Who are your 3 favorite makers?

Three favorite knifemakers? That's tough. I'll have to go and ask my three favorite children how I should answer this.
 
1 - Don Fogg. I have met Don many times, and it's always a pleasure to exchange a few words. I own 15 or 20 of his pieces, but only 2 that are among his really ambitious pieces.

Not sure about 2 and 3... :)
 
I agree 3 choices is not enough, 10 choices probably wouldn't be enough either.

I know I have more than 10 favorite makers, thanks to everyone who responded, keep it coming. I see some great choices.
 
Darrel Ralph has really caught my eye and is number one for my 2006 purchases. I like Tom Mayo and one day I will catch him when he is taking orders again. Rick Hinderer rounds out my top three!!!

*For now, this of course is subject to change. My choice for numbers 4-1000 are tied so I won't bother to list all 997 makers!!!!
 
ok i'll play...but like the other have said, three is too low of a number for me.

i'm not going to number the names since i like all these makers for different things.

Bailey Bradshaw...he makes beautiful, functional, and affordable katanas. i own 4 of his swords.

PABU...one of the true artists when it comes to balisong making. fit, engineering, finish, and artistry is the best i've seen. i own 10 of his balisongs.

Darrel Ralph...for the great variety of his models, and you always see much improvements on his line of products. i own 8 of his balisongs.

if i can throw in some more names equal to ones mention above they will be:

Charles Gedraitis...i have three of his balisongs.

Dobruski...i have 8 of his balisongs.

Matt Lamey...for his affordable, hard working bowies. sadly i only own one thus far.
 
I'm going to cheat.

My three favorite makers that I own knives from are, in no particular order: Bailey Bradshaw, Ron Newton, Tai Goo.

Three favorite that I have knives on order from are: Russ Andrews, Nick Wheeler, Michael Connor (with honorable mention to Adam DesRosiers).

The three I would really like to get knives from if I could afford them: Larry Fuegen, J.D. Smith, Jerry Fisk.

See, I told you I was going to cheat. There are still a whole lot of other names that could go on this list. How about a "Your 100 favorite knifemakers". I think I could get most of my favorites inclded in that list.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
The three I would really like to get knives from if I could afford them: Larry Fuegen, J.D. Smith, Jerry Fisk.
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That would be an interesting topic.
 
saint o'killers said:
Bailey Bradshaw...he makes beautiful, functional, and affordable katanas. i own 4 of his swords.
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Beautiful? Yes. Affordable.....not for me. I am buying blades in the 300.00 to 800.00 range currently, the high end pieces are just simply out of my reach.
 
BladeGoblin said:
Beautiful? Yes. Affordable.....not for me. I am buying blades in the 300.00 to 800.00 range currently, the high end pieces are just simply out of my reach.
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BG, well...i didn't say quite cheap...affordable custom, really. i've seen some production swords that are almost the same range as Bailey's work, although they are beautiful, those do not have the same care of quality control a master smith can give to his own blades. and that's really what matters. :D
 
I could never pick three makers, there are to many good one's that I now. But you guy's have picked some great one's.
 
My top three would be;

Tim Zowada -Top notch maker, extremely knowledgeable, very scientific and high tech, no hype and no secrets, great teacher, and all around nice guy.

Kevin Cashen -Amazing knives and swords, very scientific and high tech, cuts through the B.S., very helpful on the forums, and also a very nice all around guy. His taste in clothing however is a bit eccentric, i.e. smoking jackets, etc. :p He also tends to lose me with incomprehensible babble when he gets going on metallurgy. :confused:

Jim Crowell -He makes some of the most aesthetically pleasing knives, with great handles and grind lines, and blades whose size belie their light weight.
 
Do you mean favorite makers, or makers of my favorite blades?

If it's favorite makers- I couldn't give a sure answere, but three guys that'd be right up at the top are Mike Fitzo, Shane Ivie, and Chris Daigle.

As far as my favorite knives- that's also pretty tough. Ariel Salaverria, Ruben Calo, and Tai Goo are up there though.
 
Three of my favorite knives in my collection were made by(in no particular order)Nick Wheeler,Jim Rodebaugh,and Mike Dunn.
I have lots of favorite makers. In fact all are my favs.
Randy
 
tom mayo, bailey bradshaw, and richard rogers are my favorites

i own knives from the first two...hope to add a rogers in the next year or two
 
Ron Newton (no surprise), Buster Warenski, Charlie Dake
These three represent three totally different type of knifemakers, but within their respective area--to me they are the best. RIP Buster--you brought custom knifemaking singlehandedly out of the dark and into the light for many collectors and other makers.
 
1-Ernie Emerson. I have 8 pieces from him. 1 Viper, 3 CQC-6's, 1 Super CQC-6, 1 CQC-7, 2 ESM-1's.

2-Howard Clark. I have 1 L-6 Katana and 1 1086 Katana from him and the work is superb.

3-Al Polkowski. I have several variations of his Kasper Pug and Bulldog. Fit my needs as a defensive fixed blade perfectly.
 
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