newbie help needed in purchasing knife for a gift

hogworthy said:
I would definitely stop looking where you are looking... it's not going to turn out as a favorable transaction in the end.

Just take everyone's advice (which you asked for) and purchase a KNOWN brand of knife. Buying random crap off of ebay, even if it is a "brand name" will get you burned.

Hell... as lately as LAST NIGHT a buddy of mine very proudly showed me his new EDC that his father gave him a week ago. A pretty nice CRKT folder with a decent edge... I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a total knockoff!!

The liner was all wrong... the blade was marked "DOOLITLE - Taiwan" and the serrated part was not of CRKT pattern type... instead of breaking his heart and telling him his dad gave him a piece of crap (his dad probably didn't know any better either), I gave him an old Kershaw Leek that has been sitting in a desk drawer for years. Now he has a decent knife and when the knockoff breaks, because it WILL, he can carry the Kershaw.

I know I'm going on and on, but my point is... You came here for advice from a forum that is (hopefully) somewhat knowledgeable about the specific subject.

Please take the advice given and buy your father a decent quality blade that will possibly last him the rest of his life, as long as he doesn't lose it. When it comes to knives, you ALMOST always get what you pay for, but only if you are buying from a TRUSTED source... random ebay postings are not one of the generally "trusted" sources. Even Amazon is a better choice to make a knife purchase if you don't know what you are looking for.
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Fyi, I am taking all this in and appreciate all the help.

In regards to the eBay listings mate they are a visual aid I would of course never buy a knife from eBay and would only use reputed knife sellers.

Unfortunately there is 1 knife shop close to me (king of knives) and they have very limited range, almost no product knowledge and no website.

I would be very keen to talk to any custom knife makers in my area (penrith, nsw, Australia) or to find any reputable shops as I am finding them difficult to find
 
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Realistically I'd like to get him a replica of the one he lost made from d2 tool steel but I'd need a custom maker for that
 
There are some good online retailers out there (Blade HQ, Knife Center etc.) if it turns out you don't want to buy custom. I use amazon and that works for my needs. Good luck on finding something.
 
Also I saw you were talking about d2 steel thought I would just make you aware of the knives of Alaska Bush Camp. I have no experience with this knife so this is not a recommendation, but you mentioned d2, so it may be worth researching.
 
Cheers will look into it thanks. I'm only looking at d2 cause I believe his old knife was tool steel defiantly wasn't stainless and was 30 years old
 
Finding good knives at a decent price down under can be a bit tricky. I wouldn't suggest the store you mentioned - from what I've seen their prices seem a bit high and (as you pointed out) their knowledge a bit low.

Consider the reputable online retailers here. Single-edged fixed blades shouldn't be a Customs problem unless they're specifically made for fighting, although I don't know if NSW have their own state Regulations.

As others have said, ESEE make excellent knives. They tend to be a bit pricey in Australia but you might be able to get one at a good price from a reputable online dealer.

One suggestion - I reckon the Sydney International Knife Show is coming up in a couple of weeks. Custom makers in Australia will probably charge more than your budget for a big blade (bigger blade = more work) but there are always a few gems at a show. And there will be lots of pretty things to look at :)

Another suggestion; have a look at the For Sale: Fixed Blades section of Bladeforums. This is where the member knife makers advertise and sell their stuff and you will often find some great stuff at a good price. You may end up a little over your budget because of the shipping and exchange rate but there's plenty of good stuff around. I would suggest taking some time to look at what different makers have to offer, what their work looks like etc before you choose.
 
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That's an excellent suggestion. If I don't find something before then I'll defiantly head to the Sydney knife show and have a look.

I'm on my way to a gun shop that has a large range of reputable brands at the moment so we'll see what ends up happening
 
The other brand to consider is Svord. They use a solid performing non-stainless steel (L6) which is very tough and holds an edge very well. The down-side can be their fit and finish; their budget range just don't always look as pretty or feel as nice as some other knives. This is fine for users or if you like modifying them a bit. They're Kiwi made and their prices would normally start at around $60 (and significantly upwards from there for the nicer ones).
 
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Check out the Tops Apache Falcon. Can be had for about $150 bucks on the net.

apache2.jpg
 
WOW... that looks exactly like a knife my friend has in a collection...

Nearly identical except the decorative head. It was a standard issued "Hitler youth knife" as propaganda from the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Exactly the same blade, guard and handle.

I love blade forums... you never know what you're gonna get to see!!
 
From what we can find out it was probably produced in the 1930's to 1950's our one. He's spewing he lost it can't find any info on the company m.sharf but I know an identical knife was imported to the states but branded York cutlery co
 
You should look around the for sale by knifemakers section of exhange.

Nothing better as a gift than a custom knife that no one else has.

Nick
 
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