What is YOUR definition of mid-tech?

[Manganr]

For me, I always thought it was someone other than the "maker" parting out the manufacturing of the basic parts, assembled it then sharpened it. Basically, that someone else did the majority of the work.

This is also my take on it but i'm pretty sure there are 'makers' out there who do a lot less of the custom stuff then they should be too...........

[firebolt]

i think we need to ad one


high tech


why people always want to put things to a box

maker lets the blade stock done by a waterjet company
so now it's mid tech...
because there is a 3e party working on the knives

ok, what if said maker has his own waterjet ?
and what about heat treatment...
we can't call it custom because a 3e party douse the heat treatment ?

puuff very difficult discussion

is a mid tech to be use for a knife made in batches,
or because the use off a 3e party to lighten the work load

i think RJ martins are mid tech..
he use pellet trays to CNC mill his stuff,

but how would you call a Rockstead knife ? mid tech to ?
or is this factory, they do the same as RJ douse only with more people ?

i get the popcorn

[Les Robertson]

Firebolt,

By your logic there is no such thing as a custom knife.

After all...don't the maker's buy steel from a 3rd party?

How about scale materials? Most if not all of that is purchased it from a third party...who in most cases purchased it from someone else.

Some makers do produce their own screws, pivot pins, etc.....but not many.

But then they buy their steel from a third party.

Might want to re-examen your definition of a mid-tech.

[Manganr]

I think it's not about buying the raw materials from a third party Les but buying ready made/prepared parts.......

[Les Robertson]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the answer But I wanted Firebolt to explain his logic.

Ok Ray, Firebolt, etc.

Todd Begg builds the Bodega Mid Tech.

Todd Begg builds his custom knives.

Both employ CNC technology at some point in the production of the knife.

Both employ batches.

Both employ buying steel and Titanium and handle materials from outside sources. May even employ outsourced heat treating (I don't know).

Why is one custom and why is one mid tech?

[firebolt]

Hi Les,

my point is the boundaries are hard to describe

for example
lot off maker use pivot points from knife supply
but do there own thing with the screw , put it in the late, do some file work on it
but it is still a bought ready to use part , is it now still a custom, or is it now a mid tech
but wait, a custom maker designs a pivot point makes a proto and cad drawing, but orders theme with a machine shop,
because the hours in making a pivot are to expensive for a custom maker to make allot off theme

because a maker lets a series blanks made by a waterjet
douse this make it less custom ?
all the finishing still have to be done by hand ( or machine )

i find it very hard to put a label on some makers knifes

[Manganr]

Good point Les. One could also ask 'what is your definition of Custom'?

[Les Robertson]

Hi Firbolt,

my point is the boundaries are hard to describe

Which is why I asked for an explination.

You said RJ Martin knives are Mid-Techs.

I would like you to explain how so.

Lastly, I would like you to answer the question about Todd Begg making Mid-tech and Customs utilizing both batches and a CNC at some point in the operation.

[firebolt]

would a good explanation be ?

a mid tech is a custom knife for a lower price

so to say a marketing label ,not as much as a technical label

[Les Robertson]

Hi Ray,

Right now we are waiting for Mid-Tech's to be given a definition.

Because right now according to Firebolt

RJ Martin,

Ken Onion

Ernie Emerson

Kit Carson

Todd Begg

Randy Docutte

Greg Lightfoot

Kirby Lambert

David Mosier

Bob Terzuola

Les George

Allen Elishewitz

Pat Crawford

Tom Mayo

Among others...are not custom knife makers. All they make are Mid-Techs.

IF this is true, there are a lot of people either over paying for their knives. Makes you wonder what all the lotteries are about??

[Manganr]

If the 'Maker' is the guy using the CNC then i'd call it custom. If someone else is then Mid-Tech...........

[firebolt]

Hi Firbolt,



Which is why I asked for an explination.

You said RJ Martin knives are Mid-Techs.

I would like you to explain how so.

Lastly, I would like you to answer the question about Todd Begg making Mid-tech and Customs utilizing both batches and a CNC at some point in the operation.

not so quick,
i can't type so fast

first off all this is my personal opinion, and by no means the truth
as far there is one

i feel RJ Martins knifes ( the normal versions , not the damast and wood / Mammoth inlay ) are mid techs , this is based on repeatability of a design ( easy to make in batches )
and on price range, to appeal to a bigger market
the damast, and mammoth / pearl / wood pieces we should consider as customs

i did not follow Todd Begg for a while,
but here i also feel strongly the difference is a marketing /price thing
where by the mid techs are the base models, to appeal to a bigger market
and the customs versions are pimp up with exotic material, grind lines , blade material

my i ask you how your vision is in this

[firebolt]

ps. you see i have turned a 180 on you

because the discussion started on material en parts bought out the door to determine what a custom is and what not.

labeling knifes like this is very hard..

i think my way is easier

[Les Robertson]

Hi Firebolt,

i feel RJ Martins knifes ( the normal versions , not the damast and wood / Mammoth inlay ) are mid techs , this is based on repeatability of a design ( easy to make in batches )
and on price range, to appeal to a bigger market
the damast, and mammoth / pearl / wood pieces we should consider as customs

So RJ builds all of the knives exactly the same. In his shop, by himself.

However, the Tacticals are Mid-Techs and the ones with nicer materials are Customs?

Your going to have to explain this a little better. Because quite frankly that makes no sense.

i did not follow Todd Begg for a while,
but here i also feel strongly the difference is a marketing /price thing
where by the mid techs are the base models, to appeal to a bigger market
and the customs versions are pimp up with exotic material, grind lines , blade material

Firebolt, I am not asking you about pricing and marketing of the knife. We are discussing the construction techniques of a mid-tech Vs. A custom.

So again, as with RJ if Todd is making a custom knife and it does not have "pimped" up materials it is a mid-tech. But wait, then how does that custom knife (that you call a mid-tech) differ from the knife that Todd (and all of his collectors) call a custom. Vs. the knife Todd (an all of those buying it) call it a mid-tech?

Again, I don't understand this logic.

So you are saying that RJ builds a mid tech that only becomes a custom if he upgrades the materials...even though the construction method, machines used and man doing the work is the same?

Todd builds a custom mid-tech along with a regular mid-tech???

So if Todd were to use "pimped" up materials on the mid-tech would that make it a custom?

Firebolt you were the same one who chastised me in a previous thread...about not what I say it is how I say it. That I need to improve my interpersonal Internet skills.

This is why I am asking for opinions from those posting here.

We are getting there.....

[Les Robertson]

Hi Firebolt,

labeling knifes like this is very hard..

Apparently not for you...you have described RJ's knives as Mid-Techs.

They only become customs when you upgrade materials.

We are still a little Fuzzy on your definitions for Todd's knives.

We have the Custom Mid-Tech, The Custom, The mid=tech and possibly the mid-tech custom???