Question about custome knives and sheaths

R

Rifter

Joined
Dec 15, 2001
Messages
774
How much more does it cost to get a custom over a name brand? and are those of you with custom gear happy with it? And as for sheaths, how much does a custom one cost??? Thanks for your time guys, im sure you all have some helpful info.
 
Hi Rifter-

Unfortunately, there's no really simple answer to that. ;)

It's not like you have to move up through a progression of production, (also called factory, or as you put it, "name brand") pieces before you get into the world of customs. Some production knives cost more than some customs! There are many, many makers out there- so the prices and type of knives varies greatly.

It all depends on what you're after. It's often recommended that you try to figure out what you need or would like, and start asking specific questions. See if what you're looking for, or close to it, is being offered now, and if not, find a maker who will make it for you. You have a bunch of different options.

Go have a look at the following links, and hopefully you'll begin to get a better feel for what's out there, and how much it's going to cost you.

www.knifeart.com
www.bladeart.com
www.arizonacustomknives.com
www.phoenixblades.com
www.nordicknives.com
www.truenorthknives.com

...and there's more than those, of course.

As far as sheaths go, there are people here who can make you a very high quality one, and also some companies that specialize in sheaths as well. Again, it's a bit hard to say exactly what anything might cost.

Firebat

Learn to use the forum's "Search" button, that feature is an incredible resource.
 
Since you asking about sheaths I am going to assume that you are referring to fixed blade knives. If I am wrong please let me know. You are asking a question that is very hard to answer. I have seen production knives that range from $20.00 to well over $1000.00. Custom knives seem to start at or a little over $100.00 and the sky is the limit.

I find that I prefer custom/handmade knives because I can get them made the way I want them, with a larger choice of material and in some cases even a little of my input as to the design of the knife. I also get to work closely with the maker and get to know him as a person. This is as much why I prefer custom knives to production as any other reason that I could come up with. There are many really fine people making knives.

Never have I been disappointed in a custom knife that I have purchased. To me they have all been worth the wait and the price that I pain for them. There are many excellent production knives, but I just don't get the same closeness with the production of the knife that I do with my customs.

As far as custom sheaths are concerned, I do not know the prices that they sell for, but there are many fine sheath makers on this forum that should be able to help you. Happy new year.:)
 
I guess some more info might be helpful :) Im mainly trying to figure out how much a custom fixed blade 4"-5.5" would cost, with a good sheath. And how much it would cost me to get a good small light weight sheath made for my CS SRK.
 
Originally posted by Rifter
... how much it would cost me to get a good small light weight sheath made for my CS SRK.
Click to expand...
It's $33 from Normark (Eric at On-Scene Tactical) for a kydex sheath for the SRK. I would expect the price to be pretty close to that from Mike Sastre at River City Sheaths as well. If you want leather, Kenny Rowe and Gary W. Graley get high marks.

You can check the links that Firebat posted for 4"-5.5" custom blade candidates. Which maker/model appeals to you will depend on what your intended uses for the knife are. Once you've defined what the knife minimally has to do, you'll be in a position to direct your search toward appropriate blades.
 
You should be able to find custom fixed blade knives with blades the length you want for around $125.00 and up. Knives at the lower price points will tend to have blades made from ATS34, 154CM, 1050 through 1095, O-1 or other fairly standard steels. If you want one of the more exotic steels you will have to pay more. The same can be said about handle materials. Lower priced knives will have wood or micarta handles, with fancier stuff costing more. Of course, if you want to buy a knife from one of the better known makers, that will cost you more as well.
 
Less than you think :) Email me if you are interested, I have some blades almost ready, and I can always grind more!
 
If you want a nylon sheath, I'd go with SOE gear. check out Strider knives www.striderknives.com to see what the sheaths are like. SOE makes the sheaths for Strider. I talked with David at SOE over e-mail and for 50-70 bucks, depending on the knife, you get an amazing sheath for the field. As an every day carry, urbanite sheath, I'd brobably be calling Normark for a sheath.
 
Ok, now that i have pretty much decided what i want and am looking for i Will post the info. Im looking for a custom sheath for my SRK, one that can be mounted on my upper leg(like those upper leg gun holsters) Because when i go hikeing/camping I Like to limit whats on my belt to 2 items(Which I would Like to be my Ka-bar and my machete) I carry my CS Kobun on my boot but would also like to bring my SRK, so am looking for a good place to keep it so decided i want a sheath designed to be attached to a leg, if such a thing exists, i am new(very new) to this and just want to know whats out there, thank you guys for all your help, i really appreciate it, this is one of the most helpful forums i attend.
 
OK, I just don't get something here. Four fixed blade knives for a day hike? I assume day hike because you said you wore two of them on your belt. And with a multi day pack you normally can not wear anything on your belt.

I do alot of one day hikes (10-20 miles) and have never had any need of four fixed blades. I normally carry a meduim sized fixed blade (5"-6" blade) and a meduim folder. I have never used either of them on a day hike. Now granted I carry four lighters and a book of matches, but hey, you gotta smoke.

Even for really heavy back country hikes I could only justify two fixed blades (a chopper and a utility) and one folder.

Can someone please enlighten me.
 
You see, they all have differnt purposes, the Ka-bar is for cutting rope,fishing line, etc. because of the serations, the machete is the most used, and is used to clear the ground before setting up a tent and also for clearing the trail if its pretty bad. The kobun is my second most used, for eating, cutting food, sharpening wood(for arrows, my friend has a bow), and the SRK will be used for whatever i need to pry/dig, seeing as it is basically a sharpened pry bar.
 
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