The Cutting Edge – Which makers have you recently discovered that excite?

The intention of this thread: "Which makers have you recently discovered that have generated that excitement" i think is directed at knives that are more 'Art' than 'User'. But to respond to the question as posed, Joe Calton's work (Joe444 on BF) has got me most enthused.
I bought the second knife he posted on BF for $80 (with sheath) as i like to support new knifemakers. I was not expecting what i received which is a knife that instantly compelled me to hold it and then go and find things to cut. I now have 5 of Joe's knives with a 6th on the way.
I have about 150 custom FB's, many from well known, highly respected makers, but none have given me greater pleasure than these knives from Joe. The in-hand fit and feel is as natural as possible regardless of grip and they cut with pleasurable ease. You can read the torture testing he does to every knife before final finishing to see his total dedication to life long performance of his blades. His leather sheaths are heavy duty and have a 'snap in' fit like the best kydex sheaths.
I liken them to those made by Burt Foster but with thicker leather.
These are not knives for the collector, but if you want a relatively inexpensive knife to use (or even abuse) that will give you a sense of excitement and great satisfaction, a knife from Joe Calton will immediately become your favorite user.
roland
 
Roland: Please post a couple of photos. I think your entry sounds COMPLETELY valid.

Coop
 
Just for the record, according to Thad Buchanan's site, he started making knives in 1986.... 26 years ago. :)
 
NickWheeler said:
Just for the record, according to Thad Buchanan's site, he started making knives in 1986.... 26 years ago. :)
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He went full time in 2005...prior to that it was pretty much "Thad Who". The changes that he has implemented to his style of work qualify him as new in my book.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
"Roland: Please post a couple of photos"

O.K. but the knives and camera are not in the same house right now. Should be able to post pics within a week.
roland
 
I had 2 bowies made by Chad Hill of Whitefeather knives that way exceeded my expectations.To say they were perfect is an understatement!
 
rprocter said:
The intention of this thread: "Which makers have you recently discovered that have generated that excitement" i think is directed at knives that are more 'Art' than 'User'. But to respond to the question as posed, Joe Calton's work (Joe444 on BF) has got me most enthused.
I bought the second knife he posted on BF for $80 (with sheath) as i like to support new knifemakers. I was not expecting what i received which is a knife that instantly compelled me to hold it and then go and find things to cut. I now have 5 of Joe's knives with a 6th on the way.
I have about 150 custom FB's, many from well known, highly respected makers, but none have given me greater pleasure than these knives from Joe. The in-hand fit and feel is as natural as possible regardless of grip and they cut with pleasurable ease. You can read the torture testing he does to every knife before final finishing to see his total dedication to life long performance of his blades. His leather sheaths are heavy duty and have a 'snap in' fit like the best kydex sheaths.
I liken them to those made by Burt Foster but with thicker leather.
These are not knives for the collector, but if you want a relatively inexpensive knife to use (or even abuse) that will give you a sense of excitement and great satisfaction, a knife from Joe Calton will immediately become your favorite user.
roland
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Can be art or user, whatever your personal preferance. Just interested in which makers float your boat! I will check out Joe's work.

Thx,

J
 
I had the opportunity to take a picture last evening of the one Joe Calton knife i have with me.
Hunter, 10 1/8" OAL
Blade: 0.155" thick, 5 3/8" length, Aldo's 1095, full flat grind with distal taper
Handle: Birdseye Maple, black Micarta spacer, 1/4" brass guard.
Not shown: 10 ounce leather sheath.

Esee006-2.jpg


What i like about these knives so much is that they are the very essence of a knife. They are tools, every millimeter made exactly the way it is for a reason. There are no embellishments.
As a tool they are perfect, with an in-hand fit you don't want put down, and do the intended cutting with almost no force needed.
This Hunter was a delight to use last evening.
roland
 
suchat jangtanong - thailand folder maker - nearly impossible to find anybody else who builds a folder like he does, with the materials he uses, his designs, at his costs...alot of robt calcinore damascus for blades...

magnus axelson - virtually never makes the same knife twice - always hand made - uses cold wax castings for bronze fittings. his "the trebuchet" is mine - the most incredible knife IN a holder i've ever seen! goes to my death bed with me...sculpture and art as much as a damasteel scalpel inside the 360 degree ROTATING holder...

g & g hawk - very creative, highly original - and very unusual production folders...
 
I was going to give you sh!t for thread necromancy, but this is a good one to see pop up again and has some interesting content along with providing something of a retrospective
 
Lorien said:
I was going to give you sh!t for thread necromancy, but this is a good one to see pop up again and has some interesting content along with providing something of a retrospective
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While I agree with you to a higher degree, it still demonstrates a lack of observation to kick up a thread that is 5 years old.

If JZS is JUST discovering the makers he mentioned, he must have been sleeping under a rock for those 5 years, lol.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
In the last five years? Many come to mind.

Michael Zieba - Unmatched versatility in fixed/folders/trinkets, etc.

Brian Nadeau - Smart ergonomics combined with highly skilled machining

Greg Cimms - Superb chef's knives and outstanding forged steel

Kevin Klein - Art knives with smooth flowing lines and complex builds.

Theo Nazz - Young and NOT afraid to think out of the box. Using 3D casting for components.

Steven Ramos - Tackling stone handles and long sweeping grinds. Difficult knives with large visual appeal.

Tom Ward - His hatchets are stunning. I posted one on my Instagram and it's TRIPLE the 'likes' of any of the other 800 knives I've posted.

John Doyle - Upper tier quality and design right out the gate. Refining his work further as I write.

Andrew Meers, MS - He's SO talented and artistic. No one saw him coming

Tim Steingass - He's a work ethic machine and his knives have broad appeal and satisfying builds

Darriel Caston - He's creating odd mini 'folders' which just make you say "Whodathunk?"

Makers who have grown notable:

Matt Gregory - Great sense of design and impeccable build quality.

David Mirabile - Really finding his own with the modern and classic materials

Ron Best - His new folders have taken on a look which says WOW!!!

Mike Quesenberry, MS - from a good maker leapfrogging right over to an AWARD-WINNING maker in a few years.

David Lisch, MS - Ditto what I said about Mike Q. We thought he was good five years ago? Well.....

I've MISSED MANY. Don't shoot me. Just adding some perspective off the top of my head.

Jim
 
Kohai999 said:
While I agree with you to a higher degree, it still demonstrates a lack of observation to kick up a thread that is 5 years old.

If JZS is JUST discovering the makers he mentioned, he must have been sleeping under a rock for those 5 years, lol.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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a knife maker's career and reputation is something that takes many years of dedication, commitment and hard work to build. A newcomer to custom knives doesn't have the depth of experience and knowledge that many of those who've spent decades cultivating have, so whether they discover these knife makers now or five years ago shouldn't really be a value judgement. I agree that reviving threads long dormant exposes a certain lack of awareness of how forums work

that being said, Coop's already added a great perspective and value to the conversation. We could use more conversations like this here
 
I would add:

Nathan Carothers

Lee Lerman

John April

Jeff Park

Will Morrison

David Mosier

EDITED TO ADD:

Erik Markman

Ben Seward

Ben Brenda

Kyle Gahagan

Claude Bouchonville
 
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Lorien said:
. I agree that reviving threads long dormant exposes a certain lack of awareness of how forums work

that being said, Coop's already added a great perspective and value to the conversation. We could use more conversations like this here
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On the other hand, It is sometimes nice to see or find something old. This is not Facebook where you can not even find a post from last week.
 
erik markman said:
On the other hand, It is sometimes nice to see or find something old. This is not Facebook where you can not even find a post from last week.
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you nailed it, Erik- and therein lies the value of forums. If not for the archival capacity and ability to sustain ongoing dialogues, forums would probably no longer exist
 
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