3 Myths About Custom Knives

There's truly nothing like a custom knife -- if you don't have yours (yet), then put it on your "bucket list." In our opinion, anyone who appreciates fine craftsmanship should own at least one handmade custom.

There are a few persistent myths about custom knives, though, so let's debunk them now.

1. Custom knives are just for show. High-quality custom knives are made by people who know knives. Not only do the 'makers build a knife the right way, they know what makes a great knife -- design, steel, heat treating, balance, ergonomics and more. There's also an attention to detail that's hard to find in our cookie-cutter world.

No matter how beautiful, ornate or rare they may be, however, none of the custom knives we sell carry a "For Display Only" label. All of them are designed to be used -- that's the knifemakers' intent, and that's what we encourage.

2. Custom knives are fragile. The same qualities that make custom knives usable qualify them for serious use.

They're not at all fragile -- quite the opposite, in fact. And when you think about how a top-notch custom is made, it's easy to see why.

Each knife, for all intents and purposes, is individually handmade. The 'maker has the chance to lay eyes and hands on every aspect of every knife. Pride and reputation are on the line each time he puts his name on the blade, so buy your custom (and use it) with confidence.

3. The selection of great custom knives is limited -- there's just not much variety. This might be the silliest myth of all, and one look at our own selection of customs quickly dispels it.

The root of this misconception may be that "custom knife" is perceived to be synonymous with traditional Bowies, ornate daggers and objets d'art. And while knives fitting those descriptions certainly are available, the custom-knife universe is far more diverse.

As younger knifemakers have taken up the craft, they've brought along their own cultural and artistic influences. Today we see everything from the traditional to the tactical, from intricate to downright minimalist. Honestly, measured by variety and quality, this might just be the "golden age" of custom knives.

Finally, remember that one of the best thing about customs is that each is unique -- when you own a custom knife, you know that no one else has one quite like it. That's especially true of the hand-forged product of the bladesmith's art.

KnivesShipFree stocks a wide selection of custom knives from 'makers like Murray Carter, Fiddleback Forge, Jesse Hemphill, Lon Humphrey, Dan Koster, Mike Malosh, Jeff Murison, Oaks Bottom Forge, Alan Warren and more.