Kathleen Tomey. Comments?

cockroachfarm

cockroachfarm

Joined
Jan 6, 2001
Messages
4,399
In my ongoing quest to purchase at least ONE small knife from EVERY maker in North America, my dice have landed on maker Kathleen Tomey. Can anyone tell me anything about her work?
 
I don't know them other than what I have seen in pictures. I really like the looks of her Sport, Utility, Camping model. She seems to do nice work for reasonable prices.
 
I think there was a large picture of one of her knives in last months Blade in the article on sheaths.
 
I saw the photo in Blade - that's why I contacted her about buying a small knife. I really like her Tiny Tac Stinger!
 
Last September, at the SECKS, I had the opportunity to look at/handle some of her knives and talk with her. I was favorably impressed with both Ms. Tomey and the quality of her work.
 
Here's what the book KNIVES 2002 had listed:

Kathleen Tomey
146 Buford Pl.
Macon, GA 31204
Phone: 478-746-8454

Specialties:
Working hunters, skinners, daily users in fixed blades, plain and embellished. Tactical neck and tanto. Bowies.

Technicals:
Grinds 01, 440C, ATS-34, flat or hollow filework, satin and mirror polish finishes. High quality sheaths with tooling. Kydex with tactical.

Prices:
$150.-$500.

Remarks:
Almost full-time maker.

Her Mark:
Last name in diamond
 
Thanks. I've visited her website. I was curious if anyone here has purchased a knife (or knives) from her and I'd like to hear their critique.
 
I met Kathleen last year at the Batson Symposium in Alabama. I spent some time talking with her and found her to be a dedicated knife maker. She has excellent work ethics and strives to produce the best knife she can. She was also at the Mesquite, Texas show this fall and had some very beautiful knives. The finish on her knives is first rate. (Don't know how she does that left handed though) :)
I would recommend her highly.
She is also a highly competitive person and entered the first cutting contest at Tannehill this year.
 
Thanks for the comments, everyone. I'm ordering a Tiny Tac Stinger as my first knife from Kathleen. (I was going to buy it anyway, but the positive comments didn't hurt.;)
 
Kathleen Tomey's son-in-law is David Dempesy and they learned their skill from Mastersmith Wally Hayes. Kathleen Tomey was also in Blade Knifemaker showcase.
 
I bought a small hunter from K. Tomey at the last Blade show in Atlanta. It has a beautful ironwood handle w/mosaic pins and a great finish on the D-2 blade with nice filework on the spine. I've had some compliments on it. The point of the blade is not as symetrical as it should be (don't know how else to describe it) but it's not really noticeable without close inspection. All in all a nice piece.

Correction: not D-2 but 01
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top