Need insight on custom makets

S

smithd

Joined
Nov 1, 1998
Messages
354
Hello fellow Forumites!!! I am seriously considering a custom hollow handle survival (will be used for work; active duty military) and have narrowed down the makers to the list below. Please pass any insight that you have about any and all makers. Your comments may prevend me from entering into a mess. Thanks in advance for your help. See you at the Blade show!!!

Doug


Al Faulkner
Keith Coleman
Colin Cox
Pat Crawford
Jack Crain
D. "Butch" Beaver
David Rhea
Webster Wood

 
You might have a problem, since not all the makers you list will likely be willing to make the knife you want. Not all makers make just any knife. At the moment I don't personally know any makers who are making hollow handled knives. Frankly a better approach might be to keep the handle solid and strong, and build the storage you want into the sheath as a pocket. Just my opinion of course.

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
Chris Reeve was my first thought as well for a high quality hollow handled knife, Doug. His knives are no longer truly 'custom', but attention to detail and quality are first rate. Check out his One Piece line of knives made from single pieces of A2:
http://www.chrisreeve.com/onepiece.html

Best of luck in your search for the 'perfect' knife!

Paracelsus
 
Well, if you have your heart set on a hollow-handled knife, I would suggest that you check out the Model 18 "Attack Survival" from Randall Made Knives.

Nordic Knives usually has a nice selection of Randalls in stock.... If they do not have what you want in stock they can usually get it in just a few months. Their web address is www.nordicknives.com

Good Luck!!!

Gene
 
Hi Doug,

I would recommend Collin Cox. Collin makes an excellent custom knife and has made hollow handle knives in the past.

I would stay away from Butch Beaver. His business ethics, character and integrity are questionable at best.

You may want to contact other who have dealt with Jack Crain before you think about working with him.

Darrel, Doug did say he was looking for a "custom" knife.

Jerry, is also correct. It may be difficult to get a hollow handle knife out of some of the makers you mention. Delivery schedules would come into play as well.



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Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com

"Nobody throws me my own guns and tells me to run, nobody!
 
Yep, I'd say Colin Cox could fix you right up!!! Unless I am sorely mistaken he worked for Randall Made for some time... I do know that I have seen quite a few of Colin's 'Randall' copies for sale on e-Bay lately... They look like high quality blades!!
 
As Les said, do a search on Jack Crain before you decide to use him. And if you do decide to use him, you might as well send the money to me cause you're gonna lose it anyway
smile.gif


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Dave (Phil.4:13)
I Can Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Me
 
As an owner of a Jack Crain Life Support System 1....I think I can provide some insight into his knives and his waiting period.

As far as his knives go....they are first rate....my LS1 is built like a bank vault. It is very large and very sharp. Came with a black heavy duty sheath (swing style). I get compliments on it from every person who sees it. This knife is what got me into collecting knives in the first place. I saw it in the movie "Commando" and knew I really wanted one. I saw an article on Jack Crain at the time but could not afford the price....I was still in high school. Time went by...graduated from college and contacted Mr. Crain about making me one.

The long and short of it is this....it took just shy of three years for him to finally deliver the knife to me. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely!!

I also own a Chris Reeves Project II which I use as my primary knife when camping...etc. Not because I don't think the Crain LS1 is better...because I believe that it is a better knife...but it has sentimental value to me (being the knife that started this really expensive and often misunderstood hobby I have...knife collecting) and I just can't bring myself to chop wood of cut hard objects with an $800.00 knife. (actually the Crain knife cost me $795.00...but I took the liberty of rounding it up to $800.00)

By the way...I will be ordering a Crain MCS in the near future...look for my review around May 22, 2003.

Rav
 
I'll have to go with Jerry as to the hollow handles. Go with a solid tang and add storage to the sheath. While you're considering this, check out Jerry's knives or those by Tim Britton. Both are true custom makers and even if they use the same pattern for someone else, your knife will truly be one of a knid.

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It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Terrill Hoffman Knife Photography http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=243110
 
Yeah the "Cargo Sheath" may be the next big thing on the knife market.

When this becomes the great fad of it's day, remember, it is I, the tallwingedgoat, who first coined the phrase.
biggrin.gif
 
I think Rob Simonich makes a "survival" knife with a hollow handle. The Aurora I believe it's called. The handle isn't tubular, though--there is a space between the handle scales. Good luck.
--jay
 
just curios.
what are you going to store in the hollow handle?
Have you considered Kevin L. Hoffmann?
He makes fixed blades with a sloted tang an a removable scale and a sheath with a build in screwdriver.

Greetings
red
 
I was thinking about making a knife similar to the one described that Kevin Hoffman makes. Picture about a 6.5-7" spearpoint blade, flat ground out of CPM3V. Full tang, built in guard, handle slotted out and micarta handle slabs milled out some. Slabs held on with stainless bolts that have common slots big enough for a penny or dime to loosen or tighten. This would be an almost indestructable, all purpose knife for survival/camping. Come to think of it, this might be too much for a beginner to tackle. I might have to enlist the help of somebody like Jerry Hossum, or R.J. Martin. Comments anyone?

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
I dont know how long the blade is on that one, but its almost exactly what I was thinking about. Is the compartment sealed from water with some kind of rubber washer or other seal?

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
How about one from Rob Simonich? I happen to know Jerry Hossom doesn't even own a milling machine and hates filing with a passion.
smile.gif


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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
Thanks for the plug Jerry, but I doubt that smithd will want to wait 2 years! I posted the pics to show a different way of doing it.

Danbo, all the specs on the knife are in the fixed blade section of my web-site. The handle isnt sealed, just fit very tightly, one could seal the handle compartment with a layer of vasaline or something I imagine. Most of the things that I would put in there are not affected by water.... A thin rubber seal would be a good thing though....

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www.simonichknives.com
 
These comments have been great; keep them coming. Here are some quick responses to things in previous posts.
Yes, I prefer a custom hollow handle. I have a CKK project one, I like it a lot. I have learned enough about my preferences through the last couple of years to be able to tell a custom maker what features that are best for me. As for the hollow handle, it is often preferred to the cargo sheath because it is easier to lose stuff from the sheath and not the handle. Anyway, please continue sharing your wisdom, it is a great help

cheers,
Doug


[This message has been edited by smithd (edited 05-23-2000).]
 
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