current sword custom makers

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mickb

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Jan 21, 2016
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If the mods would rather this thread not exist, please feel free to delete. Being I bought a couple knives recently figured I would take a look at some of my old haunts. I noticed sword forum international isnt operating.. Might be a decade since I have logged on there, the site if I recall started in the early 2000's and had a guy called Adrian running it. Is this forum still out there somewhere in another guise?

I see myarmoury is still going, that was always the no.2 option for swords and had quite a few scholars on it. Back then(20 years ago) we were all chasing Kev Cashen, Al Massey, Tinker pearce, Gus trim and Jim at Salamander for work. I see some of these fellas dont seem as active either or have changed forms too.

Who are the main names in the business these days?
 
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Adrian Ko sold SFI to Mark Mcmurrow the way I understand it. I didn't know it had closed down.

Kevin Cashen is still out there but I haven't seen a sword by him in a long time. Al Massey absconded with some people's money if I remember right as did Glen Parrell. Tinker Pierce and Angus Trim were also a bit dodgy although maybe they sorted their finances out? I don't know if Jim Hrisoulas is still making or not he injured an eye and honestly the industry kind of passed him by. I think the top are probably Vince Evans, Peter Johnson and Patrick Barta. All have ridiculous wait times. I also.like Jake Powning, although he has quit making swords too unfortunately.
 
Hi Triton, thanks for the reply and updates. My mistake on sword forum interntational it is still running I was told.
 
mickb said:
Hi Triton, thanks for the reply and updates. My mistake on sword forum interntational it is still running I was told.
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Of course! I’ve found a talented maker in the Czech Republic as well whose name is on my home computer at the moment.
 
Triton said:
Adrian Ko sold SFI to Mark Mcmurrow the way I understand it. I didn't know it had closed down.

Kevin Cashen is still out there but I haven't seen a sword by him in a long time. Al Massey absconded with some people's money if I remember right as did Glen Parrell. Tinker Pierce and Angus Trim were also a bit dodgy although maybe they sorted their finances out? I don't know if Jim Hrisoulas is still making or not he injured an eye and honestly the industry kind of passed him by. I think the top are probably Vince Evans, Peter Johnson and Patrick Barta. All have ridiculous wait times. I also.like Jake Powning, although he has quit making swords too unfortunately.
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Tinker Pearce had a lot of health issues that made it difficult for him to work on swords. That lasted for nearly a decade, but he is making swords and knives intermittently now, but I don't think he is keeping books, he is just making stuff as he likes and is able. He has picked up gunsmithing on old guns as a less physically demanding hobby.
 
Jim is still around. Took a few day’s to hear back via email and castle keep about a week via email. I think Rob quoted a year or something like that for a custom.
 
Btw fellas, why is there not a machete forum for this site? Has it been discussed previously? Have to admit when you see a blade forum with specialisation all the way to multi-tools, swords, even throwing knives lol, but not machetes, you sort of feel proportion is a bit out of whack.

Not knocking the site, but wow...its a pretty common 'blade' compared to some of those other types.

Part of the reason I posted this thread is I was looking to contact sword makers to do a barong.... I went looking for a machete forum here first and was suprised not to find one
 
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mickb said:
Btw fellas, why is there not a machete forum for this site? Has it been discussed previously? Have to admit when you see a blade forum with specialisation all the way to multi-tools, swords, even throwing knives lol, but not machetes, you sort of feel proportion is a bit out of whack.

Not knocking the site, but wow...its a pretty common 'blade' compared to some of those other types.

Part of the reason I posted this thread is I was looking to contact sword makers to do a barong.... I went looking for a machete forum here first and was suprised not to find one
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Someone suggested it a while back you can look up posts by Chattanooga chop in this sub forum. I couldn't say why there isn't one in particular, they don't have the romance of swords, they aren't tacticool enough for the high speed low drag types, you don't carry them around every day so the edc guys are out, they aren't made from the latest Super steel, they aren't particularly sexy... Just thoughts.
 
mickb said:
Btw fellas, why is there not a machete forum for this site? Has it been discussed previously? Have to admit when you see a blade forum with specialisation all the way to multi-tools, swords, even throwing knives lol, but not machetes, you sort of feel proportion is a bit out of whack.

Not knocking the site, but wow...its a pretty common 'blade' compared to some of those other types.

Part of the reason I posted this thread is I was looking to contact sword makers to do a barong.... I went looking for a machete forum here first and was suprised not to find one
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For your barong needs I would contact David Mary...
 
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Triton said:
Someone suggested it a while back you can look up posts by Chattanooga chop in this sub forum. I couldn't say why there isn't one in particular, they don't have the romance of swords, they aren't tacticool enough for the high speed low drag types, you don't carry them around every day so the edc guys are out, they aren't made from the latest Super steel, they aren't particularly sexy... Just thoughts.
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Ok thanks. Thanks for the suggestion of David, I believe he answered one of my other queires about so will be in touch.
 
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mickb said:
Btw fellas, why is there not a machete forum for this site? Has it been discussed previously? Have to admit when you see a blade forum with specialisation all the way to multi-tools, swords, even throwing knives lol, but not machetes, you sort of feel proportion is a bit out of whack.

Not knocking the site, but wow...its a pretty common 'blade' compared to some of those other types.

Part of the reason I posted this thread is I was looking to contact sword makers to do a barong.... I went looking for a machete forum here first and was suprised not to find one
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Yes, there is a machete thread
 
I tend to be looking for old makers long gone.I met John at a show a couple of decades ago and even then, quite an artist.
odincard.jpg
While I promote some great relative newcomers and some of the old gold star quality makers, there are sometimes troubles along the way. I am one to buy completed projects but I do have some I've always wanted to commission. John Lundemo would be right up there on my list.

Cheers
GC
 
Gus Trim is still in the business. He had a stroke a while back but he recovered and got back into sword making. He talks about his age limitations but his swords win cutting tournaments and are much sought after. He posts regularly on Facebook under Angus Trim. He's planning on going to Mesa, AZ in January 2023 for a cutting tournament and posted the swords he will be bringing with him. You can buy direct from him off of Facebook and I have bought all my swords from him that way or he sells through Valiant Armoury too. The man is a legend and I am grateful to have 3 of his swords.
 
I was just going to recommend the Dragons Breath Forge guys! I have been to their forge a few times and they make awesome stuff!
 
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