kamagong said:
... But how do I go about getting a dirk from one maker that is inspired by another?...
I think Coop already answered that one - send them a pic and let them know that the design really appeals to you and ask if they would build you something similar. It costs you nothing to ask and the worst they can say is no, right?
As for backlogs, as has already been suggested, that will factor into your decision. Some makers will have a 6 month wait, others 6 years. How long are you prepared to wait? I'm pretty sure that Burt Foster's wait time is well under a year - I've not seen a full size dirk from him, but have seen his smaller integrals and have no doubt he could pull it off. Tai Goo could probably do one in under a year. I think Bailey Bradshaw would be somewhere around a year as well. But please don't take my estimates of delivery time as anything more than an educated guess - contact the makers and find out for yourself.
You could also try contacting a reputable dealer to see if they can source a knife for you - but this is likely to be something already made which may or may not meet your precise specifications. Also cruise the dealer sites for knives on hand and check the for sale sections on the forums. Keep in mind, however, that Med. dirks are far less common than, say, hunters and bowies. You won't find a ton of them available at any one time.
Roger
Also, if you hang around the forums, you get to have an idea of who has what. If someone has a knife that really does it for you, then let them know that you would like a heads-up if they ever decide to sell it. I have bought and sold more than a few knives this way.
