If you had to choose one custom knife maker...

steve22595

steve22595

Joined
Jun 26, 2000
Messages
845
Who would it be?

OK, a couple of choices are fine. There are too many great makers out there.
 
Allen Elishewitz; for quality, design, service.

Pat Crawford makes some useful knives.

Honorable mention; Greg Lightfoot, Bob Dozier, Tom Anderson, Darrel Ralph (very slick designs)

IMHO
 
This question is highly unfair, hypothetical, and ridiculous.

Nevertheless, here are my top four:

PJ Tomes: for Craftsmanship, Intent, Purpose, and Integrity

Don Fogg: for Art, Function, and Philosophy

Daniel Winkler: for Individuality, and Artistry

Tim Herman: for being Tim, and for his exquisite works of Art

There can be Only One? Sounds like the premise for a bad TV show to me...

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 02-02-2001).]
 
No way. (At this point I could not narrow it down to 100 and feel like the list was correct).

Too many good makers out there that care about what they are doing to the point they are never satisfied.

------------------
" The real art of living is to keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post in memory of James Mattis
 
Need to name two here...

1) Matt Lamey...Have yet to find a better bang-for-the-buck than one of Matt's knives. They are strong on fit, finish and sharpness. Do yourselves a favor and get on his bandwagon...you won't regret it!

2) J.P. Moss...(maker of the bowie used in the movie..."Unforgiven"). There is simply no finer knife maker anywhere. His bowies are perfection personified...(I know this because I have six of his knives). I would hold his work up against any other makers and his will come out on top. In fact, none other than Harvey Dean...asked J.P. how he was able to get his blades so straight.

Rav
 
That's such a terribly unfair question that...I'm going to answer it anyway.
For forged straight knives: Wally Hayes.
For Gent's liner locks: Brian Tighe
For fixed"tacticals": Greg Lightfoot
For concealible tacticals: Al Polkowski
For tactical folders: Al Elishewitz
For talonite/Stellite: Simonich
For production puukos: KP/Kellam
For custom puukos: Eric Bergland
For fancy mosaic damascus: Connie Persson
For Investment: Walker
For Hard Use: Busse real Infi
For kitchen use: Hattori
For my current budget after blowing my brains out on the above: Ginsu from Ktel
 
Fighting Folder: Pat Crawford
Utility Folder: Bob Lum
Fixed Blade Fighter: Hartsfield
Utility Fixed Blade: Dozier/Fowler
Sword: Howard Clark

[This message has been edited by DrRMJ (edited 02-02-2001).]
 
Having just ordered my first "really nice" custom, I picked Greg Lightfoot.

Others that were high up on the "to buy" list are: (mostly in order):
Howard Viele
Daryl Ralph
Crawfords
 
Al Polkowski (creator of the fixed-blade Kasper Fighting Knife, among other great-looking tactical fixed blades).

Wish I had the cash to buy his knives, though. Sad thing is, they are not too expensive compared to most other custom knives out there!
 
Again, I'm so glad I don't have to choose just one custom maker. There are a couple whose knives I currently own that I feel provide exceptional knives & service.

- Rob Simonich
- Bob Dozier

Just my $0.02

AJ
 
The choices that I have made are Kit Carson and Darrel Ralph. My next custom will be a des Horn. So as you can see, I would find it impossible to recommend one custom maker.

Keith.
 
I would give up knife collecting and start up my collection of barf bags!

There are too many excellent makers out there to select a single one.
 
Tactical Fixed Blades: Jerry Hossom
Folders: Tom Mayo or Darrel Ralph,(tough choice)

The maker I'd love to have a knife from: S.R. Johnson

& others too many to list!
 
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