Cheap custom knives?

T

TheUSMC2017

Joined
Nov 24, 2010
Messages
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Let me change that to "Inexpensive" custom knives. I've never had a custom knife before, and I would like to get my hands on one sometime in the near future. I managed to scrape together about $120 over the past few months. I think I'm going to Blade show this year (For the first time) so could I maybe try to find one there? Thanks a lot.

I took cbr900son uo on his offer and am now working with him to design my knife, thanks for all the help guys
 
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It will cost you more than $120 in gas to get there. Go in the knifemaker marketplace here and shop around. There is a lot of great talent and bargains there!
 
Going to BLADE Show is an excellent decision, as if you spent your time wisely there's no place to learn more about custom knives in a short period of time.

By the way, probably better to use the terms inexpensive or affordable as opposed to cheap when speaking of custom knives. ;)
 
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I tell you what I'm in the process of ordering a motor for my new grinder since my old one died. As soon as i'm up and running again (should be a few weeks) Ill make you one with a sheath for 40$ (cost of materials) under one condition! When I send you the knife i'm gonna send you a piece of 1095 high carbon steel and you make me one in return. You will probably have to use files as most people don't have the equipment to make one. Take as long as you want and ill help you along the way with what I know and there are alot of tutorials out there and I'll pay for handle materials and heat treating and any other cost when it is time. PM me or email me if interested at webishop78@gmail.com if interested and we can talk more.

PS - the reason i'm making this offer is I wanna see youth get involved in knife making and stay out of trouble plus this is the kind of thing we will both remember for the rest of our lives abnd have something to look at remember it by also.
 
That's a fine gesture William.

USMC, if you do make it to BLADE Show, drop by the CKCA booth and introduce yourself. We can start your first BLADE Show off with a tour and I will introduce you to some fine knifemakers and collectors.
 
I got started in Custom Knives Very early on. I didn't know they were custom at the time as they were all 'hand me downs' You can feel the difference in a custom knife. The F&F are not the same as a mass produced knife but you really feel the 'Manufact'... It's a Slippery slope... Good luck!
 
You can purchase over a million dollars of custom knives for $75. I'm not lying or making an incorrect suggestion .

Look up Dr. Darom's books on Amazon or in person at Blade. After you are done ogling and
admiring the works, you WILL be a true custom knife collector.

Mr. Bishop's offer is generous and another means to involve you further than purchasing a 'cheap' custom. More traction.

Coop
 
I myself too am in the early stages of making a custom knife of my own.
It will be my first knife, and i hope to make many more in the future.
Im 15 and in the process of getting a job :)
I wish you luck on your further adventures.
Jurre.
 
TheUSMC2017 said:
Let me change that to "Inexpensive" custom knives. I've never had a custom knife before, and I would like to get my hands on one sometime in the near future. Being 16 with no job, however, I managed to scrape together about $120 over the past few months. I think I'm going to Blade show this year (For the first time) so could I maybe try to find one there? Thanks a lot.
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Very generous offer from Mr. Bishop.
Below is just one other avenue :
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/850758-90-Hunter
 
cbr900son said:
I tell you what I'm in the process of ordering a motor for my new grinder since my old one died. As soon as i'm up and running again (should be a few weeks) Ill make you one with a sheath for 40$ (cost of materials) under one condition! When I send you the knife i'm gonna send you a piece of 1095 high carbon steel and you make me one in return. You will probably have to use files as most people don't have the equipment to make one. Take as long as you want and ill help you along the way with what I know and there are alot of tutorials out there and I'll pay for handle materials and heat treating and any other cost when it is time. PM me or email me if interested at webishop78@gmail.com if interested and we can talk more.

PS - the reason i'm making this offer is I wanna see youth get involved in knife making and stay out of trouble plus this is the kind of thing we will both remember for the rest of our lives abnd have something to look at remember it by also.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to say I think this is a fantastic offer, and a great thing to do to get a youngster not only involved in the knife hobby, but teaching him some skills and an experiance he will carry with him a lifetime.
 
Kevin Jones said:
By the way, probably better to use the terms inexpensive or affordable as opposed to cheap when speaking of custom knives. ;)
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Thanks for your wise words.
As a "young" knifemakersomethinglikethat I never thanks you so much.
There's a lot of skillfull people here making good knives for affordable prices indeed, for thousands reasons.

Now, another knifemaker offered an incredible chance. Lots of great people here...

Cheers
 
No matter what he chooses to do I hope its more then just buy a knife. I hope he gets to know the community, takes interest in knives, and get to know the maker. Buying a custom can be a fun valuable experience.
 
Amen to that. I will say I've learned a lot here just reading and learning. I wish I had more input but new to the art. Heres my 1st and only at this point, Don't look to close, I got some polishing to do and finish buffing the leather. BUT if the lord is willing and the creek don't rise I'll make 5 more by christmas for my grandkids.

knives3010.jpg:


knives3007.jpg


anyone can learn, just do it.
 
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Well I'm happy to say that Ryan took me up on my offer and while my motor is being delivered for my new kmg grinder we are working on design ideas and coming up with what he wants exactly. I'm hoping we dial in exactly what he wants and he gets to learn a few things about different style knives and hopefully this will be a fun and learning process for him!
 
I would recommend spending the money to get a maker close to you to give ya some classes. A simple backyard set up can produce some amazing results, for very little money, if your scrounging skills are up to it. I'd be happy to provide links to tutorials I have done for a simple charcoal forge, as well as several knife/hawk tutorials. I'm new here, but a lot of the members know me from other sites, and I'm sure they'd vouch for me. I've been looking for a tutorials section here on the site, but havent found it yet. I have a lot of them to share, provided the mods/admins want them

1me_0015.jpg
 
Phoenix- the knifemakers section has many links, and there are a lot of work in progress threads (WIP). Heck, I even did a WIP thread so other neophytes can see a beginner at work.

There are a great number of inexpensive customs on sale here on BF. I have gotten customs for as little as $40, and have bought $7-800 folders for $200. All you have to do is figure out what you are looking for, be diligent at watching for sale adds and get lucky once in a while. If you don't mind getting a user your choices at your price range will increase, then you can also decide if the premium price is worth working with (my experience is yes). I currently have 4 customs on their way to me (2 used , 2 from the maker) and only one was over $200, and I feel I slightly overpaid, but hopefully the in hand use will change my mind.

Even if you do not buy something, go to Blade and fill your bucket with knife culture (and make those of us who are too distant and broke jealous). Have fun, customs add up quickly in my experience.

Eta: some things to think about/ask the maker: what use was it designed for/what the maker constitutes abuse, what the return policy/repair policy is, how was it made, how was the blade sharpened/finished, how long has the maker been active (if not very well known), how to care for the handle material/sheath....
Any knifemaker worth buying from should be happy to explain things to a new (and possible repeat) custom user/collector. Just try not to take up too much time at a busy table at an event like Blade.

By the way- what kind of custom are you looking for?
 
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