update on affordable customs?

I think the price has a lot to do with size of knife & the amount of time went into it. I reckon there is some great makers out there who make top quality around 200 or less that are members here, Gene Ingram,Al Alexander, Sean O'hare,Ray kirk there is plenty more I reckon.

I reckon it's personal taste if your more happy with production tfor equivelant price that's fine. I prefer customs & 98% of my knives are. I don't mind paying to support custom makers.

Madcap your lucky 150US is 150. I think the Aussie dollar is about 70cents today:D
Cheers
Mitch
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Chris Crawford makes some nice slipjoints under $200.00.

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That is spectacular!! Do you have a link or something for Chris Crawford? I did not kow one could get a nice slipjoint like that for such an amazing price!! WOW!!
 
knifecollector,
Chris Crawford has his own site blademakers.com which hosts other makers as well.
Keith hope you don't mind me answering this.
Mitch
 
In the forged arena, Bill Buxton makes a nice user fixed blade for around $150. If you like Japanese inspired fixed blades, Mike Burch is in that price range too. Jason Knight makes a VERY nice Japanese fixed blade for around $150-$200.

If stock removal is OK, Shane Sibert and Sean Kendrick make nice tacticals in this price range.

I would say though, if you can buy a few $150 knives a year, you might be better served in the longrun by buying one $400-$500 knife instead. Personally, I would always rather have 1 great thing, than 10 mediocre things. :) I think that being realistic, the door begins to open to some really nice customs at the $400 price point, and again, if you can swing a few $150 knives, you can save for a $400 one.
 
A maker that I don't see mentioned is Wayne Clay. I think he's quite reasonable. He offers some very nice folders and fixed blades.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Chris Crawford makes some nice slipjoints under $200.00.
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Chris is on the short list of makers I intend to contact just as soon as my spendable cash situation improves. Of course, now that everyone knows of his work, courtesy of Kim Breed's review in the January 2006 Blade magazine, the wait for one of his knives is sure to grow.
 
Joss said:
Ed Caffrey is an ABS Mastersmith and he makes a superb small fixed blade, typically with differentially heat treated 1080 blades, for $165. It's called the EBK and the page is here: http://www.caffreyknives.net/EBK Update Page.html

A couple pics from Ed's site:
Mar05EBKDP.jpg


EBK%20II.jpg


He doesn't take orders for those, they're available on a first come, first served basis.
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I've got one of these, and I really like it. It is a neat little knife that cuts like a blad ought to, and holds an edge well.
 
I have been making Knives for 23 years thanks to the instruction and patience of RW,Wilson.In that time, short of closeouts,or sales,the prices of all of my supplies has increased.
My knives sell from $20 up to $1000.The average blade is in the $125-$175 price range.Right now, my interests are in Japanese styled blades, and Martial Art/Hideout style blades.I do sell a lot of Deer hunting blades because of the large amount of outdoorsmen in my area.I try to make an affordable blade , made to look good, but, also made to be used.
Consider this:
-knife blank $9.00
-Heat treating $6.00
-handle material $10.00
-leather $7.00
-pins/glue $3.00
------
$35.00

Now, add in leather dye, electric, wear on the buffing wheels, grinding belts, sand paper buffing compounds,files,thong liner material, drill bits,tapfree,bandsaw blades,,leather gloves,etc.
My grinder takes 132" belts.They were $2.00 each when I started out.Now, they run from $7.00- 11.00 depending on the belt.My system uses 4-5 belts per knife.Depending on the grit,they are good for more than 1 knife.My buffing system uses 4 wheels,and 3 different compounds.The wheel charging compounds run from $7.00- $35.00 per stick.
My average time per knife is 2-6 hours, depending on the knife.Prices vary according to design, and degree of difficulty.Supply and demand come into play with certain models (Such as O.S.S. Coin knives, Kerambits, Claws, etc).As most maker's can tell ya, mirror finishing a blade can be a pain.Most of my blades are mirror finished, or, Satin finished, as opposed to bead blasted.
I am fortunate enough to be employed as a fulltime Sergeant on a Sheriff's Department.I also teach at 2 Basic Police Academies,and, one night a week at a Karate school.Knifemaking is a parttime Hobby/Business.I try to attend several major shows per year.It is best to buy what I like to make from my "show stock".Because of limited time,orders may take awhile.
Hope this helps to see things from the Knifemaker's perspective.Other Maker's, feel free to chime in.
Respectfully,
Mickey Yurco
 
Hi Mr. Yurco.... I hope you didn't get the impression that any of us were undervaluing knifemaker's work... that's not what we've been trying to say at all. It's just that some of us can't afford to pay for the best and fanciest customs, we just want the satisfaction of being able to buy something handmade that will work. I mean, I don't mind buying a custom for $150, and I know what I can expect at that level, and I'm willing to accept it, i.e. a bead blasted or brushed finish on a good steel like 1095 or 440C that doesn't cost a fortune, inexpensive materials, and less work invested by the knifemaker.

I don't think anyone wants to pay less than any maker's work is worth- er, well, we all do, but not at their expense.

I've seen some of your knives, and I remember being impressed a lot... but I can't find your web site...
 
This thread is almost worth it's weight in gold to me. So many fine makers I was unaware of,thanks fellers.:thumbup: :)
 
Thanks Nick! I think that excluding knives that are under a certain price level just because they don't cost more can be a mistake! Look at the level of craftsmanship demonstrated by each maker! You can buy the majority of what I make for less than $185.00!

There are also up and coming makers like Brian Goode that are turning out some killer stuff for VERY resonable prices! Basically saying that you should judge the work and not the price!

Tom
 

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I know they've been mentioned already but David Winston and Bill Buxton are tops in my book. Excellent knives at a great price.
 
BladeGoblin said:
I have said this before and can't stress it enough, Dave Winston makes an outstanding knife and his prices are generally below 200.00. He also forges his own damascus, I have a few of his pieces and they exhibit top notch fit and finish for what he charges.
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I'll second the Dave Winston knives, for a little more $$$ you can get a Dozier, Bud Nealy, Michael Fong, Ron Gaston, many others just google custom knives for $250
 
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