Best large, forged knives!

L

Larry in KY

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Can any of you recommend a large, forged knife that is outstanding in workmanship and performance in the field. Looking for custom rather than factory knives. Thanks!
 
Wally Hayes. I have his big camp knife forged out of 52100. He's an ABS mastersmith and president of the Canadian Knifemakers Guild. This knife was rated extraordinary in all respects in the Knives Illustrated comparison test of two or three years ago. That was a very small elite group that was chosen for that rating.
Beautiful workmanship, amazing performance, and a great person to boot. He is on the web at www.hayesknives.com



[This message has been edited by HJK (edited 05-23-2000).]
 
Larry,

You may wish to check out the Himalayan Imports and Gurkha House forums for khukuris. They meet the qualifications you asked for, with the possible exception of custom. I'm never sure what a knife person means when they say "custom." You'll have to figure out if they're custom or not yourself.

Not everyone likes them. I do though.
 
I'm with Howard. Quite a few of the knives (read Khukuries) are the result of custom work. If you want first class quality (5160 steel) and BIG this is the place to stop, there really isn't any practical limit as to size either.
Dan
 
Thanks for all the advice guys! HJK, could you e-mail me privately? My address is: lpace@hyden.tds.net
Thanks!
 
Wally Hayes is a good lead.

Another fairly unknown journeyman smith who specializes in traditional American Bladesmith Society (ABS) and Moran type camp and bowie styled knives is William Hurt. For around $700, he'll build you a very top quality forged Bowie as big as you can stand it. Reasonable turnaround time (few months). William Hurt, 9222 Oak Tree Cir, Federick MD 21701, (301) 898-7143.

I found out about William in a Tactical Knives or Knives Illustrated article a few years ago... a guy with a French sounding name tested about 10 camp knives and found Hurt's to be about the tops for significant duty (lots of chopping, about the most severe treatment). Think Wally Hayes might have been in the shootout, so was Fisk (Below). (I own a 12" Hurt Bowie, excellent, convex ground like Moran)

Jerry Fisk's work is absolutely outstanding, he's among the very best Masters in ABS now. If you don't get damascus (he'll tell you is doesn't perform any better than his 5160 or 1095 blades, just is prettier and holds its value better if you don't use it), his prices are fair for his skill level, but his wait is 2 years or more unfortunately. He does camp knives, traditional Bowies, hunting knives, etc. His knives remarkably forged... he keeps a good spine thickness and flat grinds the blade, with a forged distal taper, and the knives are tremendously strong, tough, hold an edge very well, and yet are amazingly light weight due to the distal taper. Jerry's work is probably tops in the ABS. One way around the 2 year wait is to find a dealer who has resting "order positions" with Jerry ... they often will only specify what type of knife they want near their "time slot", based on what a customer wants. Yeah, the dealer makes 10-20% on you, but you don't have to wait 2 years either. (I know, I'm in "line" right now with Jerry directly for a camp knife). (I own a Fisk Bowie in damascus and fossilized ivory, can't use it, but it's a gem, a collector piece).

Jerry Fisk, 145 N Park Ave, Lockesburg, AR, 71846, (870) 289-3240.

[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 05-28-2000).]
 
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