Best custom knife makers you decide

R

RegularGuy

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Feb 6, 2012
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I would like everyone if they would like to list their top 10 custom makers in the world present or ever


I'm new to custom knives and looking to expand my horizons

Please put an asterisk or something if they are a custom maker who does semi customs or productions under their name also because a friend warned me about this

Thank you
 
Wow.. you are certainly asking for a lot. Most of the guys that participate here know each other and are friends. How could you recommend someone and leave one of your boys out?

And then the some of the other questions from you to qualify your question you should be:

- folding or fixed

- carbon or stainless

- best fit/finish of natural or man made materials for handles

- best for price range

- type of knife; a guy that makes an excellent bush knife may not be the best to make you a traditional, stag handled hunter in the traditional '50s patterns like Grandpa had. A guy that makes folders may have never made one of the sharpened pry bar choppers that are so popular. All have their place, but fill different user requirements

- user or collector knife

If you want to learn about the smiths that make knives here, look at gallery and read through this subforum. More information than you could shake a stick at, and more talented makers of cutlery than you could imagine in one place.

You question is as wide as "who makes or has made the best vehicle ever" and leaving the parameters as open as anything from a Model T to the space shuttle.

Robert
 
A couple of thoughts:

1) No two lists would likely be the same. Robert makes a valid point. Whenever the "best" maker for any given style of knife (much less best, period) is sought, the answers invariably involve a listing of each particpants favourite makers. No doubt if everyone took the time to respond, you'd end up with near every maker listed, which takes you right back to square one.

2) Adopting someone's else's list (or even several someone else's lists) probably isn't the best way to go about learning about custom knives.

That said, there is a lot to be learned from some very knowledgeable forum participants from varied fields within the custom knife community. Use the search function to your benefit and ask specific questions about what you can't find. Hang around and read the threads and participate in the discussions. I think you will find a lot of people willing to help, but the more focussed the question, the more meaningful and responsive the answer will likely be.

Roger
 
^^^ Yup.
RegularGuy said:
Please put an asterisk or something if they are a custom maker who does semi customs or productions under their name also because a friend warned me about this
Click to expand...
You've already been misinformed. Why in the world would you need a warning on this. Rick Hinderer's folders are notoriously as described and are as sought-after and usable as they should be. On the other end, Daniel Winkler has a lineup that is in some ways production. It's not a penalty. It's the mark of an in-demand maker.

That said, they don't fit the exact mold of Custom, but that doesn't deserve a warning. :D A top ten maker may very well make semi-production knives. Ask Ken Onion. ;)

I'm glad you wish to learn. Sounds like me ten years ago.

Coop
 
My suggestion would be to go through all the posts in this subforum and see what you like best.
Plus, come back each day and check out the new posts. You never know what you are going to see here.
There are some extremely talented makers posting photos of their knives here.
Not just the old timers either.
You may find yourself liking some of the knives that do not have mainstream popularity.
With myself, my likes have evolved quite a bit over the last few years.
 
"Best Knifemakers?" Probably an impossible question to answer, as there's too many knifemakers that are good at too many things in making too different type/styles of knives.

How do we even define "Best Knifemaker" or determine what attributes one should posses? You'll find many opinions on that. IMO, it's more than just their ability to make an excellent knife.

There's better ways for one to familize theirself with knifemakers and whose work they want to collect than by determining who others consider the best knifemakers.
Observe, examine, research and handle as many different types and styles of custom knives as possible to determine where your interests and passion lie then gravitate towards those makers who seem to excel in creating that type of knives.
 
This one's gone, he was a bad boy.

He did get in 29 posts today though. :D

Doug
 
Doug C said:
This one's gone, he was a bad boy.

He did get in 29 posts today though. :D

Doug
Click to expand...

kinda had 'that special feeling' about this one m'self
 
It's like he lit up a lunch bag of poop on the doorstep, rang the doorbell, and ran away. ;) We were left scrambling to put it out before the flames caught on...

:D

Coop
 
We have been through this kind of thread sooo many times, I had decided not to make even a peep. But I must say now that to a man, everyone of you guys re-invented the kind of response this kind of thread usually generates - and cut it off at the knees. Congrats to all of you!
 
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