Help finding a custom maker

pialia

pialia

Joined
Feb 11, 2012
Messages
494
Hi folks

So, basically I've been browsing the forums and all kinds of different online stores for the past 6 months or so for the perfect backpacking/bushcraft knife for my needs and I haven't been able to find something that I absolutely love. I've bought and sold half a dozen blades and I'm getting tired of it! :D I'd love for some suggestions of custom makers I could contact. I'd absolutely love a knife in 3V so that would be a huge plus, but any carbon steel will do if the heat treat is spot on obviously.

Is <$350 unreasonable for a ~4" custom? I guess it would depend on the steel. I'm not looking for any fancy detail work etc, I want an extremely solid work horse. In other words, no damascus :rolleyes:

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Pia
 
I've actually been wondering the same thing. While I don't have the cash for one right now (grad school...), but I actually have no idea how much they cost to perhaps plan for one in the future.

Ballpark is all I'd need.

And good luck making your dream knife :).
 
Ankerson said:
There are a lot of excellent makers here on BF that should be able to fit your needs.

Check here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/754-For-Sale-Fixed-Blades

Or post the question here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/678-Custom-amp-Handmade-Knives
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help.

capid1 said:
My good friend David (OTK on BF)makes a wicked blade in 3V. I have one in Elmax and I love it!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1000887-OTK-Dragon-Drop-Point?highlight=Otk
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's a fine blade, but not at all what I'm looking for :) Hence why I've resorted to trying to get my own made! :thumbup:

Thanks though.
 
Have you looked at Fiddleback Forge here on BF? He (Andy) has a forum here and I know his knives are highly regarded.
 
OzarkMatt said:
Have you looked at Fiddleback Forge here on BF? He (Andy) has a forum here and I know his knives are highly regarded.
Click to expand...

I have, and a couple of his models do speak very much to me. But it's very hard to know without handling them and I'm kind of reserved to order more stuff and bite the tax/customs bullet yet again only to discover that it's not quite what I'm after, if you get my meaning.

Unfortunately most of the makers in Sweden are very snowed in(lol) when it comes to designs and the traditional scandi looking knife doesn't appeal AT ALL to my tastes. I do have a couple of makers that I'm planning on contacting though, but I'd like to see what my options are before committing to something :)
 
There are dozens of good knife makers here who could make you a great knife.
If you could post pictures of what you have in mind it would be a lot easier to steer you in the right direction.
 
I asked this same question earlier this year. Well not exactly, but I was looking for a knife maker to build me an EDC to my specs. I got a lot of broad answers, and a couple suggestions of Alan Davis.

I don't know if he can do what you want, BUT, he nailed my request! NAILED IT.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/993258-Alan-Davis-Custom!

This is way I sent him. I eventually changed from G10 to cocobolo.
TuffLiteCompareAlt21.jpg


This is what I got.
DavisTuffest.jpg


DavisTuffest7.jpg


I can't say for certain he can do 3V, but he did the dreaded Damascus for me with 1095/O1. The price was very good and the quality of the final product was excellent.

Good luck.
 
Burl Source said:
There are dozens of good knife makers here who could make you a great knife.
If you could post pictures of what you have in mind it would be a lot easier to steer you in the right direction.
Click to expand...

All righty.

Bushfinger_300.jpg


20120824a102_7262-vi.jpg


5vzaw.jpg


qMQ41.jpg


4.5" blade is the definite max, pref smaller, ~3.5mm thickness, aprox 4.5" handle. I think I'd prefer wood scales, the G10 knives I have feel sort of dead in the hand, I don't have any experience with micarta. Full flat or full height convex is more or less a requirement.

Hope that clears it up a bit. Also, what are your guys' thoughts on wood handles in the 4-5" range? I've been thinking stabilized just for peace of mind but maybe it's redundant?

The problem with most of the custom shops I've looked up is that they're work is incredible. I don't want to spend upwards of like $500 on something with a beautiful finish, awesome bolters and inlays that I'll muck up in the first year. I'm looking for performance more than anything else, which might be considered boring for a lot of custom makers, it's the fancy stuff that's fun - right? :D All of the beautiful detail work would be wasted on a woodsknife in my opinion.
 
Look up Big Chris. He works with 3V a lot, and his prices are insanely reasonable. Like less than half your budget kind of reasonable.
 
gooeytek said:
Look up Big Chris. He works with 3V a lot, and his prices are insanely reasonable. Like less than half your budget kind of reasonable.
Click to expand...

Checked out his facebook page. Definitely going to get in touch with him.

2 shot said:
Have you seen one of these? http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...DC-4-Preorder-Promotion-Would-you-participate
Click to expand...

Wow. Now that is what I call a deal. Thanks for the heads up, going to have to really consider that. I would love to see an in-hand picture, the blade looks kind of chunky in the prototype pics. Hmmm.
 
pialia said:
All righty.

Bushfinger_300.jpg


20120824a102_7262-vi.jpg


5vzaw.jpg


qMQ41.jpg


4.5" blade is the definite max, pref smaller, ~3.5mm thickness, aprox 4.5" handle. I think I'd prefer wood scales, the G10 knives I have feel sort of dead in the hand, I don't have any experience with micarta. Full flat or full height convex is more or less a requirement.

Hope that clears it up a bit. Also, what are your guys' thoughts on wood handles in the 4-5" range? I've been thinking stabilized just for peace of mind but maybe it's redundant?

The problem with most of the custom shops I've looked up is that they're work is incredible. I don't want to spend upwards of like $500 on something with a beautiful finish, awesome bolters and inlays that I'll muck up in the first year. I'm looking for performance more than anything else, which might be considered boring for a lot of custom makers, it's the fancy stuff that's fun - right? :D All of the beautiful detail work would be wasted on a woodsknife in my opinion.
Click to expand...


Check with Alan Davis. :)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/member.php/274140-Alan-Davis-Knives
 
There are countless options at that price point, friend. :) JK, ML, Mark Wohlwend (when he gets his shop set up in South Dakota), Big Chris, John H Davis, the list goes on and on. There's many, many more who are here on Bf. All will make you a bulletproof knife that will last a lifetime with care. Heck, even Bob Dozier will make you a knife well below that price point, although his wait list is currently 2 years, otherwise I'd have one of his, too!
 
there is a wealth of talented makers on this forum,my problem would be only choosing one..
 
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