Special Custom Knives @ Exceptional Values?

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
13,363
Being president of the CKCA, I like to stay abreast of trends and what’s going on in the custom knife community the best I can. The CKCA is very much about bringing in new collectors and helping to educate them.

Over the last year or so I’ve been spending some time studying the tendency for knife collectors over time to transition from production into custom knives, or the lack of such practice.

It seems this would be a fairly natural transition even considering that custom knives may be out of the price range of some production knife collectors. That being true to some degree, I’ve found there’s quite a few knife makers creating some very nice custom knives in the lower price ranges. In many cases, at or below what some production companies are getting for select models.

As a result of my interest in the above subject, I’ve added an additional focus to my collection that includes custom knives under $225 that I consider to be special knives at exceptional values.

I’ve decided to create this thread to share some of them.

If any of you would also like to share such knives please feel free to do so here.

I hope this thread will help dismiss the assumption that custom knives are out of reach of most knife enthusiasts.

As always, thank you in advance for your interest and participation.
 
Jeff Baker's "Field Knife" model here has a 1095 blade with an antiqued finish. The scales are a stabilized burl wood handle. Copper pins/tube with natural Micarta and cinnamon spacers. He left a jimped exposed butt on the knife that is useful when needed. For example, he uses it to knock the ice off his gear when winter camping. This one also has his new bushcraft sheath. The sheath has a conventional belt loop and dangler loop, 10oz weight and is hand stitched and very rugged and well made. The holder for a 'fire starter' stick is a nice touch as well.

I could tell from the photo that this was a very nice design for a Field Knife/Sheath but what I was necessarily expecting was the top shelf fit & finish.
All in All, an extremely nice and ergonomic fit for function Field Knife/Sheath at a very good value.

Field Knife
4" 1095 blade triple tempered to RC60 with an antiqued finish
8 7/8" overall length
Stabilized mystery burl scales
Natural Micarta and cinnamon spacers
Copper pins/tube

More to come!















 
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I sort of felt that way when I got this from Erik Markman for $375 with his own leather. After the plane ride some how the handle had pretty much split, even with the glue inside. My guess is the bags aren't depressurized and maybe that came into play.

So, at my request we did black micarta. I actually like it better. Its striking for a small knife.

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Jon Brand said:
So, at my request we did black micarta. I actually like it better. Its striking for a small knife.

Markman-Small-Fighter-web_zpsloezx1tm.gif
Click to expand...

Striking in deed!
Sorry to hear of your unfortunate issue, but I like the new handle better. Erik, really took care of that for you in a hurry, especially
considering him being overseas.
 
Well, this is going to be a good thread.
Great knives so far!
I love those copper pins and handle, btw.
rolf
 
I had that piece of Gidgee in a dry place for at least 5 years and bought it from a dutch knifemaker who sells really nice handleblocks.
What happened to that handle is still a mistery to me but it is the last time I used unstabilised wood.

Thanks for the nice words.
 
Excellent thread. That's the price range to get more knives into peoples hands so they can see the difference between custom and production. Something I like is the idea of the Maker getting a bigger cut of the knifes cost.

I picked up the Jason Knight Jurassic Bird and Trout which was around $180.
 
I have a Gary Wheeler Damascus fixed blade with beautiful dyed and stabilised box elder on it. Came with a dangled sheath and it was right at your price limit. I'll post a pic later.
 
Nice pics and very good idea ,280 € with sheath , one must be in the range of prices for these Plazen Eric maker .


 
Yea Erik its a mystery indeed. But I was so happy that you were able to take care of it immediately. I like the knife so much more now so things could not have worked out better on my end. I bet you could sell tons of these little guys.
 
Scott McGhee of World Famous Guineahog Forge makes a fantastic EDC that's water-jet cut and Nathan Carothers has an astounding Lorien-designed Field Knife in that range.
 
Here's one I had made by Dan Graves for $185. Black ash burl handle and silver fittings. It's a great piece. I just have to make a sheath for it.

 
S.Alexander said:
Here's one I had made by Dan Graves for $185. Black ash burl handle and silver fittings. It's a great piece. I just have to make a sheath for it.

Click to expand...

Dan Graves's knives are fantastic value. I have one of his hunters in stag and it's a dream. $185 with silver fittings.
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ANY knife that Josh Mason makes fits this description. Clean work, and WAY too low of prices.
 
S.Alexander said:
Here's one I had made by Dan Graves for $185. Black ash burl handle and silver fittings. It's a great piece. I just have to make a sheath for it.
Click to expand...

Shane, you provide a very nice knife at great value as well as evident by piece below I purchased from you:

Here's Shane's first blade in stainless steel. It's a tactical EDC style, with a harpoon clip made from CPM-154. The handles are black linen micarta with blue G-10 liners. It also features a hidden lanyard hole.

OAL: 7-7/8"
Blade length: 3-1/2"
Thickness: 1/8"
Hand rubbed 600 grit finish.
Carbon fibre pins
Black leather sheath
HT done by me in my Evenheat kiln, with a dry ice cryo treatment.

This Tactical fits very comfortably in hand, fit/finish is very nice and Shane supplied a good looking and heavy duty sheath with it. This is actually my first knife with a micarta handle. The raised clip provides a comfortable resting place for the thumb when knife is used in that position.

A LOT of Knife/Sheath for the price in my opinion.









 
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