Where's The Quality In "custom" Gone

[Chief31794]

I have just purchased a cusom made knife from and excellent custom knife maker here in SW Georgia so I want to make a very nice custom sheath to compliment his craftsmanship. My normal way is to observe as much as I can of how professionals and high quality craftsmen do it and then plan my way ahead. I specialize in Purses, Instrument straps, belts, bible covers and a few holsters from time to time so I hit the web looking for "Custom Leather Sheath Makers" so I could see their product. Yahoo returned about 6 or 7, after looking at their websites, I wouldn't accept a free product from most of them, the quality is "TERRIBLE", any carving is either a veiner along the edge or a stamped deer or fish (very muddy looking stamp work).

The prices on this stuff was astonomical, for example $95.00 for a poorly made sheath.

One example that is particularly disturbing is this , although this is a picture of a Custom Made Rifle Sling these are the pictures of work they are using to lure customers in and demonstrates the quality of their work, if this is an example of some of their best work, I'm amazed.

Ken

[K-Man]

If you think that sling is bad, you ought to look at some examples of gun holsters. Admittedly, a person has to start somewhere. My experience has been that those who often talk the most "smack" seem to win over the customers. There's been numerous examples of that here on LW and a variety of gun forums I visit. There's a couple of holster makers that come to mind that everyone raves about the quality and craftsmanship of their product. I wouldn't give you $5 for their stuff. As one of my customers put it, "My 5-year old could do a better job." Some of these holster makers claim they've been making holsters for numerous years. And to top it off, they charge outlandish prices for their "custom" work. One holster maker I know of who makes pocket holsters charges, on average, $175-185 for a pocket holster covered with an exotic skin. I've personally examined the holsters and they fall far short of the quality and level of craftsmanship one would expect when paying that price.

I just shake my head and move on. I've been told that one cannot point out the obvious to the readers because you're accused of badmouthing the competition. Reality steps on toes, and people don't like to be told what that reality is. All you can truly do, to be politically correct in such an instance, is to tell people what they should expect with respect to function/durability/etc. when selecting whatever item. Meaning, you tell them how a quality product is made and what it's made from - from the leather to the processes used. The quality of product by those using the correct material and processes is readily apparent. It will/should become obvious to the observer where the shortcomings are on a given piece, and you leave it up to them to make the choice.

With respect to knife sheaths, go over to the Blade forums. Also google Paul Long and Sandy Morrissey (he's in GA) and you should get some hits on samples of their work.

Edited June 17, 2011 by K-Man

[Ferg]

Ken,

I too am amazed at what some folks regard as professional product in many fields. I have done stained glass and am simply appalled at what is on the market with soldering that is total trash.

Not into sheaths so haven't ventured there. I have no doubt the problem exists everywhere. High dollar with what you can get away with seems to be more prevalent every day, sad.

For the most part everyone on this forum does extremely fine work.

ferg

  On 6/17/2011 at 12:51 PM, Chief31794 said:

I have just purchased a cusom made knife from and excellent custom knife maker here in SW Georgia so I want to make a very nice custom sheath to compliment his craftsmanship. My normal way is to observe as much as I can of how professionals and high quality craftsmen do it and then plan my way ahead. I specialize in Purses, Instrument straps, belts, bible covers and a few holsters from time to time so I hit the web looking for "Custom Leather Sheath Makers" so I could see their product. Yahoo returned about 6 or 7, after looking at their websites, I wouldn't accept a free product from most of them, the quality is "TERRIBLE", any carving is either a veiner along the edge or a stamped deer or fish (very muddy looking stamp work).

The prices on this stuff was astonomical, for example $95.00 for a poorly made sheath.

One example that is particularly disturbing is this, although this is a picture of a Custom Made Rifle Sling these are the pictures of work they are using to lure customers in and demonstrates the quality of their work, if this is an example of some of their best work, I'm amazed.

Ken

[rdb]

A conversation on Quality is all fine and good, but posting a link to someone trying to make a living out there, and presenting that person's work as inferior, is at best, bad form, and at worst bordering on libel. I have taken the liberty to excise the link.

[Chief31794]

  On 6/17/2011 at 2:43 PM, rdb said:

A conversation on Quality is all fine and good, but posting a link to someone trying to make a living out there, and presenting that person's work as inferior, is at best, bad form, and at worst bordering on libel. I have taken the liberty to excise the link.

[DCKNIVES]

First ,I have to agree with rdb,discuss it but you don't have to pinpoint makers to ridicule.In this internet era, it only takes a short time to create a website to market your products and there are so many taking up leather and knives its crazy.Many have been at it a short time and start selling.As a 20 year veteran of making I have found that the market will weed out the ones not offering top quality, and reward those that strive to do quality work.As far as Paul Long and Sandy Morissey, Paul is a friend and has been doing leather work for about 40 years and almost exclusively sheaths for about 5.Sandy is a very dear friend and was and still is my mentor, he has been doing leatherwork for about 60 years and has produced about 30,000 sheaths in that time.

Back to sheaths,alot of knifemakers don't like doing sheaths but see it as a necessary evil and attempt thier own, usually it shows.Many don't offer sheaths at all and will allow you to contact a sheathmaker and there are quite a few to chose from, some with a years time in others many years.Then are those that love both areas and try to excell at both.But I also think the word custom has become somewhat blurred .In my mind, custom means building something per the customer specs, not doing what you think is cool and selling it.That to me is simply handmade. Much of the stuff I make is straight off customer drawings, something much harder to do than most would think, but it usually results in repeat business.

Pricing custom work is something most have troubles with especially when starting, and this is where most of those with lesser work get weeded out.Personally I don't think $95 for a sheath is high at all given the quality is ok, mine are generally higher sometimes much more depending on the job.Just a few thoughts.Dave

[Rayban]

  On 6/17/2011 at 2:43 PM, rdb said:

A conversation on Quality is all fine and good, but posting a link to someone trying to make a living out there, and presenting that person's work as inferior, is at best, bad form, and at worst bordering on libel. I have taken the liberty to excise the link.

good job

[Wishful]

  On 6/17/2011 at 2:43 PM, rdb said:

A conversation on Quality is all fine and good, but posting a link to someone trying to make a living out there, and presenting that person's work as inferior, is at best, bad form, and at worst bordering on libel. I have taken the liberty to excise the link.

I have to agree.

[K-Man]

Okay - how do you determine quality and what are the parameters? Do those parameters extend across the board?

[electrathon]

I know a guy that constantly tells students that, "no one will notice but you" and "it is handmade, you can not expect it to be as good as something coming out of a factory". Both make me cringe.

I have to agree that much of the "custom" work I see I would not use at any price, let alone pay for it.

I have a story too. A couple years back I was at a fair and walked into a leather booth. The guy was selling handmade belts. Not very impressive, simply cam tools and veiners ran down the edge. I was looking (I always like to compare what I can do to others) and the guy walked up to me and loudly bragged that I was looking at a handmade leather belt. Stated that I had likely never seen a real handmade belt before in my life. I lifted my shirt up to show the tooled belt I was wearing. He turned and walked away, not saying another word to me. I guess he knew he had inferior work and only wanted to brag to those who were uneducated.

Aaron