Best Custom Survival Knives???

E

EDGE!

Joined
Jun 11, 2000
Messages
68
Well, whats the craic?

What custom knife makers make the best survival knives guys? I got some info from a fellow formite about custom survival knife makers in Germany, some of them had sheath's with a holder for a mini-maglite, pouches for small equipment, para-cord wrapped handles and even a second knife on the sheath, what makers in the US make knives like this??

Many Thanks.

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Hunting?
Don't be a wise guy!
What d'ya hunt with a knife?
Name it!
 
Hmmm... combination sheaths such as you describe tend to be not very popular here. It may just be custom, or the fact that there are a lot of flashlight choices here which would make an inventory nightmare for the sheath makers. Further, separate sheaths allow you to place your knife and flashlight where they are most convenient.

As for smaller knives which fit into a larger knife, they are called 'parasite knives.' At least one custom maker makes a set like this, I think it is Rob Simonich, but if I am correct, he is so far behind that you would be lucky to get one in two years. Actually, I think that most people think you would be better served by having a smaller knife, perhaps a folder, in your pocket. That way, if your large knife is last seen dropping into a rapidly running stream, at least you haven't lost all your knives.

The only kind of combination sheath which enjoys any sort of popularity here in the US is one which provides a small pocket for a sharpening stone. This is especially true on dive knife sheaths. I have a large Kit Carson U2 dive knife in Talonite. The sheath was made by Rob Cude of EOD, I believe. It has a pocket about 2" x 4 1/2" in front of the knife.

Hope this helps, Walt
 
Originally posted by EDGE!:
sheath's with a holder for a mini-maglite, pouches for small equipment
Click to expand...

I saw a picture of a sheath like this on another board, but forgot to save the link.

It looked interesting. It had about three small pockets sewn onto the wide backing of the main knife sheath. The pockets looked the right size for a compass or a matchsafe or a leatherman.

I was reminded of a pouch I bought last year. It holds a mini-maglite and a leatherman, side-by-side, covered by a flap (velcro closure). So handy I bought two!

 
Hey Guys...

How about one like this??

busse.jpg


I wish I could say this is one of mine,,but it's not..
This is a Blade-tech sheath..

Nice though Eh!

ttyle Eric...



------------------
On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing
 
Scott Hendryx (208) 377-8044 in Idaho USA will make anything you specify tailored to the knife, preferred side, carry style, etc. Very reasonable prices too (under $50 incl. shipping for a complete custom and tailored job), I am just a satisfied customer. If you have the May 2000 issue of Tactical Knives his work is reviewed.

Along with his sheaths, he makes a variety of pouches of balistic nylon that are mated with the sheath. You can order any kind of pouch you want, size of compartments, two compartments, what ever you like and Scott can fashion it. Of course if you want more than the standard fare (mine came with a pouch that would carry a 5" sharpening rod and a cylindrical magnesium rod with sparker, or scorpion tactical light), he might want to negotiate a special price.

No web site that I know of, nor email address listed, but he takes phone calls, and seems to enjoy discussing any special needs for the sheath that will help tune his engineering.



[This message has been edited by matthew rapaport (edited 09-04-2000).]
 
That Blade-Tech sheath is unreal!

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Hoodoo

Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

The Merchant of Venice, Act IV. Scene I.
 
Although it's not a custom per se, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Chris Reeve fixed blades.

Sure it doesn't have a compass in the handle, but...
wink.gif

 
Originally posted by Hoodoo:
That Blade-Tech sheath is unreal!
Click to expand...
Wow, you aren't kidding Prof. Hoodoo that is one sweet setup.
Here is my Livesay custom RTAK (14" blade) which has an NRGS-EX knife (for fine work) and an EZe Lap type M diamond hone attached.
Shown with a Search and Rescue vest that functions as a personal flotation device.
View

All sheathwork by Newt Livesay of the Wicked Knife Co. www.newt.livesay.com


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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
"Those who hold the thin blue line keep order, and insure that anarchy and chaos will not prevail."

[This message has been edited by chad234 (edited 09-05-2000).]
 
Best of the Best...Walter Brend Model 2.

Other custom knives to look at are:

RJ Martin Oddessy in 3V
Siska Strike Force II in 3V
Bauchop Recce Fighter (with solid handle in D-2)
Timberline (original custom version) Fighter with solid handle.
Carson U-2 or LDC F-3 (Great utility and dive knife).
Hammomd Seal-Tac
Hammond Whack
Rinaldi Armegeddon
Several different knives from Rob Simonich.


I have not used them, but John Fitch and Matt Lamey look like they make some knives that would do the job.

Guys, remember this thread is about cuatom knives so leave out the following:

Randall
Busse
Reeve
DeltaZ
Spyderco
Benchmade
MicroTech
Gerber
Buck
CRKT
Outdoor Edge
ETC.
<G>



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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com

"If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor"
Albert Einstein
 
Les, not everybody uses the same defination of custom knives as you do. If you are starting a thread then it would be sensible for anyone replying to use your defination of custom, but hardly when it is someone else initiating the discussion.

If I wanted a chopper/digger/prying type of knife I would get a custom Busse Battle Mistress with the new "E" handle made much thicker than standard with a full convex edge grind. I would probably also increase the aggression of the checkering and cant of the handle - but I would need to use one first to decide on that. That is a strong, tough blade that will cut and chop well and be able to handle any stress, intentional or accidental. Busse also stands behind the blade 100% which is critical to me.

If the vegetation was softer and less woody, I would want a very different blade. Much longer, say 18", and possibly thinner, how much so would depend on the type of vegetation but somewhere between 1/8-1/4 ". Full convex grind, straight edge, with a decent tough steel, 5160 or the like. Ed Schott would be an excellent choice for a high end version of this . The Busse comstom shop could also grind something up but there is like a 2 year wait on that.

If there was little or no vegetation to be cut and it was a cutting only type deal I would go with a very efficient light blade in the Deerhunter class. Something by Wilson, Boye or the like. No chopping or prying here, digging is possible but edge damage will result as the profile is thin. The small Busse blades would serve well here as well. Not as efficent cutters, but able to pry, dig and chop (with assistance).

If I knew nothing about the enviroment I would go with the custom Battle Mistress as it can cope with all bases.

-Cliff
 
I don't think it's Blade-Tech - rather, Scott Evans at EdgeWorks...

Normark:

Do you think you could put something like that together? When I first saw that on Scott's site, I immediately called to see if he could do a similar jobber for me. He told me he was moving away from doing custom kydex and concentrating on his holsters and OEM products(he does the sheaths for many production houses). My forthcoming Steel Heart-E is begging for some custom kydex!
 
Hi Squid...

My Sincere Apologies to Scott @ Edgeworks..

You are absolutely right...

Possibly in the future I would tackle something like this...

Drop me a note..

ttyle Eric...

------------------
On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing
 
Cliff,

Don't tell me your playing this game to.

The second line of Edge's post reads:
"What custom knife makers (note he did not say, which factories do you think make the best customized survival knives)make the best survival knives guys?"

Now we know that Jerry Busse can make some very nice custom knives.

However, we both know that your "custom" Busse was in fact not a custom knife. After all that is what Edge asked for (please see quote above).

Cliff what you have is a customized knife.
A Factory anything made to order from a laundry list of options is technically
Customized!

Webster defines Customize as: to build, fit or alter according to individual specifications. In reality, this is what was done to your knife. You made changes to a pre-existing pattern.

You are trying to force a square peg in a round hole by saying your knife is a custom knife. Webster says custom: is made to individual order.

The difference is clear, the custom (as you and some others would like to define it would be a knife not previously made). If it had been made before (even if not by that maker),it technically would be customized.

Much like firearms that are sent to gunsmith's. Did these gunsmiths make the slide or frame of the .45, no.

Did they do additional work to make a factory produced .45 better, yes they did.

While some mistakenly call them custom firearms, in fact they are not, they are customized. Just like your Busse.

I know you know the difference and were just trying to stir the pot! <G>

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Les Robertson www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com

"If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor"
Albert Einstein

[This message has been edited by Les Robertson (edited 09-05-2000).]
 
Les,

This thread is doing fine on it's own, without you trying to put limitations on it and us.

 
The terms Custom and maker used the in the original question make the question crystal clear to me. (and I love Busse knives BTW).

There are many "makers" out there quite able to make you what you want. Personally I would talk to Don Fogg, Howard Clark or John Fitch first and see how they felt about what you wanted. No matter whom you choose it is important to tell the maker how you will be using the knife. A good maker will be able to deliver a knife that will excel in the major tasks you have in mind.

There are tradeoffs and variables in every aspect of a knife - steel choice, blade thickness, edge geometry, blade shape, handle design, handle material and heat treatment are just a few of them. You need to be sure that the maker is knowledgeable in all of the above areas now toss in steel source and if used, forging methods and techniques. Having all of those options is not something that any factory I am aware of offers. Combine the masterery of all that with the talents of an artist and we are getting into an area that I enjoy.

That comes from a fossilized knife nut who has all the users he needs (and most likely enough for 10 or 11 other "normal" people too) but wishes he had a user from one of the three above.
smile.gif


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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.


[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 09-06-2000).]
 
Les :

After all that is what Edge asked for
Click to expand...

That was not clear to me. Some people consider the Sebenza's and one piece line custom knives and Reeves to be the custom maker behind it. To them the Project could be an answer. You don't consider that a custom knife, and neither do I, but that is not actually relevant to someone elses reply.

Cliff what you have is a customized knife.
Click to expand...

In your opinion, not in mine. As another example, I recently bought a Hawkbill from Neil Blackwood. As far as I know he does all the work on the blade himself so the knife I bought from him you would call a custom knife. Now for me if I had ordered the stock model it would not have been a custom knife. However I had him modify the blade in several ways so as make it do what I wanted; handle length, scale material, blade length and curvature etc.. Now it was a custom knife.


A Factory anything made to order from a laundry list of options is technically
Customized!
Click to expand...

To me, custom only defines the how the specifications were determined. It is irrelevant as to how they are actually achieved, one maker or a dozen + helpers make no difference. Les, I understand your defination of custom as meaning individually crafted. I just don't agree with it.

You made changes to a pre-existing pattern.
Click to expand...

You can use this argument for every blade as even when you start a knife from scratch and completely specific it to a knifemaker you are working from some set baseline(s) in your mind.

I think that e_topia (I think) made the most sensible argument awhile back when he commented that a more extensive label is in order. There should be a part to describe how the specifications are decided on and another to decide how they are carried out.

-Cliff
 
Amalgam,

I am not trying to set any limit that wasn't intended in the nature of the thread.

This happens all the time when we start discussing custom knives on Bladeforums.

People who own factory knives want to chime in and try to intimate that their knife is some how a custom knife. Yes, I am using the common category term set forth by the US Knifemakers Guild and the term that 99% of those who buy, use and collect custom knives. The term that is accepted by 99+% of those individuals.

As a custom knife collector and full time custom knife dealer. I try and educate as many people as I can about what are and are not custom knives.

Sadly, there are those out there who take advantage of a maker working with a factory and sell these knives to those who do not know any better. It is only after they talk to someone like me, do they realize that they have been ripped off.

Generally, these people leave the hobby. When others ask them why they quit, the preson does not single out the dealer or other collector who lied to them. They use a general term like.. they are all liars and thieves. Now, with that kind of recommendation, do you think that guys friend is going to get into knives?

Now that so many factories are making knives with the designs of custom knife makers. The chances of this of this occuring are greater than ever.

I know what your thinking, who would be so dense that they would not know the difference. Go to the custom forum sometime and you will find out just how many people do not know what is and is not a custom knife.

I realize that you may not agree with this commonly accepted definintion within the custom knife community. That is your perogative.

However, when the second line of the thread ask's specifically for custom knife makers. Don't include factory type knives (even if it was customized).

Again, I was and am not limiting the parameters of the items that can be discussed in this thread. I am merely trying to keep the discussion pertinant and within the parameters asked for by Edge.





------------------
Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com

"If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor"
Albert Einstein
 
Cliff; you said to Les Robertson,

Some people consider the Sebenza's and one piece line custom knives and Reeves to be the custom maker behind it.
Click to expand...

You are obviously unaware that Les is NOT one of these people. You should remember the gossip from a few years ago, recently repeated on the CR forum, on a thread about coated Sebenzas. I am surprised at this lapse of your memory.

Les: still have that Rogard coated Classic Seb!!! Thanks a lot!

Walt
 
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