buying the unbuy-able. yea, it's a knife.

[vash]

i put aside the cash if one ever comes up for sale. i get one, and if i love it; i will get rid of pretty much any and all fixed blades i have floating around in some junk drawer. i figure, one uber-knife is better than a bunch of other ones. keep a few folders and i will be living the streamlined dream. (that's the plan penciled out on paper thusfar)

boom! this guy; how does he make a living? he is never available with anything in stock!! i'm on his mailing list - just waiting.

the Gough Resolute Miii (or something)

[flatbutt]

What makes them so desirable?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

What makes them so desirable?

Some "niche" markets are made just by how difficult it is to get an item. Functionally, this knife can't really be that much better than a similar one made by Buck. But Vash wants one in part because so few have them. From the pic, I can guess it's a well crafted knife.

In the pool world, there are cues like that...Southwest comes to mind. They are a well made cue that plays well...and you can indeed order one directly from Southwest. The waiting period? 10 to 13 years... OR you can buy one from a flipper at double the price Southwest would charge. Flipper prices around $3,500 to $4,500 depending on woods used, number of inlays & veneers, etc.

https://therefinedcueist.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/cue-review-southwest-cues/

In other words, supply and demand...

[Don Ro]

Keep in mind that from his posts over the years, Vash is a knife guy. He seems to know about the steel and the feel of knives.
The Feel of the Steel.
.
I have 7 knives on a magnetic strip that I favor. Use 'em all now/then.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Functionally, this knife can't really be that much better than a similar one made by Buck.

That is not true. I have knives that will shave the metal off of your Buck knife, and I have knives that can be held, tight fisted, in the rain and mud, and be more stable and comfortable than your buck knife. I also have knives that will never close on my fingers cutting them off, like your Buck knife will do.

So, despite your "old man" attitude, these knives are NOT functionally the same as your Buck knife. This one appears to be made from very high grade tool steel, then hand tempered, which means it will be more stable and consistent than any mass produced blade. The hand made process means that it will be fitted better than your cheap mass production knife, and (for example) the pins will stay tight much longer, then frame will not warp, then color will not fade. The finger locations will fit better and feel better, then handle will be more comfortable, and you won't get palm blisters using it.


The only thing your Buck is good at is rust resistance, since the steel has so much chromium in it that it's damned near waterproof, but in return, it's soft as hell.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Some "niche" markets are made just by how difficult it is to get an item. Functionally, this knife can't really be that much better than a similar one made by Buck. But Vash wants one in part because so few have them. From the pic, I can guess it's a well crafted knife.

In the pool world, there are cues like that...Southwest comes to mind. They are a well made cue that plays well...and you can indeed order one directly from Southwest. The waiting period? 10 to 13 years... OR you can buy one from a flipper at double the price Southwest would charge. Flipper prices around $3,500 to $4,500 depending on woods used, number of inlays & veneers, etc.

https://therefinedcueist.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/cue-review-southwest-cues/

In other words, supply and demand...

I was going to compare this to pool cues, I only dipped my toe into the pool world when I worked with a bunch of guys that played pool after work and they invited me along, I enjoyed the camaraderie and thought I would get into it but then I moved onto anothe job and lost my pool buddies.

Just curious Paul , what does a top of the line mass produced cue cost compared to the big buck custom jobs?

For me, I like my Damascus kitchen knife set made in China (Calaphon) I got for ~$250.

Would I like $2000 set made in Japan? Sure!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I was going to compare this to pool cues, I only dipped my toe into the pool world when I worked with a bunch of guys that played pool after work and they invited me along, I enjoyed the camaraderie and thought I would get into it but then I moved onto anothe job and lost my pool buddies.

Just curious Paul , what does a top of the line mass produced cue cost compared to the big buck custom jobs?

For me, I like my Damascus kitchen knife set made in China (Calaphon) I got for ~$250.

Would I like $2000 set made in Japan? Sure!

That's it. It all depends on what you like and what's important to you. On cues? These days, you can buy a cheap Tiawan made cue for well under $100 at any Wal-Mart. You can buy a mass Produced Schon, which I consider top of the line Production cue for around $600 up into the thousands, depending on degree of fancy. (quality similar to buck knives) Actually, the Southwest cues I mentioned earlier are a production cue, made in Las Vegas in limited numbers by people working under the direction of Laurie Franklin, window of company founder Jerry Franklin. They make maybe 150 cues per year...

Custom cues are like custom knives...depending on what you like. They usually begin at around $1,000 for a sneaky Pete (looks like a house cue) and climb from there. Some cue builders have a dedicated following others not so much. I'm sure it's the same with knife makers.

You know, I thought of answering Pazuzu using cues in the same manner. Yeah, it could be done. But you know what? Some people can play pretty sporty with a less expensive production cue...just as some people have no problem field dressing a deer with a Buck folding hunter.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

You know, I thought of answering Pazuzu using cues in the same manner. Yeah, it could be done. But you know what? Some people can play pretty sporty with a less expensive production cue...just as some people have no problem field dressing a deer with a Buck folding hunter.

Tennis is the only sport I really liked (well, other than volleyball, not much exercise but good way to meet girls) I had a pretty nice medium grade racket endorsed by some pro and made out of some fancy hi-tech material.

Then one day I saw a kid beating everyone at the courts with a beat up cracked old wood racket.

[72doug2,2S]

Would not be a collection without a Buck.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

just as some people have no problem field dressing a deer with a Buck folding hunter.

That's not what you said. You said that the $350-400 custom knife that he wants can't be much better of a knife than a $100 Buck skinner, when in fact it CAN be.

Can someone skin a deer with Buck skinner? Yes. Can someone skin 10 deers in a row with a Buck skinner? Not very well they can't. Can someone skin 10 deers in a row with Gough Resolute MkIII? Yes, and still have knife to spare. Therefore, it's a better knife. 420A steel simply isn't good enough, and that's what Buck uses. The Gough (or any number of other high end, specialty knives) will still be sharp, you will still have a firm grip despite the blood, and you won't have a blister or hot spot forming. That makes it better. I've never even HEARD of a Gough knife before, but I know that even the worst hand tempered, hand sharpened, hand built A2 knife is better than the best 420 knife, so I can stand by my statements.

All this arguing from someone who bought a Bullit instead of a GT, even though it "...can't really be that much better..."

[pwd72s]

LOL! I bought a Bullitt mainly for looks. Wouldn't have bought a Mustang GT because I didn't like the "boy racer" stripes & rear spoiler dealers loved to order them with. That, and yes, I liked it's slightly better mechanical bits over the GT.

Tell ya what..next time I'm going to skin 10 deer in a row, I'll buy that $400 custom knife. I'm curious..you do note I said "field dressing". To me, that doesn't involve skinning. What, I'm going to drag a deer out of the brush with his hide off? Nope. I always waited for more sanitary conditions to do the skinning and the butchering.

I'm not saying Vash shouldn't buy the knife. Hell, if he really wants one, he should contact the guy & see if he can get on a list. Hell, I love my Keith Josey custom cue. But I'm not kidding myself that I "need" it order to play pool...any more than I "need" a custom knife to field dress a deer.

[sc_rufctr]

WOW... Very handsome but I'm afraid to ask how much.

[rwest]

About $500 for many of the ones I saw on his website- all out of stock though.

[herr_oberst]

I hope this guy has help doing the day-to-day stuff, ordering supplies, shipping, etc. Great craftsmanship using simple tools, but extremely labor intensive!! How many could you possibly make in a day? (Lots of room to improve efficiency, but that's not his gig, obviously)

500 bucks seems cheap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R98cGkhN18o

[vash]

I’m hoping it’s $350 usd

I can’t justify it. I just want one. I couldn’t explain my old 911. Some stuff we gravitate to just doesn’t make sense.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by vash

Some stuff we gravitate to just doesn’t make sense.

I like the looks of it. When I first saw it reminded me of an older Ducati.

"Man, I could use a knife like that in the kitchen and the $75 (my assumed steep price) would make for a nice little treat". Then I looked up the price. Eeek.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by vash

I’m hoping it’s $350 usd

I can’t justify it. I just want one. I couldn’t explain my old 911. Some stuff we gravitate to just doesn’t make sense.

Money is just paper until you spend it. Obtaining things that make you happy is why we go to work everyday.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by vash

Some stuff we gravitate to just doesn’t make sense.

I bought my '90 851 Ducati cuz I HAD to have it. I was smitten.

[sc_rufctr]

Justify? No need to explain Vash. That knife must be one of the best available.

Imagine justifying 20k for a stainless steel mechanical watch!

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Designed by Gérald Genta, 1972 & still in production.

[Geronimo '74]

Vash, check out Stout Gear Knives.
I think you’ll like ‘em.
Cool stuff, USA made and very reasonably priced.