What companies produce a truly handmade knife?

Ryan P. Wilson

Ryan P. Wilson

Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
9
Hello everyone,

I have question and figured this would be the best place to come ask.

I am curious how many companies out there actually produce a handmade knife? I am only referring to companies that grind their blades by hand, individually shape each handle, etc... and produce knives in any quantity.

Thanks,

Ryan
 
I'm not sure I'm following the question.

If you're talking "companies" you're talking production pieces, not "custom" knives, right? If so, you are in the wrong forum.

I have always found the term "hand made" to be one step away from completely meaningless. All knives are made using tools of some kind.

Roger
 
Randall for one. I'm gueesing that your company is another, right Ryan?;)
 
I am speaking of companies that produce knives in the same manner an individual custom maker produces his, just in a larger quantity. Here are the ones that i can think of:

Randall Made Knives
Dozier
Wilson Tactical

Is there others?
 
Perhaps you could put Ruana in that categrory too.
 
Ryan P. Wilson said:
I am speaking of companies that produce knives in the same manner an individual custom maker produces his, just in a larger quantity. Here are the ones that i can think of:

Randall Made Knives
Dozier
Wilson Tactical

Is there others?
Click to expand...

At these listed companies, does a single maker produce a single knife from start to finish and then sign his name to it? If so, that's news to me. If not, then it's not done "in the same manner as an individual custom maker produces his".

Randall knives are great, but they're not customs as I understand the term.

Roger
 
I mean by the same processes and equipment that an individual maker uses. Grinding blades one at a time without fixtures, shaping handles one at a time, etc..
 
I understand the question, and it's valid (to some degree) in this forum. Let's discuss...

A company has 20 craftsmen, and each of them 'handmakes' a part or procedure, and then it's assembled. Specialization helps the individual tasks retain top-quality. It is a 'handmade' knife, but with many hands.

Now, the larger question remains: Every maker uses tools and machines of some form. Some more 'production-oriented' than others.

At what point IS a production knife not handmade, according to our wider view of 'handmade'. :eek:

Or shall we call customs and handmade as discussed in this forum: Single-craftsman knives.

Lots to discuss. Again. ;)

Coop
 
First name that jumped out at me was William-Henry Knives.

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
First name that jumped out at me was William-Henry Knives.

Coop
Click to expand...

They are an assembly and sharpening studio....the blades and handles are MANUFACTURED all over the world, and funneled to Oregon....nothing close to what I believe Mr. Wilson to be asking about.

Matt Conable CAN make a knife completely by hand, however, and he is QUITE good at it!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
RogerP said:
I'm not sure I'm following the question.

If you're talking "companies" you're talking production pieces, not "custom" knives, right? If so, you are in the wrong forum.

I have always found the term "hand made" to be one step away from completely meaningless. All knives are made using tools of some kind.

Roger
Click to expand...

"Custom" is no better designation than "handmade" in my opinion. A custom knife can be totally machine made.

Bench-made (process by which an item is assembled by an individual utilizing component parts made by others) is probably the best term for the type of knife construction Ryan is addressing. Wm. Henry also comes to mind.
 
Here is how we make knives:

Scribe pattern on steel
Profile to scribe line on a belt sander
Drill holes for handle attachment
Rough grind on a belt sander without fixtures or jigs
Heat treat blade
Finish grind on a belt sander without fixtures or jigs
Drill and attach handle material to blade
Rough shape handle on a belt sander
Finish shape handle on a belt sander using a slack belt
Polish, satin finish, bead blast or finish to customer's request
Sharpen edge
Make kydex sheath

We do not utilize previously machined parts, we start with a sheet of steel, a sheet of micarta and a sheet of kydex and make a knife from that in house. We do not have any high-tech equipment, a bunch of grinders, buffing wheels and drill presses.

My question is what other companies produce knives in this manner. Basically, a handmade/custom knife built by several knifemakers under one roof.
 
A few of us gave you a bunch of companies. The shops I mentioned do tons of production work and have the capability to make knives to the specifications of a customer as well.

Why do you ask?
 
Mr Wilson, do you use any high tech equipment on your folders? A higher degree of precision is usually expected to make folders than fixed blade knives.
 
Yes, our folder components are CNC machined in the USA to get the necessary precision. They are finished and assembled in house.
 
I have been told by people who visited the Queen factory, that their knives are made by hand. Some have said much of their equipment is older than the oldest person working at Queen. Their knives are different enough between examples of the same model indicating that at least the assembly and finishing are by hand, although the parts may be machine made.
 
Kevin Jones said:
"Custom" is no better designation than "handmade" in my opinion.
Click to expand...

It is, in mine. When people go to a custom knife show they are not confused about what they expect to see. Haven't yet heard of a "hand made" knife show.

Roger
 
Ryan...on a somewhat unrelated matter, what is your connection with Wilson Combat/Scattergun Technologies? I've wondered about that since i first saw your ads.
 
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