Semi-Production Knives for $500, Please?

The Burgh

The Burgh

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It happened quicker than I expected it to happen.

Those of you who built collections will see the linear/chronological acquisition journey: Enlan/Sanrenmu, then Kershaw, then CRKT, then Benchmade & ZT, then Brous.
I have only one user pocket knife, a Victorinox (with toothpick!).

Sooooooooooo, I am left at my question: What's next at ~ $500. (Don't suppose that budget allows for customs. Wrong?)

To narrow the effort a bit, I favor flippers with less-than 3.5" blades, preferably 3". I am a sucker for beautiful, aesthetic and artful handles in all materials so long as they "fall intoi the hand" - especially like contours for better grip. Blades are drop, semi-spear or clip point, some having interest embellishments, e.g. Brous Mini Division or Maserin 383OL Fly. Favor satin and damascus blades.

Is that enough to ask you for some direction to manufacturers, brands, models or specific knives?

I have spent way too much time browsing, only to find myself with no results (or new knives).

Thank you kindly!
 
Been there, asked that.

My big suggestion would be to expand beyond flippers. There's a great world of knives out there.

Brands:

--Chris Reeve. Everyone should have a Sebenza. For very good reason. An immortal knife.

--Strider. One of the greats.

--Hinderer. These are actually flippers, and superb ones at that.

--Al Mar. Below your price point, but great and undervalued knives.


Next, check out customs and see what tickles your fancy. A number of them that do flippers are quite reasonable for a custom (@$700).

One other alternative. Modified slipjoints. Let me explain: My left side is paralyzed, so I have slipjoints made with a thumbstud and clip, and a light throw, so they are just as handy as any other knife. Advantages: beautiful work at reasonable prices, absolutely exquisite woods available (up your alley). Check out Al Warren, eg. Tell him I sent you. Or email/pm me.

Good luck and have fun.
 
I am by no means versed on what is out there but, I do believe Bruce Bingenheimer makes a smaller version of the BingaLor with less exotic materials for slightly over your stated price. His flippers are exquisite! Alan Davis is another that comes to mind. These are full custom knives, not at all production.

Bob
 
Keep your eyes open for a Southard Avo or, if you can stand a bigger but very light flipper, check his website and put a deposit down for his Tolk (due out soon). If you want a full custom I agree you ought to give the BingaLor a look.
 
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ASBOB said:
--Chris Reeve. Everyone should have a Sebenza. For very good reason. An immortal knife.
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And nearly inescapable as well. Until I had a Sebenza, I couldn't really appreciate how good my customs were. Love them or hate them, Sebenzas set the standard for just about every high-end folder out there. Sal Glesser said it best . . .

Unless you are a manufacturer, familiar with close tolerance manufacturing of heat treated steel & Titanium parts, you are not likely to be able to see all of the differences between one of Chris' knives and others. For example; CRK keeps 0.0005 tolerance on surface grinding. That's one sixth the thickness of a hair. Do you have the knowledge and equipment to discover that tolerance?

In the end, it's all about trust. CRK took many years to build and maintain their reputation. Built with consistent focus. Even those trying to make a "cheaper" version must "leave out processes" or "soften their tolerance", or they will cost as much.

sal

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Just because you can't see the difference doesn't mean it isn't there, it just means you can't see it.

Buy it now or buy it later. If you get into the world of high-end folders, odds are the time will come when you own a Sebenza. You might as well just go ahead and get it out of the way. :)
 
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There isn't enough discussion of Custom or Handmade knives here so let's move this to the General forum.
 
Check out the ZT 0900, nice little flipper and also the Three Sisters Forge Beast. The Beast is a 3" non flipper but is buttery smooth Ti knife with a nice M390 blade. Some are S35vn blades.
 
What's a "semi-production" knife? Strider, CRK, and Hinderer are all production knives.

For a good production knife take a look at the Southard Avo.

Some Elishewitz customs can be had for around the $500-600 range. They would fit your bill nicely, his newest customs tend to be on the more artful side, as are some of his knives from 2000-2010. Damascus, guilloche work, jewelling, engine turned pivots and hardware, Michael Walker-esque anodizing work.
 
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I'd 2nd the CRK purchase, any of them but an inlayed small seb might be up your alley.

I'd keep an eye out in the sale threads here for used customs that catch your eye as there are deals to be had on some really cool matter separators.
 
My obvious vote goes to CRK, for reasons people have already mentioned. But after getting the new Southard midtech Tolk, I would say try and pick up an Avo, which is more your size. They can be had for under $500 and the design is fantastic.
 
So many great options nowadays. When I reached that point it was the Sebenza . :thumbup:
 
Morrow said:
There isn't enough discussion of Custom or Handmade knives here so let's move this to the General forum.
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Judging by your number of posts, "Morrow," (as well as your obvious credibility as a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), I am up to putting this discussion anywhere to stimulate the optimal participation. How do we do that?

Also, I am a bit unclear about the delineations (dollar cost or otherwise) amongst semi-production, semi-custom and any other variants of production vs. custom. Help here please?

For example, getting alot of Chris Reeves recommendations here. Being naive, I would have guessed that those knives would be called "limited production" but customizable, and I would have guessed that the knifemakers who participate on this forum market their "one off" hande-made knives as custom, limited to only one or a few similar (but not identical) units.

Getting alot of good help here! Thanks!
 
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If you go with a Sebenza, make sure to at least hold one of the inlaid models. Micarta inlay makes the Sebenza worth it to me, I'm not sure where else I can get a quality US made knife with micarta handles.

If you want to get something that not everyone else has, Spartan Blades' Akribis is a very cool folder with a lot of unique features and finishing touches.
 
The Burgh said:
Judging by your number of posts, "Morrow," (as well as your obvious credibility as a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), I am up to putting this discussion anywhere to stimulate the optimal participation. How do we do that?

Also, I am a bit unclear about the delineations (dollar cost or otherwise) amongst semi-production, semi-custom and any other variants of production vs. custom. Help here please?

For example, getting alot of Chris Reeves recommendations here. Being naive, I would have guessed that those knives would be called "limited production" but customizable, and I would have guessed that the knifemakers who participate on this forum market their "one off" hande-made knives as custom, limited to only one or a few similar (but not identical) units.

Getting alot of good help here! Thanks!
Click to expand...

I had already moved the thread to General. :)
 
I like a CRK as much as the next guy, but based off of what you favor, the two that popped in my head were the Hinderer 3" XM-18 Slicer and the Southard Avo.

The Hinderer isn't very artsy I'd say, but it hits a lot of your criteria. Flipper, smaller blade, and IMO it feels awesome in hand.

The Southard I've never seen in person, but they get good reviews here. Flipper with what I'd call a more artistic design of the handle. It's also something just a little bit different than your more common brands in that price range.
 
Arrived at the conclusion that I had invested enough time in searching for under-$500, sort-of-customized flippers.

Sooooooooooooooo, began a search for under-$500, custom FIXED BLADES. Parameters: Blade length under 3.5" and over 2.5", no "art gallery (" I shouldn't even handle it without cotton gloves") pieces, artistically interesting combinations of materials (other than carbon fiber - I'm quickly growing tired of that look) and no over-the-top mortal combat styles and durable, long-lasting materials and workmanship.

So far, using only this forum and a search engine, the options are endless. I now seem to have two issues which are the reverse of my original issue with flippers. First, the candidate knives and builders are seemingly endless. Second, MANY of the listings (pictures) have already been sold - I suppose knifemakers understandably spend more time making knives than they do in clearly updating their "for sale" listings. So, if I'm late to this party within our hobby, I can still look!

Anyone here have good experiences with custom fixed blade knives/makers which fit within the above parameters?

P.S. I'd be thrilled to do business with builders who are actively engaged here at BF.
 
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