Custom Knives; What turns you on?

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
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One of the many things I like about going to shows is there's all types and styles of knives in about every different configuration imaginable on the tables. Really enjoy handling and examining them. :)
But, when it comes time to lay the $$$ down we are usually pretty particular about what we like.

My passion is ABS forged Hunters, Fighters and Bowies. Love Damascus, tastefully executed embellishments, such as engraving and inlay. As far as handle materials, I like stag (natural & amber), most ivories and some woods.

I like classic designs, frame handle construction, sharp crisp lines, great proportions and most of all great fit & finish.

• What in a custom knife really turns you on?

• Types & styles? Materials? Embellishments? Features?

• Favorite makers?
 
Kitchen knives and EDC knives, very thin, stainless, and hard. AEB-L is my favorite stainless. Could be complex or simple, damascus or not.
 
Style wise, I like bowies, fighters, subhilts, chute knives and some ethnic knives. Beautiful ivory, stag and hardwood are the handle materials that I like best, and MOP of all types on certain knives. Pattern welded, wootz and regular carbon steel with a hamon are my blade materials of choice. Pattern welded hardware is my favorite.

Knives that feel like they are part of my hand, and top drawer fit & finish are required to get my heart beating a little faster. The knife has to have a balanced feel and look.
 
Any one that I can finish with realtively few glaring errors:D
 
I love Just about anything that someone built start to finish forged. I love the final finishing touches and the fit of the handle; bonus points for hand made screws and pins. I just can't seem to get excited by something that was cut cnc, some stock removal, minimal heat treating & such, and a ready made handle attached-- that just doesn't seem like my idea of a custom knife. There are some good knives out there like this, and they work.
But for my dollars, I want handcrafted, I want maximum forging and shaping, I want someone to show me craftsmanship and a love of what they do. Damascus intrigues me---incredible damascus stays on my mind for days. I definitely like old school with originality.

It broke my heart to find out that some of the knifemakers, Master smiths, whose work I liked and admired did minimal forging of there knives and just ground them into shape. It seems to me the MS's would be leading the front to preserve a heritage... but they got to make a buck too.
 
WyoNonSmith said:
It broke my heart to find out that some of the knifemakers, Master smiths, whose work I liked and admired did minimal forging of there knives and just ground them into shape. It seems to me the MS's would be leading the front to preserve a heritage... but they got to make a buck too.
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All I'll say to that is if you didn't learn it from the maker himself or see it for yourself, then a critical assessment of the source of that information would be prudent.

Roger
 
Kevin Jones said:
• What in a custom knife really turns you on?

Design and execution. First rate fit and finish. Excellent handle ergonomics. Designs that reflect a particular maker's individual style.

• Types & styles? Materials? Embellishments? Features?

Primarily classic designs in bowies, fighters, camp knives, hunters and integrals. My knives run the range from plain Jane to fully decked out.

• Favorite makers?

Yes. :)
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Overall, I value the people over the knives.

Roger
 
"Knives that feel like they are part of my hand, and top drawer fit & finish... The knife has to have a balanced feel and look."

"I want someone to show me craftsmanship and a love of what they do. Damascus intrigues me---incredible damascus stays on my mind for days."

Beautifully put.

Also, for me a knife has to be useful- whether I actually use it or not. So, not TOO big, too small, or too fancy, though I can enjoy looking at some of the wonderful knives that, to me, fall into those classes.

Outside of that, I never really know what's going to grab me until it does. It just has to look really "right"- however that may be for that particular knife. And then it has to feel just as right in my hand.

And then, of course, having passed these two, it has to fit my wallet! : (
 
It never ceases to amaze me just how little is understood by knife people just what goes into the making of a fine knife. Or the real differences between a "HAND MADE" Stock removal and the forged knife. It is much less that most think. If not for damascus, this wouldn't still be an issue today.

I could care less whether a knife was forged by the smith and then ground, or forged by the rolling mill and then ground. Flat or hollow. Satin, hand rubbed or highly polished. I've done them all. And I own examples of each. If the steels that I use could be properly forged I would. It would save me a lot of time and money. But it can't, so I must use the techniques that work with my chosen steels. The one thing I demand over all else is it must be free of clutter, useless embellishments, gimmicks, and be Clean-Clean_clean. I don't care for crude. Ever. Nor do I want a carnival atmosphere to the knives I use or own.

Oh, and Did I mention CLEAN!!!
What I do want to see is HAND MADE! If it is being sold as a Custom Knife, or a hand made knife! And regardless of how it is made I want to see flow. Form following function. Practicality. Pleasing to the eye, and a good feel to the hand. A knife that even though it may never be used for anything but visual enjoyment, could not only do it's job, but do it in a superior fashion.
 
If its a custom Ernie Emerson i dont have any complaints...uuum what a minute the freakin high prices. I carry my CQC 5 around at work. working at a campground as a mantiance it sees a lot of use.
 
Michael Lovett said:
Pleasing to the eye, and a good feel to the hand. A knife that even though it may never be used for anything but visual enjoyment, could not only do it's job, but do it in a superior fashion.
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Mike,
Great post! :thumbup:

Doug
 
Curvy, sexy, ergonomic handles that scoff at the run-of-the-mill broomstick handles we see so often.
 
Roger,
"All I'll say to that is if you didn't learn it from the maker himself or see it for yourself, then a critical assessment of the source of that information would be prudent."

I would guess that my source, having been standing in front of said MS when it was said, is fairly accurate. This smith was commenting on how one of his hammers got misplaced and he didn't miss it for some time because he didn't do much blade forging and shaping on the anvil anymore. This smith makes some beautiful custom folders and is quite popular.
It's really just a personal choice/opinion, and I freely admit I could be missing something here vis a vis a stock removal knife. But I like my knives to be forged, and I was disappointed to hear what I did. I like what I like, and that's my prerogative when my money is involved.
 
WyoNonSmith said:
Roger,
"All I'll say to that is if you didn't learn it from the maker himself or see it for yourself, then a critical assessment of the source of that information would be prudent."

I would guess that my source, having been standing in front of said MS when it was said, is fairly accurate. This smith was commenting on how one of his hammers got misplaced and he didn't miss it for some time because he didn't do much blade forging and shaping on the anvil anymore. This smith makes some beautiful custom folders and is quite popular.
It's really just a personal choice/opinion, and I freely admit I could be missing something here vis a vis a stock removal knife. But I like my knives to be forged, and I was disappointed to hear what I did. I like what I like, and that's my prerogative when my money is involved.
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I'm not sure I follow your response.

If your source said it in front of the smith in question and he concurred, that is pretty much getting it from the smith himself.

As for forged versus stock removal - I take it you are responding to someone else? I sure didn't dig up that dead horse to give it yet another flogging.

Roger
 
Yes, the smith I was talking about said it in my presence...so I think my source was good. Sorry to be confusing. He makes other blades, too... I was just surprised that he was doing mostly stock removal.

I commenting in general, not in response to you. And, no I don't want to dig up a horse for flogging.
 
I am interested in hunting knifes only....White tail..............To field dress and cut up the meat...............thats it...Anything else is for show....At least for me.....carl
 
WyoNonSmith said:
Roger,
"All I'll say to that is if you didn't learn it from the maker himself or see it for yourself, then a critical assessment of the source of that information would be prudent."

I would guess that my source, having been standing in front of said MS when it was said, is fairly accurate. This smith was commenting on how one of his hammers got misplaced and he didn't miss it for some time because he didn't do much blade forging and shaping on the anvil anymore. This smith makes some beautiful custom folders and is quite popular.
It's really just a personal choice/opinion, and I freely admit I could be missing something here vis a vis a stock removal knife. But I like my knives to be forged, and I was disappointed to hear what I did. I like what I like, and that's my prerogative when my money is involved.
Click to expand...

If this MS is making mostly folders then he would not be using hand hammer and anvil much, if at all. Also he may be (and probably is) forging with power hammer and or hydraulic press.
 
Big Blades that Cut and Poke.

Killer Hamon.

Cool Damascus.

Premium Fossil Ivory.

Black Lip Pearl.

Really Great Stag.

Black Walnut.

Curly Koa.

:D
 
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