Favorite Suppliers?

W

Warrant

Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Messages
44
Well, while setting up my new Coote grinder, I decided to check out the forum to see who to buy what from.....Kinda confusing, as I only need a few things right now. A few belts, some 1095 steel, some Ebony, and some brass.

Anyway, I've been trying to order all this stuff from Atlanta Cutlery, without their catalog. No joy. Using their on line catalog, it seems none of the stock numbers are right, so still waiting for a hard copy in the mail. Which got me to thinking....

I may as well ask here and only open accounts with people that are great to do business with, right? I know about Admiral steel, but for 2 or 3 bars, maybe it's too small for them to mess with?? Anyway, who do you guys use, and why. For belts, steel, handle material, misc stuff, etc??

Thanks!!

Mike
 
Knifemakers supply houses:

Knife & Gun Finishing Supply (K&G) is in Arizona.

Texas Knifemakers Supply is Houston area.

Sheffield Knifemakers Supply is in Florida

Kovals is in Ohio

Jantz is somewhere mid-South

Pop's is in Georgia

True Grit is in California


All have websites. Of course, get hard copy catalogs where available. I mostly use Sheffield because they have most stuff in stock and have never burned me. Pop's has great prices on belts. True Grit has some belts others don't. Good things have been said about all those I listed.
 
While I have bought stuff from most all of those suppliers, I find Koval's to be easiest for me. They usually set up at a lot of the shows in my area that I attend regularly. That makes it hard to walk by their tables, without buying stuff. Good people too.
 
I use Texas Knifemakers Supply the most. They do my heat treat and cryo treat on D2 and other air hardening steels. I also use K&G, Jantz and Kovals for handle material and other supplies. I get my belts from Super Grit (Red Hill Corp.) in Gettysburg, Pa.
Scott
 
The best outfit to buy your titanium and fancy wood handle materials from is Alpha Supply owned and operated by Chuck Bybee and his wife.
First class products and service at excellent prices.
Best place I've found for g10 is Halpern Ti. They're good folks too!
Despite what you'll read in a lot of posts here, Admiral Steel is a good supplier for several types of blade steel. I'm pretty sure they carry 1095.
James Poplin, aka, Pop, is a very well liked and used supplier of belts and steel and folder supplies to many makers here on the forums. He's a grand gent and will help you choose the proper item for the job you're planning on doing!
I used to buy all my belts from GL Pearce Abrasives but they'll never get another cent from me!
The guy sent me some bozo brand crap belts in a big order I made and the things aren't worth a crap!
I called him after I gave them a try and in so many words he said tough sh*t.
I've been a loyal customer to them for 5 or 6 years and that's how I got treated, sheesh!
Ahh, enough ranting.
Take care Mike!!
Michael
 
Razorback - Knives said:
I use Texas Knifemakers Supply the most. They do my heat treat and cryo treat on D2 and other air hardening steels. I also use K&G, Jantz and Kovals for handle material and other supplies. I get my belts from Super Grit (Red Hill Corp.) in Gettysburg, Pa.
Scott
Click to expand...

Say, Razor, that brings up a question I've been meaning to ask. TS sells some nice blades, and offers a cryo option. I was going to buy one to experiment with. However, I've researched some, and find that after cryo treatment, the blade needs to be (re) tempered. Question is....How do you spec out your D2 for tempering or do you do it later, yourself??

Mike
 
I buy O1 from Tool and Die . They have great prices and the fastest shipping I've ever experienced.

I like to use Sheffields for a lot of stuff, and K&G for about everything else. TKS has always been good to me too.

Leather from Siegel of California . Reasonably good service, the best prices on leather I've ever seen and free shipping on orders over, I believe, $75.

I've bought most of my wood off eBay from an outfit in Oregon called Cook Woods. They are great people to deal with.

One caveat, the last bunch of "micarta" from Sheffields wasn't too whippy. The colors are uneven and some of the stuff even had debris in it. I'll stick with the brand name Micarta from now on, even if it costs a bit more.
 
Mike to answer your question, all I've done is send the blades to TKS for heat treat and cryo treat. When I get them back I do some finish grinding, put handles on them and then the cutting edge. According to TKS, they heat treat D2 to 58rc. As far as I know I have completed blades ready to be finished with handles when I get them back. I assuming they take care of the tempering after cryo. They did not tell me I had to do anything when I get them back. I've made about 40 knives in the past year and sold all but one. The feed back has been outstanding with testimonials of excellent edge holding. They do an excellent job, and I will continue to use them until I am set up to do it myself. The best thing to do is call them with your needs. Ask to speak to Alice. Hope that answers your question.
Scott
 
Razorback - Knives said:
is call them with your needs. Ask to speak to Alice. Hope that answers your question.
Scott
Click to expand...

Thanks, Razor. Yes it does. If they HT to a specific hardness, then they must temper after. I've heard a lot of good things about D2........

I'm going to have to stick to simple stuff for a couple of years though. Just curious as to how you guys do it. I think A2 would be the king of knife steels for me in the future. I'll send it out for HT too :)
 
Mike, I don't know squat about heat treating air hardening steels. I do know how to heat treat oil hardening steel but don't have alot of time to experiment. It's just easier for me to concentrate on the other aspects of knifemaking and farm out my heat treat for now. My regular 6 day a week job wears my ass out and doesn't leave me much time. D2 is my favorite, but I hear alot of good things about A2. Never used it to comment. TKS treats me good and they really know what they are doing in the heat treat dept. Good luck and keep us updated with your progress. ;)
Scott
 
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