Newt Livesay Knives

S

steelscout30

Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
1,506
I've heard talk---not on the forums, but when talking with several users around my area---about Newt Livesay, and had not seen anything around until recently in Tactical Knives, when a knife in one of their articles was compared to one of his old, large chopper designs. I've seen several of his neck knives in gun shops, at gun shows, and at other places at very reasonable prices and I've been wondering about how they perform, as I've considered (more than once) about buying one. Also, is anyone familiar with his line of stick and impact weapons? Thanks in advance for the help, it's much appreciate. God bless you, America, and our men and women overseas.

KATN,

Wade
 
I don't know anything about his stick or impact weapons, but I have always found his knives to be very well made, and to offer excellent value.
In the past he had some terrible financial problems and ended up taking a lot of money from people and not supplying them with knives. His daughter and son-in-law (a knifemaker) ended up making good on as many of those deals as they could. I have heard that Newt may be making knives again, but I would personally not consider purchasing from someone that did what he did to so many members of the knife community. Besides, if he gets into financial trouble again, who's to say he won't do the same thing again? However, if you find a good used one for the right price, go for it.
 
I've read some reviews that praise his use of 1095 with its high cost to performance ratio. I would say they are well worth the cash.
 
For me personally I would not support a thief regardless of performance.
 
I have a Livesay air attack with about a 5 in blade and well shaped micarta grips out of 1095 ,it came with a very good kydex sheath which you can slip on your belt sideways instead of vertical and it is a very good knife1/4 in stock and extremly rugged , it had a black coating on it and is supposed to be hardened to 58-59 rh, it says wicked knife co on one side and has his name and A A on the other. Have been very satisfied with it and live in northern Ark. about 120 miles from where he made these. The word here is that Ontario knives basically copied his designs and sold them for much less which ran him into a hole too deap to get out of, whether true or not I dont know.
A friend has one of his big choppers and is very satisfied with it also. It is what got me interested in Busse and Ferhman and other big knives and I would like to have one of Newts biggies someday. I have also heard that he was a good knife maker but a poor businessman so dont know if I would send him any bucks, but would reccomend them to any one who likes hard use knives and will get more if a opportunity arrives and the price is right.
 
Great knives, bad business man.
If you can find them on the secondary market...why not?
I've still got my eye out for an HKR.

Oh, and I believe that the AA knife was called Air Assault :D
 
I have a passion for knives and want to support the people in our knife community. However, in all my years of ordering knives, the only time I've been really burnt was from Mr. Livesay. Despite numerous promises, phone calls, conversations, etc. he never made good on my order of knives from him. IMHO, there are much better, worthy, talented, honest knife makers to deal with out there.
 
Every Newt Livesay knife I ever saw was crudely made and poorly ground. For the money, they were decent knives, I suppose. But, never my cup of tea.
 
Hey Guys...

L. Walters....

That would be an Air Assault...


I don't believe that to be true of Ontario...

The connection between Ontario and Newt is the RTAK.

The Connection between the RTAK and Ontario is Jeff Randall. The RTAK is Jeff Randall's design. as is the entire RAT series from Ontario.

Newt made the original RTAK for Jeff Randall. Now Ontario makes the RTAK and RTAK II , this is why you and others may have thought that Ontario stole designes from Newt, which just is not the case...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top