Suggestions on first custrom for a Canadian

T

Tracker81

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Hello everyone,


This forums been a real eyeopener of information for me and after years of buying production models I would really like to own at least one custom piece. The thing is, I'm a student and have very limited resources which doesn't really go along with wanting a custom.

My dream is to someday own a Greg Lightfoot catch dog. He and I are both from the same province and though I've never seen one of his knives in person, from what I've heard they seem amazing. However, his prices are in in the high hundreds (after the currency conversion) and so beyond my reach.

Do you guys know of any other options for a Canadian wanting to own a custom piece? Are there any makers out there who make decent products with cheaper prices? What I'm specifically looking for is a tactical folder along the lines of the John Greco Falcon.

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
I am not sure what price range you are in, but here goes.

Aaron Frederick makes some very nice knives in the sub $400.00US range. His website only shows his fancier knives, but he does make less expensive ones as well.

www.frederickknives.com

A Canadian maker by the name of Kirby Lambert has some knives priced around the $400.00US price point. His knives are great and he is a super guy as well.

www.lambertknives.com

Mike Obenauf is another maker that has great prices, but his knives are of a very different style than the Greco. He also has a fairly long wait.

www.kvnet.org/knives/obenauf
 
Good luck! It's a worthy quest. To begin, once you find a knifemaker you want to deal with, be sure to specify the upper limit of price you are willing to pay. Once you've done that, it's time to get your hands dirty and "invest" in the process: steel type, thickness of the blade, shape, handle material, blade & handle length, special finishings, type and material for the sheath.. anything else you can think of. And, one other thing: be sure it's sharp!

My first custom piece took nearly one year to be completed, with numerous emails back & forth between me and the maker, Shawn McIntyre, in Australia, affirming the steps, materials et. al.

Good hunting!
 

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I appreciate all the replies and valuable info given. I'll be sure to keep this board posted on how this comes along. Thanks again :)
 
I'd like to second Kirby Lambert. His work is impressive. He is a new comer to custom world, but has learned well. He truly understands how to make a folder work. Very precise engineering.

His Whar folder is on my very short list of knives I've got to have.
 
Kirby Lambert's folders are out of his price range though. Lightfoot and Lambert make impressive fixed blades in the 300.00-350.00 price range.

If you look in the "custom knives for sale" section I think there are 2 Lightfoot folders for under 400.00, a Max Velocity and a Black Widow.
 
BladeGoblin said:
If you look in the "custom knives for sale" section I think there are 2 Lightfoot folders for under 400.00, a Max Velocity and a Black Widow.
Click to expand...

Looking in the For Sale: Custom Knives (Individual) forum here on Bladeforums is a very good suggestion. Not just for Lightfoot knives, but for any knife that will fit what you are looking for.
 
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