First, I forgot my manners - Welcome to the Blade forums.
Filling out all the information in your profile will help makers near you know if you are close enough to contact directly. You might live 30 minutes from me or another maker who will have you over for a session in which the blade might be forged in front of your eyes.
As with others, my backlog is long, as are many other good makers ( not saying I'm one of them). I didn't offer to make one for that reason, plus, I make what I like to, more than what others want me to. I do like to make camp knives, though.
Expect to pay a good price for a quality custom from a well known expert.
However, a good smith with some experience could fill the order for half what the big boys charge.
I had five big camp knives in damascus , WI,and stag at the Blade Show several years back. They were pretty nice as far as I was concerned. Lots of folks picked them up and liked them. The prices were very reasonable. But, the big names were selling identical blades for about two to three times the price..... and getting it. I sold one of the five in that set for $300. Since then I have sold all the rest for $500 to $650 and the buyers were very happy. One ended up in Knives 2007.
Point is that being too choosy on the maker may cause the price to rise sharply.
I do this for fun more than profit. I would charge about $250-300 for a curly maple handled Moran style camp knife in 5160. Delivery would be about 9 to 12 months. I would prefer to make it in 1084,with a hamon,for $350-400.
Post your specific ideas and your price range and see who is interested.
Again, welcome.
Stacy
