Custom Survival Wanted

M

maxkimber

Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
123
I am relatively new here and am seeking a knife master to make a custom knife. The knife would be used as a survival/fun-in-the-woods type knife. To better illustrate what I like in a knife, I have included pics of some knife features I like.

Knife references:
- Bayley Knife’s Bear Gylis knife: I like the way the blade meets the handle, notice the little notch and the end of the sharpened edge and the stout steel at the blades beginning. Blade thickness is nice too.
http://www.bayleyknife.com/images/bear_01_hd.jpg

- Bark River’s B-1: I like the look and functionality of the thumb ramp with notch (for fire steel)
http://knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/793576/

- Gerber’s LMF II ASEK: I like the multipurpose butt: hammering, smashing, etc. Although maybe not quite as pointed. Also, I like the the hole in the handle so knife can be fashioned as a spear.
http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=1627

- Ka-Bar’s U.S.M.C. Series: I like the blood groove, but maybe not quite as big.
https://www.kabar.com/product_detai...goryId=1,2,3,7&categoryName=Military/Tactical

Other basic requirements:
- Straight edge, no serrations
- Sheath that can be worn inverted, sideways, anyway.
- Lanyard hole/ring
- Blade length 5-7 inches, but must be well balanced
- Thickness – unsure, but should be ‘beefy’
- Steel – this is where I am unsure, but would prefer the best for a survival knife, input on this topic would be appreciated.
- Cut – again, the best for a survival knife, I have been educated on this site that either a convex or a full flat grind is preferable
- Handle – I am torn on this area, but should be ‘grippy’ in all situations
- Price – I am not a millionaire, but I understand it will be more than $9.99.

Anyone up to the challenge?? Please feel free to contact be for additional detail or to discuss (again, I am new here, so I am unsure how this would happen, as I do not want to post my contact info and doubt it would be allowed by the moderators)

Anyone see something I missed and should be on a knife?

Thanks and I look forward to see a drawing our hearing your ideas…

Max
 
Try RAT Cutlery....no challege already been there done that...plenty of blades out there to fit the bill, Welcome to the BF TTD
 
Hi and welcome. Just about any of the fine custom makers here could make you a custom survival/bushcraft knife. There are some GREAT deals in the maker/customs for sale forum. These guys know what they're doing. Thanks, Jason.
 
thats a tough bunch of requirements. The Pacific from Chris Reeves is close, but its missing the groove and it has a small area of serated blade.

pacific.jpg
 
LOL,


How about some custom knives. Don't know about Rat knives, everything else mentioned here is a factory knife.

Max,

What is your price range?

WWG
 
Thanks for the blood groove/fuller education...

The S1 is nice, but is is missing 'something,' perhaps the wow factor? The RAT6 is close and the Pacific has the wow factor. All knives mentioned (although nice and I wouldn't return either of them if I found them in my stocking on Christmas morn) are missing one or more of the listed desires.

Price really depends on the product. I have no doubt it will be quality with the work I seen on this site. If I find a knife maker to design it, price will be discussed with him/her.

Thanks for the input...

Max
 
I don't believe there is any such thing as the "perfect" survival knife. It's no different from firearms, everything is a compromise between weight, materials, and fit to your hand, not to mention price. Fortunately there are a huge number of fine knives to choose from. This forum certainly is an education in the right direction.
Good luck in your search!
 
maxkimber said:
Price really depends on the product. I have no doubt it will be quality with the work I seen on this site. If I find a knife maker to design it, price will be discussed with him/her.

Thanks for the input...

Max
Click to expand...

Max,

You are by no means required to state your budget, but it IS likely the single most important criterion in narrowing things down from "just about everybody" to some sort of manageable list. Which is likely why WWG asked the question. If someone is shopping for a $500 custom bowie, I know not to recommend Tim Hancock. If that person says they want a recommendation for a custom bowie with certain specs, but gives a price range of 10 bucks to a million - that's not helping me help them.

Roger
 
How you feel about damascus? I might be interested, but I really don't make many knives out of plain steel. I make my damascus out of O-1 and L-6.
Thanks,
Del
 
Look at Martin, Farid, Bill Sanders, and at a lower price Chris Reeve & BRK&T. Not sure about WoW factor but one guys ideal is not another's. I really like the Bill Sanders hunter/survival knife and it's probably the closest to what I had in mind. I've thought of taking the scales off a Rat 5. Making my own sheath. But like many ideas my time has gone to other en devours.
 
IH8U said:
thats a tough bunch of requirements. The Pacific from Chris Reeves is close, but its missing the groove and it has a small area of serated blade.

pacific.jpg
Click to expand...

That is one sweet looking knife, to bad it has the serrations.
 
For a good ol' thrashing knife id go with a 3v blade and a micarta handle, for this, however, I think that an ironwood with mosaic pins would pass the wow factor with maybe mosaic pins. Compared to a production knife I am thinking something like a NL4 Frey or S1 by Fallkniven. Convex edges are for strength, like on an axe, either go with a scandi grind (best for woodwork, feather sticks ect.) or a flat grind. full tang, file work is nice on customs.

Steel should be 3/16" max and 1/8" min. Steels to consider: 3V, Mr. Ealy's L6/O1, D2, 1095, O1, F2, W2, A2, the list goes on but it should be familiar to the maker and a good knife steel.

Good luck in your search!
 
Here is the Wilderness and Survival BF Knife by Nick Allen (NWA) Field Grade and Collector Grade The Blade is 5 1/8" and overall is 9 3/4" Nick used 01 Steel.
I almost didn't order these knives but after looking at a few knives that Nick had made in the past I just had to have one or two...
I emailed Nick Allen and asked him if I could send him some specialIronwood Burl for one of the knives and he graciously agreed. I am a cabinet maker and the quality of the wood means a lot to me on knives.
I didn'y really expect to recieve these before x-mas as I saw how many knives Nick had to make. To say I am pleasently surprized is an understatement of gigantic proportions. These are gorgeous! His execution of this is very very nice. The knife feels solid in your hand. Ergonomically the feel awesome in hand. I am so very pleased with these. Thank you Nick, I am already thinking of my second order.

Cheers
Kelly

8799jpt.jpg

6l2tl4y.jpg

6qatouf.jpg

71br9cz.jpg

85q0dox.jpg

6q8b901.jpg

8fnf3eu.jpg

7x300ar.jpg

6wz1l37.jpg
 
RogerP said:
Max,

You are by no means required to state your budget, but it IS likely the single most important criterion in narrowing things down from "just about everybody" to some sort of manageable list. Which is likely why WWG asked the question. If someone is shopping for a $500 custom bowie, I know not to recommend Tim Hancock. If that person says they want a recommendation for a custom bowie with certain specs, but gives a price range of 10 bucks to a million - that's not helping me help them.

Roger
Click to expand...

I do not mean to dodge the budget question, but I really do not know. I know I will not buy a Bear Grylls knife - costs too much. In some regard I am materialistic, and won't trust my life on a low cost alternative (even if it is just as good).

I did just receive the knife I bought for my Dad, a Gerber Freeman Hunter (Drop Point), I am impressed with this knife and will be perfect for him. It is a little small for my liking, but has some good features, i.e. the notch at the end of the knife edge, a nice butt, indentations on the full tang for grip. It is lacking a larger handle, if it was about an inch longer and a little thicker, with a couple holes. Also, it does not have a raised thumb rest.

Max
 
delbert ealy said:
How you feel about damascus? I might be interested, but I really don't make many knives out of plain steel. I make my damascus out of O-1 and L-6.
Thanks,
Del
Click to expand...

Mr. Ealy,

I am ignorant about damascus, a post after yours recommended it. Is is a good metal that would stand up to all chopping/hammering/etc.?

Anyone have a damascus knife - how did it hold up to a tough task?

You are the first maker to accept the 'challenge.' How do I contact you to discuss?

Max
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top