In Defense of Handmade Knives

There are excellent mass-produced knives out there. Brands like Spyderco, Buck, Cold Steel, Kershaw, ESEE, Becker (to name just a few) among countless others, have managed to perfect mass-production processes not just for forging but for heat treatment that result in both fixed blades and folding knives that are not just good, they are truly excellent, especially for the price. 

Now, on the note of price, we should consider handmade knives. Since we are living in an era in which mass-production processes have evolved to the point that it truly is possible to deliver quality and at a competitive price point, is there still a time and a place for something that’s handmade, if not hand fit and finished?

It depends on what your priorities are, as well as your reasons for purchasing, but even in this modern age there is a time and a place for handmade knives. Let’s take a closer look at some of the selling points they deliver.

1. The fit and finish of handmade knives is often superior. 

Let’s start with a very important truth. Even in an age in which processes have been refined such that quality is often not only on par with mass produced tools, it is often better than it is with handmade tools, it is the case that aesthetics often are better when executed or at least overseen manually. 

That is to say, in not so many words, that handmade knives are often more aesthetically pleasing than those that are mass produced. This is the case, in part, because when a knife is manually assembled and then finished, the craftsman has direct oversight and control over the finished product. Small aberrations in quality don’t get to fly under the radar, as they sometimes do in mass produced knives.

You can expect more perfect blade finishes, better alignment between the scales and tang, and other superior aesthetic attributes, more of the time, especially with higher-end handmade knives.

2. So is the heat treatment. 

While mass produced knives, such as those from Buck Knives, have become really good about the consistency of their heat treatments, often when the knife is tempered by the hands of an experienced blacksmith, it just comes out better.

The thing about heat treatment is that, just like forging, it can be a really difficult process to automate and standardize. Well, developing standardized procedures in theory is practical, but it’s the sort of thing that is best done by hand even when standards are established. 

Sometimes what happens with knives, for instance, is that you get an inconsistent heat treatment along the edge of a mass produced knife, where some parts of the edge are harder than others. Most of the time this is more of an annoyance than a real material deficiency, but it can make sharpening the knife harder.

Either way, the bottom line is that a knife that is truly made by hand, which involves more than just fit and finish, and starts with forging and heat treatment of the blade stock, will exhibit better, if not at least more consistent, quality. 

3. They’re unique; they’re statement pieces and can be investments.

Another selling point of handmade knives is that they can represent a real investment. If the knife is handmade and there is no other like it, naturally it can serve as a statement piece or a collectible, and if it comes from a reputable shop or smith, it will likely only appreciate in value over time anyway, which can make it a good investment, too.

4. In some cases, no two handmade knives are the same.

It is also the case that in instances in which the knives are entirely handmade, especially in cases in which natural materials like wood, antler, bone, horn, mother of pearl, stones, or other such materials are used, that no two knives will be the same. 

This increases both the scarcity of the model as well as its exclusivity, which not only makes it more unique as a tool but which can have a material impact on its dollar value, which in turn can only further improve its value as an investment.

Explore Handmade Knives at The Knife Connection 

At the end of the day, if the only reason you’re here is so that you can get a tool that you use routinely, it may not be necessary to put money into handmade knives. The truth is that there are many great brands that mass produce knives, and there is nothing wrong with these. In many cases, they are some of the best knives in the industry, bar none. 

But if you appreciate the finer things, like to support artisans that still make things by hand, or are a collector of rare tools, then handmade knives may be well worth it for you. There is still a use case, despite the cost. Check out our collection and if you have any questions before you buy, get in touch with us.