Dawson Knives Where Do They Rank

B_Pilgrim

B_Pilgrim

Joined
Nov 30, 2017
Messages
118
So I'm a long time firearms collector who's new to knives. Not new to carrying and using them (hasn't been a day in the last 15 years I haven't had at least one on me) but, new to collecting and knowing anything about them beyond how to use and sharpen them.

I see Dawson at the Wanenmacher show in Tulsa every year and have always liked the look and feel of their work, have even purchased a couple not knowing anything more than that I liked them.

I'm not seeing much about them on the forum. No dedicated forum under hosted or manufacturer's and not much in the classifieds.

Curious what those of you with more knowledge and experience think of them. Who are some other custom fixed blade manufacturers I should know about? Thanks in advance.
 
I haven't followed Dawson Knives in years but did buy a Tanto back in the '90s. A couple of years ago I was at a local gun store and we were talking custom knives, one of the fellows went and got out a Dawson Katana, it was beautiful! I'd always thought of them as more "utility", not that Katana, though. They used to use 440C and their heat treat was spot on. When I got my Tanto I walked over to a steel file cabinet and drove it in, not a mark on it!

A lot of the older, established makers don't post much on the internet, don't let that influence your purchasing.
 
Their Katanas are beautiful!

Hard for me to justify buying a sword but, definitely tempting
 
I have owned several Dawsons over the years they are well made and very good quality.

They are "knife folk" and live and breath this stuff. They have a website and attend many shows.
 
I have had several. Nice knives, made for hard use. Very nice people.
 
Here's a really bad photo of a couple of Dawson daggers from the 1980s, when Dane Dawson was making them. Ebony handle on one, ivory and copal amber on the other.
Sorry for the lousy photo, best I could do for tonight. If anyone's interested, I can try to take a better pic when it's light out.

dawson.jpg
 
I once saw a Katana from them at a show in Vegas that till this day I regret not buying
 
JParanee said:
I once saw a Katana from them at a show in Vegas that till this day I regret not buying
Click to expand...
I told you that you should have bought it. Price was good. Now they cost a fortune!

I have three of them, a Spike, a Patriot with cord over rayskin and an upswept skinner in Ivory micarta.

The 440C stuff is ground and HT'd to perfection, they are great looking knives and they are priced so you can use them and not feel bad about it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
I told you that you should have bought it. Price was good. Now they cost a fortune!

I have three of them, a Spike, a Patriot with cord over rayskin and an upswept skinner in Ivory micarta.

The 440C stuff is ground and HT'd to perfection, they are great looking knives and they are priced so you can use them and not feel bad about it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...


If you recall it was in a Leather scabbard which you know in a no no

https://i.imgur.com/7iKXypv.jpg

If it was in a hard Saya I probale couldn’t of resisted :)
 
B_Pilgrim said:
So I'm a long time firearms collector who's new to knives. Not new to carrying and using them (hasn't been a day in the last 15 years I haven't had at least one on me) but, new to collecting and knowing anything about them beyond how to use and sharpen them.

I see Dawson at the Wanenmacher show in Tulsa every year and have always liked the look and feel of their work, have even purchased a couple not knowing anything more than that I liked them.

I'm not seeing much about them on the forum. No dedicated forum under hosted or manufacturer's and not much in the classifieds.

Curious what those of you with more knowledge and experience think of them. Who are some other custom fixed blade manufacturers I should know about? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I have posted a bit on BF about Dawsons. I have several, including a damascus bird and trout / utility that I carry nearly every day. I really love my Dawsons, including those I have almost no use for (a small "Patriot" dagger). If you're on the fence about one, just know they are very hard use knives. Some are more finely finished than others. Some of the older knives can be difficult to sharpen because of their hardness but retain an edge extremely well.

Zieg
 
I have 3 of them and am really impressed with each. I see them at the Big Reno Gun show and I deal with John Roy. He always remembers us and even remembers what we have purchased from them. Great guy and I will be buying another one at the next show.
 
I started following them on IG after I saw a picture of of their katanas. Beautiful work, as some here have already opined, but the leather scabbard kills it for me...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top