Best custom knife maker?

Thiess08

Thiess08

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Jun 26, 2024
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Hi, I was wondering if you guys know of any really really good custom knife makers? Makers that can make a knife that is tough as nails and can work with stuff like 3v or Elmax or any super steels? They would have to be able to make a knife that I request custom if possible? Thanks!
 
best is hard define. rather than fall into that hole, ill just say there is lots of very good ones here. look after pics of their work and talk to them.
 
Dulo knives can make the knife you want in the steel you want. But have a 10 months waiting time.
 
There is no one best maker. There are many unbelievably talented makers...and we are fortunate that many of those have a presence here.

The best way to find the "one" for you is to know what you want, including materials and features, and a price range.

Then ask specific questions to be guided to makers who can hopefully fulfill your wants at a price that fits your budget.
 
Hi everyone! We’ve put together a list of more than 80 custom knifemakers from around the world, including photos of their work and contact details. The list keeps growing, and we’d be glad to add more makers — please feel free to reach out if you’d like to be included.
Alain Miville-Deschênes, Aleks Nemtcev, Alexis LeCocq, Antonio Montejano Nieto, Antonio Fogarizzu, Ariel Salaverria, Audra Draper, Ben Abbott – American knifemaker and Forged in Fire champion, Bertie Rietveld, Bill Vining, Bill Tuch, Bob Kramer – best known for kitchen knives, Bob Loveless – one of the most famous custom knifemakers, Buster Warenski – known for some of the most expensive knives, Chad Kennedy, Dave Kelly, David Brodziak, Dellana, Des Horn, Deryk Munroe, Don Cowles, Don Morrow, Dr. Fred Carter, Dusty Moulton, Enrique Peña, Emmanuel Esposito, Francesco Pachi – knifemaker and knife photographer, Gaétan Beauchamp, George E. Dailey, Gil Hibben – president of the Knifemakers’ Guild, Glenn Waters – knifemaker based in Japan, Gustavo C. Vilar, Harumi Hirayama, Heather and Kevin Harvey, Henry H. Frank, Hidetoshi Nakayama, Howard Hitchmough, Jack Busfield, Jerry Corbit, Jim and Joyce Minnick, Joe Szilaski, Joe Kious, Johan Gustaffson, John W. Smith, Johnny Stout, Josh Smith, Jurgen Steinau – custom knifemaker specializing in futuristic knives, Kaj Embretsen, Ken Onion, Kyle Royer – knifemaker and popular YouTube blogger, Lloyd Hale, Loyd McConnell, Michael A. Tyre, Michael Jankowsky, Michael Vagnino, Michael Walker – best known for folders, Mike “Whiskers” Allen, Mardi Meshejian, Nico Pelzer – South African knifemaker, Noblie Custom Knives, Owen Wood – founder of the Southern Africa Knifemakers’ Guild, Ray and Ron Appleton, Ricardo Vilar – Brazilian knifemaker, Rik Palm, Rudi Zirlin – knifemaker from Israel, Shaun and Sharla Hansen, Stan Wilson, Stefan Steigerwald, Stephen Olszewski, Stephen Vanderkolff, Steve Hoel, Steve R. Johnson, Thomas Haslinger, Tim Herman, Todd Begg, Tom Overeynder, Tony Bose, Tracy Mickley, Van Barnett, W.D. Pease, Wolfgang Loerchner, William (Bill) Burger.
The list is constantly expanding! You can see the full version here: Custom Knifemakers List
 
Some of the European makers have amazing builds they post here. Also they will answer your messages and you can relay your steel flavor,scale flavor and what type fasteners you want. Lithuania, Poland and Croatia have some nice knives being made there for reasonable prices. Had my cleaver made to my specifications,
 
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madcap_magician said:
The best knife makers are unlikely to be taking work, and if they are, they are very unlikely to be taking customer-supplied designs.
Click to expand...
This. 100%

Many "good" makers worked very hard to NOT have to take custom orders.

The cold hard truth is most customers don't really understand what's possible and/or practical and what isn't. And many don't understand what makes a good knife.

And they want "extras".....halfway through the build......for free.

Customers that truly understand a good design/knife, that offer helpful input and select appropriate materials/details without micromanaging are Unicorns.

There are a few out there but they're the ones keeping "good" makers backlogged.
 
J. Doyle said:
This. 100%

Many "good" makers worked very hard to NOT have to take custom orders.

The cold hard truth is most customers don't really understand what's possible and/or practical and what isn't. And many don't understand what makes a good knife.

And they want "extras".....halfway through the build......for free.

Customers that truly understand a good design/knife, that offer helpful input and select appropriate materials/details without micromanaging are Unicorns.

There are a few out there but they're the ones keeping "good" makers backlogged.
Click to expand...

So where do customers land that say "Make me something you feel like making and have fun, no stress". Absolutely no input on size, shape, colors or materials. Would this be fun or even more annoying?
 
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