Why are hireable bladesmiths so hard to find.

os_tempore said:
I'm not looking for anything particularly unusual. The one I'm looking for now is a very practical small SD blade whose design was changed and I think subsequently dropped. Even if I could find that blade for sale, it was basically a CCP pot metal. I have a picture of it and would love it in Elmax or M390.
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You might have better luck finding a maker with knives similar to the one you like. That requires a lot of looking at makers' websites, books and maybe Blade magazine. I think some knifemakers don't want to simply reproduce someone else's design. And many have their preferred steels. (I'm not a knifemaker, and I could be wrong.)
 
os_tempore said:
He was the first one to write me back. Seems like a nice guy. Are the grinds all symmetrical on that smachete you got there?
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He is a great Guy! The grinds were and are good; and I've beating up on it all this Fall!
Big Tiny (The Bowie); swings like a large knife.
Godzilla swings about like an axe!
 
You should spend 15 min looking at the knives that have been listed under ‘fixed blades’ for sale. Get a feel for what you want and you will find a few makers quickly to send an email to. I recently got an edc from David Mary and have another ordered. There are a number of makers offering fantastic knives at great prices here. The makers listed in previous posts are a good start, and you will find someone. Many knives show up for sale that may be what you are looking for without having to place a custom order.

Good luck with your Master’s!
 
beeinak said:
You should spend 15 min looking at the knives that have been listed under ‘fixed blades’ for sale. Get a feel for what you want and you will find a few makers quickly to send an email to. I recently got an edc from David Mary and have another ordered. There are a number of makers offering fantastic knives at great prices here. The makers listed in previous posts are a good start, and you will find someone. Many knives show up for sale that may be what you are looking for without having to place a custom order.

Good luck with your Master’s!
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Which ones did you buy/order from David? His Prevail model really rocks!
 
Go to Instagram and search on Vincenzo Balistreri. He posts every day and his books are open. He is Italian and ships from there without a problem. He has made 2 customs for me, both slipjoints in exotic materials. But he makes moderns, too, with different kinds of locks.
 
I am not a social media guy, but the fact is most custom makers post on Facebook and Instagram, and not necessarily in the forums. Lots of good makers out there…
 
Instagram has been very helpful for engaging knife makers and blacksmiths. It's also great for a constant stream of knife porn.
 
I agree I need to continue to look, I was honestly hoping for a spot I can put what I'm looking for and have people, confident they can do it, say hey lets talk. My time is truthfully very short. Even tonight I have two evidence based practice papers I need to get done in bulk.

While I have a picture of the design I want, I'm totally open to the makers personal touches (and my requests) which is why I really like custom knives. I'm not a knife maker, so small things that are common knowledge in knife making aren't what I would immediately think of which is why I trust people whose job it is to do these things.

Just for kicks, I'll put the picture on this thread. This is the old design.

Bat%20wing%202.jpg
 
I can't help you with your knife, but I would recommend Instagram and Facebook also, as has been mentioned. If you're a full time knife maker, your job is to make knives and sell them, not debate with argumentative posters or runaway moderators on how to actually do the selling on forums (no offense to good mods).

Instagram and Facebook give the maker more control, and they don't have to waste time with a lot of the in between. We don't get paid to debate which sharpening angle on a folder can de-animate sentries the fastest.😎😎🤣🤣

Sam😎👍
 
Sam Wilson said:
I can't help you with your knife, but I would recommend Instagram and Facebook also, as has been mentioned. If you're a full time knife maker, your job is to make knives and sell them, not debate with argumentative posters or runaway moderators on how to actually do the selling on forums (no offense to good mods).

Instagram and Facebook give the maker more control, and they don't have to waste time with a lot of the in between. We don't get paid to debate which sharpening angle on a folder can de-animate sentries the fastest.😎😎🤣🤣

Sam😎👍
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De-animate sentries! HA! I understand your stance.

Counterpoint - if I'm the best maker in the world but no one can find me, whats the point? There seems to be a certain amount of marketing required. Which is why I had high hopes for the forums "Wanted" section.
 
If you're the best maker in the world, or even pretty good, you're buried already.😉😎😎🙂

os_tempore said:
De-animate sentries! HA! I understand your stance.

Counterpoint - if I'm the best maker in the world but no one can find me, whats the point? There seems to be a certain amount of marketing required. Which is why I had high hopes for the forums "Wanted" section.
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Seconding David Mary, he is a very nice and friendly guy, not to mention talented. Very helpful and knowledgeable when you are working with him on a project or buying or asking questions, a company even put one of his designs into production. I was shocked that he had only been at it a couple years considering quality down to the sheath. You can know all about how your knife is made, he is proud of his heat-treaters and it is nice to buy from a guy who has a strong moral sense, too. Always a good thing to get a DMC knife.

This small spearpoint in AEB-L is right now my only David Mary as of now, but it is my pack fixed blade, always with me when I make outings on foot, (in pouches right by my pens, notebook, pocket prybar, Leatherman Wingman and Cold Steel XL Voyager Tanto, things I want with me but not hauling down pockets) but he is making me a cleaver in 8670 and I am very excited for it.


20220822_111152.jpg
 
os_tempore said:
I agree I need to continue to look, I was honestly hoping for a spot I can put what I'm looking for and have people, confident they can do it, say hey lets talk. My time is truthfully very short. Even tonight I have two evidence based practice papers I need to get done in bulk.

While I have a picture of the design I want, I'm totally open to the makers personal touches (and my requests) which is why I really like custom knives. I'm not a knife maker, so small things that are common knowledge in knife making aren't what I would immediately think of which is why I trust people whose job it is to do these things.

Just for kicks, I'll put the picture on this thread. This is the old design.

Bat%20wing%202.jpg
Click to expand...



Is this the knife you want built?
 
For what it's worth making a copy or even homage to an already produced knife is often frowned upon. Some faithful reproductions are notable exceptions ,like Bob Loveless designs for example. I my experience it is fairly easy to find makers as long as the design is along the lines of what they already make.
 
thebrain said:
For what it's worth making a copy or even homage to an already produced knife is often frowned upon. Some faithful reproductions are notable exceptions ,like Bob Loveless designs for example. I my experience it is fairly easy to find makers as long as the design is along the lines of what they already make.
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I can appreciate that. The design is called a Pikal. I happen to like that take on it, but as I noted, it wont be that particular one and certainly not in the steel they used to use for that design (that design has since been retired and remade with what looks to be an easier to produce knife - but I wouldn't know as it's been out of stock for a year and the company answers no emails or calls).

Its akin to saying I want a Karambit, from which I think the Pikal is a derivative actually(?). I don't think anyone would frown on making a Karambit nor feel bad for "stealing" the design from the original 11th century Indonesian inventor (Source). Or maybe its just the maker that made my Karambit.
 
I wasn't saying that you wanted an exact copy but if you drew up an original design inspired by that knife that would probably be fine by most makers. There are plenty of guys making Pikal style knives and karambits searching for images then finding who makes the ones you like is a easy way to find makers as well.
 
Understood. Thank you for the advice and warning. I would rather show that picture to the maker and have them make a design as I don't know that I'd make a flowing design I want out of the knife. That's why I hire out ;)
 
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