3 or more knife makers - opinions

[HouseBuilder328]

Just getting started with custom knives and there's so much info - the custom knives at Knifecenter.com - are they a dealer for individual makers to sell their knives? Because I've heard many custom makers "books are always closed" or does this website have what's in stock that haven't sold yet?

Wanted some opinions or comments on these custom knife makers - are these makers very common or actually hard to get a hold of? I care about resale value as well for these custom knives. I'm looking for a Damasteel blade and carbon fiber handles, maybe Zircuti bolsters if possible.

- Sean O'Hare
- Zscherny (and Faisal Yamin)
- Fernando Medina
- David Mosier

 

[Dawkind]

All fine Makers except I’m not familiar with Mr. Medina’s work....

 

[ballknives]

As a knifemaker I can say that knifecenter is a great place to acquire knives. They keep many customs in stock and what is shown is for sale there.

 

[HouseBuilder328]

Great! Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions!

In my searches, I found Chad Nell to be a very up and coming knife maker. Any comments on him?

 

[tyyreaun]

A lot of the times "books are closed" really means the maker doesn't want to take custom orders anymore, either due to bad customers, or just wanting the freedom to make their own stuff. In that case they'll either sell on their own websites, or through sites like KnifeCenter. I will say that KnifeCenter's customs aren't cheap, compared to what similar knives will sell for on other sites.

All of the makers you mentioned are fairly well known. They put out enough knives a year that they're not exactly hard to get, but at the same time not enough that there'll be a glut driving prices down. I'd expect them to hold their value well, but not necessarily to appreciate. Given that KnifeCenter's prices aren't the best, you'd probably be looking at a 20% loss trying to re-sell them in "like new" condition.

 

[cbach8tw]

Check out the knife exchange here, a lot of great makers, and the individual sales forums also sells a lot of customs.

 

[Chefget]

Great! Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions!

In my searches, I found Chad Nell to be a very up and coming knife maker. Any comments on him?

Chad Nell is an incredibly skillful knifemaker in the old school tradition...he trained under Steve Johnson and John Young. He makes impeccable fixed blades. His folders are, in a word, perfect.

My current favorite carry is a Chad Nell



-Michael