I found a new custom maker.

I won't speculate until "BePrepared" provides us with some cutting test and results. I'm quite interested. Especially since the quality of Chinese knives have been improved, maybe it's Pakistan's turn.

Simple fact is that there will be quality knives produced all over the world, because anyone who uses cutlery frequently will appreciate a good blade. Sure, Pakistani steel has gotten a lot of crap for decades of flea market garbage, but once upon a time that region of the world produced some of the best steels. I'm sure some makers are wanting to recapture some of that former fame.
 
brownshoe said:
"Apart from the odd handle snapping off, these knives are generally at least on par with a lot of factory stuff at the same price"

I've never had a factory knife snap off, much less a custom, even if the factory knife cost as little as $20 instead of $200.

Sure have your caricatures of knives "prototyped" in Pakistan, however the fit/finish will probably give you a knife that is not worthwhile as a prototype.
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yer funny!
 
I think the assumption here is there is an actual "maker" who is taking the orders, and hand making the knives. I saw the same thing in bicycle frames, and the "maker" is just a front for the group mass producing the steel in huge volumes, and producing knives in large batches to be resold as "customs."
 
We have a guy here in our knife shows that sells this cheap Pakistani damascus bars.
Contrast is low, basically two grays, but its real damascus. I seriously doubt there is any 15n20 or other nickel alloyed steel (based on the contrast).

I don't really know how they perform, but if they are at least some 5160+1095/1085/1070 (that you can take from old band saws, railroad track, agricultural tools, etc) that should make some perfectly good high carbon damascus blades, if heat treated correctly.

I wouldn't expect a lot of fit and finish though.

I like the carving in the axe handle.
 
I just got an email solicitation from a Pakistan based company hawkin their wares, get lots of emails like that, usually from NA outfits. Lot of people over there- be interesting to follow the development of that country's custom cutlery industry.

It's very pleasing, to me, to see artisans discover this custom knife gig from places where the development of said industry has languished or only existed at the crudest levels. So many places all around the world are discovering the craft through the internet and finding buyers in the same way. If I try to count all the people who are making desirable knives, from different parts of the world, (some in 2nd and 3rd world) the number just keeps going up.

I think America's custom knife makers and buyers should be very pleased with how they've influenced and encouraged a global market and economy for these sharp things. Providing, on the one hand, detailed step by step instructions for making a quality knife, and on the other, those valuable greenbacks in countries where that currency is exceedingly valuable, providing the means by which to invest in quality materials, education and tooling.
 
Lorien said:
I just got an email solicitation from a Pakistan based company hawkin their wares, get lots of emails like that, usually from NA outfits. Lot of people over there- be interesting to follow the development of that country's custom cutlery industry.

It's very pleasing, to me, to see artisans discover this custom knife gig from places where the development of said industry has languished or only existed at the crudest levels. So many places all around the world are discovering the craft through the internet and finding buyers in the same way. If I try to count all the people who are making desirable knives, from different parts of the world, (some in 2nd and 3rd world) the number just keeps going up.

I think America's custom knife makers and buyers should be very pleased with how they've influenced and encouraged a global market and economy for these sharp things. Providing, on the one hand, detailed step by step instructions for making a quality knife, and on the other, those valuable greenbacks in countries where that currency is exceedingly valuable, providing the means by which to invest in quality materials, education and tooling.
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Well said.
 
In life you get what you pay for

I have traveled that part of the world and the riddle of steel is not a riddle anymore

But .......... It can still be a joke :)

Good luck
 
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"the development of that country's custom cutlery industry." Pakistan has had a custom cutlery industry before there was a Canada.
 
no offense, but if the "domestic" economy does not have reasonable price-quality ratio's, then there are no reasons to support it. In some cases the price quality ratio is outstanding for us products, but in other cases, it's a disgrace
 
brownshoe said:
"the development of that country's custom cutlery industry." Pakistan has had a custom cutlery industry before there was a Canada.
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I know there are a lot of words to know that meanings of in the english language, so I enlisted the dictionary in order to help you out a little :)
Development
 
Thank you Lorien.

Pakistan is much more than what the "First World" believes it to be.
 
So much speculation, so little fact. I'll just echo many of the other responses and say "good luck; I hope it works for you."
 
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