Steve Skiff Knifemaker

J

jayharley

Joined
Oct 6, 2000
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I just returned from the NCCA Northeast Cutlers Collecting Association show in MA. I purchased a really nice custom 3" straight blade sportsman's knife with a great curved handle in Dymondwood. ATS 34 steel. A very well made black leather sheath was included. I wish I had access to post a picture of the knife, but the piece is beautiful. What really shocked me was this wonderfully made knife was only $75.00.

Steve Skiff is the maker and he makes 5 models of fixed blades with choice of scales (Micarta, Dymondwood, G-10 and Stag). Also makes lockback and linerlock folders. He has been making knifes since 1997. If anyone is interested in a reasonably priced custom knife that really is beautiful, check him out. His email is SSFIFF2222@aol.com.
 
Jay,

I just got back from the show as well and had a long talk with Steve Skiff. I agree that his knives were beautiful and his prices were very reasonable, actually too darned cheap for the work that has gone into them. Although I'm not a big fan of diamondwood his hunting knives were very well done.

I was especially taken with his little utility folders. He offers them either with or without a clip and they were extremely well made. The lockback really had a nice snap to it and the liner locks fit your hand perfectly. This maker obviously is quite fussy with his hollow grinds and his level of finishing. I thought his folders could easily have brought $100 more than he was asking.

He's also a really nice guy and I had a long friendly talk with him and his wife. I'm really glad to hear that they had at least one sale today!
 
Peter

As this is my first knife with a diamondwood handle, what are the negatives to this material? Any special care required? Thanks!
 
As a knife handle material I believe it is supposed to be very durable and serviceable. I'm more of a hand rubbed blade natural wood kind of guy. If you like the looks of diamondwood then by all means enjoy! For some reason I do like certain other synthetic materials...so go figure. :)

This was the first all knife show that I've been to and I enjoyed it alot. I had a long talk with Jot Singh Khalsa and bought one of his earrings. He was also really friendly and his knives were fabulous although neither in my price range nor to my utility oriented tastes. I did see him sell one $750 knife while I was there.

The other maker that I was quite impressed with was Howard Hitchmough. He had only 4 knives on the table when I got there and not one of them was less than $1300. All were exquisite works of art. He was an affable man and his wife was very cordial and knowledgeable as well. I really liked the carved titanium gent's knife with the lovely filework and intense anodizing. (excuse me while I clean the drool from my shirt)

For me it was just plain cool to handle knives that dealers had by greats like Kit Carson, WD PEase, Tony Bose, Bob T, and Ron Lake.
 
Peter: I have a tendency of buying knives with nice stag handles etc and then not wanting to use them! I read that Diamond wood is very durable, but not necessarily to everyones liking. I did like the look of this one from Steve Skiff (needless to say, that is why I bought it!)and plan on using the knife.

I went to the fall show last year, and this one seemed busier. Very enjoyable way to spend a rainy Sunday. I also have only been to a few knife shows. We are going to the NY Custom show in November, and I am looking forward to that one also.
 
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