What is the longest order time you have gone through before receiving your order?

[Robbie79]

Basically not worth to mention when I read all other posts here....3 months (Thedi and BK)...

 

[navetsea]

a little over a year for my first custom harness boots, around 6months for preordered toys

 

[jonbuilder]

2.5 years for my D.W. Frommer boots the waiting list was 1.5 year when I placed my 50% deposit of $1250

I was happy with the boots, my pride and joy, I just forgot why I was willing to pay $2500 for a pair of boots

 

[red devil]

Oh yes very, so much so I ordered a second pair when funds became available

Glad to hear that!
My brass tokyo engineers boots took about the same time I think, they kept having delays. On the other hand the trainers I ordered from them finished a bit earlier so go figure
Currently using the trainers quite a bit as they're very convenient and good for summer
Role Club has been on my radar for a while

Basically not worth to mention when I read all other posts here....3 months (Thedi and BK)...

Definitely worth mentioning... speaking of which, were these relatively short order times die to the fact you did not want to get on longer queues or simply because it just happened that the makers that peaked your interest are able to keep waiting time reasonable?

I was happy with the boots, my pride and joy, I just forgot why I was willing to pay $2500 for a pair of boots

The price we are willing to pay for something can fluctuate quite widely, sometime within the matter of minutes

 

[patrick_b]

Custom folding knife from Scott Cook, the Lochsa in Damascus took 2 years.

He’s a craftsman that faced huge demand for his work. He kept a list but wouldn’t take deposits. It worked wonderfully. However once his wait exceeded 2 years he stopped taking orders. He never took money up front which is key IMO for high demand products (handcrafted by a single person).

Like an idiot I sold it off many years later to a guy on a forum who I thought was an enthusiast like me. I gave him a good deal, electing not to profit off him as I “knew” him fairly well. We corresponded a lot off forum and I even accepted and forwarded packages for him from US dealers who don’t ship overseas.

He sold it a few months later for a couple thousand dollars in profit.

 

[handymike]

@red devil, in my city there are a few “community gardens” that are owned by the city. These gardens are next to parks, and provide a space for people to grow flowers, plants and vegetables. The city charges $5 per year for a plot 10x10ft. As long as you keep it going, the lease never expires. People pass them down to their children...It is an amazing program, and a wonderful way to spend time and meet others...I dream of the day I get my little patch .

 

[Grayland]

Not exactly an order, but I've waited 25 years for a son. Three (awesome) daughters were delivered instead.

 

[Psant25]

@red devil I would say for randall made knives it the quality materials, history of the brand, construction. I think others are doing as well or better. RMK has just been in the game so long and that says a lot.

 

[thekiyote]

Like an idiot I sold it off many years later to a guy on a forum who I thought was an enthusiast like me. I gave him a good deal, electing not to profit off him as I “knew” him fairly well. We corresponded a lot off forum and I even accepted and forwarded packages for him from US dealers who don’t ship overseas.

He sold it a few months later for a couple thousand dollars in profit.

I hate it when this happens. This is why if I don't like selling (or buying) things on forums. I'd prefer to just give it away to someone I know in real life, and maybe jump start a similar passion in them, or, at the very least, know it's in a good home with someone who won't just flip it for a higher price.

 

[Edward]

Yesterday marked my four month waiting period for an Amicharnel cap. Ordered in March. Others seem to have received them eventually, but by trhis point I've given up hope. At least it wasn't too expensive a loss (about thirty quid). Won't be ordering from them again, obviously.

 

[red devil]

Custom folding knife from Scott Cook, the Lochsa in Damascus took 2 years.

He’s a craftsman that faced huge demand for his work. He kept a list but wouldn’t take deposits. It worked wonderfully. However once his wait exceeded 2 years he stopped taking orders. He never took money up front which is key IMO for high demand products (handcrafted by a single person).

Like an idiot I sold it off many years later to a guy on a forum who I thought was an enthusiast like me. I gave him a good deal, electing not to profit off him as I “knew” him fairly well. We corresponded a lot off forum and I even accepted and forwarded packages for him from US dealers who don’t ship overseas.

He sold it a few months later for a couple thousand dollars in profit.

No down-payment and closing off a list is a good way to keep things under control!
I am more familiar with kitchen knives, but this kind of flipping is very common and has ruined that market IMO. hate these kind of opportunists, they only damage interesting hobbies/communities

@red devil, in my city there are a few “community gardens” that are owned by the city. These gardens are next to parks, and provide a space for people to grow flowers, plants and vegetables. The city charges $5 per year for a plot 10x10ft. As long as you keep it going, the lease never expires. People pass them down to their children...It is an amazing program, and a wonderful way to spend time and meet others...I dream of the day I get my little patch .

That is a great system, crossing fingers you finally get one!

Yesterday marked my four month waiting period for an Amicharnel cap. Ordered in March. Others seem to have received them eventually, but by trhis point I've given up hope. At least it wasn't too expensive a loss (about thirty quid). Won't be ordering from them again, obviously.

What was the quoted waiting time?

 

[patrick_b]

No down-payment and closing off a list is a good way to keep things under control!
I am more familiar with kitchen knives, but this kind of flipping is very common and has ruined that market IMO. hate these kind of opportunists, they only damage interesting hobbies/communities

Couldn't agree more. I'm all for making a profit if that's what you want but this one left a very sour taste.

I remember reading an article by Anthony Bourdain about getting a Bob Kramer custom. That is something to dream about.

I hate it when this happens. This is why if I don't like selling (or buying) things on forums. I'd prefer to just give it away to someone I know in real life, and maybe jump start a similar passion in them, or, at the very least, know it's in a good home with someone who won't just flip it for a higher price.

Great point.

 

[red devil]

I remember reading an article by Anthony Bourdain about getting a Bob Kramer custom. That is something to dream about.

As far as I know, they are completely overrated, a lot of them with really bad grind to boot.

 

[Edward]

What was the quoted waiting time?

There wasn't one. My order email states "we're preparing for shipping your order", but I knew it would take a little longer than just postage given they were making it to order. I was charged £20 for the cap and £4.50 for shipping. I had planned to give them the benefit of the doubt based on what was mentioned in the thread on them, and they're a small business getting off the ground, but in truth I'd have filled a Paypal dispute last month if I hadn't forgotten about it until it went past the ninety day limit. I've sent them an email now, so I suppose we'll see if I hear back. My suspicion is that they may simply have taken on far too much, especially as they seem to have produced a particularly good product for such a low price. I think a lot of very creratively talented people fall down when they try to start a business like that and undervalue their time.

 

[Just Jim]

I don't mind waiting, if I know something is coming. I grew up around livestock breeders, so I'm used to the idea of waiting. . . and waiting. . . for something that requires multiple factors to come together in order to get what is wanted. Done on a handshake, for the most part.

A dog breeder of my acquaintance wants to add my terrier to his bloodlines: it might be 6 years before he knows the outcome of his plan. The Dalmation-Pointer Project, an attempt to correct a genetic problem through outcrossing then breeding back into the general population, was begun in '73. It was '81 before the results were really known. Almost 50 years after the project began there is still controversy.

I've waited as much as 4 years for a coat (repro British uniform coat, there were delays with the weaver, etc before the project could even really begin). For every day stuff like my favorite raincoat, a wait of 3-6 months is more typical.

When I tried to order a custom leather jacket last year, I was prepared to wait 2-3 years. As it turned out, I couldn't find a maker. I only received one response to my query: based on the measurements I sent the maker told me to stop wasting his time, and that he didn't make jackets for gorillas. (Perhaps someday I can drop by his shop to get measured, and let him see I'm actually human. )

Perhaps to some extent, people's willingness to wait for custom work is related to their ability to purchase off the rack. When you can't conveniently do that, or the selection is lacking, you might go to made-to-measure or custom, with the attendant delay before receipt. I'd not be looking at custom if I could get what I wanted through other avenues.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Perhaps to some extent, people's willingness to wait for custom work is related to their ability to purchase off the rack. When you can't conveniently do that, or the selection is lacking, you might go to made-to-measure or custom, with the attendant delay before receipt. I'd not be looking at custom if I could get what I wanted through other avenues.

I think this is totally the key to it. Apart from the occasional leather jacket, I have rarely felt the impulse to get custom made things as there are so many ready made options that do the job with sufficient grace and quality.

 

[El Marro]

I have learned some modicum of patience since I begsn collecting leather jackets. Previously I only purchased clothing that was in stock and ready to be shipped or on display at a store near me. The idea of waiting one month for a jacket (let alone three months, six months, more than a year, etc..) was incomprehensible to me. I can’t say that I have learned to enjoy waiting, although there is some pleasure in the anticipation of what’s to come. I can say that I have come to appreciate the benefits of waiting for a jacket that has been altered or custom made to better suit my own body.

 

[Peacoat]

I think I waited about 6 months to a year for an A-2 from John Chapman. Don't remember now exactly how long it was.

 

[red devil]

My suspicion is that they may simply have taken on far too much, especially as they seem to have produced a particularly good product for such a low price. I think a lot of very creratively talented people fall down when they try to start a business like that and undervalue their time.

I have seen it happen too often...

I don't mind waiting, if I know something is coming. I grew up around livestock breeders, so I'm used to the idea of waiting. . . and waiting. . . for something that requires multiple factors to come together in order to get what is wanted. Done on a handshake, for the most part.

A dog breeder of my acquaintance wants to add my terrier to his bloodlines: it might be 6 years before he knows the outcome of his plan. The Dalmation-Pointer Project, an attempt to correct a genetic problem through outcrossing then breeding back into the general population, was begun in '73. It was '81 before the results were really known. Almost 50 years after the project began there is still controversy.

I've waited as much as 4 years for a coat (repro British uniform coat, there were delays with the weaver, etc before the project could even really begin). For every day stuff like my favorite raincoat, a wait of 3-6 months is more typical.

When I tried to order a custom leather jacket last year, I was prepared to wait 2-3 years. As it turned out, I couldn't find a maker. I only received one response to my query: based on the measurements I sent the maker told me to stop wasting his time, and that he didn't make jackets for gorillas. (Perhaps someday I can drop by his shop to get measured, and let him see I'm actually human. )

Perhaps to some extent, people's willingness to wait for custom work is related to their ability to purchase off the rack. When you can't conveniently do that, or the selection is lacking, you might go to made-to-measure or custom, with the attendant delay before receipt. I'd not be looking at custom if I could get what I wanted through other avenues.

Thanks for sharing the aspect of breeding , interesting to see how it works.
BTW, do you have a body-builder's physique? I remember a friend of mine who competed back then having a lot of trouble getting decent clothing.

I think I waited about 6 months to a year for an A-2 from John Chapman. Don't remember now exactly how long it was.

That must have been during the early days!

Speaking of wait times, I don't mind waiting, I remember trying to place an order with a Japanese craftsman. He said that for the particular item I was after it would take 10 years but he also added that because he was over 70 years old, he couldn't guarantee delivering the item, and so couldn't take the order.
Such an honest and heavy answer!

Edit: quoting issue solved

 

[Peacoat]

@red devil I would say for randall made knives it the quality materials, history of the brand, construction. I think others are doing as well or better. RMK has just been in the game so long and that says a lot.

Wow, this post brings back memories. When I flew the SOG, FOB II missions with the Special Forces into Laos and Cambodia, their knife of choice was the Randall. Once one of the guys saw I wasn't carrying a knife. He gave me his Army issue carbon blade combat knife. I could shave with it. Carbon steel gets sharp fast. He said, "This will do until you get a Randall. Everyone in SF needs a Randall." I think at that time the Randall was about $40.00 or so. He also gave me several lessons in hand to hand combat with a knife. Won't repeat them here, but will say it was an effective way to save one's life against one or two attackers, while armed only with a knife. They also taught me the proper way to get a razor's edge on a knife with whetstones.

For the next several years I often thought about getting a Randall, but eventually forgot about it. I liked the knife the SF had given me. Still have it, and it is sharp from my practicing my sharpening skills on it.

I just looked at the current prices on Randall knives. The highest priced knives are up to almost $900, although the fighting knife, which is what I would get is a deal at only $420. The problem is the wait time. if I read it correctly, it is 6 years. Guess I will stay with what I have.

Thanks for bringing back the memories.