How to navigate customs?

[Lord_Balkan]

Hey,

I am new in the knife hobby. I have about half a dozen folders (benchmade and ZT). I want to start looking around at customs but I don't even know where to start. I don't know about any custom knife maker or anything. Anyone have any advice on how to navigate this new and exciting space? Or possibly recommend some custom or custom makers for the newly initiated?

 

[RayseM]

My experience with knives, art, collectibles of any kind - has been that it takes several years to start developing an eye and awareness of what is truly worthy of your attention. Your specific interests are likely to develop, evolve over time and so you might start out favoring titanium tactical and later find yourself focusing only on stag handles traditional - folders or fixed blades. My point? Be patient - study - buy and sell and realize that you are on shifting sands - but have fun.

As to where to begin - here on BF there are many exceptional custom knife makers. Spend lots of time reading the "Custom and Handmade Knives" forum and checking out the exchange - The KnifeMaker's Market and the Custom Knives (Individual) forums. Pick a style or two that you like (today) and focus on the knife maker's that seem to make in that style. Know that there are thousands of beautiful knives but in time your definition of beauty will become more refined. When you start paying attention to the nuances of details, edge profiles, blade &/or handle materials, finishes etc. that are available and that EFFECT the way the knife handles and works you will know what I mean. Not all beautiful knives are created equal. Lots of shallow beauty out there.

Buy some knives - sell them on the exchange. Don't expect to make profit. S&H and other fees and serious competition make catch and release of knives a non profit mission. There are some pretty awesome custom knife vendors out on the world wide webs. Do some research, watch videos.

Again - be patient - enjoy. Good luck. Don't forget to share the fun. Write and give feedback especially for the maker's who impress you. We are looking forwards to hearing more from you. :thumbup:

 

[red mag]

The book series KNIVES Annuals is a good place to start.
This gives you and overview of what's currently on the market and many hints where to search on the web.
all the best.

 

[Murray White]

also, subscribe to Blade magazine and get their newsletter online delivered to your inbox. Check out other books that may be available in your local bookstore or from Amazon. David Darom has wonderful books and often posts to BFC so it is easy to find stuff. Check out dealers such as Nordic Knive, Michael Donato and many others by simply doing some searches. There are hundreds of websites for knifemakers and many include their websites in posts in this forum.

Read all the forums in BFC.

Do searches related to knife maker associations? See if there are knife shows in your local area at some time during the year. For example -- lets say you live reasonably close to Atlanta, GA. Then you have available easily the largest knife show in the World -- Blade in usually the first weekend of June annually. There are many fairly major shows throughout the US during the year.

View all the knives in the Sticky related to Sharp by Coop and see all the fine knives Coop has photographed over the years. Check out Instagram related to knives and makers.

Ask lots of questions here.

Check out the CKCA which is specifically created for the custom knife collector and maker. Join CKCA if you like. See the logo that will appear in my signature. Go to my site and view in the main section and see over 200 custom knives which have been collected of the past 36 years.

This should keep you busy.

Have fun.