Last friday, "Easyrider" and I visited Keith Coleman at his shop here in Albuquerque. Keith, graciously spent 2 hours of his time with us to map out a design for "Easy" and to answer all of our questions as to steel type, handle materials, etc. We found him to be a consumate gentleman, very patient and understanding, with a sharp wit! The subject of other makers came up - he never bad mouthed any one of them! "Easy" has ordered a custom folder from him and I'm designing a fixed blade that I hope Keith will build for me. The quality of his work speaks for itself and he has an artists eye and craftsman's touch. I only hope I can convince him to build my fixed blade design. Thanks, Keith.
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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.
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K. Coleman Knives
- Thread starter OUCH
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- Jan 25, 2000
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Unfortunately I have never had the chance to visit Keith at his shop. I have however, had the good fortune of ordering a few folders from him and share your sentiments if only by phone or email. Keith is a pleasure to deal with and is always good for a laugh. His knives do speak for themselves, very well executed IMO and fairly priced (OK, I think they are a steal!). Actually, I believe you fellows may have had the chance to see my damascus & stag Banshee that Keith is finishing for me. He said he had it together and needed to do the final finishing. So, how is it looking? 
blademan 13 -- you mean that POS is yours - I'll give you a dollar-two fifty for it!!! You do have a sense of humor, right??? Sorry to say, that while in Keith's shop we were swamped with a large quantity of works-in -progress and a lot of what we saw is a blur. I can say that I was impressed with the quality of his work and by his desire to accomodate specific needs. Keith has an impressive stock of materials for both blade and handles. His operation, though a one man shop is impressive. No semi-mass-produced CNC knives from his shop. Not to say this is bad technique - just a comment on his methods. Keith builds knives one at a time, to the specific requirements of his customers and I will be another customer of Keith's, shortly!!
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- Sep 30, 1999
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I have a Coleman CFIIfolder and it's a great knife. I've never met Keith but emailed back and forth, he's a great guy and easy to deal with.
Dave
Dave
Dave, et.al. - may I respectfully request we shut this topic down?? Keith has told me his projected wait is 6 months. If we keep shining his halo it will stretch to 18 months or longer. I'm old enough that an extended wait for a knife might see a delivery after I'm planted. Folks, that would be a real kick in the butt!! 
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2000
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Pete, you were supposed to tell me how great it looked and how the bolsters just set the whole thing off! Truth is, I did specify Eggerling mosaic bolsters and gave Keith my top three preferences (Crazy Quilt, Basketweave or Windmill) in the patterns avilable. Availability might eliminate my top choice. So as of now I don't even know what they are going to be. A lot of help you are 
BTW, I just ordered 2 more knives from Keith and am telling everyone I know to get their orders in SOON as he is getting farther and farther behind. Should be able to get that backlog up to 8 months all by myself 
BTW, I just ordered 2 more knives from Keith and am telling everyone I know to get their orders in SOON as he is getting farther and farther behind. Should be able to get that backlog up to 8 months all by myself 
- Joined
- Mar 15, 1999
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- 567
Aaah
this aint fair, guys! I just took delivery of a beautiful Coleman Warlock in BG-42 and Desert Ironwood and now youve already got me thinking about ordering another knife from Keith . Seriously, I couldnt agree more with the comments about the quality and value of Keiths work
I currently own three of his knives and I suspect Ill be ordering more in the future.
Jim
. Seriously, I couldnt agree more with the comments about the quality and value of Keiths work
I currently own three of his knives and I suspect Ill be ordering more in the future.Jim
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2000
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Pete, are you having another one of your "Senior Moments"? Think back to last Friday, remember looking at a folder with a STAG HANDLE. Keith pointed out to us how thick the handle was, this was one of the drawbacks to using stag on folders. I think you picked up the knife and didn't want to put it down! Jamie, your knife looked to be approximately 80% finished. It is going to be one great looking knife when it is finished; hell who am I kidding, I was droolng over your knife as it was. I have to say that dealing with Keith was a pleasure! When keith says it is a Custom knife he isn't kidding! I don't think that there was a single item on the knife we didn't discuss and change from his "standard" model. I can't convey in words how happy I was with the whole experience. Now I understand the lure of custom knives. The really bad thing about this; a week hasn't gone by and I'm thinking about my NEXT knife from Keith!
P.S.: You couldn't keep this to yourself Pete!
Now everyone is going to order a knife from Keith and his waiting list is going to get longer! 
I have to say that dealing with Keith was a pleasure! When keith says it is a Custom knife he isn't kidding! I don't think that there was a single item on the knife we didn't discuss and change from his "standard" model. I can't convey in words how happy I was with the whole experience. Now I understand the lure of custom knives. The really bad thing about this; a week hasn't gone by and I'm thinking about my NEXT knife from Keith! P.S.: You couldn't keep this to yourself Pete!
Now everyone is going to order a knife from Keith and his waiting list is going to get longer! - Joined
- Jan 25, 2000
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- 4,492
Now that's more like it! I've never had a real in progress report. THICK stag you say? Perfect! We don't need any of that wimpy, thin slabbed econo-stag on my knife. That bastid Pete wasn't giving me the lowdown hoping I would decide I didn't want the knife just so he could have it all to himself, bwahahaha! I'm onto him now, the fiend!
Honestly though, Keith will do what he can to ensure the knife you receive is really exactly what you want. The wait is the downside. The good thing is that I bet you can follow it being built every step of the way. Now that would be cool!
Honestly though, Keith will do what he can to ensure the knife you receive is really exactly what you want. The wait is the downside. The good thing is that I bet you can follow it being built every step of the way. Now that would be cool!