Custom or not, I expect to get a sharp knife when I buy a knife.
I consider price point more of a factor than differences in maker catagorization. To me the difference between custom and semi-custom is more of an issue with volume and amount of machined steps along the way. But, the differences are actually quite blurry as there is pretty much everything in between.
Sure, a custom knife maker should take pride in what he makes and sells.
.... So should a high-end semi-custom maker or anyone selling knives much over $35 - $40 dollars!
And for that matter, if a "Cheap" knife were not initially sharp, would you even bother purchasing it? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
To me, it is just better business for a maker to provide a product that is at or close to optimal performance when it leaves the maker.
Consider how often customers may be "un-impressed" with a product because of lack of a product being able to perform better than or on par with much cheaper competition when the product comes from the factory.
Not every knife buyer is going to test Busse's ability to withstand abuse with an iron pipe in a vise and cynder blocks. Or compare these abilities to other makers. But, most buyers will know if it cuts well or not.
Most people want a knife to cut first and foremost, then followed by these other amazing abilities.
* Not to take away or undermine the importance of other knife factors. Quality of steel is VERY important. It's just that ability to cut well or not is going to be most obvious.
Obviously, most of us are here because we understand and believe Busse makes some of the best and toughest knife steel in the industry. And Busse steel quality has significant value to us.
I still buy a lot of Scrap Yard, Swamp Rat and Busse knives because of their excellent to unbeatable steal quality.
Yes, I know I can sharpen them. If I didn't think I could actually make them cut well, I wouldn't be interested. I don't see any value in a tool intended to be a knife if it can't cut well.
Tough pieces of steel with handles attached that can't really be made to cut well and hold an edge can be purchased all day long for cheap at any hardware store.
But, I still would like to receive sharp knives without having to expect a time consuming project right when I receive my "NEW" relatively high priced knives.
I am NOT going to be sold on any belief that just because there are lots of $300 - $1000 knives in the industry that $100 - $200 knives are anywhere close to "Cheap". I still consider $100+ to be a significant sum of money for a knife.
I would like to try to maintain some real world price/cost values.
I do still remember when I thought $100 was a LOT for a knife.
My fantasy knife perspective has changed. But, the real-world values haven't so much.
Outside of these forums, how many of you have friends, family or "spouses" who consider $100 for a knife cheap?
And if you do, how small is the percentage.
I am pretty confident most if not everyone I know considers $30.00 - $50.00 expensive for a knife. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/paperbag.gif" alt="" />
I don't like having to sharpen a NEW knife myself before I use it the first time. I don't like the actuality or the concept.
Nor do I like having to "PAY" someone else (Scrappy) to sharpen my "NEW" factory knife that "should" be sharp already. I understand why you do it and why we all do what we must do, but I think factory knives should be sharp when new. I don't believe you or I should be thrilled that we need to send off our new knives to somebody else to have sharpened.
Unsub, you and I will have to agree to disagree on this one. It should only take a well established shop like Busse a few minutes to get a razor sharp edge. This shouldn't cost much more in time value to a knife maker. But, it takes most non-knifemaker/buyers quite a bit of time and effort.
I think it is worth a couple of bucks.
Further, and more importantly, I think the prices warrant factory sharp already!
And I feel it should be viewed as worth the effort from Busse.
I feel they should see and appreciate the return value to them as a company.
I feel a knife-maker should take PRIDE in providing their customers with a product that performs at optimal level when they ship their product.
They clearly take pride in toughness and steel quality, why not in sharpness?
Busse has earned a strong and well deserved reputation for the toughness of their knives and quality of their steel.
But, that is only part of a knifes "performance" equation.
They should still strive to earn a reputation for the rest of the equation.
I still contend that a knifes primary purpose is to cut.
I still contend that any knife-maker interested in achieving or maintaining a worthy reputation should strive to achieve this "Primary" goal as a BASIC standard for ALL knives they produce.
Knife design, comfort, feel, etc. are and always will be somewhat subjective.
But, there are a few standard and Primary features that are (and should) always considered and evaluated in a knife:
Quality of the steel / Ablity to hold an edge
Ability to cut
In the case of a knife, the quality of the steel and it's ability to hold an edge is pretty much 100% contolled by the maker.
Granted, a knifes ability to cut well can be controlled and influenced by the end consumer - assuming the end consumer has tools, skill and time to FINISH the knife.
But, I don't believe a knife - that again by definition is supposed to be a SHARP tool, should be expected to be "Finished" prior to it's first use by the end consumer.
Maintenance is a seperate issue to me.
I buy shovels and certain yard and garden tools that are dull when I buy them. And I sharpen them because a sharp shovel and many other tools work about 10 times better than a dull shovel and so on. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
But, most people don't define a shovel as a "sharp" tool.
A knife should come SHARP from the maker! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
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