best. When you buy a custom it's usually a much more personal affair and thus you'll get some personal connection going when you use the knife as well as the pleasure of using a nice knife, while a production knife is just as fun to use it usually has less of a personal feel to it. Although, a production knife often calls for self-customizing, so you often make it more your own than if it was a custom already made well by someone else.
 
If you can afford it and are willing to wait for it by ALL means get the custom. The attention to the thinness near the bevel area and the superior heat treat (we are talking Phil Willson now) is very noticeably better at cutting.

See this thread.

For me the geometry and thinness of the blade is EVERYTHING. I usually wind up grinding the heck out of my production knives to make them into something useful.
 
I am seldom interested in a pure custom, although I have owned quite a few over the last years. I presently carry a mid-tech, which is an "almost" custom and "almost" production, and for my use...that seems to be working out perfectly. I've carried the same knife for about 17 months, and that's some kind of record for me. But as has been said, there are so many FINE production knives these days...and you will save a bunch of money in buying them over custom.
If you want to incorporate some of your own ideas or measurements into a folder, then buying a custom can make a lot of sense. I have done this several times, but found out that they weren't all that great either. Which doesn't say all that much for my ideas...
If you wish to buy a "name" and that's fine, then you may not have much choice. The cost factor is often two-to-one, or much greater, and I'd rather pay the lesser amount. I am not that impressed by any custom maker's name...but that is all opinion, and many will disagree with me.
 
JamesofArc said:
Is there any reason to get a custom made knife if I can find what I need in a production knife.

Lets say a BK7 is all I need. Is a custom knife going to do me any better?

Why do I need a custom knife when I can find a production knife that will fit my needs?
Click to expand...

I don't mean to be rude, but you kinda answered your own question.....

Need vs want, that's about it.

There's not much difference between a really well made "production" knife and your average "custom"
In certain cases, there isn't even a lot of difference in how they are made.

There are always exceptions.
 
If I'm buying a custom, it's a one-off piece made to my specs.
 
A proper custom should be superior to a similar factory blade in every regard.

Edge geometry is severely lacking on the vast majority of factory knives.
 
I used to be all about custom or handmade knives. Now, I personally don't see any reason to buy unless you are having one made to your own specs. Most times I can be very comfortable with the factory knife or one of the regular production handmade knives that the knife makers build/make over and over again.
 
JamesofArc said:
Is there any reason to get a custom made knife if I can find what I need in a production knife.

Lets say a BK7 is all I need. Is a custom knife going to do me any better?

Why do I need a custom knife when I can find a production knife that will fit my needs?
Click to expand...

I say it depends on what you are planning on using it for exactly.

And your budget.
 
Not really unless you're an enthusiast or collector.

Generally my favourite use knives are the ones designed by a custom maker but produced by a reputable mass production brand.

This is because production knives always have something custom ones dont: expendability.

A use knife must be an expendable item in my oppinion. You should not be terrified if you ever loose or break your knife, and then just buy another one like it. You can't do that with a custom.

I like Elishewitz and Sibert, but I'd rather use the Benchmades than their own custom knives for the most part, at least in the field, just because they're mass produced and easily available.
 
Why would you spend the money for a custom if you can find what you need in a production knife?
 
I wold hope there is a difference .

Cause a bm folder ain't the worst BUT FAR from the best ;)

As to the use question most makers will back their product if they are worth the weight of their skin.


BUT...... what makers don't want is for you to go baton or throw or any of the other stupid things we sometimes do with our knives.

But if it is the fault of the blade then by all means GOOD maker. Would make it right somehow.

(At leads that's what tell myself I would do lol)
 
Mitchell Knives said:
A proper custom should be superior to a similar factory blade in every regard.

Edge geometry is severely lacking on the vast majority of factory knives.
Click to expand...

When it comes to performance this is VERY true. Fit and finish....maybe not always so. Factories allow for some processes which are very difficult to duplicate in a small shop setting. When comparing the production version vs the custom version of the same knife however this should show in most cases.

There are always makers that are the exceptions. But the fact that handmade knives are made one at a time allows for an attention to detail that allows the maker to get thinner grinds and better heat treats (in general).

I found this out the first time after I'd bought a handmade slipjoint that outcut all the factory slipjoints that I'd owned by a mile. I've still found this to be true over the past few years in other knives.

A regrind on a production knife can make a lot of difference though and can help the production knife approach custom level performance.
 
When you think of "pizza" - is it that frozen circle that is cheaper by the dozen or a fresh one, where you can add a little bit of cheese or garlic....?
 
A corvette is an awesome sports car. A ferrari is even better. A hand build race car blows them both away.
 
JamesofArc said:
Is there any reason to get a custom made knife if I can find what I need in a production knife.
Click to expand...
No. But I have production knives, handmade knives, and one truly custom knife.

I think every knife enthusiast should have a true one off custom knife made for him sometime in his lifetime.


KingMC said:
A custom knife is generally more about the emotions involved in using a knife than the knife itself, you're going to get what you pay for in fit and finish but as far as usability it'll most likely be marginal at best.
Click to expand...
I'll have to disagree, Usability will only be "marginal at best" in a custom if that's what you specify as the buyer, and even then you can expect many knifemakers to try to talk you out of it.

My one custom is truly usable as are my handmades. Here's my custom from Tom Mayo and a handmade knife from Herb Martin. Both blades hollow ground ATS34 with lots of belly and both knives sport micarta grips. Neither would be considered marginally useful or having usability "marginal at best", as you put it.

DSCN0210.JPG

H.A.%2520Martin%2520Skinner.jpg


kamagong said:
Why would you spend the money for a custom if you can find what you need in a production knife?
Click to expand...
I spent $125 on the custom Mayo above and $80 on the Martin handmade. Not a whole lot more money than similar quality, functional mass produced blades cost when I bought those knives.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top