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Please Recommend a Custom Folding Knife Maker

C

caldwelr

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2013
Messages
418
Hello all. Since I know virtually nothing about custom knives, I would like to humbly ask for others to share their input and experience.

First off, I have a Chris Reeve knife. I love it, and the quality is pretty hard to beat, but it's not perfect for me. So.... I've been thinking about selling it and ordering a custom. Can anyone recommend someone to me who makes custom knives to your specifications without charging much more than a CRK would cost? I can sell another knife to fund it if I have to, but I'd like to not. Also, I don't want to have to wait years to get the knife... someone who has a waiting list of no more than a few months would be highly preferred.

In case it helps, this is what I'm looking for in the knife:
Thin blade stock (less than or equal to three MM)
3.25-3.50 inch blade
Handle material undecided
Pocket Clip (relatively deep carry, and not ridiculous looking like some of the spoon clips)
Would prefer convex grind, but also would consider full flat and maybe even high hollow (and thin behind the edge)
Open to steel options, but right now considering CPM M4 as my top choice
Flow through design
Drop point or clip point blade with decent belly
Thumb hole opening preferred, but open to other options
Open to lock options, just want something secure that will not wear out within my life time
And something that overall looks pretty simple and not flashy


So, if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know! Feel free to post below or to PM or email me.

Thanks ahead of time! I'm looking forward to hearing what you say!
 
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Eddleman Knives. He has some great stuff you might like. And for what you get. Its a great price.
 
Thanks! I'm looking into him! Any other recommendations would be great too! I'd love to see as many options as possible, as I would like this to be the last folding knife I ever purchase.
 
Alan Davis, got one of his fixed blades as a gift a while back. Love It, been saving for a custom folder by him
 
Vilarenso said:
Alan Davis, got one of his fixed blades as a gift a while back. Love It, been saving for a custom folder by him
Click to expand...

All his folders are stunning. The fixed blades look really nice too but from what I've seen he gets a bit more creative with folders.

That's where I plan to go when I take the dive into customs.

Good luck with your search.
 
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Vilarenso said:
Alan Davis, got one of his fixed blades as a gift a while back. Love It, been saving for a custom folder by him
Click to expand...

Thanks! Sent him an email, I'll see if he can do anything for me. I looked at some of his work, and he seems like a great maker! Just in case anyone was wondering, I got an email back from Eddleman knives, and he does not accept customized orders. He only makes them from his own designs.

Thanks to those who have responded thus far! And please keep the suggestions coming!
 
Just got me a Tobin Smith 3.5" M390 Steel blade liner lock with CF scales a three piece anoed TI back spacer a deep pocket carry clip with the thumb stud anoed also for 325.00.
The knife is smooth as butter and it's not even broke in yet, fit and finish are beyond reproach and he worked with me on the design from the materials to the blade profile down to the full flat grind i wanted.
I cannot recommend him highly enough as a matter of fact after i got my knife i immediately got back on his books for another, check him out you won't be sorry, best value going in custom makers Imo!
 
Wow! I'm definitely going to look into that! That sounds great!!! Thanks for all the great suggestions bladeforums members. The advice is very helpful and by all means keep it coming!


sechip said:
Just got me a Tobin Smith 3.5" M390 Steel blade liner lock with CF scales a three piece anoed TI back spacer a deep pocket carry clip with the thumb stud anoed also for 325.00.
The knife is smooth as butter and it's not even broke in yet, fit and finish are beyond reproach and he worked with me on the design from the materials to the blade profile down to the full flat grind i wanted.
I cannot recommend him highly enough as a matter of fact after i got my knife i immediately got back on his books for another, check him out you won't be sorry, best value going in custom makers Imo!
Click to expand...
 
To whomever moved this here, can I please get this moved back to General? I want to get recommendations, and I'm not necessarily just soliciting work. Thanks!
 
Have you seen Ray Laconico's slim EDC frame lock? If you liked your sebenza but wanted to try a more minimalist design in the same genre, it's worth a look.
 
Yeah, I've seen some of his stuff. Nice work! But.... Not the exact thing I'm looking for. I really want something that is made to my specifications. But thanks!

Essav benyamin, thanks!
 
So who out there has any more suggestions? :) Great options thus far, but the waiting lists are long. If someone could suggest someone that only has a short waiting list, I'm all ears!
 
Wish I had a suggestion for you, but I don't. However, I want to thank you for opening my mind to some custom knife possibilities. I was close to pulling the trigger on a Sebenza 25, but I am going to consider oing the custom route. I'm glad I read your thread, and I am very interested in Tobin Smith's (heretofore unknown to me, as I'm a knife newbie). Thanks and best wishes with your project.
 
Elliot from Ferrum Forge Knife works. I have his Pretium and it is smooth as butter. I know he also makes one offs anything you need he can and will make.
Prices differ i am sure but he seems quite reasonable compared to some/many. And his work is NICE!
 
I second the Tobin Smith recommendation. Best sub $400 customs out there.
 
Like mentioned, I would look at Elliot's knives here in the custom knifemakers section. His work is over the top. His bolster work is incredible, and he uses a LOT of exotic materials.
 
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