custom knives worth it or not?

[Vipa]

I have a beautiful custom knife... an OSK 1 by Charles May.. cost a lot and I had to wait 2 years for it..... can't bring myself to take it out and use it so I guess that makes it pretty useless as a knife!!!

I have a Mora HD in my rifle case in case I forget to pack any others (done that before!) but my kit always includes my Cold Steel Master Hunter and my Havalon Piranta.. The Charles May stays at home in the drawer!

 

[norma 308]

If your a knife collector then I see no prob in leaving customs in the drawer ...however if your a deerstalker why would you not use your custom knife for what it's made for ?
Norma

 

[Vipa]

If your a knife collector then I see no prob in leaving customs in the drawer ...however if your a deerstalker why would you not use your custom knife for what it's made for ?
Norma

I agree Norma... leaving it in the drawer was never the intention but as I say, just can't bring myself to take it out!!!!

 

[norma 308]

Go on you'll enjoy it

 

[I. Farticus]

Tie it to your jacket with paracord though!!!

 

[baguio]

Sorry for your loss mate. If it's any help (no idea what you have to spend obviously), I was in a similar position to you a few years ago. I bought a Beretta Jubilee for £9,125 and went to GMK to pick one from their vaults. They now cost over £13,000 new. I hope that it's passed down from father to son for many generations. I have seen and held expensive off the shelf knives though and I would swap one for my Mora without a second thought! I have never lost a knife either!
All the best.
baguio

 

[JTO]

Stick with the Mora, .

One with an orange handle and sheath.

 

[Vipa]

Go on you'll enjoy it

Tie it to your jacket with paracord though!!!

I know..... But then I'll get blood on it!!!

 

[Psycho]

A custom knife is a thing of beauty than can be bought for not much more than a good mass production knife
Go on the British blades forum
The great UK makers have been mentioned
Alan wood and stu Mitchell
Me I would get a fine blade made by one of these craftsman and use it. And when looking at this hand made work of art think of your gran

 

[Feugh]

If you want something sharp that you will not lose, have you thought about a quality set of kitchen knives? Something like a set of Henckels or Global, or even a set of custom knives made from Damascus steel? We bought a set of Henckels with money from my wife's Grandmothers will, and never regret getting something decent.

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

thankyou all for your replys some very valid points ive still not made my mind up what to do with the money yet it just all seems a little strange and as strange as it sounds i kind of feel guilty in some weird way just having it but it was obviously what she wanted

 

[VSS]

I don't know how much you've got to spend, but if you want something that'll really last then buy a bit of land in her memory.
We did this after my wife's grandmother died - the only time we've ever had a lump sum to play with. £13,000 bought us 15 acres. It's poor ground, but with the most stunning views. We don't use it for much, but it's nice to have.
On a more modest scale, it's amazing what you can get - I recently bought a couple of acres of mature woodland for £3,000. Now that really would be a lovely way to remember someone. Particularly when it's full of bluebells and the beech trees are bursting into leaf in the spring. Amazing colours.

 

[A J]

A good watch might be a memory that you could keep with you.

David.

+1 for a good watch.
Pete

This. Buy a good watch - something classic in looks with an automatic movement in funds allow. It's also something lovely that you can pass on to one of your kids or grandchildren.

 

[Southern]

You can get a nice hand-made knife from a real master for $135.00 on up. For not much more, you can get it made with your choice of materials.

Depending on your budget, you can buy two of them; use one, and put one away. It is a real pleasure to use a nice little four inch deer dressing knife.

A nice watch is a good idea, too. The Seiko self-winder which my father got for a present 25 years ago is now passed on to my brother, and worn every day. Likewise, his rebuilt Hamilton watch from the U.S. Army Air Corps. And Seiko makes some inexpensive pocket watches in hunter style cases, as an homage to the Patek Phillipe of 100 years ago.

A piece of land in a nice spot, is good because it can be the foundation of more dreams - a place to go and camp with the family, then to build a cabin.

 

[re'M'ington]

Hunting Knives | Amazon.com: Fixed Blade Knives, Folding Knives, and more

 

[VSS]

A piece of land in a nice spot, is good because it can be the foundation of more dreams - a place to go and camp with the family, then to build a cabin.

My sentiments entirely. Even a tiny plot can be an escape from the daily grind, somewhere to go and be alone, or together with the family, as the mood takes you.
And what's more, it saves you from ever again having to scrabble around getting permission letters before submitting your FAC renewal

 

[karlbird]

Loads of good ideas above, I was in a similar position twice over the last few years and now own 2 very nice watches. No one needs to spend more than £20 on a casio watch that tells the time, but any time I put one of my nice watches on I have a little smile and remember the good times. A stalking knife would be very similar and if I could justify it something like a Stuart Mitchell would not go a miss. My wife bought me a Helle for my 30th and it certainly adds something when I get it out.

As for other ideas, what about a custom pair of sticks? Derek Clifford makes some nice, albeit pricey, ones and they are arguably harder to lose than a knife. I also have a scope that I used some money left to me for, a classic Swaro 8x50 that will no doubt out last me. My next purchase to remember someone special will be a pair of Swaro binoculars, admittedly secondhand, but my late grandfather bought me my first pair as a child to watch birds in the garden and will now be buying me a pair to last forever.

Think about what would remind you of the loss and bring back good memories and get out there and buy something, you cannot take it with you and it will give you years of pleasure and memories and if it is something that will last can be passed on down.

 

[Fallowfield14]

I have several pricey knives, are they value for money I don't know. How do you put a price on pride of ownership?

 

[Border]

Shameless plug but I have a Fallkniven H1 for sale in the classifieds. Brand new never been used.

 

[Raker Ltd]

I'll have to disagree with all of you chaps I'm afraid - a custom knife, if properly spec'd, will absolutely cut better than a Mora!

Using a steel that is designed as a "knife steel", rather than "blade steel" will give you an edge that holds even when you hit bone and hair. I haven't needed a breast saw since I bought a decent knife; my knife cuts through breast bone and ribs like butter, and is still razor sharp afterwards.

The four of us that stalk in the shop all use custom knives - they are simply the right tool for the job.

Why spend thousands of pounds on a rifle set up, then tackle one of the most important elements of stalking with a cheap disposable tool? A good knife is half the cost of a stalking scope, and whilst hundreds of pounds might seem a lot to a newcomer, when you consider the time it takes the maker to make them they are very good value.

Dont worry about losing it - if you've spent that much on it you will check it's there when you finish!

We use Emberleaf custom knives, but there are plenty of other talented knife makers out there using specialised steels to make knives specifically for gralloching - just speak to them!