My first CUSTOM custom

[Lorien]

If you've been a collector/acquirer of custom knives for more than a few years, odds are you've come up with your own design and had someone else make it for you.

The purpose of this thread is to give voice to your entry into the world of tailor made knives. Now, it might be that your tastes have changed since you commissioned your first custom knife, but this is all about the first.

My first commissioned custom knife now belongs to a good friend of mine, and is his first custom knife. But my first commission was actually for three knives, the two I still have are pictured below;

Let's see your first commision, or failing that, give a description.

Thanks, in advance, for your participation

 

[JackHammer]

After buying an All Purpose from Jack O'Neill, I asked him to stretch out the blade but keep the general appearance. I sent my drawings and measurements and he put it together beautifully. Other customs in my collection may eventually come and go, but I can't imagine ever losing this one.View attachment 250512View attachment 250513View attachment 250514

 

[Sonnemann]

I sent Alan Davis a sketch and a list of materials and he sent me a knife...It's not in the same tax bracket as most knives in this forum, but man am I happy with it!

 

[RyanW]

Lorien who did the one on the bottom? I like it!

 

[Lorien]

Seth Burton made all three knives for me, in exchange for bike and surf gear
www.cosmoknives.com

 

[AlienAutopsy]

Nice fixed blade skirmish rip-off up in the corner

Sword thing looks cool tho.

 

[RyanW]

Nice fixed blade skirmish rip-off up in the corner

Sword thing looks cool tho.

Lets see yours?

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I'm awaiting my first sole commission custom. All of my other customs are bought pre-made or from existing designs (or knives I made). I have a pic without scales, but will wait until I have a completed pic. Also a Davis by the way. I have a couple of the knives he made to try out different factors of my design, but am eagerly awaiting my new toy.

Unfortunately I've had very poor luck getting my custom slipjoint idea made, apparently most makers won't deviate from what is already out there so I don't get what I feel will suit me best. In time I guess I'll have to make it myself.

To contribute to the picture portion of the thread- here is the first knife I finished for myself out of what I made- my wedding cake knife (and I think my first knife posted here):

in hand:

Tell I like Wharncliffes? Sorry for amateur hour in the thread. (my wedding knives were my 3-8th knives)

Unfortunately the adhesive hasn't held up as I found out last week. Now to do my first real rehandling.

 

[gooeytek]

matching slicer is in the works.

 

[Lorien]

Nice fixed blade skirmish rip-off up in the corner

ha! I totally traced my BenchmadeTM SkirmishTM 630 and changed it a little bit to make for a straight knife. Longer blade and such. But yeah, TOTAL ripoff! You caught me red handed! That's the first tailor made custom I commissioned, and I figured it was a pretty safe bet that I'd like it, since I already owned a super awesome design that I really liked. Besides, I've come up with some ultra crappy designs, so I figured 'tried and true' instead of 'swing and a miss'! That's probably why I gave it to my buddy, but...out of shame Naw, all my best friends seem to be inheriting knives, but I'll admit it was such a blatant copy I couldn't stomach it

that little knife! RIPOFF! Bet you can't guess which folding knife design made by a US company, that is not BenchmadeTM, I ripped off for that one! Or, ...can you? I actually had that knife on my belt all day. I love it. The stabilized rosewood handle scales are 1/16" thick, held to a tapered tang via brass pins and brass dovetailed bolsters, and the blade is 3/16" S90V with the microest of bevels at the end of some deep hollow grinds. Yeah, rosewood and brass That's what was cool when I first discovered custom knives in the mid eighties! Another safe bet, maybe not so safe...hell, maybe rosewood and brass will come back into style one day...

The gnomie slayer there, that was REALLY my first 100% me design that got made into a knife. 1/4" 5160, hollow ground with convex bevels, (a la Jerry Hossom- I hope you are well, Jerry!) stabilized rosewood scales held with brass pins and dovetailed bolsters. Pretty rad little sword to swing around. But definitely my tastes have change since then, and I am not fond of the design but I still love the object.

Hmmm...been awhile since I thought up a sword design...

 

[Lorien]

Kris- I'm stoked to hear about you awaiting your first commission! I think you will discover something new when you get it, there is nothing quite like awaiting your first tailor made knife. You also begin the shift from 'custom knife acquirer' to 'knife maker patron'. Very gratifying, at least for me it has been so far.
gooeytek- I've seen that knife around, I like it's character! That was the first design you ever had made? He did a great job making that to spec it seems, and you had a crazy idea that became a damn cool knife. Well done!

 

[gooeytek]

yea, I like wharncliffs and poons. I like drawing knives, and Daniel likes making them
I sent him this one for the matching slicer, it's gonna be piggybacked.

The chopper is in 0.312" S7, this one will be much, much thinner in 52100.

I'm working on something for Chris Moss to make for me soon.

 

[Lorien]

I'm working on something for Chris Moss to make for me soon.

I'm looking forward to seeing that knife!

 

[willydigger]

I sent Alan Davis a sketch and a list of materials and he sent me a knife...It's not in the same tax bracket as most knives in this forum, but man am I happy with it!

Awesome pics. I have a order pending with Alan for a custom design. I hope my finished knife looks like the design pics as well as yours does.