Top 3 custom makers?

CapitalizedLiving

CapitalizedLiving

Joined
Dec 1, 2007
Messages
3,798
Name your top 3 custom knife makers. Here are mine:

1. Dave Loukides - Maker of the best kitchen knives ever designed. This takes the #1 spot because I use knives in the kitchen more than anywhere else, and because Dave is the best service provider I have met. Besides that, Dave knows how to design the perfect kitchen knife from the perfect materials, and make it so pretty you don't even want to use it at all. Top shelf.

2. Diamond J Knives - Maker of the best utility/EDC knives I own. I love Dan's stuff and his service is perfect. Putting him in second place almost is insulting but as I own customs from over 20 makers I hope he'll forgive me based on statistics alone.

3. Coty Handley - "Tito" here on the forums. He is one to watch... his fixed blades are works of art and his folders will soon become the next hot item. Buy his stuff now while you still can!

Your turn...
 
There are so many awesome custom makers who regularly frequent this forum that it would be impossible to name three without leaving out dozens of equally deserving makers.

It is, however, possible to name just one. In my mind Rodrigo Sfreddo is pre-eminent in the custom knife world. His damascus integrals go beyond the design and execution of anything else I have ever seen, and each one I see has the same effect on me: "That is just the most unbelievable knife I have ever seen!"

Just my opinion, but from the heart.
 
Way too many excellent knifemakers good at way too many things in making way too different types of knives to just single out three.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Way too many excellent knifemakers good at way too many things in making way too different types of knives to just single out three.
Click to expand...

I'm with Kevin on this one. In addition it also has to do with taste. I like a certain type and style of knife; someone else has a completely different taste in knives.

Marcel
 
...I've got way more than 3 solid makers that are good friends, and to play this game of yours would leave those that didn't make the list with possible bad feelings.

Why would we want to do that to our friends? What does this say about us as a community?

It is a bad thing to do....even as an exercise.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Custom Art is all about personal taste and preferences.
One can choose three of his favorite ART KNIFE MAKERS if that is his
preference, or his HUNTING KNIFE custom makers if such pieces
make it for him, or BLADESMITHS if he loves Damascus, and so on...

I think that "CapitalizedLiving" who started the Thread must have
referred to our chosen three as of our personal taste...
That would surely create less bad feelings, or would it?
I wonder...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
I also agree with Kevin, Marcel and STeven.

Too many things come into play to name three favorites.

Peter
 
Picking the 3 nicest bowies in the Year End thread was an exercise in trade offs and comprimises. It wasn't easy and changed continually.
 
tito- Yes!
Nick Rossi is in the groove too.
All the best to all the makers.
 
Bob Loveless, Buster Warenski, Bill Moran.

Any questions? ;)

Coop (Who also understands how impossible it would be to name living makers)
 
+1 Way too many excellent knifemakers good at way too many things in making way too different types of knives to just single out three.
 
Kohai999 said:
...I've got way more than 3 solid makers that are good friends, and to play this game of yours would leave those that didn't make the list with possible bad feelings.

Why would we want to do that to our friends? What does this say about us as a community?

It is a bad thing to do....even as an exercise.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Precisely my thoughts as well.

Bob
 
This is kind of like asking a child which parent they love the most. Probably better not go there. It's a make-crazy question that will short-circuit the mind and heart of the child; and likely demoralize the parents.

Hey, it's just an analogy....

I guess I can try and play too though.

  1. The maker I'm hanging out with presently.
  2. The maker I held out with last.
  3. The maker I'll hang out with next!
 
SharpByCoop said:
Bob Loveless, Buster Warenski, Bill Moran.

Any questions? ;)

Coop (Who also understands how impossible it would be to name living makers)
Click to expand...

I thought I had thought this one out, so quoted STeven's words. But didn't quite read far enough. This works well, too.

Bob
 
I've long since given up trying to decide;

a. who, in general, makes the knives whose looks I like the best, (let's face it, I would be judging from photos or a computer screen which give nothing but a 2D view of the thing, not from handling these things) as the makers who are still cranking out knives continue to learn and evolve in their craft.

b. who, specifically, is my favorite person who makes knives, (as I continue to get to know people I don't already know, and get to know the people I already know better)

Sometimes a and b don't match up, which is where the problem lies in answering this question, for me at least.

It is even difficult to pick my favourite three knives I already own from my relatively modest collection, as the twinkle in my eye shifts from knife to knife depending on my mood, the alignment of the heavenly bodies or the weather.

So, sorry, I guess I really don't have a contribution for your thread, other than my position in answering this oft-asked question:o:)
 
I cant pick my favorites but i can name a few that i own and really enjoy; Randy Doucette, Sean O'Hare, and ?, in the process of picking my next custom knife.
 
ddd said:
I think that "CapitalizedLiving" who started the Thread must have
referred to our chosen three as of our personal taste...
That would surely create less bad feelings, or would it?
I wonder...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
Click to expand...

When I wrote "Knife People" and you asked me to include knives from my collection, I nearly went apoplectic. Of the range of makers represented within my main collection, well over half are living, and good friends....Why would I include Phil Baldwin, Don Fogg, Larry Fuegen, Harvey McBurnette.....and not include Bailey Bradshaw, Harvey Dean, Matt Diskin, Burt Foster, Warren Osborne......because at the end of the day, it comes down to personal choice and belief.

No maker has ever asked me why they were not included, and I sleep well knowing that I made the "right" choices, but I always wonder if anyone really cared, or knew how much thought went into that, how much agonizing up until the last minute.

This is still a bad game to play, my friend....I really thought about putting down Bob, Bill and Jim, but decided to play it direct and straightforward.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
My connection to the multitude of great knife makers, both living and dead is by way of their inspiring work. To single out 3 or a hundred is silly. The great makers leave us a treasure trove of inspiration as they work at there craft. What a wonderful legacy to leave behind you. We can't ask any more of them than that.

Fred
 
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