looking for a smith to customize a knife

[nevarmore]

I'm looking to get my girlfriend a decent knife (among other things) for her birthday, mostly so she'll stop borrowing my knives. The production folders I'm looking at are all very nice, but I'd like to get one and then have it customized a bit.

I'm not quite sure what I want, so I'm looking for someone in northeast Ohio that I could meet with and talk about cost, limitations, and options. Of course if things will work out I'd be paying that maker to do the work.

I hope that I'm not insulting the skill of a maker by simply asking him/her to pretty up a production EDC knife. I would love to have a totally custom blade done, but that would be excessive as a gift for a non-knife-knut.

So can anyone refer me to a maker in NE Ohio? What considerations should I make before going ahead with this kind of work? What considerations should I make to whomever does the work?

Thanks for your time. At present this is just a fishing expiditon to see what can be done and if anyone can/will do it.

 

[Daniel Koster]

Originally posted by nevarmore
I hope that I'm not insulting the skill of a maker by simply asking him/her to pretty up a production EDC knife. I would love to have a totally custom blade done, but that would be excessive as a gift for a non-knife-knut.

Just curious - how much are you looking to spend?

No matter what knife you buy, it will probably cost at least $50 to have it customized. There are makers out there who will, of course, do small custom stuff as favors, for free. However, if you are looking for certain modifications such as swapping handle materials, engraving, etc., then you'll likely add up a bit of cost.

The reason I bring this up is that I got a completely custom built pocket knife with filework and damascus bolsters for around $150 for my wife. She absolutely loves it.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it would help if you could list what you're looking for and how much you're willing to spend. It would give us a better idea of what you really want.

Dan

 

[nevarmore]

Originally posted by pendentive
Just curious - how much are you looking to spend?

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it would help if you could list what you're looking for and how much you're willing to spend. It would give us a better idea of what you really want.

I'm trying to keep cost at or near $100. Most of the knives are running from $40-$60 so around $50 to spend.

I'm looking to do one of the following:

1. Blacking out the blade. She really likes the black blades, but most of the knives she wants dont have that as an option (at least from 1sks.com).

2. Changing the scale/inlay color. I know this will vary based on material, color, size and shape.

3. Engraving. A nice tribal or geometric design on the back of the blade or on the 'meat' of the blade (ie away from the cutting edge). Perhaps even something subtle like engraving her name, a saying, or message on the inside of the handle.

4. Some of the makers like to put a lot of writing on the blade, especially Smith and Wesson/Taylor Cutlery IMHO. Having that polished out would really clean the knife up.

After having her browse around 1sks she seems to like these knives:

CRKT Wasp, Pesh-Kabz, Tighe Tac, BladeLock I
Gerber Chameleon (probably a II or III)
Kershaw Vapor, Onion (w/ Aluminum scales)
MOD Scorpion
Smith and Wesson HRT Magnesium Rescue, PowerGlide
SOG X-ray

Currently shes using my BladeLock so thats at the top of my list at the moment. She carries it, uses it, and I know she likes it.