whose YOUR all-time favorite knife maker?

Bill Moran, Wayne Valachovic, Bob Engnath, Bob Loveless, Scott Slobodian, J. Neilson, Kevin Cashen, Don Fogg, Jake Powning, Rodrigo Sfreddo to name a few.
 
Robert Crowder never seems to be mentioned , probably because he will not do forums . If you don't know his work , you should .
 
the first two that popped into my mind. I love you all, but there were the ones I initially thought of. Diamond J knives and Ray Laconico. Diamond J knives puts a shape into their knives that really appeals to me, and ray just seems to always put out a knife that gives the caveman inside of you a thrill. they are just so functional, yet beautiful. I would consider it an honor to own one of his knives.
 
I agree it is impossible to pick one, I like so many makers. If I had to pick, For their work first of course (nothing they do I don't like) but also their willingness to share and being just all around good guys, I'd have to go with Bruce, Nick And Don.

PS: I have to mention a hobby maker that I think would be right up there with these, for me anyway, if only he was doing this full time; Erin Burke.
 
Patrice has just divested himself of all credibility. ;) The man is obviously confused and unstable.

I have a great deal of {manly} affection for Bruce, Nick & Don, not only for their brilliantly fantastic work but for their willingness to share their expertice with - and limitless patience/tolerance of - newbies.

Others that come quickly to mind are Burt Foster, Serge Panchenko (I know that I murdered that spelling), Adam DesRosiers...
... and probably some of my favorite creations have come from Rodrigo Sfreddo.

There are dozens of great makers who I probably managed to short-change by mentioning names; classic masters, innovators, artists and skilled newcomers with talent waxing. I'm just grateful that I get to watch.
I'll shut up now.
 
Last edited:
Diamond J, Matt Bailey and Delbert Ealy

Forgot to mention that I've been really impressed with Daniel Fairlys style also.
 
Tom Krein has to be one of my all time favorite knife makers, and has inspired me in many ways. Also Coty Handley who makes sweet blades and was one of the guys who really made me feel like I could make knives of my own.
 
First and foremost. R.W. Loveless
George Herron, Bud Nealy, Al Polkowski, Bob Dozier, Charles Mays
New Guys- Tom Krein, Jeremy Horton, Brian Goode
 
Though there are many makers that deserve respect for their dedication to the craft, I must tip my hat foremost to Gil Hibben. A great man, and a great knife maker.
 
Because there are so many that I admire nowadays, I can't really leave any of them out, so I will go back to the guys who originally inspired my interest in all things pointy, Bill Moran, Bill Bagwell and Bo Randall. Randalls were the first handmade knives that I heard of and was exposed to in the late 70's and Moran and Bagwell were the first guys I read about making damascus. I think it was in Soldier Of Fortune magazine in the late 70's or very early 80's. Even though elements of my style are heavily influenced today by guys like Don Hanson and Russ Andrews and I really got hooked in the 90's on the modern ABS style by the knives of guys like Jerry Fisk and Jim Crowell, you can still see a lot of Moran, Bagwell and Randall influence in my stuff. Of the stock removal guys, of course I admire Bob Loveless, but the stuff that I saw really early on that grabbed my attention was the work of D.E. Henry(only in print) and Ron Gaston. I probably as much time drooling over Ron Gaston's table at the Guild show in the early 90's as at any other, in part because it was just chocked full of those gorgeous fighters he used to do.
 
Tai Goo, believe it or not, the first knife to get me interested in making knives was one of his, just randomly found a picture on a forum, and 3 weeks later i was pounding steel on a homemade anvil using a bbq forge, after getting some basic advice from Tai himself, courtesy of Don Foggs forum :eek: i think that was in 2002 or 2003. - someday id like a small knife made by Tai, maybe a skinny nessmuk but with some Tai flair.

Daniel Winkler - his knives appeal to me in a way that not many smiths have been able to. such a simple timeless look judging from the pictures on his site, someday i will own one of his knives or hawks, but not until after the next name i call.

Rick Marchand - apologies to Dan and Tai, but there is no way i could own one of your knives until After i own one of Ricks, my grail knife is like his bladeforums camp knife challenge knife but with a wood handle, maybe lignum vitae.. someday.. hopefully this years vacation pay.


there are countless bladesmiths out there, almost all strive to make good knives, many aim for excellence.. i could name at least 20 other smiths who i must own a knife from, but the 3 names i called first are at the top of the list.
 
The older I get, the less I am into favorites. But one of the makers who always stuck in my mind that hasn't been mentioned is Sean McWilliams. I read a magazine article about him many years ago, and a few of his quotes about knife design still echo in my head today.
 
Well I like mine the best, but what makes do I like to look at and give me ideas.

Wayne Goddard, Raymond Richard, Tai Goo, and Bruce Bump. I like them all for different reasons, and I have gotten to meet and talk to all of the but Tai. Thanks to the guys on the list and to the rest of the makers on this site.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top