Knife maker woes...

308n45 · Jul 9, 2022

I get disappointed when I hear, "Can you make me a Kabar?". Yes, of course I can.

But for $165 you can get a new model made of D2 or for $70 you can get an old model out of 1095. Why would you want one out of 80CRV2 or 52100? Sure it is going to be 0.250" +- instead of 5/32", but come on... Blarg.

Almost bought a new model and JB weld filled in the stamp marks, Ceracoted it and put a new handle on it. But I do have some standards.

Cheers! Thanks for letting me rant.

Frank RW · Jul 9, 2022

308n45 said:
I get disappointed when I hear, "Can you make me a Kabar?". Yes, of course I can.

But for $165 you can get a new model made of D2 or for $70 you can get an old model out of 1095. Why would you want one out of 80CRV2 or 52100? Sure it is going to be 0.250" +- instead of 5/32", but come on... Blarg.

Almost bought a new model and JB weld filled in the stamp marks, Ceracoted it and put a new handle on it. But I do have some standards.

Cheers! Thanks for letting me rant.

I would imagine, like me, some of us wouldn't know the difference in metals and other details you listed. 80CRV2 sounds like a watch battery to me.

Might be about having their own unique knife, not something mass-produced.

Keep your standards. They're getting rarer.

Alexx1401 · Jul 9, 2022

308n45 said:
I get disappointed when I hear, "Can you make me a Kabar?". Yes, of course I can.

But for $165 you can get a new model made of D2 or for $70 you can get an old model out of 1095. Why would you want one out of 80CRV2 or 52100? Sure it is going to be 0.250" +- instead of 5/32", but come on... Blarg.

Almost bought a new model and JB weld filled in the stamp marks, Ceracoted it and put a new handle on it. But I do have some standards.

Cheers! Thanks for letting me rant.

A LOT of people just have no concept of what hand making anything involves. Being a machinist for a long time I can't count the times someone would ask me to make them some simple thing. Something that was easily just bought. When I would tell them just buy it some would get real mad. Often trying to explain that making something they could buy for $10 would be many hours of work to make from scratch and if making one?

308n45 · Jul 9, 2022

Lets not get started on metal fabrication. "I want a gate and fence for the front of my house." "Well steel will cost you 2,350. My 50 hours costs 6,250 and you wanted that powder coated, so it is an install, a removal, sand blast and powder coat and a reinstall at 1,275. So, 9,875." "WHAT! That is just outrageous!!"

frank linkh · Jul 9, 2022

Krylon is your friend. Maybe the stoners won't notice

Certaindeaf · Jul 9, 2022

Knife maker woes are way better than knife maker wokes.

Tinman357 · Jul 10, 2022

I don't mind paying the premium for high quality items. Hand made. Even better. 1/4" thick K-bar made to my liking? I'd easy pay 5-6 hundred. I recognize and appreciate the labor and skill that goes into that kind of work.

That cold steel tanto made by a master smith with an eye toward perfection? He could name his price. I already have both the san mai and the original flat grind. Great blades, well made. Handles suck. They get slick with sweat or whatever, it's like trying to hold on to an eel.

@308n45 Do you work in wrought Iron? Your price seems reasonable for custom work. And I'm going to want a nicely done gate after the house gets built.