Custom knives

[Liquid Cobra]

Just curious if any of you fine people own and carry any custom knives. If so, which ones. If not, why not? Would you like to?

I just thought it would be cool to start a discussion. Share your thoughts, pics etc..

[SpyderEdgeForever]

What is the technical difference between a "hand made" and a "custom knife"?

[ZrowsN1s]

I have 3 custom fixed blades that I never carry because of knife "culture" around here. It's legal to carry a fixed blade, but as far as cultural norms go, people generally don't and LE will give you the side eye.

Wouldn't mind getting a custom folder one of these days. They're just expensive.

[xceptnl]

I have 2 custom fixed blades (Phil Wilson & Mark Terrell) as well as a custom Esnyx traditional folder that I designed and Evan built to my specifications. All of which I treasure and use on a regular basis.

[The Meat man]

I don't own any custom knives, but if I did at least one of them would be a Randall.

[TomAiello]

I own two Phil Wilson customs, and I use them both--one I use multiple times every day.

[farnorthdan]

I guess my only true custom is my Pohan Leu Hamachi, it's a brute, and quit large, it gets carried some. Also have a couple Shirogorov's but they're not full customs(I wish), they get carried a lot, probably the nicest production's I have. Also have a mule team that Xplorer put some amazing scales on for me, that one gets carried occasionally also.

[tvenuto]

I have a calavera cutlery fixed blade that I bought on sale at howes way back when. I take it camping. As far as folders I’ve kicked around the idea but then with the quality that Spyderco puts out I think to myself “why?”

[Liquid Cobra]

What is the technical difference between a "hand made" and a "custom knife"?

I don’t think there is. However, if I were to make a knife by hand which I’ve never attempted, I don’t think I would call it a custom knife even though it was custom made by me. I guess what I’m trying to say is that saying custom implies a certain level of quality.

[dsvirsky]

I own, carry, and use a number of custom knives. Some of my favorite makers included in my collection are Tom Krein (fixed), Ed Caffrey (fixed & folding), Ray Kirk (fixed & folding), Richard Rogers (folding), and Tom Mayo (folding).

[dsvirsky]

What is the technical difference between a "hand made" and a "custom knife"?

That is a topic that's been debated endlessly (without resolution) on the various Internet knife forums, along with, "what constitutes hand made?"

[SpyderNut]

What is the technical difference between a "hand made" and a "custom knife"?

That is a topic that's been debated endlessly (without resolution) on the various Internet knife forums, along with, "what constitutes hand made?"

Adding “mid-tech” to the mix makes things even more confusing. :p

[Doc Dan]

At present, I have only one custom knife: a small D2 skinner. It is very high hollow ground very thin.

[michaelm466]

Just my opinion-
Production- All or majority made by machine
Midtech- At least part made by machine (closer to 50/50)
Handmade- All made by hand individually by maker
Custom- Made by hand to a customer exact specs

for example I have 3 Big Chris Fixed blades (Maker on bladeforums). 1 I consider handmade as he had already built it and offered it up in the for sale section, I like it and bought it, the other two I commissioned, picked the steel, grind, handle and sheath materials and sent a CAD drawing of to him of exactly what I wanted. He built them to my specs. All three are fantastic (2 CPM-10V @64 and 1 CPM-3V at 60)

[Liquid Cobra]

Just my opinion-
Production- All or majority made by machine
Midtech- At least part made by machine (closer to 50/50)
Handmade- All made by hand individually by maker
Custom- Made by hand to a customer exact specs

for example I have 3 Big Chris Fixed blades (Maker on bladeforums). 1 I consider handmade as he had already built it and offered it up in the for sale section, I like it and bought it, the other two I commissioned, picked the steel, grind, handle and sheath materials and sent a CAD drawing of to him of exactly what I wanted. He built them to my specs. All three are fantastic (2 CPM-10V @64 and 1 CPM-3V at 60)

What about a custom maker that CNC’s his knives? Custom or production?

[michaelm466]

Since its a combination of man and machine, Id classify it as Midtech, even if its just the scales that are cnc machined and everything else is by hand. If a customer is able to say, steel, handle material and color, ect, kind of like the Benchmade Griptilian customizer on their website its a Customized production, customized midtech, customize handmade, ect, but not a full custom, because its still not your complete design.

[spyderg]

I’ve got a Smock SK23. First lefty he made.

I carry and use it all the time, pretty hard too from time to time. 3v steel so it’s up for it.
Can’t wait for the Spyderco version, hopefully I can get one here in Canada...

[The Deacon]

I own, and occasionally carry, this A. T. Barr custom left handed One Eyed Jack.

Also own Ed Schenpp's "all damascus" custom liner lock prototype for the small Persian and a small Arno Bernard fixed blade.

[dsvirsky]

I own, and occasionally carry, this A. T. Barr custom left handed One Eyed Jack.

One of my collecting regrets is I never pulled the trigger on an A.T. Barr One Eyed Jack while he was making knives. I did carry this A.T. Barr knife to work for a number of years:

[xceptnl]

Just my opinion-
Production- All or majority made by machine
Midtech- At least part made by machine (closer to 50/50)
Handmade- All made by hand individually by maker
Custom- Made by hand to a customer exact specs

for example I have 3 Big Chris Fixed blades (Maker on bladeforums). 1 I consider handmade as he had already built it and offered it up in the for sale section, I like it and bought it, the other two I commissioned, picked the steel, grind, handle and sheath materials and sent a CAD drawing of to him of exactly what I wanted. He built them to my specs. All three are fantastic (2 CPM-10V @64 and 1 CPM-3V at 60)

What about a custom maker that CNC’s his knives? Custom or production?

I would consider it custom still as long as he is producing product from raw materials. I consider Grimsmo one of the makers in that category.