Recommendation? Should I do it . . . custom Andre Thorburn lefty

Craig Martell said:
As far as I can tell about Andre Thorburn's - they are made entirely by hand. If others have info, please help out.
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Also, the retailer is making a grand. Nothing wrong with this, but if I was going to spend that kind of money, I'd like to do business with the "artist."

But that's me.

Many times blades and handles can be purchased from catalogs. "Blanks."

Please people, I'm not suggesting this knife maker purchases his blades, I'm just saying what most already know.

https://www.srcutleryindustry.com/product-category/damascus-knives/folding-knives/?v=7516fd43adaa

JS
 
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Craig Martell said:
As far as I can tell about Andre Thorburn's - they are made entirely by hand. If others have info, please help out.
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I viewed his website?

I wouldn't buy it. But that's me.

I would do more research. A lot more.

Did he cut the blade by hand? Buy the blade "blank" from a supplier?

Purchase the handle from a supplier or construct it from scratch?

Many knives/blades look identical except for the garnishing.

The guy had a bunch of knives, looks like he never sleeps or possibly has assistance. Employees?

JS
 
Jake Speed said:
My thoughts.

My question would be,

how much of the knife was made by "hand" and how much was made by using "machinery?"

So, please fill me in on this information?

JS
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I've been in Andre's workshop. He grinds all the blades himself and produces every knife in his workshop.
Like many makers he will sometimes have liners laser cut or water jetted at a specialist vendor. He has had pivots machined by Derek Rauch, another SA maker and certain components like ceramic balls and some screws are bought in.

I don't really understand what you refer to as "machinery" but every precision folder maker uses machines. You cannot produce the accuracy without them.

This knife is also a 'Premium" model. If the dealer was making a 100% profit, Andre would be making a loss. You are totally incorrect in your pricing guess.
 
I see many blades on many handles which look identical or really close in his "line." Read what you like into this.

So, the dealer isn't making a grand, I'd still, for that kind of money, would like to do business with the "craftsman."

He's got plenty of knives which look the same except for the patina, finish, garnishing, call this what you want, but it's all over the place.

There's always a "Matrix" in every commercial industry. I would learn about the "Matrix" before I would buy a knife of this value from a dealer. But that's me.

JS
 
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J Jake Speed That you would post a link to P.O.S Middle Eastern blades as a comparison example, shows how far out of the box you are. Right.... he jobs out his blades??! Then you backpedal you didn't suggest this. You did.

Damasteel blades (at $1000 per steel billet). Did YOU know this?

Tell us about your experience. Who's YOUR value maker?

I can GUARANTEE I have handled substantially more knives than you, and know full well what a good value it. This IS a good value.

Andre has created a great model, and builds them consistently and similarly in mechanics and design. Because they WORK. Not with an outside team, but at his shop, possibly with an assistant.

Did you know that Daniel from BladeGallery just returned from South Africa in person? A month ago. This came back with him. He finds their work SO notably worthy, that he actually made a worldwide trip for his business clients.

Craig, you may custom order directly from Andre'. Then he needs to schedule time with craftsman Julien Marchal. I will bet you will have to wait a year, and the price will be commensurate with this.

There is value in immediate supply. If there is a premium, it's because it is here and ready. BladeGallery also stands 100% behind this knife. I read the fine print.

An educated observer.
 
SharpByCoop said:
J Jake Speed Did you know that Daniel from BladeGallery just returned from South Africa in person? A month ago. This came back with him. He finds their work SO notably worthy, that he actually made a worldwide trip for his business clients.

Craig, you may custom order directly from Andre'. Then he needs to schedule time with craftsman Julien Marchal. I will bet you will have to wait a year, and the price will be commensurate with this.

There is value in immediate supply. If there is a premium, it's because it is here and ready. BladeGallery also stands 100% behind this knife. I read the fine print.

An educated observer.
Click to expand...

Jim, thanks for jumping in here. I am a huge fan of Daniel and BladeGallery. So I don't have any issue with his making money. And I don't at all doubt the value of this knife. The question was whether it was worth it to me. And I have decided it is :). Given all the discussion here - most of it really helpful - I have decided I am going to pick the knife up tonight!! Richard338 Richard338 got it right in the second post, when he said I am going to buy it :).
 
Craig Martell said:
Jim, thanks for jumping in here. I am a huge fan of Daniel and BladeGallery. So I don't have any issue with his making money. And I don't at all doubt the value of this knife. The question was whether it was worth it to me. And I have decided it is :). Given all the discussion here - most of it really helpful - I have decided I am going to pick the knife up tonight!! Richard338 Richard338 got it right in the second post, when he said I am going to buy it :).
Click to expand...
I'm happy for you. I thought someone would scoop it on you with all this discussion...
 
Jake Speed said:
I see many blades on many handles which look identical or really close in his "line." Read what you like into this.

So, the dealer isn't making a grand, I'd still, for that kind of money, would like to do business with the "craftsman."

He's got plenty of knives which look the same except for the patina, finish, garnishing, call this what you want, but it's all over the place.

There's always a "Matrix" in every commercial industry. I would learn about the "Matrix" before I would buy a knife of this value from a dealer. But that's me.

JS
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so far off the mark that you are in a different galaxy

Craig Martell said:
Jim, thanks for jumping in here. I am a huge fan of Daniel and BladeGallery. So I don't have any issue with his making money. And I don't at all doubt the value of this knife. The question was whether it was worth it to me. And I have decided it is :). Given all the discussion here - most of it really helpful - I have decided I am going to pick the knife up tonight!! Richard338 Richard338 got it right in the second post, when he said I am going to buy it :).
Click to expand...

happy for you!
 
SharpByCoop said:
J Jake Speed That you would post a link to P.O.S Middle Eastern blades as a comparison example, shows how far out of the box you are. Right.... he jobs out his blades??! Then you backpedal you didn't suggest this. You did.

Damasteel blades (at $1000 per steel billet). Did YOU know this?

Tell us about your experience. Who's YOUR value maker?

I can GUARANTEE I have handled substantially more knives than you, and know full well what a good value it. This IS a good value.

Andre has created a great model, and builds them consistently and similarly in mechanics and design. Because they WORK. Not with an outside team, but at his shop, possibly with an assistant.

Did you know that Daniel from BladeGallery just returned from South Africa in person? A month ago. This came back with him. He finds their work SO notably worthy, that he actually made a worldwide trip for his business clients.

Craig, you may custom order directly from Andre'. Then he needs to schedule time with craftsman Julien Marchal. I will bet you will have to wait a year, and the price will be commensurate with this.

There is value in immediate supply. If there is a premium, it's because it is here and ready. BladeGallery also stands 100% behind this knife. I read the fine print.

An educated observer.
Click to expand...

A good deal of words. I went to Andre's sight. I see many knives which look the same except for the finish. And many ARE outstanding.

Help me with this, am I incorrect? A place to start.
 
That is an awesome-looking knife. I'm surprised it isn't more expensive.
 
J Jake Speed You are only incorrect in minimizing his lack of variety as a limiting.

Some of the most successful 'tactical' makers limit themselves to one or two styles and embellish them to suit.

This is a standard in the industry, and an ENVIABLE place to be. Good design = name recognition and always correct mechanics.

(Thanks for not firing retaliatory shots. ;))

Craig, congratulations.
 
Thanks all for joining in this discussion with me. It was really helpful.

Next step is to find a display case for this (and the others I am sure I will be buying). I am definitely not carrying it, and I don’t want to have locked away in the safe all the time.

Any thoughts?
 
It's a knife, use it.
Would I chop wood with it? no but light cutting is ok.
It's like getting a Rolex and locking it away. Why?
Better to just buy some gold.
Relatively speaking this knife was expensive, but in the big picture I don't feel like it's in safe queen land.
If I break it, I can fix it, and if I lose it, I can replace it.
Carry it and be happy knowing you are one of the few walking around with that bad ass knife!
Then again, YMMV
 
Steven65 said:
I've been in Andre's workshop. He grinds all the blades himself and produces every knife in his workshop.
Like many makers he will sometimes have liners laser cut or water jetted at a specialist vendor. He has had pivots machined by Derek Rauch, another SA maker and certain components like ceramic balls and some screws are bought in.

I don't really understand what you refer to as "machinery" but every precision folder maker uses machines. You cannot produce the accuracy without them.

This knife is also a 'Premium" model. If the dealer was making a 100% profit, Andre would be making a loss. You are totally incorrect in your pricing guess.
Click to expand...

SharpByCoop said:
J Jake Speed That you would post a link to P.O.S Middle Eastern blades as a comparison example, shows how far out of the box you are. Right.... he jobs out his blades??! Then you backpedal you didn't suggest this. You did.

Damasteel blades (at $1000 per steel billet). Did YOU know this?

Tell us about your experience. Who's YOUR value maker?

I can GUARANTEE I have handled substantially more knives than you, and know full well what a good value it. This IS a good value.

Andre has created a great model, and builds them consistently and similarly in mechanics and design. Because they WORK. Not with an outside team, but at his shop, possibly with an assistant.

Did you know that Daniel from BladeGallery just returned from South Africa in person? A month ago. This came back with him. He finds their work SO notably worthy, that he actually made a worldwide trip for his business clients.

Craig, you may custom order directly from Andre'. Then he needs to schedule time with craftsman Julien Marchal. I will bet you will have to wait a year, and the price will be commensurate with this.

There is value in immediate supply. If there is a premium, it's because it is here and ready. BladeGallery also stands 100% behind this knife. I read the fine print.

An educated observer.
Click to expand...

Well said gents. And yes, Andre is a super nice guy and a superb even phenomenal knifemaker.

Craig Martell said:
Thanks all for joining in this discussion with me. It was really helpful.

Next step is to find a display case for this (and the others I am sure I will be buying). I am definitely not carrying it, and I don’t want to have locked away in the safe all the time.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Definitely carry it. You will get way more enjoyment from it. :) It’s not a carton of eggs. ;)
 
$2K will get you 3 and a half really good hand guns. Oh well. :(

I'd make a plexi-case for that beauty only for display.

Congratulations on you're purchase.

JS.
 
As I said previously, use it! You'll enjoy it more. Any little scars will make it truly yours and you can always send it in for a spa treatment!!! Use it.

And Congrats on acquiring it as well!! Its a stunner...
 
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