my first custom knife

[DickHardman]

Stop spending $700 dollars on bongs or vaporizers and you could afford a nice knife smokey.

why spend 700 on a knife when you can spend 50 on something that will perform just as well like a basic cold steel voyager or spyderco endura/delica???

[TTEscrima]

why spend 700 on a knife when you can spend 50 on something that will perform just as well like a basic cold steel voyager or spyderco endura/delica???

Because they don't perform as well. No one can open a spyderco anywhere near as fast as you can open a Benchmade or an Emerson etc. The good folders seem to start about 200 bucks. Locking mechanisms are pretty damn important as well and cheaper knives use cheaper materials to make the liners. I've seen people take a good knife and literally cut chunks out of the cheaper ones like they're whittling a stick. As for Cold steel, I don't like their feel, their size, or their marketing. Really nice folders can be bought for 200-300 bucks and incredible fixed blades can be found around 150 bucks. Most 500-700 dollar knives aren't being carried or used, they're being looked at.

If you like spyderco and cold steel so much why did you fork out the cash for a handmade knife?

[DickHardman]

Because they don't perform as well. No one can open a spyderco anywhere near as fast as you can open a Benchmade or an Emerson etc.

how do you figure?? whats the fastest way to open a knife? is it flicking it open with inertia?? i believe thats what boarspear once said was the fastest way, i may be wrong. if thats the case, then the sturdy spyderco dallara that utilizes a ball lock mechanism can be inertia opened quite effortlessly. as for emersons, if you are talking about the wave featrure, spyderco makes a version of the endura/delica with the emerson wave for 50 bux or so, allowing you to carry a reliable waved knive that can draw as fast as an emmerson.

The good folders seem to start about 200 bucks. Locking mechanisms are pretty damn important as well and cheaper knives use cheaper materials to make the liners. I've seen people take a good knife and literally cut chunks out of the cheaper ones like they're whittling a stick. As for Cold steel, I don't like their feel, their size, or their marketing. Really nice folders can be bought for 200-300 bucks and incredible fixed blades can be found around 150 bucks. Most 500-700 dollar knives aren't being carried or used, they're being looked at.

there are plenty of good folders in all price ranges unless you are just really picky. you can get a decent 20 dollar knife if you chose the right one. id take a 20-25 dollar made in china g10 byrd flight over 200+ dollar emmerson any time of the day. im not a commando or a ghurka, i dont need a blade that will withstand use in combat zones or hacking my way out of jungles or crashed helicopters. a 25-50 dollar knife will last a regular civilian carrying for mostly light tasks and possible self defense just about forever if dont outright abuse it.

If you like spyderco and cold steel so much why did you fork out the cash for a handmade knife?

i just liked the design and the price wasnt too high, but you are right its a mid tech knife, but i still cant wait to get it.





what made you guys all decide to carry the gravitator?

[Tant01]

Production and "custom"...

My first customized production was a Tanto "Fishbone" by Otha M. He made one from 1/4 inch stock (ats-34) for me but the thickness prevented him from being able to grind a real tanto tip...So he sent me one made from Damascus!

I have a one of a kind (CUSTOM) karambit by Craig Camerer (my EDC) and a set of custom k-bits by James Coogler...of my own design.

They are all fixed blades because nothing opens faster than a fixed blade...

[kingoftheforest]

Whoops

They are all fixed blades because nothing opens faster than a fixed blade...

Except yo mama's legs!

Aww crap wrong thread.












Sorry Tant couldn't help myself it was too wide open.
Like yo mama

[kingoftheforest]

So...TT, you're an escrima guy...what's your connection to the old Mongolian wrestling and Taji hog?

I get the impression that Tanto, you and KOTF know each other...

Well he lives with me so I kinda know him a little. TTE that is.

[TTEscrima]

So...TT, you're an escrima guy...what's your connection to the old Mongolian wrestling and Taji hog?

I get the impression that Tanto, you and KOTF know each other...

My dad served with Boars dad in the Air Commando in the 50's they've trained together and have had their families training together ever since. They served in the Congo and learned a healthy respect for sticks and knives in the process. I was brought up doing stick and knife and have sought out as much related material as I could find.


I don't know Tanto1 but we seem to be on similar wavelengths.

[Tant01]

E-buddies... Real friendship takes time.

.................
........


I don't know Tanto1 but we seem to be on similar wavelengths.

Roger that...

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

Stop spending $700 dollars on bongs or vaporizers and you could afford a nice knife smokey.

or just get a bong or vaporizer that costs 100 dollars.

[TTEscrima]

That is a thing of beauty. I wonder if I could commision a ginunting style bolo or a custom fixed blade EDC...

Did he get that connected through the toxic green?

Yep he had them made by a USN maker, be aware the waiting time is YEARS in spite of what they may tell you.

[kingoftheforest]

Yep he had them made by a USN maker, be aware the waiting time is YEARS in spite of what they may tell you.

Yeah he'll get it in the mail but it won't be in the mail. Then it will somehow get stolen then it will get mailed to someone else on accident. Then you will wind up buying it from one of your friends who bought it for his wife because she didn't like it after you get your money back from the maker.

True story.

[TTEscrima]

Yeah he'll get it in the mail but it won't be in the mail. Then it will somehow get stolen then it will get mailed to someone else on accident. Then you will wind up buying it from one of your friends who bought it for his wife because she didn't like it after you get your money back from the maker.

True story.

You forgot to mention getting other peoples knives instead of yours and getting stuck for the shipping and insurance sending them back to the maker.

[Tant01]

You forgot to mention getting other peoples knives instead of yours and getting stuck for the shipping and insurance sending them back to the maker.

That's sad... I've been fortunate I suppose. So far the guys I've purchased from were straight shooters (and well organized)...

Even out of country orders have been delivered on time...

[TTEscrima]

That's sad... I've been fortunate I suppose. So far the guys I've purchased from were straight shooters (and well organized)...

Even out of country orders have been delivered on time...

I dare say I'll never order another custom again, I've had terrible experiences with designs stolen and custom knives that were "lost" and yet turned up in other peoples hands. I'm owed 4 customs that I've written off all from well known makers. For the last decade I've carried a fixed blade tanto made for me by the man who makes the CIA and NSA's knives, it cost me a sixth of the customs.

[DickHardman]

They served in the Congo and learned a healthy respect for sticks and knives in the process.

can you go into more detail about this??