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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Integral fighter?
- Thread starter RJ
- Start date
You might try Edmund Davidson. I've got a few photos in my albums of a few of his knives and they are all top rate. If you need more info on him just let me know.
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It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Terrill Hoffman Knife Photography http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=243110
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It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Terrill Hoffman Knife Photography http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=243110
dogman
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Jul 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,108
Ricardo Velarde makes fantastic integrals. He was taught by Steve Johnson and Deitmar Kressler among others. Web site coming very shortly (a Doggett Production, of course). Here is his e-mail: Ricardovelarde@cs.com
Try this on for size:
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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
Try this on for size:
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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
Les Robertson
BANNED
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Hi Rich,
What price range did you want to be in?
These knives generally start at $1,000 and go up.
The guys Dogman recommended start at about $2,000 and go up.
Probably the best price is going to be from Edmund. You might ask if he will work in something besides 440C.
Another maker to look at is Mike Sakmar. He does a lot of integral knives.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
What price range did you want to be in?
These knives generally start at $1,000 and go up.
The guys Dogman recommended start at about $2,000 and go up.
Probably the best price is going to be from Edmund. You might ask if he will work in something besides 440C.
Another maker to look at is Mike Sakmar. He does a lot of integral knives.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
dogman
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Jul 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,108
Hi, Les.
Ricardo's integrals aren't quite that expensive yet (Kressler...yes). His integral fighters start around $1000 with the most expensive being a sub-hilt in the $1600-1700 range. The Johnson collaboration pictured will obviously command a premium price.
This is all moot since Rich is backing away from the integral and looking for a more traditional fighter.
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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
Ricardo's integrals aren't quite that expensive yet (Kressler...yes). His integral fighters start around $1000 with the most expensive being a sub-hilt in the $1600-1700 range. The Johnson collaboration pictured will obviously command a premium price.
This is all moot since Rich is backing away from the integral and looking for a more traditional fighter.
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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
Les Robertson
BANNED
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It's amazing how a $1,000 + price tag makes you rethink your requirements!
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
Les,
Kinda reminds me of the conversation Larry Harley had with a fellow a couple of years ago at the SouthEastern Custom Knife Show - it went something like this...
Young Man> THIS is interesting (holding up one of Larry Harley's Damascus persian fighters)
LH> Well - let's see how interesting it is - you wanna buy it?
YM> That depends - how much?
LH> I'd have to get two for that.
YM> (happy look on YM's face) That's doable! Boy this would look great on my wall (other favorable comments - he goes on for a couple of minutes) Then he looks at LH and asks "How many zeroes are behind that two?"
LH> A few...
YM> Oh, I coundn't d...
LH> (taking the blade back from the YM) See - it ain't that interesting, is it?!
I wish I had this on video tape - it was great!
L8r,
Bob
Kinda reminds me of the conversation Larry Harley had with a fellow a couple of years ago at the SouthEastern Custom Knife Show - it went something like this...
Young Man> THIS is interesting (holding up one of Larry Harley's Damascus persian fighters)
LH> Well - let's see how interesting it is - you wanna buy it?
YM> That depends - how much?
LH> I'd have to get two for that.
YM> (happy look on YM's face) That's doable! Boy this would look great on my wall (other favorable comments - he goes on for a couple of minutes) Then he looks at LH and asks "How many zeroes are behind that two?"
LH> A few...
YM> Oh, I coundn't d...
LH> (taking the blade back from the YM) See - it ain't that interesting, is it?!
I wish I had this on video tape - it was great!
L8r,
Bob
- Joined
- Oct 10, 1998
- Messages
- 627
Can someone explain to me what makes a knife an "integral" fighter? Thanks.
I really do not mind spending the money on the Integrals but I just have a hard timing using a $1000+ knife for everyday type tasks. I am looking into getting an integral from one of the makers listed, I am just not sure which one yet(I do like Ricardo Velarde's work and he was taught by one of the best), but I will still need an everyday carry. That is why I changed my mind.
Rich
Rich
Joel,
This means made from one single billet of steel. In the picture above, the blade and the handle are a single continuous structure. The stag handles give the appearance of a typical full tang knife.
Larry
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This means made from one single billet of steel. In the picture above, the blade and the handle are a single continuous structure. The stag handles give the appearance of a typical full tang knife.
Larry
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KnifeDirectory.com - Online Knife Guide
Les Robertson
BANNED
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RJ,
I was not infering that you could not pay the $1,000. Just at that point, with so many other excellent choices. You really have to examine if a "using" knife should cost that much.
I have used and on occasion abused knives. I never carried an integral in the field, mostly because of the cost and the fact that I have never seen a custom knife snap in half. Yes I have seen factory knives do this to include a Cold Steel Tanto (although this was over 10 years ago).
For using knives, integrals just don't justify the cost. Is there anyone on this forum that can, short of putting the blade in a vise and hitting it with a hammer, break a 1/4" piece of heat treated steel? I would submit that most of us couldnt snap in half a 1/8" piece of steel just by applying the torque that can be produced by a person using the knife.
While some would insist that a integral knife would inspire a the upmost confidence to the user. I would recommend to them to save their money and look at a knife from any one of the following makers for an user knife.
Bauchop, Brend, Broadwell,Carson, Hammond, Lightfoot,Lum, RJ Martin, Polkowski, Simonich, Siska and Terzuola (to name a few).
Im sure Gus, Larry, Howard and other member's can recommend other makers.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
I was not infering that you could not pay the $1,000. Just at that point, with so many other excellent choices. You really have to examine if a "using" knife should cost that much.
I have used and on occasion abused knives. I never carried an integral in the field, mostly because of the cost and the fact that I have never seen a custom knife snap in half. Yes I have seen factory knives do this to include a Cold Steel Tanto (although this was over 10 years ago).
For using knives, integrals just don't justify the cost. Is there anyone on this forum that can, short of putting the blade in a vise and hitting it with a hammer, break a 1/4" piece of heat treated steel? I would submit that most of us couldnt snap in half a 1/8" piece of steel just by applying the torque that can be produced by a person using the knife.
While some would insist that a integral knife would inspire a the upmost confidence to the user. I would recommend to them to save their money and look at a knife from any one of the following makers for an user knife.
Bauchop, Brend, Broadwell,Carson, Hammond, Lightfoot,Lum, RJ Martin, Polkowski, Simonich, Siska and Terzuola (to name a few).
Im sure Gus, Larry, Howard and other member's can recommend other makers.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
- Joined
- May 10, 2000
- Messages
- 3,351
I dunno Les... I "saved my money" and bought a Broadwell MLR TAC Sub-hilt... can't imagine using it though. Unless you consider staring at it and drooling "using" it. Sometimes when I touch it I shudder, back away, and then apologize to the knife.
I'm not worthy!
I'm not worthy!
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. (o)(o)
.__ Y
http://www.apechild.com
I'm not worthy!
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. (o)(o)
.__ Y
http://www.apechild.com
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
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- Oct 5, 1998
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- 17,562
I have no interest in fighters, integral or otherwise, but I have carried, used and even broken knives apart in the $1000 price range and yes Les thay were 1/4" thick (not all the way, though that would not make for much of a knife). Subtract the broken part and the range can go well past $1000. Carried, used, chopping, scraping, cutting etc. Some of those blades were not mine but belong to people crazy enough to let me have a look at them (you know who you are).
Anyway, I would have no problem paying a few thousand for a quality user knife. My car was much more than that used and I don't expect it to last more than a few years. There are makers out there that make really nice user blades for far less than that but there are some that don't. I plan on having a bowie from Fisk or Zowada or similar class eventually and don't think it is realistic to aim at a $250 price tag. And yes I will be using it. I will probably drop you an email about this late this year or early next Les.
-Cliff
[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 06-23-2000).]
Anyway, I would have no problem paying a few thousand for a quality user knife. My car was much more than that used and I don't expect it to last more than a few years. There are makers out there that make really nice user blades for far less than that but there are some that don't. I plan on having a bowie from Fisk or Zowada or similar class eventually and don't think it is realistic to aim at a $250 price tag. And yes I will be using it. I will probably drop you an email about this late this year or early next Les.
-Cliff
[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 06-23-2000).]
Les Robertson
BANNED
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Hi Wulf,
When I designed that knife, it was meant as a complimentary piece to my Brend Model 2 with a 8 1/2" blade. I thought Walters knife was as good as it got for the field. Carrying a M-16 and a .45 pistol, coupled with my 40 trained killers that had my back, I wasn't to concerned about a knife fight.
However, the knife fighter that lurks in all of us cried out for a knife that was designed more for fighting. Hence the MLR Fighter and Sub-Hilt Fighter.
Bob Kasper finished an article on these 5 knives that are part of the Vanguard Series. He was very impressed with them.
Cliff,
Who's $1,000 + blades did you break (besides Mad dog)? What were you doing with them when you broke them?
Oh, if you can get any kind of Bowie out of Jerry Fisk for $250, please order 10 (I'll take 9 of them)LOL.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
When I designed that knife, it was meant as a complimentary piece to my Brend Model 2 with a 8 1/2" blade. I thought Walters knife was as good as it got for the field. Carrying a M-16 and a .45 pistol, coupled with my 40 trained killers that had my back, I wasn't to concerned about a knife fight.
However, the knife fighter that lurks in all of us cried out for a knife that was designed more for fighting. Hence the MLR Fighter and Sub-Hilt Fighter.
Bob Kasper finished an article on these 5 knives that are part of the Vanguard Series. He was very impressed with them.
Cliff,
Who's $1,000 + blades did you break (besides Mad dog)? What were you doing with them when you broke them?
Oh, if you can get any kind of Bowie out of Jerry Fisk for $250, please order 10 (I'll take 9 of them)LOL.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
- Joined
- May 10, 2000
- Messages
- 3,351
Les,
Where might I find a copy of that article by Bob Kasper?
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. (o)(o)
.__ Y
http://www.apechild.com
Where might I find a copy of that article by Bob Kasper?
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. (o)(o)
.__ Y
http://www.apechild.com
i have a w.d. pease inegral. 440C in a fighter/boot knife style with stag scales. 3.75" blade, 8.375" oal. came in a leather slip sheath with a strong 'spring' clip. i'll get a pic up soon. i asked him about it at the blade show this year. he said he doesn't make them anymore, very difficult and time consuming. he said mine was from the late 80's, early 90's, he couldn't remember for sure. i took it on a trade and wasn't sure what it was worth. bill said about $600 - $800, any one else seen his integrals or know what they are worth?....duane
Les Robertson
BANNED
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Hi Wulf,
To the best of my knowledge, the article will be out in November/December time frame. Maybe earlier but TK usually runs about 6 months from the time they get the article to the time it gets published.
Im sure this will have a positive impact on the knife. They are selling very well without Mr. Kaspers seal of approval. I can only imagine Bob's favorable review will increase the demand for these knives.
Once I know more Ill post in my forum.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
To the best of my knowledge, the article will be out in November/December time frame. Maybe earlier but TK usually runs about 6 months from the time they get the article to the time it gets published.
Im sure this will have a positive impact on the knife. They are selling very well without Mr. Kaspers seal of approval. I can only imagine Bob's favorable review will increase the demand for these knives.
Once I know more Ill post in my forum.
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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!