Custom Knife Makers: Successes!

An absolute favorite of mine is Kit Carson.His folders are in a word ...perfect for me.Prices have been below what I feel his work is worth,but have risen some of late in the secondary market.Everything the man makes sells and sells fast.I have delt with him a few times and his service is tops on my list.I really can't find or see a down side in owning a Carson.Imo Kit is a prime example of a true custom maker "success".
 
Phillip Baldwin-One of the first makers to do mokume gane, and damascus, both offered commercially, one of my favorite people in or out of the knife community, probably would not make a killing on the aftermarket, but one of the makers that transcends normal "collector" interest, in other words, jewelry collectors and other metal collectors also covet his knives.
Kevin Cashen-Top notch workmanship, pieces were acquired at reasonable prices that allow upword movement. Interesting, and technically quite challenging, and have the "feel" that is really pleasureable. An odd person, but fascinating to speak with.
Robert Crowder-GREAT work, well priced, who knows where the market will go with this one, but a must own, in my book.
Matt Diskin-A friend, a technical genius, and a real up-and-comer. Matt made me a gorgeous liner lock, in February, and we are collaborating on my next piece. It will be a show stopper.
Don Fogg-I recently got the Clouds Bowie from a fellow forumite, and feel like this knife has come home. I have known of Don for years, over 15, but had only in the last few years had the experience and funds to own his work. It is not for the novice collector in my opinion, requiring too much care and knowledge to adequately appreciate, but knowing Don and owning his work has been a blessing for me.
Harvey McBurnette-Became a dealer of his knives in the mid 90's. Technically and artistically ahead of his time, his loss to the knife community was great and deep. I love his knives, and these would be some of the last ones sold, although they represent some of the highest potential return, financially.
Warren Osborne-I recently got an early piece engraved by Julie Warenski, and it made the knife complete, as well as adding a piece of history. Warren's knives can be technically flawless, as these are, and really speak to me in a voice that most who handle them can hear.
Al Pendray- The Wizard of Wootz. I cannot say enough about Al's work, both from a technical level and a personal one. His work is truly some of the most desired in my collection, and I am pleased to have known him as a person. Owning one of his bowies is the realization of a long dream that I have had. I feel like I won a lottery.
Jim Siska-I know Jim and I admire his ability. The knives that he made me will make money, but that is not really important, as much as having his work. It makes him happy, and it makes me happy.
Butch Vallotton-an old friend, his work is frequently of the "oh, WOW" kind of execution. He is one of the fathers of American automatic customs, yet, as I do not collect autos, these are manuals. Butch made them for me, saying, "all they need is a kick start, and they will be better".
Nick Wheeler-His work was recommended to me by Don Fogg. The piece that I have from him could have been made with me in mind. It is exceptional, and I am proud to own it.

Knowing the maker is as important to me as owning the work. As I have said in the past, I collect makers as much as I collect pieces. There are others in the collection such as Chuck Gedraitis, Mike Lovett and John Young, that I cherish, but my relationship is not as strong(currently) with the makers as it is with the above. Baldwin, Crowder, Diskin, Fogg, Pendray, Siska, Vallotton, and Wheeler have become friends, as well as contributors to my dream of a small, yet very personal and complete collection of American knifemakers. I don't need to MAKE money, but I really don't want to lose it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
For me, I think Daniel Winkler's knives excite me more than any other maker's knives. I could own everything he makes and enjoy each piece to no end.
 
Investment has not been a consideration in my purchases. I always hope that a knife will "speak" to me, but I never know that when I order it.

My successes have come from doing a lot of reseach on the makers that work in the styles of knives that I like. When I first got into custom knives I made some rather rash decisions and ended up with a couple of knives that I didn't care for. Learning from that, I started taking a lot more time and care in making my choices. In the last couple of years I haven't picked up one knife that wasn't a keeper (in my opinion at least).
 
1. Knowing the maker - knowing the maker personally usually means I end up owning one of his knives.

2. The knife speaks to me - some knives I just fall in love with, like the Robert Crowder King's Dagger. After buying it, I learned Robert was a really cool guy as well (see #1).

3. Investment - there are some knives I have bought simply for speculation. I own a very early piece from a nearby Mastersmith. I don't care for the look of the knife, but I do like the maker (see #1 ;)) and I believe it could be worth quite a bit someday.

Usually, it is a combination of all three. ;)
 
I could have made a ton of money if I had only kept some of the knives I bought.
Hoel, Busfield, Horn, Pease, and a few others I cant remember now.........but I look back and remember that I sold these knives so I could buy more equipment, and that wasnt such a bad investment after all! :p
 
Makers that speak to me and at one time or another I have owned or currently own one or more of their blades. No particular order, Elishewitz, Boguszewski (I have a horror story about some of his blades, I won't go into) Fujisaka, Mayo, Begg, Terzuola, Helton, Zcherny, Anders Hogstrom and Bob Lum.

I just buy what I like and hope I don't lose any money, but these are the makers that get my blood pumping. I tend to just accumulate, as opposed to actually investing.
 
I've definetly changed my outlook on collecting. I think my successes are knives that I own from people I like and have some relationship with. These include:

Bill Pease - a gentleman first a highly collected maker second.

Kit Carson - nice guy, very collectable. Never got a knife directly from him but we've talked and he's helped me out a couple of times.

Jimmy Fikes - collecting his knives since the '90s. A true pioneer in forging and quite the Renaissance man. Proud to call him a friend.

Scott Sawby - an amazing craftsman, his designs are unique, some of the best workmanship out there. Nice guy, too.

Bob Loveless - we talk occassionally, nothing better than opening a box with the return address in Riverside, CA. An interesting person and a true pioneer in knife making.

Ernie Emerson - everyone should own at least one custom from Ernie. I don't look at his knives as an investment but owning a knife by an innovative maker. Folders with single grind Tanto blades, where would these be without Ernie. Old skool CQC7, here.

Others I own and feel fill out my collection are John Young, Warren Goltz,
Phill Hartsfield, Don Fogg, Ron Newton, Bob Terzoula and Ricardo Velarde. All makers that I personally know and respect.

My regrets are no knives from Jess Horn or Steve Johnson. This wiil change.

I've owned alot of customs. I find nothing more satisfying than ordering a knife from a maker and having one of the fine engravers work they're magic.
I've worked mostly with Chris Meyer and Julie Warenski, never disappointed.

Win
 
Many very good knifemakers mentioned in this thread. I admire all their work.

I only own three custom knives.

Mel Fassio out of Montana likes to use engraving on his knives which I like very much. He builds them very tight and very good looking.

Don Lozier is a local Florida maker. I have one of his ivory handled hunters. It isn't very ornate just looks well balanced (which it is), well made, and very attractive also IMHO.

The third knife is made by an unknown but I thought it was very well balanced. I wish he had marked it somehow. Pic attached.
 
For me, Don Fogg has been a hugely succesful relationship, and I think it is somewhat mutually satisfying. Don seems genuinely pleased when I buy one of his piece, partly because he knows I appreciate and enjoy the technical aspects of the construction of the blade. The most ambitious pieces I bought at the Reno show after having stood in front of the door for 4 hrs, and I think he was flattered too... Plus, I took a sword making class with him which was great (but I wasn't ready for it).

I have made money each time I have sold one of his pieces, but most of them I've kept, and they'll probably be the last to go in the collection.

I don't own anything from Nick yet, but he is a good friend and for me this is already a succesful relationship.

Kevin Cashen is also a superb craftsman with reasonable prices, and I'm looking forward to getting more stuff from him.

I've had a very satisfying project with Rob Brown of South Africa

I have made good money on the 2 Mayo's I sold, as well as the 1 Kit Carson. i would have kept them but I wanted to refocus my collection on forged blades.
 
These threads are pretty interesting. I buy a knife because I think I will appreciate it, hopefully use it, hopefully keep it. If I have a change of heart and can sell it easily for what I paid or more, then that's one kind of successful purchase. This has happened mulitple times with:

Anso, Blackwood, Bose (both), Carson, Cook, Cover, Dozier, Emerson, Horn, Hossom, Mayo, Obenauf, Onion, Primos, Shadley, Simonich.

Some knives have proven to be wildly successful purchases for me time and again:

Boguszewski, Horn, Mayo, Onion

It's hard to beat being able to carry a knife and use it for a while and then sell it for a profit.

Others have caused aggrivation more than once:

Chamblin, Chew, Ralph, Ruple, Terzoula, Tomes

This is not a direct reflection on the work of these makers, this is just my experience. I would own any of these makers again (for the right price).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top