Customs for $400 or less

[WadeWilson]

He doesn't make any folders that I'm aware of, but David Farmer makes a fine fixed blade. I had him make my first custom and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Also the sharpest knife I've ever gotten.

 

[gnystrom]

Bombproof folders. Great steel worker. All around nice guy.

http://www.threesistersforge.com/

 

[ndeezl]

How bout a slipjoint?

 

[Slider817]

Burger LEXK, Carbon Fibre, and Damascus

 

[Boozoo Chavis]

Kansei Matsuno

Tim Britton

David Winston

Gene Ingram

 

[technician1]

stknives I have the backup g10 and really like it

 

[kda89508]

Check out Alan Davis over in the knifemakers for sale section. He will fix it the way you want it and his prices are very cheap for the work he does. GOOD LUCK! Kevin :thumbup:

 

[El Queso Grande]

I love GL (Gerry) Drew's work with fixed blades. He's been diving into making ulu's and some other more exotic knives lately as well. (Some of the pix posted above are Gerry's work, though not attributed to him.) His focus is on functional hunting knives with the majority of the new blades hand-forged.

I have one of his big Bowie knives on order right now and will probably pick up a customer kitchen knife as well. The bigger, fancier stuff usually stays below $300.

 

[eisman]

Here's an assortment that ran less than $400...

A Steve Fecas Boot Knife:

A Phillip Patton Bowie:

A Tim Hartman Chute Knife:

A Bailey Camp Knife:

 

[stevewest]

Highly recommend Ray Laconicos work. I have 9 or 10, every one of which is perfect as far as fit and finish. You will occasionally see his work on the makers for sale forum, but they go very fast.

 

[James black]

Steve Voorhis, Dennis Riley come to mind

 

[panthervikefan]

Anything by Will Zermeno (WDZ Knives), who has a hosted forum here on BladeForums. I've borrowed Will's picture of it, but the knife below is one he made for me:

May I ask How much you payed for her??

 

[rbmcmjr]

None of my knives from Tom Krein cost more than $400.

 

[Charlie Mike]

I haven't made a custom more than $150 yet... This one is under that...

 

[Magnaminous_G]

Yeah, what he said... $400? I own lots of customs and none of them were as much as $400. That is a lot of money for a knife, in my opinion. But I guess it depends on what you're looking for. All mine are users. If he's looking for one-off art pieces, then yeah, maybe they will be more expensive.

 

[CrimsonTideShooter]

seldom matches production blades?? are you talking folders?? I think many makers here will disclose any grind issue and their price would reflect it..

that's a pretty big blanket statement you're making there that I think justifies disclosing exactly what/who it is you're talking about..

I would never sell a knife with the smallest flaw without disclosure, there are many makers here with their craft being their lively hood...

I also find it funny that you continually bought all these customs that were so 'questionable'...

ETA OP: sorry for the slight derailment of your thread, but welcome to the forums and I encourage you to check out the exchange here on the forums there are a lot of great makers here that have very favorable offerings........

The part in red is important here. For a custom maker to be able to disclose the flaws of the knife, the maker and buyer must agree on what constitutes a "flaw." I have seen MANY brand new custom knives (blade show) from all different makers that were being sold as new straight from the makers table. I'd say that 80% of these knives had something about them that would keep me from purchasing. Now, I deemed those knives to have a flaw, but the maker may have considered those flaws to be perfectly acceptable. Of course, since the maker put his heart and soul into the knife I never mentioned any of that.

From what I've seen, custom knives are a crap shoot. No disrespect meant to anyone, but for me I'd rather gamble with a cheaper production knife, one that can be easily and quickly replaced if there is a flaw.