Who else makes custom tactical combat knives like Jay Fisher?

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Dilusha

Joined
Dec 10, 2020
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I don't know a whole lot about knives. But I love them. I'm looking for a custom made tactical combat knife. But I could only find Mr. Jay Fisher. His knives are expensive but looks truly incredible. Is he the best when it comes to custom knives? Who are the custom knife makers do you guys know about? :)
 
Lots of folks on here make good workmanlike combat knives that have a lot less hyperbole.

You can check out some of the custom makers in the subs here or maybe post of a picture of what you like and folks will chime in.

My only fixed combat knife is a Winkler belt knife and it's more than enough for what I need.
 
Danke42 said:
Lots of folks on here make good workmanlike combat knives that have a lot less hyperbole.

You can check out some of the custom makers in the subs here or maybe post of a picture of what you like and folks will chime in.

My only fixed combat knife is a Winkler belt knife and it's more than enough for what I need.
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He kinda brags about himself. But he has made some knives for Yamam and Para-rescue. So I guess that's fair. :D
 
He's successful, and as you said he made knives for lot of members of millitary and/or special forces. He has high prices and lots of people are willing to pay that much for his knives.
All that has my respect.
Without a doubt, he knows a lot about knives and business, and I am willing to bet his knives are very high quality.

What I don't like about him is that he talks highly about steels he uses (like 440) while talking down other steels he doesn't use, and calls every non stainless steel non food safe.

https://www.jayfisher.com/Blades.htm#CPM_3V

For example, to say this about 3V.

https://www.jayfisher.com/Blades.htm#Plain_carbon_standard_steels

And to say this about plain carbon steels. He said they are not food contact safe.

Many professional chefs use carbon steel knives, even Japanese sushi masters, and they are known to be extremley picky about their knives.
Also, people used that same carbon steel for ages and ages... stainless steel is pretty new actually.
 
Give us a couple pictures of this tactical combat knife you are looking for, and we can give you some ideas.
 
Dilusha said:
He kinda brags about himself. But he has made some knives for Yamam and Para-rescue. So I guess that's fair. :D
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Well if you look at some of the features he puts in those knives they range from puzzling to ridiculous.

No one is running around with white lights strapped to their leg. These days that is pretty well yelling "hey I'm over here behind the hanger, shoot me".

If I wanted a knife from a maker who had some PT Barnum in their DNA I would get a Cold Steel Trail Master or SRK.
 
I had never heard of him (not a big deal I've never heard of a lot of people) After perusing his site I have to agree with some of the above comments. He appears to be a talented metal worker, almost metal sculptor, some of his designs seem fairly reasonable, some are pure fantasy with features more appropriate to an art knife than a combat knife. In fact I would suggest that most of his pieces probably fall into the art knife category. His engraving is clean, his sheath work looks very nice (didn't notice if he actually does that himself or not). The the fit and finish is good. His photography is very well done. His knowledge of sword construction seems to be fairly rudimentary. If he thinks that 440 is the be all and end all of blade steels for combat knives that's a worry. His prices seem to be missing which suggests that they will be significant and are quoted on a piece by piece basis. In total I would suggest that there are plenty of makers both custom and production in that space that could probably give you a quality tactical product without the flim flam. If you want an art knife this could be your guy. Personally if you like those canted designs I might point you at Spartan blades.
 
Triton said:
I had never heard of him (not a big deal I've never heard of a lot of people) After perusing his site I have to agree with some of the above comments. He appears to be a talented metal worker, almost metal sculptor, some of his designs seem fairly reasonable, some are pure fantasy with features more appropriate to an art knife than a combat knife. In fact I would suggest that most of his pieces probably fall into the art knife category. His engraving is clean, his sheath work looks very nice (didn't notice if he actually does that himself or not). The the fit and finish is good. His photography is very well done. His knowledge of sword construction seems to be fairly rudimentary. If he thinks that 440 is the be all and end all of blade steels for combat knives that's a worry. His prices seem to be missing which suggests that they will be significant and are quoted on a piece by piece basis. In total I would suggest that there are plenty of makers both custom and production in that space that could probably give you a quality tactical product without the flim flam. If you want an art knife this could be your guy. Personally if you like those canted designs I might point you at Spartan blades.
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His prices are there if you really hunt for them. All are given as just ball park numbers depending on the options selected but there are lots and lots of zeros after the first number. No one in the military spends that kind of money on a combat knife.
 
Smiling said:
He's successful, and as you said he made knives for lot of members of millitary and/or special forces. He has high prices and lots of people are willing to pay that much for his knives.
All that has my respect.
Without a doubt, he knows a lot about knives and business, and I am willing to bet his knives are very high quality.

What I don't like about him is that he talks highly about steels he uses (like 440) while talking down other steels he doesn't use, and calls every non stainless steel non food safe.

https://www.jayfisher.com/Blades.htm#CPM_3V

For example, to say this about 3V.

https://www.jayfisher.com/Blades.htm#Plain_carbon_standard_steels

And to say this about plain carbon steels. He said they are not food contact safe.

Many professional chefs use carbon steel knives, even Japanese sushi masters, and they are known to be extremley picky about their knives.
Also, people used that same carbon steel for ages and ages... stainless steel is pretty new actually.
Click to expand...

The food safety thing is mostly about knives that are not well finished, or damascus/pattern-welded blades that are deeply etched. "A roughened, scarred, blackened, pitted, dented, or unfinished surface is not food safe!" It's hard to argue with this part.

Now, there is absolutely a section of the FDA Food Code that governs food contact surfaces that says "Materials that are used in the construction of utensils and food contact surfaces of equipment may not allow the migration of deleterious substances or impart colors, odors, or tastes to food and under normal use conditions shall be:
  1. Safe;
  2. Durable, corrosion-resistant, and nonabsorbent;
  3. Sufficient in weight and thickness to withstand repeated warewashing
  4. Finished to have a smooth, easily cleanable surface; and
  5. Resistant to pitting, chipping, crazing, scratching, scoring, distortion, and decomposition."
Jay interprets the "corrosion-resistant" part of #2 as eliminating any non-stainless steel, which is a pretty aggressive interpretation. The problem is that the Food Code uses a very specific definition for "corrosion-resistant material":
"Corrosion-resistant material" means a material that maintains acceptable surface cleanability characteristics under prolonged influence of the FOOD to be contacted, the normal use of cleaning compounds and SANITIZING solutions, and other conditions of the use environment.​
[And, contrary to his assertion that certain words are in CAPS for emphasis, it's because they're defined in the Code]

To use your example, under "normal use conditions" in a sushi bar, a carbon steel knife is wiped down after every use and is never abused to the point where it is in danger of corroding. Considering the sushi chefs I know have knives that are more likely to be sharpened into nubs before they corrode, carbon steel would be fine in that use.
 
Anything from Bob Dozier

for more money, Walter Brend

Dozier has made knives for numerous LEO organizations and the like. Brend has made knives for every special forces known to the military.

neither of them brag about it. 30+ years of success each gives you an idea of their craftsmanship and quality.

There are many others, but these 2 makers immediately come to mind when someone mentions “tactical fixed blade” to me. BTW both these gentlemen are Masters of D2 steel.

View attachment 1471836 View attachment 1471837
 
Ron Sabbagh said:
Anything from Bob Dozier

for more money, Walter Brend

Dozier has made knives for numerous LEO organizations and the like. Brend has made knives for every special forces known to the military.

neither of them brag about it. 30+ years of success each gives you an idea of their craftsmanship and quality.

There are many others, but these 2 makers immediately come to mind when someone mentions “tactical fixed blade” to me. BTW both these gentlemen are Masters of D2 steel.

View attachment 1471836 View attachment 1471837
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Gorgeous
 
Velitrius said:
Give us a couple pictures of this tactical combat knife you are looking for, and we can give you some ideas.
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I really like Jay's Counterterrorism knives. But those aren't exactly cheap at around $5000. So I wonder if anyone else makes such knives. They remind me of Steve Likarich's Ringed Fencer from the movie 'The long kiss goodnight'.

FOAriB'LilahGroup12.JPG


f87f3e2cfd2a01fab2ee822b890e6c66.jpg
 
He does make some nice looking knives and sheaths too!! However, some humility goes a long way and his ego would trip an elephant. If your a legend in your own mind, how can you ever improve upon yourself or your.product... His lapidary work is super and exquisite to my eye..
 
Dilusha said:
I really like Jay's Counterterrorism knives. But those aren't exactly cheap at around $5000. So I wonder if anyone else makes such knives. They remind me of Steve Likarich's Ringed Fencer from the movie 'The long kiss goodnight'.

FOAriB'LilahGroup12.JPG


f87f3e2cfd2a01fab2ee822b890e6c66.jpg
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Gina Davis was and remains a great looking woman.

As for the knife, it’s not for me. Those metal handles are hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The ring limits the possible grips and would be nuisance with gloved hands. I greatly dislike saws on the back of knives, they greatly interfere with cutting performance by snagging on everything. Then the pistol grip is so low that the blade can only be presented at a steep angle when cutting anything on a flat surface, like a table.

I can see that he is a fine craftsman, so my issue would be primarily with the design.

n2s
 
Dilusha said:
I really like Jay's Counterterrorism knives. But those aren't exactly cheap at around $5000. So I wonder if anyone else makes such knives. They remind me of Steve Likarich's Ringed Fencer from the movie 'The long kiss goodnight'.

FOAriB'LilahGroup12.JPG


f87f3e2cfd2a01fab2ee822b890e6c66.jpg
Click to expand...
Even at less than half of this price you could find a really good maker who will make you that knife out of much better steel than 440...
 
Yikes! 5k for that? If that's your budget do yourself a favor and don't buy anything for six months. Instead spend the time learning about knife makers and their products. I can practically guarantee you will end up somewhere else. At 5k for that knife you are paying for the artwork and the story not the knife.
 
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