Who is Your personal favorite custom knife maker?

[bdmicarta]

When I was buying a lot of custom knives about 15 years ago there were a lot of different names that were popular. Some of my favorites of that era were D'Holder, Randy Lee, Tom Mayo (fixed blades then), Neil Blackwood and Dusty Mounton, but I only have knives by D'Holder, Lee and Mayo. I have a number of knives from less-known makers as well.

I only have 3 knives that were made for me. I didn't design any of them, I either picked a makers standard pattern and selected materials, or maybe asked for a slight change. One of those is the ironwood handled knife in the photo below, by a local maker named Don Byrd. This particular knife is about 8" overall and is a good size for EDC so I carry it sometimes instead of a folder.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Here's another one...

[video=youtube;c1N80LNCh54]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1N80LNCh54[/video]

Every detail about it was communicated to the customer (waiting for his yes/no) before it was executed. I asked for his hand measurements before I sketched it. The only things I had to farm out was HT (because my forge isn't long enough) and surface grinding (I don't have one).

 

[rpn]

Although he's been mostly out of the loop since buying a farm, Christof Harper of Koyote Knives makes great knives. Rustic, simple, functional and I don't know who makes handles better than him.

 

[LX_Emergency]

Here's another one...

[video=youtube;c1N80LNCh54]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1N80LNCh54[/video]

Every detail about it was communicated to the customer (waiting for his yes/no) before it was executed. I asked for his hand measurements before I sketched it. The only things I had to farm out was HT (because my forge isn't long enough) and surface grinding (I don't have one).

Lots of makers do this. Charlie Mike is a good example. I've done this a few times. People have already said that Big Chris does this.

The main thing is finding a maker that has done something in the style before...and that isn't swamped with orders to a degree that they won't take on anything.

As long as you're doing all that you should be fine.

 

[corwise]

Jerry Hossom

 

[heefageLA]

JK Handmade All The Way ! ! ! :thumbup:

 

[leghog]

Most everyone seems to refer to any non-production knives as custom knives.
I choose to happily not overthink it.

That's handmade vs. custom made. There's a difference. Requires little thought and certainly not overthinking. And it's not a nitpick. It's just precise language.

 

[BaconButcher]

My idea of a showcase knife that will be good for hunting, is a Alaskan Hunter made by Big Chris, in 10v, with honduran rosewood. The very thought of that makes me fangirl, repeatedly.

 

[leghog]

Tom Mayo

 

[Jhansenak47]

Marcin Bona

Most everyone seems to refer to any non-production knives as custom knives.
I choose to happily not overthink it.

That's handmade vs. custom made. There's a difference. Requires little thought and certainly not overthinking. And it's not a nitpick. It's just precise language.

Not really precise as the meanings of words change, that is why the dictionary gets updated.

The real point of contention lies with the human element and discerning aspects of that from serial manufacture.

If I serial manufacture 500 identical knives that generally falls under the umbrella of 'production.'

Being made without a strict element of serial production is what most people think of in regards of 'handmade' or 'custom made.'

Serial production can have have handmade elements. Randall's are handmade following various patterns, so they are 'custom-production.'

Custom can also refer to having something purpose built. I can request a custom serial production, a custom one-off, or custom fitting using serial produced parts.

Custom knife maker is open ended because custom as a word varies in its usage.

 

[bodog]

Marcin Bona


Not really precise as the meanings of words change, that is why the dictionary gets updated.

The real point of contention lies with the human element and discerning aspects of that from serial manufacture.

If I serial manufacture 500 identical knives that generally falls under the umbrella of 'production.'

Being made without a strict element of serial production is what most people think of in regards of 'handmade' or 'custom made.'

Serial production can have have handmade elements. Randall's are handmade following various patterns, so they are 'custom-production.'

Custom can also refer to having something purpose built. I can request a custom serial production, a custom one-off, or custom fitting using serial produced parts.

Custom knife maker is open ended because custom as a word varies in its usage.

Not really:

cus·tom–made
\ˈkəs-tə(m)-ˈmād\
adjective
: made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person
Full Definition
:made to individual specifications <custom–made clothing>
First Use: 1845
Synonyms

bespoke (also bespoken), custom, customized, custom-tailored, made-to-order, tailored, tailor-made

Antonyms

mass-produced, ready-made

_________________________________________

2custom
adjective
: made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person
: doing work that fits the needs or requirements of a particular person
Full Definition
1 :made or performed according to personal order
2 :specializing in custom work or operation <a custom tailor>

 

[NorthernSouthpaw]

Can we please NOT get into this argument again?
The custom vs. handmade vs. mid-tech vs. production thing has been done to death in many other threads.
The horse is dead. It's been dead awhile now. As a matter of fact there is just a pile of crushed bones on the floor because the vultures ate all the blood & guts. Lets move on shall we?
You should get the premise of the question. Answer it. Or don't. Stop the semantics please.

Oh and I have been talking to Pohan Leu lately about a build, and to say he is a good guy is beyond an understatement. I can't recommend him enough.

 

[ourgon]

Radoslaw Legowik [Rados&#322;aw &#321;&#281;gowik] from Poland aka LKW Knives.

I've few knives from him. They're very solid tools, my ideas/drawings, his production.

A8mod steel

M2 steel

 

[Jhansenak47]

Not really:

cus·tom–made
\&#712;k&#601;s-t&#601;(m)-&#712;m&#257;d\
adjective
: made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person
Full Definition
:made to individual specifications <custom–made clothing>
First Use: 1845
Synonyms

bespoke (also bespoken), custom, customized, custom-tailored, made-to-order, tailored, tailor-made

Antonyms

mass-produced, ready-made

_________________________________________

2custom
adjective
: made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person
: doing work that fits the needs or requirements of a particular person
Full Definition
1 :made or performed according to personal order
2 :specializing in custom work or operation <a custom tailor>

How people use words and how the dictionary defines them varies. When usage becomes common enough for the writers of the dictionary to discern the definition is revised. I am not accusing you of using imprecise language, but of trying to rigidly define something that is used loosely.

 

[ichor]

Marcin Bona

Wow! I never heard of this guy, but thanks for mentioning him. His stuff is freaking gorgeous!!

 

[leghog]

How people use words and how the dictionary defines them varies. When usage becomes common enough for the writers of the dictionary to discern the definition is revised. I am not accusing you of using imprecise language, but of trying to rigidly define something that is used loosely.

English is a precise language and most words are precise if used properly. Diluting any language is rarely the optimal option and is sad to witness.

Using firearms as an example, it's the same reason people incorrectly call revolvers pistols, clips magazines, cartridges bullets, and cases shell casings. Same with calling handmade custom. Both words have precise meanings. Different meanings. They are not synonymous.

 

[bodog]

How people use words and how the dictionary defines them varies. When usage becomes common enough for the writers of the dictionary to discern the definition is revised. I am not accusing you of using imprecise language, but of trying to rigidly define something that is used loosely.

Well I guess if you're willing to take a specific word that means one thing and make it mean something different, then you'll always be right. It's just really odd to me that so many are capable of misusing such an easy word to understand. It doesn't really affect me, so whatever. I guess I'm going to go buy a custom made knife that wasn't made for anyone specifically off the exchange and then go buy a custom made suit off the rack at Men's Wearhouse.

The OP defined what he meant and he meant the actual definition of the specific word "custom." Makers that don't make custom knives, models that aren't custom, and people trying to define "custom" as something other than "custom" really just detract from the OP's question.

 

[shqxk]

Burt Foster

Adam Desrosiers

Jason Knight

Don Hanson

 

[NJBillK]

If Ethan Becker Himself took a BK5 and thinned down the shoulders and added some jimping, it would not be a custom knife. It would be just another modded Becker.

Though if He made a BK5 For me by hand and added the jimping and made it with thinner shoulders as per My request, then it would be a custom since it was Made For Me, whether it is based off of a production model or not.

Shortened for the sake of brevity. ..


What I think makes a Custom knife maker is someone who makes knives from scratch and is willing to take a customers preferences, wants and make them a reality. By taking the time to speak with a customer and find out what they are going to use the knife for and how they treat their tools to get the best lifespan and utility it of "Their" new knife.

To me, a Custom knife maker is only half of the equation and the Customer is the second half. When you take someone who makes quality knives and add to that the capacity to take an idea from a customers mind and bring it to life while keeping his/her own preferences secondary unless the customer wants the input.

There are Knife Makers and Custom Knife Makers, the only difference lies in the input from the customer on the design. Both Craftsmen are talented in their own right and neither should be looked at as greater than the other.
-I just prefer to have input on "My" knife.

Still looking forward
Big Chris, Backwoods Customs and Nathan the Machinist too.

Thanks for the clarification.

See, bodog gets it because he read the thread, not just jumped to the end and --skipped the past where I addressed this already--

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If you are going to add something constructive regarding what custom maker you prefer, or some of your positive interactions with a knife maker while commissioning a knife to be made for you, please stick around.

I encourage Everyone to post in the spirit of what I asked for the sake of others who wish to have some work done for them.

 

[Elite_KG]

Mine would come out of Fiddleback Forge. I like Andt Roy's models, but he doesn't use stainless much. Allen Surles and Christopher Linton use more stainless amd have some great 3" and 4" models.

The top is Allen Surles - Shark, 3" (I designed/contest winner; he spun of the Cuda)
The middle is Andy Roy - Bushfinger, 4"
The bottom is Allen Surles - Lil'George, 3" (favorite skinner)
Pictured separately is Chris Linton's Warthog, 3"