Recommendation? Custom folder for $500

George Magnum

George Magnum

Joined
Apr 11, 2018
Messages
95
Hi. I have a budget of approximately $500. I would like to purchase my first custom folding knife, preferably a frame lock. I know it's a low budget. Does anybody know of a good custom knife maker who works in this range? Thanks much.
 
Are you looking to just buy a knife from a custom maker (IE like Makers Choice) or do you want to spec it out to your exact preferences? If it's the former, keep an eye on the Exchange, custom/handmade folders pop up in that price range there quite regularly. If it's the latter, it'll be tricky, since a lot of the base models for customs start not much below that, so as soon as you add some bells and whistles you blow the budget. And it always depends a little on what your definition of custom is, the line can be blurry.
 
Another option could be getting a production knife and having somebody (professional!) do some aftermarket/custom work for you. It's a bit like customizing a car though, you start with a 200$ production knife, add 200-300$ in mods, it will still likely be worth only the 200$ because it's customized to your personal preference but you'll have something that you made into exactly what you want. Or option two, get an fairly base Olamic Wayfarer, Busker or Swish and when you have more funds send it to Olamic and get it pimped/customized by them, they offer a lot of options too.
 
While he doesn't do frame locks that I'm aware of, likely the best value you can get in a true custom knife is Walter Wells. True custom made to my specs in CPM-154 for $240. Proper lefty knife too. He even took the knife back and reground the blade for me when I realized after I had the knife finished that it was really thick behind the edge.
 
In that range you might want to consider Olamic. While it wouldn't be a "full" custom in the sense that your starting point is limited to their existing patterns, there are scores of individualized "customizations" that they'll do to those patterns.
 
You can easily get a true custom knife for that kind of money; one that you help define. DO NOT look at production knife makers. DO look on this BBS in the knifemaker section and see who and what is out there. That's a really good start. Another thing you should do is attend a good knife show; that will give you some idea as to who is local and therefore somewhat easier to work with.

What I would do is make a list of the specifics you want, and a sketch or pictures of knives with the features you want. Then start sending that around. You can even post that in the "services wanted" here and see who responds. You might look at Tim Bailey (he currently has a couple knives posted for sale), while I don't have any folders from him I do have a couple fixed blades and they're a huge value. (I have spec'ed over 50 custom knives and only had one disappointment, so you can do this.)
 
I like the work of Tobin Smith and Chuck Gedraitis in that price range. Not sure if they're taking orders though. I'll always tout the unlimited abilities at customizing that Olamic offers (actually considering bugging them about another - I still want a tanto Rainmaker :cool:).
 
I would look in the makers section of the exchange and talk to one of them that is making something that you like and in your price range. Someone there likely could help you with this project. You can always then ask what we think of that person
 
jstrange said:
Don't know how much say you get in the exact specs, but Jesse Jarozs makes some nice stuff around that price range.
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If I remember right Jesse stopped doing custom orders, but he is easy to talk to, so it is worth a shot asking.
Be prepared to never hear back from some of these makers-granted they are busy making knives
 
dkb45 said:
While he doesn't do frame locks that I'm aware of, likely the best value you can get in a true custom knife is Walter Wells. True custom made to my specs in CPM-154 for $240. Proper lefty knife too. He even took the knife back and reground the blade for me when I realized after I had the knife finished that it was really thick behind the edge.
Click to expand...
Couldn't find a website for him. Does he just work off of Instagram?
 
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