If you could have any Custom Maker build you a Traditional...

richstag

richstag

Joined
Feb 22, 2007
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Money is no object, you can afford it and you can find the right maker to do whatever you want. What pattern? What shield? What cover material? What blade steel and hardness? Frame and blade size(s)? Lock, slipjoint, combination or friction folder?

Also if you could elaborate on why you have come to your decision.

Thanks,

Kevin
 
I am very interested to hear the replies too. Personally, I LOVE T.A.Davidson knives, one day I will grab one when funds allow.
 
The maker would be Jared Oeser, it would be a spear point gunstock, long pull, half stop, white linen micarta bolsters with orange G10 covers...someday. :)
 
I have Bruce Bump, Joel Chamblin, and Bruce Barnett making me exactly what I want this year, damascus stag trapper from Bruce(to be delivered at the Seattle show), stag lockback wharncliffe whittler in CPM-154 from Joel, and a damascus wharncliffe single blade with Aussie hardwood covers from Bruce.

Kris
 
I'd have Reese Bose build me a 3⅞" serpentine stockman with clip and caplifter/driver at one end and a sheepfoot at the other.
CPM-154CM steel @ 61 HRc, with gnarly amber stag covers and plain diamond shield (for engraving initials).
 
black mamba said:
I'd have Reese Bose build me a 3⅞" serpentine stockman with clip and caplifter/driver at one end and a sheepfoot at the other.
CPM-154CM steel @ 61 HRc, with gnarly amber stag covers and plain diamond shield (for engraving initials).
Click to expand...

That combo really would be killer.
 
It seems like you and I have fun with this question all the time :)

My Oeser Moose was my dream knife when I commissioned it. It was based on my limited knowledge of traditionals at the time. While my knowledge grows it still remains at the top of my list. The two equal sized blades make it very versatile. I can use it as a work edc, around the house, for bbq or picnics and even out in the woods. It lacks nothing in any way but I somehow still want something new lol. Really an improvement of my moose based on more use.

I really dont use the clip blade. I have a need for belly on occasion, ill come back to this. I have grown fond of slimmer knives and have experimented with several different frames lately. I would say my new dream knife would either be a cigar or sleeveboard frame. I have come to the conclusion that a 3 15/16th's length frame is just perfection. My cuban cigar frame at 4 1/8 has just a little extra unneeded length. My 3 3/4 frames are just a smidge short. Still very pocket friendly for me but gives nothing up for hard use.

The main blade would certainly be a wharncliffe. This brings up why I have yet to pick the exact frame. I like the sleeveboard but every time I see it with a straight blade, it sits way to proud. Looks very uncomfortable to use the second blade at the other end. I am leaning to the cigar frame.

Now for my second indecision when it comes to my next custom. Will it be a pen knife or a split spring whittler? I day dream about this way to often. In either case the first choice for the secondary blade would be a small drop point, think minie sodbuster. When I need some belly it is usually for scraping stuff and that blade would allow me to push scrape like a chisel. I really think thats all I need but yet I often have indecisive thoughts of adding a third blade and making it a whittler. It is hard for me to picture my perfect knife without a stockman sized coping blade. Such a versatile blade for so many chores and would almost certainly guarantee the preservation of the wharnies super fine tip. The minimalist in me will probably win out and keep it a pen.

I would want the steel to be thin for sure. I have been leaning to M4 because its very strong. Takes a great edge and keeps it forever. Lately I have been enjoying reading up on some other steels and while I would pick M4 now because I have first hand experience with it. I would love to get my hands on some 3v thats very thin and also some 110v. I would love to make some identical little fixed blades and test all these together. When I say thin I am thinking around .05 for the main blade.

Handle material would either be bone or micarta.

Its nice to dream :)
 
For all my perusing this forum and owning way more knives than I should, you'd think I would have an answer for this by now.

Probably a 3 5/8 serpentine stockman with Cali clip, slightly recurved pen in the style of Bose, and wharncliffe blade; sunk joints and heavy swedges, all neatly packed into the frame. Half stops, rounded rattail bolsters, pivot bushings, long matchstrike pull on the main. Integral SS construction, and a pinned banana shield. Hot blued CPM-M4 at the upper limits of Rockwell hardness for the blade steel. This is a Bose, Erickson, Oeser, maybe Rodgers project in my mind.

Yeller delrin covers. ;)
 
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3 5/8" Cattle knife with clip, sheepsfoot, and pen
three spring.
sheepsfoot in the center position at opposite end from clip and nail nick on the other side from that of the clip
blade steel either D2, 154CM, or CPM 154
covers, open to discussion.
 
Hmmmm.....swell end eo jack, 3 1/2-3 5/8" with a spear main, sheepsfoot secondary, long bolsters, no shield, mammoth or ele ivory, cpm154 or s35vn. Yeah, that would do.
 
3.5 inch closed TL-29 with BG-42 blades, cocobolo covers, bow tie shield and brass liners. Made by J.Oeser. :D
 
J.Oeser - of any kind or description. I haven't seen one yet that I wouldn't love to own .


Ken
 
Oeser for sure, how about a five blader with all sunk joints, each blade a different carbon steel, with some of his signature covers, not sure what colors.
 
Obviously there are a bevy of talented makers that would make the 'cut' for me; my final decision would probably be based on style and specialty but I do not doubt the ability of any of them to execute a 'dream' order. Coats, Menefee, Lloyd, Davison, Dr. T, would all be just as welcome in my stable.
That said, I hope Jared sees this thread and notices how much appreciation his work is getting!

I might change my answer to a lockback Norfolk whittler :D
 
Loving these answers! Really fun to read.

Jeff, that's for sure we have great conversations about this!

I wasn't focusing on the maker at all but it's very cool to see some favorites.

I hope this thread keeps going!

I put a lot of thought into convex, flat and hollow ground blades.

Kevin
 
I would have to say T.A. Davidson. I just received one of his slip joints today and it is perfect. Fit and finish is outstanding, perfectly dead center when it closes, spring is flush at close, half stop, and open. Feels great in hand.
 
Then design one from a production company that you would spend the money on. Also, the original post is giving an exemption for cost. Lets just say it's a lottery knife your lucky enough to win.. trying to make this an upbeat thread...

csisland said:
I wouldn't have a custom maker because I don't spend that kind of money on a knife.
Click to expand...
 
I really like Oeser's style. The two I have are top notch, I don't know how he could improve on the build quality.
JD Ellis from South Africa also makes some really cool 'untraditional' traditionals.
 
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