Custom slip joints

Cisco Kid

Cisco Kid

Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
980
Needing advice. Only recently have I become interested in custom slip joints and don't know what to look for. Got a Tim Britton, an Al Warren, and a Hans Weinmueller, plus a Hiroaki Ohta on the way. But I'm using the shotgun approach and would like better guidance.

I'm looking for quality in fit and finish, scale materials and blade steel being less important. Prefer single blade knives with blade lengths of 3" or less. I'm not a collector and generally all my knives get used, therefore I'm looking for function rather than embelishment. My absolute limit for a knife is $1k, but feel more comfortable paying $800 or less. But what I'm really looking for is great value (i.e., good quality for the money).

With the above guidelines, what do you recommend?
 
Ken Erickson, Rick Menefee, Mike Alsdorf, Enrique Peña, Tony Bose and Bret Dowell. Get any of their knives and you'll be happy. I've seen Elliott post many of their knives and they've been jawdroppers everytime.
 
Cisco Kid said:
Only recently have I become interested in custom slip joints and don't know what to look for.
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This line is very telling. You're making a very broad and vague request and it's hard to help someone in this situation. Now I like custom slippies as much as the next guy (maybe not Blues :D), but I'd suggest you slow down a bit and familiarize yourself with the different makers and styles. Look at lots of pictures and pretty soon you'll have have a good idea of what types of knives you like and which makers offer those designs. Once you know that you can come back and we'll be able to give you some better advice.

That said there are a few makers making great slipjoints these days. The Wilfred guys are at the top of the list. I also like the stuff from Kerry Hampton, Bret Dowell, Enrique Pena, and Rick Menefee. I want to pick up something from Jerry Halfrich one day, and I'm on Ken Erickson's list. All of these guys excellent work and the reason I've named them is because I personally like their stuff. This list is not exhaustive by any means. Lots of options out there and until you have a better idea of your tastes it'll be hard to point you in a specific direction.

- Christian
 
Lots of great choices.

I would get in line with the following makers in any order you choose.

Richard Rogers
Joel Chamblin
Ken Erickson
Kerry Hampton
Todd Davidson
Reese Bose (His single blade shadow is a great carry) Just get in line and wait, maybe by the time your name comes up your budget will allow something more fancy.
Ken Coats
Rick Menefee
Mike Alsdorf
Enrique Peña
Bill Ruple
Rusty Preston
Dan Burke (I noticed a shadow of his on a dealers site at a good price a few weeks ago).
Ken Erickson (Yup I put him in here twice ;))
Bret Dowell
Brent Cramer
John Houser.

There are many others, but off the top of my head that would be a great list to start with. I wish I had it when I got started
 
Thanks for the replies, folks. This will help me focus. And I'm keeping an eye on the For Sale section of the makers forum for some of the makers that post here...

Looking at Mike Alsdorf web site, it seems that he has a very limited range of shapes? Right now I'm in the swayback jack bandwagon and he doesn't seem to make that pattern, but I sure like his stuff (and prices).

Any opinions on Mike Zscherny? Beautiful, almost got one, but the price was high and I was unsure...

Silenthunterstudios: I'm very flexible with patterns, I like them all (well, almost). But I like to stick with single blade patterns due to their narrower profile, easier to carry in slacks.
 
Bastid said:
Lots of great choices.

I would get in line with the following makers in any order you choose.

Richard Rogers
Joel Chamblin
Ken Erickson
Kerry Hampton
Todd Davidson
Reese Bose (His single blade shadow is a great carry) Just get in line and wait, maybe by the time your name comes up your budget will allow something more fancy.
Ken Coats
Rick Menefee
Mike Alsdorf
Enrique Peña
Bill Ruple
Rusty Preston
Dan Burke (I noticed a shadow of his on a dealers site at a good price a few weeks ago).
Ken Erickson (Yup I put him in here twice ;))
Bret Dowell
Brent Cramer
John Houser.

There are many others, but off the top of my head that would be a great list to start with. I wish I had it when I got started
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That list looks pretty much perfect! :thumbup:

Also, a number of these fine makers post knives for sale on a pretty regular basis.
 
There's a lot of great makers, that have there knives on here! Maybe you should look at all of there knives, study everything you see, and try and think of what type of knife you like the best! Blade steel, scales, bolsters, etc,
And then take what you've learned! Have the pattern you would like to have made, and contact the maker you've decided that you would like to make your knife! and have a price in your mind that you can pay!! And go from there!! A friend of mine that's on BF and knows a lot about custom knives! Well all knives!!Told me this "There's more knives out there than there is money"!!"Take your time and get what you want"!! Remember that!! ( I try to) Good luck!!

Jason
 
Cisco Kid said:
Thanks for the replies, folks. This will help me focus. And I'm keeping an eye on the For Sale section of the makers forum for some of the makers that post here...

Looking at Mike Alsdorf web site, it seems that he has a very limited range of shapes? Right now I'm in the swayback jack bandwagon and he doesn't seem to make that pattern, but I sure like his stuff (and prices).

Any opinions on Mike Zscherny? Beautiful, almost got one, but the price was high and I was unsure...

Silenthunterstudios: I'm very flexible with patterns, I like them all (well, almost). But I like to stick with single blade patterns due to their narrower profile, easier to carry in slacks.
Click to expand...

Ken Coats, Ken Erickson, Todd Davison and Enrique Peña all post knives for sale on a fairly regular basis. You just need to keep an eye on the for sale forum because they tend to go pretty quick.
 
You ought to give Joe Allen (joebonny in the forum) a look. His knives have some style and personality... and get good reviews too.
 
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bakerg2g said:
There's a lot of great makers, that have there knives on here! Maybe you should look at all of there knives, study everything you see, and try and think of what type of knife you like the best! Blade steel, scales, bolsters, etc,
And then take what you've learned by looking at all the makers and there knives. Have the pattern you would like to have, and contact the maker you decided that you would like to make your knife! and have a price in your mind that you can pay!! And go from there!! A friend of mine that's on BF and knows a lot about custom knives! Well all knives!!Told me this "There's more knives out there than there is money"!!"Take your time and get what you want"!! Remember that!! ( I try to) Good luck!!

Jason
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. There are alot of good makers on here. I just placed an order with a maker over in the Makers forums for one.

I also suggest finding a pattern you like and then looking for who makes that pattern really well. I have a few patterns in mind myself and am also looking through makers so this thread helped me with providing some new names to check out:thumbup:
 
Ralph D'Elia makes really clean, crisp traditional folders. I've got one of his barlows in stag and cable damascus that is my favorite of the barlow style that I've seen. He's not a full time maker, so his production is limited, but his prices are well within the range you mentioned. I believe his website is www.ralphsknives.net.

Todd
 
There are many great makers but do not overlook Ray Cover who still makes a fine slipjoint. I have Dowell and Alsdorf but just do not overlook...
 
I forgot Joel Allen and would strongly consider him also. I like Mike Zscherny's work a lot and have a few of his knives, but other than a shadow, his knives might be a little over your limit, but I would give him a call and ask what he makes that would fall within your budget.
 
You're in luck. The swayback is one of the most popular patterns right now for single blade slipjoints and it seems like everyone is making them. All you need to do now is find a maker whose work you like.

- Christian
 
In addition to the fine makers already mentioned, I would add Halfrich and Kawamura.

Ryu's wait is about two years and he is one of the best makers in the world. A single blade would be at the top end of your range, but would be worth the wait!

And I have not found any knife sharper than a Halfrich! You can whittle hair with them. Seriously.
 
The only maker I like but don't see listed here yet is Rick Nowland.

nowlands.jpg


The 5-bladed Sowbelly is my EDC.
 
I would like to thank everyone for the great suggestions. I've started looking at some and am happy to see that many can be had for $500 or less. My wallet thanks you. I don't think the wife would accept very well a pocket knife that costs as much as a mortgage payment, either.

I must add that I'm looking for knives to use, not to collect. The look into customs stems from a desire of better quality than that offered by current factory products. I am very impressed with the Case/Bose collab and decided that now I won't settle for less. Like Jerry Seinfeld put it, "I've been to 1st class, I can't go back." Case showed that it is possible to have production knives made to higher standards. I wish they would make more. That's all I need, really, but the limited availaility of those is forcing me to look into customs.

Regarding the suggestions for Bose: if I decide to get one, do they come with a good divorce lawyer attached?
 
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