New "Up and Coming" Custom Knife Makers

mwschilling

mwschilling

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Aug 29, 2012
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I'm starting this thread for members to share new "up and coming" knife makers that catch their eye. I know collectors are always looking for new makers and established makers often mentor or collaborate with new makers.

During Blade Show, David Lisch was telling me about a new maker working in his shop named Mareko Maumasi. I saw his work on a purveyor site and was impressed.




Last week I saw for the first time a couple knives by Kyle Gahagan (shot by Caleb Royer) Gahagan's work stood out to me as exceptional. His style and quality are impressive.


Photo credit goes to Caleb Royer

Lastly, Kyle Hanson has been making some impressive blades lately. I bought this one to match my Don Hanson MOP folder.




PLEASE SHARE COMMENTS AND/OR ANY OTHER NEW MAKERS
 
Andrew Meers and Kevin Klein are two guys I'm keeping and eye on.
Nice thread, and great first post.
 
Ben Seward- I will go out on a limb and say it he sticks with it (and I feel he will) Ben will be one of the Greats down the road. This is an opinion I formed at Blade Show several years ago when I first saw his knives.


Ben Breda- I examined his JS Test Knives at Blade Show and they were the definition of clean construction in a custom knives.
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Mareko Maumausi-Best Kitchen Knife in Seattle Show this year-good reasons-great flow, awesome damascus-you will pay top dollar at this point, he does not give them away....but they are indeed sweet, and owing to the fact that he worked for the Great Lord Vader-Bob Kramer-he might be the next most awesome kitchen knife maker.

Brian Nadeau-won Best New Maker and Best Tactical at Blade Show this year-I was one of the judges, he deserved it.

Enrique Pena-IMO....he is the next Tony Bose.

Neill Schutte-While David Sharp is the American Guy for Loveless....Neill is the South African guy.....Rob Brown who???? LOL

David Sharp-if you want a superlative maker of Loveless style knives-there is no reason to look elsewhere.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Great posts and suggestions. Some I knew about and others not but I took time to go check them out.

I disagree about Kevin's suggestion of Ben Seward as "up and coming". I'd say he already came up, kicked dudes off the mountain and planted his flag. He is very talented and heck of a nice guy. Now if he would just make me a hunter!!!

Keep them coming!
 
Ben Seward for me makes some great knives.
Marcus Lin and David Sharp for anything Loveless.
John Doyle is making some great knives too.
Out of the US I would say Marcin Bona from Poland and Will Morrison from Austrailia, both produce great knives!
 
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Kohai999 said:
Enrique Pena-IMO....he is the next Tony Bose.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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This could be, but I just don't see the next Tony Bose Making these type of knives? :confused: (see photos below)
I know Tony would never make one?

Not bashing Pena - I hope he gets all the recognition he deserves and all his knives sell for big bucks.......
He makes a great knife, always very clean looking.

But I just don't see him being the next Bose? Or I could be wrong?


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I would not dare speak for Enrique, but I'm assuming a full time maker has to sell knives and put food on the table. I may even order a flipper with jigged bone and a shield....:) I can tell you I am a avid collector of his slip joints and I would put his fit and finish up against the best in the business, and we know who that is...

I have to agree about Ben Seward. I picked up this knife from him at Blade. Awesome!
 
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Kohai999 said:
Brian Nadeau-won Best New Maker and Best Tactical at Blade Show this year-I was one of the judges, he deserved it.

Enrique Pena-IMO....he is the next Tony Bose.
Click to expand...

From what I have seen, I wholeheartedly agree with these two.
 
Tom Ploppert is one of the best slip joint makers around right now. Enrique is a friend, his fit and finish on his slip joints, rivals the top makers.


Kris
 
just gotta drop a few more names;
Stuart Branson
John Doyle
Bruce Binggenheimer
 
MT Damascus said:
Tom Ploppert is one of the best slip joint makers around right now. Enrique is a friend, his fit and finish on his slip joints, rivals the top makers.


Kris
Click to expand...

Again not to bash any ones opinion, But this always gets me?
He's my friend and his fit and finish is top notch, so he will be the best......

My friend Todd Davison makes slip joint knives, his skills are very mad.
But will he be the best? Probably not, Todd could care less about doing shows or becoming famous.
All he wants is to make great knives, and do it his way, that's all.
Like on doing orders, single blade knives only, no double or multiple blade knives.
He's like the black sheep of knife makers. ( Very good, but not ever being considered the very best, sad but true.)

This is just my opinion, that's all....... carry on.
 
Here are a few names off the top of my head:

Balisongs:
- David Santiago

Dress & Tactical Folders
- Chris Martin
- Dustin Turpin
- Geoff Blauvelt
- Jurrien Boersma (Nalu)
- Pat Hammond
- Walter Randolph

Slip Joint & Tactical Folders
- Enrique Pena
- Richard Rodgers

Tactical Folders:
- Brad Blount
- Kevin Foster

Tactical Folders & Fixed Blades:
- Jesse Jarosz
- Jonathan Mcnees

I'm sure there are many I can't remember right now.

Chuck
 
I don't have nearly enough experience with custom knives to name anyone. . .but I will second David Santiago, his knives are stunning. He auctioned this one on Instagram last week, Zirconium and Damasteel.

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Pocketknifesheaths said:
Again not to bash any ones opinion, But this always gets me?
He's my friend and his fit and finish is top notch, so he will be the best......
Click to expand...

Al, dont put words in my mouth, I did not say Enrique was "the best". Todd makes a nice slipjoint, but he is not even close to being as talented as the two gentlemen I mentioned. Kind of like the difference between your sheaths and a Paul Long sheath.

Best regards,

Kris
 
I'm backing Will Morrison. His recent work has caught my eye...solid, functional designs, nice line and flow, and super clean execution. I would like to see how he tests his knives but if he's as careful in the heat treating of his knives as he is in the other areas they should be top notch.
Salem Straub has really been catching his stride of late...some killer design and execution!
Of course John Doyle is making one of the slickest hunters going. It's amazing how clean his work is...especially considering the relatively short time he's been making knives...nice guy too.
 
I pulled out a pile of knives for show and tell with Todd Begg while at the Seattle Show, and he also collects knives.

He liked Enrique's work the best of about 40 knives I showed him. It's a 3 blade Sowbelly with white MOP and a shield. He was floored, and he went over it with the "hairy eye".

Just sayin'. Showed same knife to Tony "THE MAN" Bose, and he said, he didn't do half stops on a Sowbelly like Enrique did, but other than that, it was solid!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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