best buy customs?

[shootist16]

What are the best buys in custom knives right now?

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Dennis Bible

 

[Les Robertson]

Hi Dennis,

What type, style and materials are you refering to?

I think this a great question. Im curious what others have to say.

I would like to see your rational behind why you think its a great buy.

Price is only factor and not the most important.



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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
Custom Knife Entrepreneur

 

[Bo]

Of my recent purchases the ones by Gordon Bishop were the best value.

He was able to make what I wanted with very high quality work at a reasonable price and he does stand behind his work because one had to have a little adjustment.

 

[lifter4Him]

IMO, some of the best buys out there are:
Fixed Blades-Jones Brothers,L6Steel(I forget your last name Mike,sorry),Geno Denning.

Folders-Joel Chamblin,Kit Carson,Darrell Ralph.

Just my .02

 

[dogman]

Frank Dilluvio has very solid folders in the $300-350 range. He has been making knives for a while, so he is not an entry-level maker, either. Good choice of blade steel (ATS, BG42, D2) and handle materials to go from tactical to classical.

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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
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[This message has been edited by dogman (edited 01-04-2001).]

 

[blademan 13]

Good question. Personally, I would like to think that any knife I order or purchase must be a good buy in order for me to shell out the cash in the first place. I agree with Les that bottom line price is not everything. Bang for the buck is what I am looking for.

At the top of my list would have to be the work of Allen Blade. I have yet to read a bad thing about any of his knives. His grinds are very clean and crisp and his sheath work is top notch as well. As a kicker, temper lines are just plain cool

. All this for the price of a good production blade. Kind of makes it look like a no brainer here folks, no wonder he has such a backlog (of which I am on, but hopefully not much longer).

Matt Lamey also deserves mention here. He just keeps kicking out one great looking design after another. While his knives are far from cheap, I believe they represent excellent value for the package you are getting. His range of options and offerings is tremendous. With the availability to select blade shape (in addition to length, thickness and even edge type), handle shape (custom sized to your hand BTW, nice touch

), blade steel, heat treat (full or differential), forged or stock removal, handle material, sheath material and carry type. Got a particular design in your mind? Matt can probably do it. Get the picture here? Very nice man to deal with as well.

I never thought that I would see the day when I would consider a Broadwell to be a best buy. Well that day has come. Robertson's MLR series certainly qualifies as that. I just feel that the TAC fighter is worth every penny of the price and then some. You are getting a classic fighter style blade with flawless fit & finish executed by one of the most talented makers in the world. Throw in a versatile high quality sheath system and limited availability and you have a package I find very hard to pass up.

Darrel Ralph's EDC folders offer real value as well. Top notch materials, great design features, comfort and durability all combine to make this a truly exceptional folder. Throw in a friendly, do anything attitude, great service and you have the real deal. Oh, and the anodizing is awesome as well.

Others I find very appealing and value oriented, but have yet to take the plunge; GenO Denning and Wayne Hendrix come immediately to mind.

 

[ROBB]

D.C.Monroe Chimera

 

[Jeremy Reynolds]

I think lifter hit the nail right on the head. I have knives on order from 4 of the folks he metioned. Ed Caffrey's EBKs should be thrown in here. Great little knife from a Mastersmith for $100. Hard to beat that. I think a lot of the new guys i have seen here on the forums are there. Guys like Brad Duncan and Brett Bennett who put out high quality products but are new enough to keep their prices really low. Both guys also work in high quality materials. Duncan is using 440V and George Werth damascus along with damasteel. Bennet is making 2 knives for me, one with D2 and the other with BG42. Lately I have been aiming my collection towards a lot of the newer or lesser known (or both) makers. Some of these guys turn out stuff e-qual to the big boys, they just don't have the name to charge big biy prices.

 

[MAURICE]

i want to second evryone in here,plus in the march issue(2001) of tactical knives, there is a feature on custom knives under a hundred dollars,chech ut out.

 

[steve22595]

I think Al Polkowski gives a lot for the money in a tactical blade.

 

[Richard]

Best buys, good topic and plenty of choices.

Mike Cooper (forum name L6Steel). Mikes been making knives for a few years and his name is starting to become familiar around these forums. His good prices are only a part of the value. You get knives that are quality built and nicely finished. He doesnt make a knife and say 'oh, well thats good enough'. Talking to him, you will learn that he strives to improve with each knife made. I have 3 of his knives, and the work and effort shows in each one. Hes easy to work with, and will do just about anything ya want within his ability.

OGG Custom Knives (Forum name MaxTheKnife). Hes a maker that PhilL turned me onto in the chat room. Max makes knives in the Neo_Tribal style. That is, as little 'power' tool work as possible. He forges, will do stock removal or whatever ya want. He is not the least bit afraid to try new things. If you have an idea for an 'out of the norm' knife, he will take it on. He will make neck knives, bowies knives, straight razors, 'period style' folders...you name it. Prices are almost unbelievably low...quality and fit and finish are VERY good. I have 5 of his, with 2 more in the works.

Ray Kirk, ABS Journeyman Smith. Forged or stock removal. Damascus, plain steel...your choice. A nicer guy you wont find. Neck knives, hunters, bowies...he will do it all, and his prices are more than fair.

Brett Bennett. I only handled one of his knives for a couple of days to do photographs of it before sending it on to its rightful owner. When I first saw it, I figured this had to be a long time maker that I had just over looked. Fit and finish was among the best I have ever seen. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was only his 5th!!! I have one coming from him for myself, and I know it will be a first rate knife just like the hunter of his I handled. You will want to contact this guy early while his prices are still dirt cheap. He has the potential to be one of the world class makers. Hes going nowhere but up.

Allen Blade. I have only briefly handled one of his small knives. It confirmed what everyone has been saying. This guy can make knives with then best of them, in fact he probably is among the best. Prices low enough that you will think its a typo, and worth far more than what he charges.

Thats all I can think of right off the bat, there are plenty out there.



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Richard Todd - Digital knife photography
icq 61363141
My WebSite
Do your site a favor, get quality digital images!!!
New photos added!!!

 

[shootist16]

I guess I was really thinking about bang for the buck. Makers that offer a lot for the money. Maybe makers that don't charge as much as some big name makers.

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Dennis Bible

 

[Richard]

Dennis...the makers I listed fall in to the 'best bang for the buck category'

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Richard Todd - Digital knife photography
icq 61363141
My WebSite
Do your site a favor, get quality digital images!!!
New photos added!!!

 

[Wulf]

The price of a custom knife depends on several factors:

• Materials costs
• Size (bigger = more material)
• Complexity of grinds/design (more complex = more labor)
• Embellisments
• Allocation of general shop expense/depreciation of equipment
• Allocation of general advertising/marketing expense (includes knife shows)
• "Name premium" of maker/price mark-up

Those last two points are probably the biggest variables. When those variables kept to a minimum, a maker can offer an extremely competitive price.

Names that come to mind (though already mentioned), are Lamey, Blade, Denning. Other names include Blackwood, Steketee, Hossom, and Loose.

 

[Velitrius]

Gotta agree with Richard.

MaxTheKnife brews up a blade that just seems like it was meant for you. His pieces look great and handle even better. I feel that his knives are worth way more than the price tag. Working with him on a knife project is a true pleasure, I get along better with him than some of my own brothers.

Allen Blade simply amazes me price-wise. I have a couple of his pieces, Beautiful, functional, and his sheath work is worth close to the price of the entire package. If his prices don't go up substantially, he will soon end up either broke or backlogged for decades.

[This message has been edited by Velitrius (edited 01-04-2001).]

 

[Bronco]

I definitely have to agree with those who would put Allen Blade's name on this list. I would also recommend taking a look at the excellent knives being made by George Tichbourne, Chuck Hallberg and Theuns Prinsloo.

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Semper Fi

-Bill

[This message has been edited by Bronco (edited 01-04-2001).]

 

[PhilL]

Well, let me be the first to suggest;
Allen Blade, for just about anything you can think of.
Max Burnett (OGG Custom Knives) For Period pieces and real tough users.
Art Washburn (ADW Custom Knives) For Damascus folders.
JA Lonewolf. for Damascus fixed blades, scrimed, carved or just a beautiful user.
Mike L6 Cooper, for fixed blade users.

and now some names you may not be too familiar with.
Kit Carson, you're not going to buy a better knife for the price.
Darrel Ralph, you can't think of a knife this man can't make, from an Arclite to the Michael Sword. Ya got a budget this man has a knife to fit it and exceed your expectations.

And last but not least a true Artist that needs to raise his prices dramaticaly.....

Tim Herman

Ya don't believe me? Just ask him.

All the makers I've mentioned can be seen on my Photopoint Albums in either "My Knives" or "Dream Collection"

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site

 

[ICEMAN]

Without a doubt, Allen Blade. I have one of his 9" Combat Patrol Bowies and a 7" Recon Patrol Leader. I'm on his list for a Limited Edition Equinox.

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John

[This message has been edited by ICEMAN (edited 01-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by ICEMAN (edited 01-04-2001).]

 

[TonyT]

I just recently bought a knife made by Mike Cooper. I didnt buy it new, but "almost new" from an individual. This knife became my favorite almost immediately. Looking at the prices that Mike charges and looking at the knife in my hand, I can't believe the quality for the price.


Tony

 

[fartcutter]

Could you guys post some links to some of these makers or links to photos.

Thanks