Who is your favorite lesser-known maker

C

custombuff

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Jun 4, 2006
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Forgive me if this post covers a topic discussed to death, but I did the requisite search and found very little.

I was reading a post recently where a recommendation was asked for and someone picked a maker they liked that was not as well known. This got me to thinking: I like all kinds of styles from many makers, and it's easy enough to look around the forums and purveyors sights to see what's out there and at what price...But getting an idea of build quality and fit and finish just can't be done very well with pictures. So the question is: Who are your favorite makers who aren't as well known. I'd like to hear from anyone, but am especially interested in hearing from people who have handled that maker's work and perhaps done business with them.

I'll start. Here are a few good makers--who are both good to deal with and do great work--that I know of who are not "mainstream":

Jason Cutter
Brent Sandow
George Beechey (great work, but haven't purchased from directly)
Mick Langely MS (perhaps not completely unheard of)
Mike Johnson
Rob Douglas (also probably a little better known)
Tommy Gann JS (who I just found at this year's Blade Show)

What about your favorites?

-Nick
 
I don't think Jason is making very many knives these days, and Mick Langley retired.

My favorites are Adam DesRosiers (not sure if he is making knives at this time), Tim Potier, MS and Tim Foster, MS.
 
My favorite, who probably isn't too "lesser known" now, is Craig Camerer. Justifiably so, he has been getting more pub here from his excellent work.
 
Well, I'm not sure he's lesser known, but I don't seem to see his name mentioned as much as it should. My favorite "Smithy" is Linn Rhea. His knives are phenominal, personality is great, and he seems to continually push his knowledge envelope. I've used one of his Bowie knives for the last year, and it puts to shame any other "good" knife that I have.
 
My favorite "lesser known" maker is not lesser known by many who have been around awhile, but to most who have begun collecting since the mid-1990's, the name Curt Erickson may just not ring any bell at all. Trained almost exclusively by Buster Warenski, he probably makes the closest thing to a "Buster" dagger that is achievable. Most haven't heard of him because he became a cop 18 years ago and only made knives on a very part-time basis. Watch out, he is retiring and going to start making knives/art daggers full time very soon. It is a ground floor opportunity and I am taking full advantage of it. His grinds are as deep and perfect as any maker you will ever come across. And his wife engraves his knives. Her name is Julie Warenski-Erickson.
 
I don't know if he is lesser know, but I really LOVE Sean O'Hare's work!
 
Lesser known makers :confused:
Well Nick W. and the other guys that hang out around here are pretty well known.

I guess one would have to be Tommy Gann as he was unknown to me before the Blade Show.

We talked quite a bit and I'm thoroughly impressed with his knives. He is a student of Tim Hancock and his work follows Tim's tradition of being close to perfection in execution.

And another would be our own Karl Anderson, as I have said here before, his knives are clean as a whistle. Even stand up to close inspection in taken down mode. And he works hard at it. He may be well known, but I have not known of him long.

I'm sure I'm missing mention of someone else.
 
I agree with several above, and though they are not "lesser known" I very much admire Craig Camerer and Linn Rhea. I also like Brion Tomberlin's wok.
 
I thought you guys were talking about "lesser" known makers. Then you start with MS and JS Makers who are getting lots of press. Come on now.

Oh btw, Mike Johnson no longer makes knives.

Here is one for you:

Pete Crowl who received his JS at the show this year. Don't know who he is?

Don't worry you will.

Get them now!

WWG
 
I'm gonna stop answering to threads like this one. Everytime I do, the maker then becomes famous, his backlog gets enormous and I can no longer obtain or afford any of his knives.
 
I really like Brett Gatlin, Sam Butler, Craig Camerer, and Karl Anderson. Lin is good but I would say he is about famous:D Same goes with Mike Ruth.
 
ckerwin said:
I really like Brett Gatlin, Sam Butler, Craig Camerer, and Karl Anderson. Lin is good but I would say he is about famous:D Same goes with Mike Ruth.
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Yes, Lin has been in Blade more than Paris Hilton has been in the tabloids. :D ;)
 
Keith Montgomery said:
I don't think Jason is making very many knives these days, and Mick Langley retired.

My favorites are Adam DesRosiers (not sure if he is making knives at this time), Tim Potier, MS and Tim Foster, MS.
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I, too, am a fan of Adam DesRosiers. He has taken a break from the forge for awhile, but hopefully he will be back hammering away soon. :thumbup:

- Joe
 
I like the guys here on the forums.

Matt Lamey
Brian Goode
Jason Cutter
Phillip Patton
Terry Primos (retired?)
Ray Laconico
Mark Goldsworthy (Cousin Jack)
Charles May
Ruben Calo

I'm sure there are others. There are some part timers and hobbyists out there that are making some of the coolest knives ever.
 
Michael Bell
Paul Champagne
Gordon Chard
Keith "Twig" Davis
William "Gordon" DeFreest
Royal Hanson
Dan Maragni
Charlie "C.H." Morris
Wayne Valachovic

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
The best unknown makers are the makers of some of the knifes I own, only those knives which aren't worth as much as i paid for them.
 
Steven -- last I heard, you would have a difficult time getting a new piece from them.

Keith -- last I heard, Mick Langley is not retired.

Four other Canucks would include Harald Moeller, Brian Lyttle, Frank Niro, Roger Hatt
 
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