What knife (or mfg/maker) has impressed you most recently?

[Chip]

I have recently been impressed by Bob Doggett and Scott Cook.
They both make some awesome looking knives.

 

[Hal]

T'anks.
Good replys. I'll have to take a closer look at Kershaw's offerings based on the responses.

 

[CyciumX]

....easy! Ginzu

 

[Coonskinner]

Ed Fowler
Bailey Bradshaw
Darrell Ralph
P.J. Tomes

These men all do very clean, very impressive work.

 

[Coonskinner]

P.S. Let me add Bill Burke's name to the above list.

 

[rdangerer]

Most assuredly, it would be Scott Cook. He just delivered this beaut to me today. Large Owyhee Hunter, Ironwood, 420V/90V by Bos. Sheath is great also.

Fit & Finish: excellent
Brushed finish: excellent, especially consider it is 420V.
Sheath: excellent, made by S. Feller, Casemakers, Meridian ID

Blade grind: excellent. Not too much taper, good solid tip. Very practical knife. Grinds very symmetrical. Edges broken and not sharp (would prefer radiused, but still this is very clean execution.)

Thumb jimping/serrations on spine: excellent

Handle shape/ergonomics: very good, approaching excellent.
Handle craftsmanship: excellent. Like the 3 pins at either end.
Heat Treat: 420V by Paul Bos.
Dealings: great guy to deal with, quick delivery also. Ordered on 9/6/01, received today 11/1/01.

I think I'll keep it.
(it must be good, 'cause I don't use smiley's very often)

==> More importantly, would I go back to Scott for another knife? Absolutely.

 

[AntDog]

BUSSE and KERSHAW have definitely impressed me the most lately with their consistently great quality, sharpness, and toughness.

I have bought more than a few of each and they have all been top notch! There are others, but those 2 companies are the standouts.

 

[blademan 13]

I have to go with Ron Clarke and Scott Cook.

This is too funny, I ordered the EXACT same knife as you Rob (although your Desert Ironwood is perhaps a tad more figured ), on 9/5/01 and received it this afternoon as well In addition to making a super knife as you stated (you forgot to mention the blade was very sharp ), it appears his production scheduling, work ethics and shipping are very disciplined as well The same criteria apply to Ron's work, his actually being the first custom in a long time that was delivered well before his estimated date. So to recap, both of these guy's design, build and deliver both a superbly crafted knife and sheath on time. Impressed? I certainly am. I am also putting my money where my mouth is and am working out details on my next knives from these two.

 

[tuhkis]

Benchmade!!!

... and to be more specific Benchmade/Elishewiz work.

I keep playing with and using my 735 and 690 again and again...

Tuhkis

 

[Paul Work]

Chris Reeve Knives and the Sebenza.

Tom Mayo and his TnT are looking more and more appealing.

Paul

 

[Dexter Ewing]

Originally posted by shootist16
Mike Obenauf has really impressed me with his work.

I'll cast another vote for Mike Obenauf. Might as well call him Kit Jr. Mike's fit and finish is awesome for a new maker. I normally don't buy a knife from a new maker without seeing the knife first, but when AZCK put his Model 1 up for sale, I immediately ordered it. Kit has been keeping me up to date on his progress, and I had no reservations on buying the knife sight unseen. IMO it was the best buy of 2001 for me.

 

[Snowman]

Mick Strider Valkyrie 6,5.

A realy awsome blade

 

[JD Mandrell]

Several by CRKT for the money, but the knife that has REALLY made me jump up and go YAHOO was the Spyderco Chinook.

Mine should arrive in the mail today!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Dance happy Dance...

 

[Keith Montgomery]

In a couple of earlier posts I showed you knives by two of the makers that impress me the most. As far as manufacturers go I am most impressed by Spyderco. I think that they have great knives at reasonable prices and excellent customer service. That is about all that can be asked of a business.

 

[Fire Horse]

I'm impressed with the new Busse customs that have come out.

 

[rdangerer]

Originally posted by blademan 13
In addition to [Scott Cook] making a super knife as you stated (you forgot to mention the blade was very sharp ), it appears his production scheduling, work ethics and shipping are very disciplined as well

True! I did forget. Scott doesn't put the same slightly convex final buffed edge on his knives like he was trained to do on CRK knives, but the knife was very professionally sharpened with a very consistent width flat final edge grind, and was very much hair popping sharp.

This sharpening method doesn't quite have the same refinement as CRK, but it matters little to me, as the only way I can personally (at this stage) get the same hair jumpin' edge back on the knife is with a Lansky and diamond stones (420V). So I'd have to scrub off that nice convexity first time resharpening anyway. I simply could never strop that polished, convex edge back on my Sebbies, so I gave up. (I obviously use my knives, and even touching up on Spydie Sharpmaker didn't really preserve the convexity in my hands anyway).

 

[rdangerer]

Busse Satin Jack is a really nice design for what it is. I took one on trade, intending to resell it, but man, I can't think of a tougher drop point for things like e.g. cleaning a big bulky elk.

Sure, I'd take a Fowler or Dunkerly drop point in 52100 at 5" to 5-1/2" for such tasks, or a big CPM3V drop point (hey, there's an idea), but in a production piece, the Satin Jack is a tough sumbitch that oughta hold an edge just fine for such big game break-down tasks.

Satin Jack is a nice all around belt knife for banging around in the woods also. Too small for any serious chopping, but a nice all around piece (tougher than Dozier Ranger, but the RJ Martin Oddessy has them both beat overall, IMHO). Personal preference, but I like the less-tall blade profile of the Satin Jack better than the Basic 5 or the Natural Outlaw.

 

[Architect]

CRK Mountaineer 1 born in 1992 - a work of art

Fred Perrin - the antithesis of the CRK mode but a unique concept

Bob Dozier - unbeatable value over and over

Spyderco - so many great knives, highlight the Lum Chinese Folder

William Henry Black & Tan Series - the ultimate in lightweight folders.

 

[cpirtle]

Tom Anderson
Jeff Angelo
The Crawford's
And Chris Reeve for making a great knife and having the best customer service in the business.

 

[Aries59]

Of my recent purchases the CRKT Carson M-18 is a very impressive knife. I also think the Spyderco Chinook is a tank of a folder.
Knives that have caught my eye recently are the Strider AR, anything by Bob Dozier and the Super Commander.