A question for those into forged blades...

S

SpyderJon

Joined
Jan 27, 2002
Messages
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Howdy! Well, getting out from under the discussion of knife investing, I've decided to start my own thread to get some suggestions. I've only had 2 forged blades before (both 01), and they were VERY nicely done. So, after I had to sell off those, I have decided to see what kind of makers are out there. I have the following criteria:

  • Blade @ or under 4"
  • Hunter/loveless/moran styles
  • Forged blade (steel just has to be a good one. I've not had good luck with 52100, bit 01 is good and I'm open to other steel suggestions)
  • Wood/micarta handle preferred, with horn and stag coming next
  • Good Fit and Finish
  • Under $500

I'm not looking for a working knife. Now, I don't mind it being pretty- in fact I'd prefer it-, but it has to work first and foremost. I'd like to find someone in the ABS ideally who does good work with the above criteria, but I'm certainly open to others as the person I got my first forged knives from wasn't an ABS memeber. Thanks!

Say, on a side note, what is an appropriate price to pay for a wood-handled, hunter-style, forged knife? Also, what it the typical mark-up for each level of the ABS stamp? Thanks, again!
 
Sorry you haven't had good luck with my favorite steel. It may depend on the maker, of course, a maker does determine the final quality of the knife. I am sure that there will be plenty of the forgers for you to look at. You could also look at the ABS website and go to the list of makers with web sites to see if there is anything a maker has that would interest you. Just a bit of suggestions. I like doing it just to keep up with any changing styles of knives they make.
 
Blade @ or under 4"
Hunter/loveless/moran styles
Forged blade (steel just has to be a good one. I've not had good luck with 52100, bit 01 is good and I'm open to other steel suggestions)
Wood/micarta handle preferred, with horn and stag coming next
Good Fit and Finish
Under $500
Click to expand...

Ok,you have to be more specific.

By Loveless style, I assume you mean full tang and hollow ground. Few forgers do this type of work. Bruce Bump is doing a "Loveless style" for Keith Montgomery, but it is unusual. Steve Voorhis also forges knives in the Loveless style.

What do you mean by Moran style? Moran's knives were usually considered rustic or crude, had a power buffed finish and often a wood handle, usually maple. He was known for wire inlay, wood sheaths, damascus, and often a "craftsman" style with lots of rustic touches. Sentz, Hendrickson, Barnes and Owens are just a few who work in the Moran style.

A "classic" style is basically what you would get from one of the better ABS smiths that make hunters. This is a style that has evolved over the past 20 or so years. Look at some work from Roger Massey, Mike Williams, Ed Caffrey, Cook, Walker, Kilby, Fitch, Dunn, Knight, Desrosiers, Cashen, Rhea, B. Foster and a multitude of others. Look at BladeGallery, Knifeart, Robertsons, Bob Neal, Nordic, Rehoboth, and Arizona. Don't forget our Brazilian friends either--Ricardo, Gustavo and Rodrigo and Luciano all do great work, much of it in your range.


So look around, narrow down the exact style you want and report back.


You should easily be able to find a great, carbon steel hunter for under $500 by most of those makers. If you like damascus, you may even be able to find
one of them with a nice wood handle also if you go to a "value" maker.

In a hunter, I would personally want a comfortable, contoured handle with thong hole, substantial guard and a blade at least 3.5" long and differentially tempered that is also quite thin at the edge. A sturdy sheath is also important.
 
One key question you will need to consider is how quickly you want the knife. Delivery times vary widely. Here are several that can fit the bill and this is by no means an exhaustive list (and no particular order to any of the groups).

Russ Andrews
Dan Farr
Nick Wheeler (all three real hard to get a knife from).

A couple of Master Smiths:

Bailey Bradshaw
J.R. Cook
Jim Walker
Burt Foster
Kevin Cashen
Ed Caffrey
Roger Massey
Mike Williams

Several JS and apprentice smiths:

Jason Knight
Craig Camerer
Reggie Barker
Sam Butler
Brett Gatlin
Mike Johnson
Sean McIntyre
John White
Matt Roberts
Rodrigo Sfreddo
Mike Ruth
Adam DesRosiers
Andrew Jordan

There are more that I have forgotten (and will add in as my brain un-freezes), others whose prices I am not really familiar with and more yet whom I know by reputation alone but haven't actually seen their work.

I have owned examples of nearly all of the above makers and have seen more than one example of the work of the rest.

Roger
 
52100 is a great steel. It can get tricky to heat treat though as it is not so tolerant with temperature as 5160 and can get really hard with almost 1% carbon content. But in good hands it can be wonderfull. It also takes diferential heat treatment pretty well, either with clay or other techniques around. If 52100 did let you down, it wasn't 52100 or the maker didn't know how to treat it right.

Let me know if you need to contact any of the Brazilian makers mentioned abover. I will be happy to assist you.

Jeff Velasco
 
Check out Burt Foster's work ..He makes a hunter in the Loveless style.Priced around $400.00 Has several other hunter models that are well desinged for their intended use.
 
How long are you willing to wait for this knife? I would recommend that you check out the makers on this page for a start. Many of them will have hunters in the price range you are looking for, some will not.

Makers such as Brett Gatlin, Matt Roberts, Matt Lamey, Bruce Bump, J. Neilson, Ray Richard, Jason Knight, Adam DesRosiers and Ray Kirk (his link is not working on the links page I provided) should also be checked out.
 
Burt Foster Blue Collar hunter comes to my mind. Recently got Blue Collar Camp knife and hunter from Burt. The Blue Collar Hunter ran me around $200 and it was that high simply because I paid extra for sheep horn. Great cutting machine that came with a really nice sheath.

Of course, there are several others already mentioned that make wonderful knives. I'm just new to the custom forged market and my first purchases were from Burt.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions so far! I'll have to take Mr. Lombardo's suggestion and narrow it down. I like Hunter-styled knives mostly as they're what fits best in my lifestyle. As far as how long I'm willing to wait, that depends on the maker. I don't mind waiting. I'm waiting 2 years for a Sawby folder. I have waited 6 years to get the opportunity to buy one of Darren Chard's folders (a specific model). I'd gladly wait quite a while for the right knife. Let me look around the ABS site and get back with some better ideas!

Edited to add, I know it wasn't the steel that was the problem, but just like D2 the one bad experience I've had with it has shied me away from 52100 as well. It probably seems silly, but it is the way it is.

Thanks, again!
 
RogerP said:
Russ Andrews
Dan Farr
Nick Wheeler (all three real hard to get a knife from).

Roger
Click to expand...

Roger,

Why do you want to start torturing the poor new guy with unobtainium?

$500 is a generous budget for an MS Hunter. Mike Williams and Jim Walker and Burt Foster come to mind right away. Under $400, Journeyman Smiths, Jason Knight, Adam DesRosier and Shawn McIntyre will provide excellent quality and perhaps, dare I say... future appreciation.

Best,

P
 
I'm not sure if Nick is making many knives these days. It seems his other profession is keeping him from the shop. That's too bad, he is a tremendously talented maker.

I would have listed Dan Farr, but you can only get knives from him at shows. He isn't taking orders, because he is four years behind.

I'm not sure about Russ. I have a knife coming from him this fall, and another next year, but I don't know how far he is backordered.
 
SpyderJon,
The knife in my avatar is a John Fitch/JS hunter I picked up right here on Bladeforums last year.Mint with sheath,4" blade,1084,Desert Ironwood handle.

Doug:)

Good suggestions above!
Changed avatar!
 
There is nobody at the MS level charging the prices that he does, for the amount of workmanship that you get in return.

Just work with him really carefully on the swell at the butt.

"He likes big butts, and I don't know why....."

GREAT forger, fair prices/high value, stands behind his work, delivers on time, like FedEx.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Wow, thanks for the continuing suggestions! From what I've seen in my brief glances through some websites, the leaders are:

Ed Caffrey
Jon P. Christensen (like his Nessmuk Utility)
J. R. Cook
Raymond Coon
and
Burt Foster- I really like his take-down hunter.

Any insight on these would be great! I really was surprised how much Ed might have in this range!

The Foster Take-down hunter was just phenomenal!!! And, I like big butts as well- if there's a guard.

Anything I need to know about take-down knives that might be of a concern? Thanks!
 
Anything I need to know about take-down knives that might be of a concern? Thanks!
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If I was planning to use it on the field and get it bloody and inside guts and all, I would not choose a take down. Just my option.
 
I like take downs--they show me some versatility fom the maker and they are a bit tougher to make. The only down side is if you lose your fasteners out in the wood you are up the creek. I have heard of this happening..A properly made take down wont get bloody inside. If it did, well you could take the blade out and easily clean it.
 
Okay, so I think I've decided I'd like a hidden-tang knife. The last forged knife I had was one like that. Nice big, almost puuko like handle. Hmm...

Say, is 1084 or W2 anything like 01? I'd like to find the Steel Faq, but can't seem to find it. Thanks!
 
Okay, so I think I've decided I'd like a hidden-tang knife.
Click to expand...
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You definately want a hidden tang on a carbon knife.

They are all carbon tool steels. W-2 is one of my favorites as it tough and makers can achieve a nice temper line. Files were made from w-2 in the old days.

I like L-6 also as it really resists chipping. Good choice for a hunter also.
 
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