Custom Folders

I'd have to say, in order:

RJ Martin Havoc- I'd get the Devastator, but that's over your limit, and the Havoc is VERY close to the Devastator and within your limit. It also has that really cool 3 levels to the primary bevel that look really cool!

Jones Brothers Responder- This folder (under your price limit by the way), is completely handmade. Barry and Phillip, again, are good people, and they take a LOT of pride in their work. It shows in that you get from them a tough, no-nonsense knife that'll work for years.

Rick Hinderer XM-18 or Firetac- C'mon, its a custom for at or just above Large CRK Sebenza money. How can you NOT be interested- suggest looking at the Hellfire blade.

Bailey Bradshaw Self-lock folder- This one may not seem like an obvious choice to begin with, but it does actually make a lot of sense. This knife looks very much like a traditional slipjoint, but locks open. The lock is VERY reliable, and resistent to getting dirt and other crap in it. While you may have to ask for a more "grippy" scale material, you have to admit that if you pull out something that looks like a regular slipjoint that your (or anyone's) grandfather may have carried, its not going to raise the eyebrows of the NKP's around you as much as something that has a more "tactical" or "modern" appearance. I think this would- given your criteria- make an EXCELLENT suggestion for a nice, custom, reliable city EDC.


If I were buying ONE custom folder for EDC, it'd be an RJ Martin. If I'm going to part with $500-$800, its going to go to someone I actually like. RJ is a no nonsense kind of guy who will build you a superbly performing folder that will last for years. Also, his knives come with some of the best edges out there. Period. The other people I mentioned are also good people who will do their utmost to make you a GREAT knife.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with!
 
The link that I provided IS a Firetac WITH the Hellfire blade!!

I would also suggest looking at Patrick Nihiser's work too. His stuff is incredible.
 
Early Elishewitz models are a great buy, I personally like the way they look better than the now designs, especially the Stryker style tanto point of his. Great tacticals without the common theme/lines that alot of other tacs have. Art by an artist.
 
Have Eddie Baca build you anything you want:
http://www.eddiejbaca.com/
He doesn't just follow the particular models on his site. He's up to the task of making what ever you request at better-than-usual prices.

Also, anything by Mike Draper.
Drapers are true tacticals that are built to work for a long time and not wear out. I've seen Drapers after they've been used hard for a year and they looked and felt fantastic.

BOTH of these guys will service their knives for life.

Lightfoot makes a super-tough Max Velocity, but isn't really great about servicing after the sale. You pretty much have to pay for repairs/service.
Marzitelli makes beautiful tough knives that are incredible for the money, but they're not made to be taken apart later so what you get, you keep, but they look and feel like they could really last forever.


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Peter Marzitelli makes some amazing knives!!! I just went to his site, because of this thread.
 
I just received my first custom knife ever- from Peter Marzitelli.

It's the camo Rave clip proto, and it's a really awesome knife, you may still be able to get the photo of it from his site.

In my new experience, choosing to buy a handmade knife has as much to do with the craftsman as it does the knife- probably more. It's an investment with many facets. If you have lots of money to blow, well buy one of everything! You'll eventually find a knifemaker you patronize above the rest.

Peter Marzitelli is Canadian, which puts him in the running automatically.
The thing that really impresses me about him though, is his imaginative take on the oldest tool.
There are lots of knives out there that look essentially the same, but his are different. He plumbed his youth for inspiration, and he's always been fascinated by dinosaurs and elipses. It comes out in his work.

Most of the custom knives I see are not clear windows into the souls of their makers. They sell well because they are of the highest quality, but more importantly because they appeal to the majority of people's aesthetics. That's not what I'm looking for in life, let alone in knives.

"People may laugh at me because I'm different, but I laugh at them because they are all the same."

I know about Peter because we've had long conversations about these and other things. He is a solid, principled guy who is comfortable with who he is and has persevered through almost 30 years of professional knifemaking, which is no small feat. The quality of his work is a reflection of that experience, but more importantly the essence of his work is a reflection of his life experience.
There is no doubt that buying a Marzitelli knife- to collect- is a wise investment. If you buy one to use, like I did, you'll likewise never regret it.
 
It would be a high end Michael Walker knife so I could resell for for GOBS of cash, and then buy a Neil Blackwood folder, and STILL have GOBS of cash left over! :D
 
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