Where to start with customs?

A

Aphthartos

Joined
May 22, 2001
Messages
270
What do all of you recommend as a first custom folding knife with great fit and finish and a reasonable price?

I've been saving up for a custom knife. I've been drawn towards Tom Mayo's TNTs, I've heard they're really well-made and he has excellent fit and finish. The 500-550 prices for the medium and large TNT are topping out at what I want to spend. I've also considered the Sebenza, although I realize it's not quite "custom" or "handmade", Also along the same lines as a sebenza would be one of the more expensive William Henry knives, but they're usually more flashy and I'm looking for a good looking but useable piece of equipment. I've also considered a custom LCC from Greg Lightfoot, or more likely his Suppressor. What do you guys think? I've missed alot of great custom makers I'm sure, but that's why I'm asking here, so I can be introduced to possible ways of parting with a large chunk of money. :) BTW, I've gone through most of the old threads on similar questions.
 
I've been really impressed with the quality of Brad Duncan's work. Prices are very low for the quality.
 
Lots of fine knifemakers making some great knives. New guys and veterans both. Its a great time to be a knife knut...

For the quality of the work, Kit Carson's classic model 4s are great buys at around $400 for the basic 154CM/G10 versions. I've got two and I can't praise them enough. Keith Coleman makes some nice folders for the money - his Phantom damascus folder is a great buy if you are looking for a small, classy gent's folder. I also like Allen Elishewitz's bolster locks (especially the Persian) and Darrel Ralph's EDCs. I recently got myself an Brad Duncan folder - I was real impressed with the quality of his work.

Some links:
Kit Carson http://www.carsonknives.com/
Keith Coleman http://www.colemanmade.com/
Allen Elishewitz http://www.elishewitzknives.com/welcome.htm
Darrel Ralph http://www.darrelralph.com/
Brad Duncan http://www.duncanknives.com/main.htm

Andrew Limsk
 
Cant go wrong with a Carson. I would also like to recommend his Apprentice, Mike Obenauf. There are a couple of reviews of Mikes work in the review section.
 
Doug, I have to agree with a couple of the choices that Red mentioned above.

Darrel Ralph makes an outstanding folder in his carbon fiber EDC. This knife is my definition of perfection in a working folder. Smooth, sleek, extremely comfortable, a stunning performer, beautifully finished and it is very lightweight in lieu of it's considerable strength. A real winner anyway you look at it. Darrel will also make it anyway you want it.

Keith Coleman makes a great folder at a really GREAT price. His TAC II is a great folder in the 4" range. My favorite for a daily carry is his Banshee model. His base prices are reasonable and include alot of features that are usually upgrades on some maker's knives (BG-42, hand rubbed finish, jeweling, basic filework). The downside is that his waiting list is currently running 6-7 months.

Good luck in the pursuit of your first custom. I wish I could tell you that your quest will end after your first, but we all know that I would be lying, don't we ;)
 
Medium recurve from Tom Mayo is an excellent knife. Darrel Ralph is also making a run of small Apogees with the Talonite blade. At less than $450.00 from The Edge, this knife is a bargain. For yhe kind of money you are spending, I would go for the Talonite. This blade is a no maintenance product. Just use it and put it away. Clean when you feel like it. Won't rust or stain. The Sebenza is an excellent knife and I have several including a beautiful wood inlay. My EDC now is my Mayo TNT medium recurve. Darrel is making me an Apogee in talonite. Tom and Darrel give you a lot of knife for the money and if they need sharpening, they will do it for little more thatn shipping cost.
 
I was in the same boat last week as you are now. I can say that Keith Coleman's knives are excellent, dealing with Keith was a pleasure and his prices are VERY reasonable. He informed me that there is currently a 6 mos. wait, so I ordered one straight away. I have the good fortune to live in the same city as Keith, so I went over to talk knives,look over his work and map out exactly what I wanted!:)
Keith is great guy to deal with. I doubt you would be disappointed with one of his knives. :D
 
Great recommendations. I like all the Carson folders, but how much would a large Model 4 with micarta and bolsters be? I've been looking through the links and Keith Coleman's knives look to be incredibly priced. I would consider his Banshee, Phantom, or slightly less appealing to me would be his TAC II knives. I also like the model 3 but I'm not sure I want such a small knife, even the standard model is very nice looking though. I've liked Darrel Ralph's Apogees for a long time, but unfortunately his basic Apogees start pretty darn close to my self-imposed price limit, and I don't really like the plain basic model, any Apogee I would want to buy would be too expensive for me, and the small EDC in talonite is well.... small(I do have a 25th anniversary EDC from Camillus, obviously not handmade, and I love it, but I want something bigger). I like the Elishewitz Cortex and Persian in the Bolster locks, and the Cortex, Persian and Oracle in monolocks. I was unable to get into Brad Duncan's website. Is there something wrong with the link or is the site down?

Good luck in the pursuit of your first custom. I wish I could tell you that your quest will end after your first, but we all know that I would be lying, don't we
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That's for sure. I don't plan on stopping and I haven't even started! ;)

Thanks for your help guys. I hope more recommendations will keep coming, because if nothing else I like looking through them.
 
Originally posted by Aphthartos
I was unable to get into Brad Duncan's website. Is there something wrong with the link or is the site down?
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Sorry, try this newer link http://www.duncanknives.com/main.htm

Also you might want to surf around the dealer sites to see if you can find something else you like. My favourite sites with lots of drool-worthy pictures are:

KnifeArt http://www.knifeart.com/
Arizona Custom Knives http://www.arizonacustomknives.com/index.htm
Nordic Knives http://www.nordicknives.com/
Robertson Custom Cutlery http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/


Andrew Limsk
 
Thanks Redvenom. I've bookmarked them and browsed a little, but I'll have to get back to them later.
 
as far as customs, i really like my crawford/kasper Ti folder, very solid and well made imho - they run about $450 for the one i have - i really like bob kaspers designs, they fit my hannd well ........


sifu
 
The only "custom" folder I have is a Melvin Dunn model 3. A very nice design, but it could have been done better. www.dunnknives.com
Bob Dozier's folders look really good.
And you can't go wrong with a Sebenza.

Paul
 
When looking at Keith Coleman's knives please keep something in mind,
Keith will size one of his knives up or down! In fact that is what I'm doing, I liked his Model 2, but I wanted something larger. Presto, he is going to size it up to what I want! Just something to think about! :D
 
When looking at Keith Coleman's knives please keep something in mind,
Keith will size one of his knives up or down!
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Awesome! I'll try to remember to E-mail him tomorrow and ask how far he can scale the model 3 up.
 
I am partial to my Mayo TNT :) :cool:

Gene Osborn makes a fabulous looking knife as well and I plan on adding one of his to my collection soon

My advice: find a design that you like in the price range you want to spend and try to handle one at a show. Short of that, research it on the forums. The advice given on BF/KF can be very helpful.

But my bottom line is, buy what you like and not just what is trendy or is touted as the best "investment". You will be happier with your purchase in the long run.....
 
try to handle one at a show.
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Unfortunately getting to most big shows from here would cost more than a custom knife...

Coleman lives less than 4 hours away from where I live so I could drive down there and check out his knives. Maybe also some of the makers that live here in Colorado, I know there's at least one that's on this board, but I can't remember names. Anyone help me out? Any makers in the eastern half of Arizona would be good as well, since they're in good driving distance.
 
If you don't already have it, I'd ad the URL to BladeArt to the list Red Venom provided: http://www.bladeart.com/

I've come close several times to becoming a custom owner sooner than I expected, looking at knives on that site.

If you haven't done it much, I'd suggest you spend some time on the Shop Talk and Custom Knife forums, under the general heading. You'll get to see a lot of great looking knives, and get to read what their makers have to say about them and a wide variety of other subjects. I find it very educational, and it has helped me form some attitudes towards the individual makers who post there.

One of those who posted here makes good knives, WR Clark. Am not able to remember his price range off the top, but he has a site that I believe is part of his signature. He's a nice, helpful guy. Peter Nap (name/sp?) also makes some beauties.

Also, in some issue under a year ago, I think, one of the knife mags had a great article about knife makers who have good knives on sale for under $100.
 
Originally posted by Aphthartos
Maybe also some of the makers that live here in Colorado, I know there's at least one that's on this board, but I can't remember names.
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Steve Nolen / Nolen Knives is up in Estes Park. They make nice fixed-blades.

Mike Irie is here in Colorado Springs, again -- nice fixed blades.

I've met a few custom makers at the gun shows in Colorado Springs and Denver, but wasn't into custom knives at the time.

I might be up for a road-trip down to Albeqerque to see some Keith Coleman work as well.

Mike
 
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