Good custom folder under $500

M

MikeMade™

Joined
Nov 17, 2005
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I'm been looking at getting my first custom folder. I've been looking at R.J. Martin, Rick Hinderer, and Yuna. I would really like something other than S30V. Almost all the Yuna folders are ZDP/ATS-34 which I think would make a great blade. However, I also like the fact that R.J. Martin uses ball bearings instead of Bronze washers. What are some other good custom manufacturers and what do you guys think of the three I listed?
 
at that price range I think you hit the nail on the head already. R.J. has a dress Havoc now, but it will proly be on the + side of 500. The regular Havoc would be my choice with the XM-18 a very very close second. I love everything I have seen from yuna so no argument there. I owuldnt expand much more than a few more makers. This would already have my head exploding, choosing between the last few is always the hardest part. I wouldnt shy away from R.J.'s S30V at all. He is one guy I would never worry about S30V heat treat with. GO to the makers sites now and bookmark every dealer they list, then check those dealers twice daily for the knivesin question. Also some dealers will put you on a list of people waiting for that knife, doesnt take as long as you might think (unless you want a blackwood or onion).
 
I highly recommend an XM-18. But, Rick is not taking any orders right now. BUT, he does have authorized dealers. If you want an XM-18, I would check his site for the authorized dealers. Rick is using Duratech 20 CV. You can not go wrong with an RJ Martin knife. I would also suggest Patrick Nihiser, Darrel Ralph, Mike Obenauf. The makers that I have mentioned, I wouldn't worry about their heat treating of S30V.

http://www.rickhindererknives.com/
 
You might look at a Darrel Ralph Gunhammer ... there are several different configurations.
 
Forgot Obernauf, but I have been noticing his prices creeping up as of these last few months. I suspect its the dealers and not him. Darrel Ralph's knives are a shure thing but they are always in the 600+ they way I like them, thats my fault though. Man I love it when he flutes handle mats against fluted damascus. Slober.
 
bailey bradshaw-self lock hunter-is another one

i have a xm18(3") and a yuna (3")hard due any day-and a bradshaw on order:)

and les voorhies makes some nice ones with ikbs
 
I would look at Obenauf, Cook, or Bob Dozier. Bob really knows his way around D2--full hard, takes and keeps a wicked edge, and comes extremely sharp. I believe at the $500 price point you would be looking at Micarta and not any exotic scales, but the knives are silky-smooth perfection. The only problem might be the wait--you need to put your name on a list and wait until he makes some. You might phone him Feb. 26, that's when the folders from ECCKS will go up for sale.
 
I don't believe that Bob Dozier is currently producing folders, at least not in any real quantities. It's too bad, as his D2 heat treatment is simply amazing.

I must admit that the XM-18 looks SERIOUSLY inviting!!!
 
Any Hinderer or Obenauf would be a good choice..both offering real value.

Phillip :)
 
Buzzbait said:
I don't believe that Bob Dozier is currently producing folders, at least not in any real quantities. It's too bad, as his D2 heat treatment is simply amazing.

I must admit that the XM-18 looks SERIOUSLY inviting!!!
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I see new Bob Dozier folder all the time. Try Bladeart.com and Arizonacustomknives.com
 
BigJimSlade said:
I see new Bob Dozier folder all the time. Try Bladeart.com and Arizonacustomknives.com
Click to expand...

Sorry. I just looked at Bob's site, and saw the "Not taking folder orders" sign. I wasn't aware that he was still doing batches for merchants.
 
Brian Tighe is a wiz. He has a cool newer push button dagger out with a funky blade grind I like. I lost a Brian Tighe once, worst day ever (discounting the ddays of friends of course). I would say check out his stuff. He may lack some of the ruggedness and cool inventive features but he has a real talent for design and his eye for the lines of a knife are impecable.
 
I really like the way Brain Tighe crafts his Ti handles and his blades have some wicked curves to them... very clean, minimalist look that stands out.. IMO of course...
 
Eddie Baca will BUILD you pretty much whatever you want for WAY under that. I can't say enough good things about the guy. I own 5 or 6 or his. His website has a small sampling of what he can do. But he's done everything from nice gentleman's knives to great working tacticals.
He's REALLY good and has been making knives since he was a kid. He's currently making me a custom Balisong to my specs.
http://www.eddiejbaca.com/

If you like a full-blooded "tactical", I'd also recommend Mike Draper who uses a NICE set of ball-bearings in his knives! I've handled a great many Drapers. Most of them feel like a high-quality custom when they're new and then get unbelievably smooth after they break in after a few hundred openings. I've handled many Mike Drapers after they've been used (even used HARD) for over a year and they still look fantastic, hold up well and stay smooth. His knives would be just under that $500 mark.

Peter Marzitelli Knives go for around $425-$450 and he gives you more for your money than most makers. He offers a variety of handle materials and decorates his knives in cool ways, but UNDER the handle scales, he puts a layer of micarta and also FINISHES his knives REALLY well with epoxy in all the screw heads (except pivot and clip). The only thing he doesn't do is offer free refurbish jobs, repairs, etc. like a lot of newer makers do. His knives are also "pretty" but seem to hold up better than you'd expect from such attractive knives.
http://www.marzknives.com/

Please check these 3 makers before you decide.

.
 
Buzzbait said:
I don't believe that Bob Dozier is currently producing folders, at least not in any real quantities. It's too bad, as his D2 heat treatment is simply amazing.
Click to expand...

The heat treat AND the grind are exceptional.

There are two ways to get a Dozier folder:

1. Go to the forum, read the "folding hunter" sticky, and call Alicia to get on the waiting list.

2. Go to a knife show, or call about a week after a show when the "featured inventory" is listed on the Dozier web site. Bob brought over 30 folders to ECCKS last week--Micarta, Carbon Fiber, Mammoth, Ivory and Cocobolo. I picked up an Ivory Folder at the show, and I bet Bob took some back that will be listed in "featured inventory" on Feb. 26.

Here's a link to some pics of the Dozier table at ECCKS after about half the folders had sold:

http://www.dozierknives.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1141

Arizona Custom Knives has an up-close photo of a 2007 Folding Hunter in Cocobolo:

http://www.arizonacustomknives.com/displayKnife.asp?pid=5028
 
True North Knives has some really nice Obies in stock if you're lucky enough to be right handed and they are less than $500. Neil's a great guy to do business with.;)
 
I think it depends what you want. It seems to me from your post that smoothness of opening is very important to you (comment about RJ Martin). In that department the Obenaufs are known for being "buttery smooth" though I haven't had the opportunity to handle one myself. I like Brian Tighe and RJ Martin's work too, but as you will see when you have the opportunity to handle a number of customs, a maker's work can vary from knife to knife; I've seen some very smooth flippers and some not-so-smooth flippers from both of them. 'Course, everyone agree that Rick's work is excellent value for money and are great workhorses.

I miss the days when Matt Cucchiara's work was available for under $500 =P

Oh and doesn't TNK have a Ryan Bailey folder for sale? Ryan Bailey is Darrel Ralph's stepson; I haven't handled his work but if he is using Darrel's cool innovations it should be a nice piece of work. It is S30V though.

The impeccable John W. Smith sometimes has tactical folders under $500, as does his son-in-law Aaron Frederick, both who do amazing work ... TNK has some of John W. and The Knife Purveyor has a really well built Aaron Frederick tactical that I had the good fortune to handle.

I don't think you're going to find many Western Hemisphere makers with ZDP on their hands. Are you simply worried about the heat treat?
 
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