Custom Folder

r redden

r redden

Joined
May 23, 2015
Messages
4,161
Hey folks I collect slipjoints and stay in the traditional forum most of the time. My son however is a modern folder kind of guy and he has a 45th birthday coming up in Oct. and I want to have a knife made for him. He has some nice knives CRK, Hinderer and so on but I want to have one made for him. Since I don't collect anything but slipjoints I'm not familiar with modern folder makers and don't want to ask him because he'll know what I'm up to. My budget is $1000 or less and I have a 6 month window to have this done so can you folks give me some suggestions of makers that might fit this situation. Thanks so much.
 
You can check the "knifemaker's market" subforum on the exchange here, go through the threads, even the sold ones, just to see their work. If something catches your eye then contact that seller/maker and try to work it out. $1000 should give you plenty of wiggle room with a lot of customs...
 
Hopefully someone can come up with someone good for you. So many of the makers I like have either closed books & or extremely long waits(in the years). You might look in the exchange under makers for sale and see if you see anything you like, then contact them.
Personally even though I buy modern, I would love a nice custom slip joint-you will find those makers there also.
Sorry I can't be of more help-good luck, and great idea.
 
Good luck with that!! Most makers, even if they KNOW you, need more of a lead time than 6 months. Like Peter said, most of the makers I know, either their books are closed or have a long wait.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
Hopefully someone can come up with someone good for you. So many of the makers I like have either closed books & or extremely long waits(in the years). You might look in the exchange under makers for sale and see if you see anything you like, then contact them.
Personally even though I buy modern, I would love a nice custom slip joint-you will find those makers there also.
Sorry I can't be of more help-good luck, and great idea.
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for your input. Maybe I need to clarify what I'm looking for. I own both custom slipjoints and fixed blades and I know about the makers of both. Who is good whose not who is known and who is not; What I'm looking for are makers in the modern world like Todd Davidson is in slipjoints. I am looking for those makers that are well known but their knives are obtainable, well made with good fit and finish, use quality materials and if ever needed to be sold could be easily sold without loss of money or very little loss. I also know there are those like Tony Bose whose books are closed and if you do happen to find one on the secondary market your looking at $2500 and up. I'm very familiar with the exchange and have bought and sold several knives there but knowing nothing about a maker to me is a crap shoot buying a knife from them and I would much rather go off of recommendations than posted pictures. I don't mind going to the secondary market for a knife.
 
thought of 1
One name that you might look into is Marty Young. I haven't followed him recently , but he was taking orders and very reasonable priced. His work is very good. He was trained under Kit Carson and his work is of similar design(at least IMO)
I believe he has a web site.
 
You could talk to Alan Davis, not sure if his books are currently open and/or what the what the wait time is.

His folders are extremely elegant IMO.

Sent via carrier pigeon
 
Another is Sean O'Hare. He was taking orders a couple years ago and made me a nice knife. He does both flippers and non flippers
 
In the knife makers folder forum I would contact Hoover, Withrow or Wells for a modern folder.
 
You could try looking online for one that is already made. That is what I would recommend. I think it would be quite challenging to find a maker who could bang you one out in just sox months.

Aside from looking on here you could try searching "Custom Knives" in google, then scrolling down until you see a website called A certain state between California and New Mexico Custom Knives. They have an absoultely huge selection there and I would be surprised if you couldn't find a custom already made that fits the bill of what your son would want exactly.

By the way your son is lucky to have a father who knows him so well to get him such an amazing gift. That speaks alot about what a great father you must be.

Let me know if you're looking to adopt another son ok?
 
Something to keep in mind-It isn't that far to Blade Show time. This means many knife makers will be busy prepping for it, but it could also be the time to buy a knife if you can't get one built.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
Something to keep in mind-It isn't that far to Blade Show time. This means many knife makers will be busy prepping for it, but it could also be the time to buy a knife if you can't get one built.
Click to expand...

This right here, I mean, Blade Show is June 2-4 in Atlanta
Atlanta is about 3.5 hour drive from Ashville, NC (your listed location), and a ticket is $20 For 1 day ($45 For all 3, a bit cheaper to prepay online).

With $1000 budget, why not just go to Blade Show, see knives from tons of great makers of every genre, customs to midtech to production, and actually handle them in person, feel them in hand, and buy one outright for your son that you know he'll like, and know you'll have it in time?

Plus, you get to go to blade show.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top