Sub $1000 midtech and custom makers to look at?

[evanPGH]

I'll second the Bingenheimer recommendation above. Bruce makes a great knife.

IMO, nobody makes a better knife for under a grand than John W Smith. If he had the hype to go with it, his pieces would easily command double what they do.

This is his F5 model, 3 7/8" blade so it's right in your wheelhouse.

 

[acphillips3]

Jake Hoback.

If you're looking for a state of the art, hard use, incredible everyday carry this is the maker I would look for.

His HRD Detent is something special. I can almost guarantee that any knife purchased from this maker will have one of the, if not the, best actions you'll experience as you're the one who adjusts it to YOUR specifications.

I've handled a lot of mid-techs, mostly heavy duty hard use knives, and this is the one that strikes me as the most well thought out and best executed.

Look at the Kwaiback MK4. Incredible blade. The perfect blend of hard use and elegance.

Plus it's Japanese inspired, backed by an incredible guy (Jake Hoback), and totally bombproof.

I've actually looked at him a lot and if I can get my hands on one of his midtechs I will get it without thinking about it.

 

[Murindo]

+1 on the Todd Begg Bodega

 

[The Aflac Duck]

That's an incredible picture. What a fantastic mirrored polish.

Is this from the factory?

Thank you!

Yes, this is from the factory. It is a mirror polished DLC coating

 

[Wilsonhome]

A couple of my personal favorites:

Rockstead

I am pretty much all traditionals and fixed blades these days but every once in a while i see something that makes me want a non-traditional and that Rockstead is dead gorgeous. My apologies for offlining the topic for a moment.

 

[Rare blade]

If I had $1000 burning a hole in my pocket is get a grimsmo norseman.

 

[rpttrsn]

Another vote for Custom Knife Factory (CKF). This is my Gratch Flipper.

 

[acphillips3]

I'll second the Bingenheimer recommendation above. Bruce makes a great knife.

IMO, nobody makes a better knife for under a grand than John W Smith. If he had the hype to go with it, his pieces would easily command double what they do.

This is his F5 model, 3 7/8" blade so it's right in your wheelhouse.

That's a good looking knife. I love the way the scales look!

 

[acphillips3]

It may be a lack of growth in my knife taste buds. But the shirogorov and sinkevich designs, and designs similar to that CKF Gratch just don't catch my eye. I'm sure they're phenomenal knives but the aesthetics don't call my name.

 

[JR88FAN]

Jeremy Roberton/Calavera cutlery.