Who makes the best custom hunting knives

B

backpacker

Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Messages
201
I would like to purchase a custom hunting knife for under $200. Who do you recommend and could you give me the web address.
 
There are a lot of folks making some great hunters in that price range. My first inclination would be to try Bob Dozier
His site

I personally like the blade shape of his general purpose hunter. This is a guy who has been making knives for at least 30 years.
Keep in mind I am also a big D2 fan. I am sure there are others that will have good suggestions for you to consider, but have a look around his site. You will have a little extra left over to get 2 sheaths for a great knife! I own one and and more than happy with it.

------------------
" The real art of living is too keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post.
In memory of James Mattis

[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 10-08-2000).]
 
As Gus pointed out, there are several makers out there who make very good hunting knives under $200.

Jerry, along with probably another 20 makers all do excellent work.

The hunting knife field is probably the toughest knife to choose just one knife from.


------------------
Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur

http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
If you want a stainless knife, i would go with any of Genos models. I saw several at Les's table at the Spirit of Steel show, they were the best buy out there, bar none.

If you want a hand forged, carbon steel knife, John Fitch is a good choice.

I also make a hand forged carbon steel hunter for $175 with Kenny Rowe sheath. Hope to have some pics up on my site this week.

------------------
" The true way of the sword is the craft of defeating the enemy in a fight, and nothing other than this" Ibid

www.lameyknives.com

[This message has been edited by RMLamey (edited 10-08-2000).]
 
Look no further than Wayne Hendrix & Geno Denning. Both of these great makers learned from the legendary George Herron. They both offer excellent quality at a very affordable
price. You better get one while you can.

Here is Wayne's website. Wayne also has worked as a proffesional hunting guide so he knows just what a good hunting knife should be.
http://www.hendrixknives.com



------------------
Barry
Jones Knives
"NEW Knives"
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=5922856
"For DUTY and HUMANITY!"
Curly, Moe, & Larry
 
This is really interesting. Backpacker, for a newbie, you seem to know pretty clearly what you want. You started off a couple of weeks ago asking about ATS34 steel, and got a lot of responses to your hunting knife question. But you went from wanting a good $120 folding knife, to a $150 fixed blade, and now are willing to spend $200 for a custom hunting knife. Congratulations! You are a Knife Knut. I feel your pain brother.

And you are getting a great number of responses from people who know what they are talking about. In no particular order, makers posting in this thread like Tichborne, Hossom, Denning, Jones, and Lamey can all make you an excellent knife. There are a large number of others. There are also hunters in every price range, from $50 to $5000. Sometimes Who the maker is matters more than the knife.

I like forged blades. But I have both forged And stock removal blades. You can find many makers producing fine forged and stock removal blades under $200. I would suggest you try to attend a custom knife show sometime soon. It really helps to be able to see and handle many knives to help you understand the function/quality/reputation/materials/cost equation.

Scour the custom knife web sites like:
Robertson Custom Cutlery
KnifeArt
Arizona Custom Knives
Nordic Knives
Blade Gallery

The same production and custom makers names keep getting mentioned in several of your threads. Take a look at what is available, and pick something. If you don't just what you want, contact a maker you like, and have him build it to your specifications.

There is no BEST knife, so you will always be on the quest for the perfect knife. It's like the Holy Grail. It probably does not exist. But you just Have to keep looking. Happy journey!

Paracelsus

Oh, just to demonstrate what I'm talking about, look at this: My Search for the Perfect Hunter

And My peculiar views on collecting simple hunters as examples of High Art

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 10-08-2000).]
 
Paracelsus,

Thanks for all your help. I have realy enjoyed learning about knives and your right, I am hooked.

This forum is great. Actulally, I have only been involved with this forum for 3 days, but, I have read an unbelievable amount of material.

I think your correct in your statement that pretty soon I will just have to make a choice.

I would like to run a short list of my final selections by you before I make my final decission.

Also, thanks everybody else for your valuable input.
 
Tell you what BP, any of the knives mentioned above would work out.
Jerry, George, Matt, John Fitch, Geno, Wayne, Bob and any one of the rest of them will make you happy.
As Les said - tough decision then you have to pick a blade style and a handle with the maker.

Have fun with it! I do not think you could go wrong with any of the above.

------------------
" The real art of living is too keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post.
In memory of James Mattis
 
As a custom knife collector for 30 years i can use any knife I want. I use Corbet Sigman's Utility Hunters. I have some in carbon steel and two in 440V. the workmanship is flawless, the CS is about $120 with 440V being $190. He also uses another stainless. A guide used one of his Cs knife's to gut and skin a bear I had shot was so taken with the knife that I gave it to him! This knife is getting so much use that after 6 years the guide says it is starting to wear. There are many other excellent makers out there at this time compared to 40 years ago! Your friend should have no trouble finding what he wants. He may ahve to wait a bit as Corbet makes his hunters just before the fall hunting season. I already have more on order for next year.
 
backpacker, I too sought the perfect hunter and found it in the knife Matt Harildstad and I developed at: http://www.planet.eon.net/~matth/hunt_gal.htm
It's the semi-skinner two down on the page.

At another time in my life I was a game animal processor and have skinned and processed (read "cut up" in numerous ways like muscle boning, bone in, etc. with or without a meat saw) about 2000 deer, 500 elk, 40 antelope, and the odd black bear, moose, mountain sheep, bison, etc. The knife at the above site is, according to me, the perfect knife to take game apart. ...and you will have a satisfying experience with Matt Harildstad as your maker. ...'nough said.

Bruce Woodbury

[This message has been edited by bruce (edited 10-09-2000).]
 
Corbet is in West Virginia. I will post his address and tele # 10/12/00. He makes three lines of knives, Working hunters with and without brass guard, Utlity Hunters with Nickel silver guards and his Collector grade knives. You can geta Hunter ina year with collector knives being about 2 years. I have been dealing with Corbet for 30 years and he still makes a perfect product!
 
This is my Small Hunter. In D2 and Micarta it will be JUST over the $200 mark!! Included will be a hand rubbed finish, tapered/drilled tang, stainless pins and lanyard hole, colored spacers AND a Kydex M-P sheath.
smhunter01sm.jpg

I have LOTS of other pictures with different blade finishes, handle materials etc. Please Email if interrested
Neil

------------------
Knives IN STOCK!!!!

blackwoodknives.com

[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 10-13-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 10-13-2000).]
 
I don't like many of the "Hunting" knives out there - I personally like a "Bird and Trout" knife. Mind you, I and mostly hunting Whitetails and squirrels.

I just had a knife made to my specs (Full Custom) by Richard Sunderland.
http://www.ckg.org/Sunderland/Sunderland.htm

It ran me $150 US. I actually haven't even seen it YET, as it's up at Tiz Pozzobon's being engraved (Yes, the engraving is going to cost MUCH more than the knife). I hope to see it next week
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top