Custom folding knife

[jackknifeh]

I'm going to want a folding knife made per my desires "sometime". I don't know when. I want to start getting info about knifemakers, how something like this would get done, etc. This is not something that will happen any time soon. I want to start "shopping" now so when I have the cash for this I'll have some kind of knowledge. Any suggestions are appreciated, especially from people who have had knives made and been throught the process along with do's and don't's. I don't know how unique I'll want it to be like I may not want a specific blade shape so the maker may not need to do anything that will force me to take out a second mortgage. The normal pieces and parts they already have may be fine with me. That's the kind of stuff I need to know.

Thanks,
Jack

[The Deacon]

Best to use a maker who produces the type of knives you like. Start by looking at sites where custom folders are sold (KnifeArt, True North, and Arizona Custom Kinfe come to mind) and forums where they're displayed and discussed. Tons of makers out there, some of them are bound to have designs that excite you.

Once you narrow it down to a handful of makers, check places like BladeForurms "Good, Bad, Ugly" to see if other buyers have had major problems with any of them. From there, what you mean by "per my desires" may limit you choices. A few of the more famous ones will make what they please, rather than building to customer specs. Many makers have a portfolio of designs and will make those designs using customer specified blade steel and scale material. For good reason, few will build an unproven customer supplied folder design.

Be suspicious of any maker that demands full payment up front. Many will not ask for any money until the knife is at least party finished unless you're asking for combinations of materials they feel would make the knife unsellable.

Be patient. Most makers are one man operations, doing work that can be hazardous at times. Life has a nasty way of screwing up the best estimates of delivery and some makers are much better at what they do than at figuring how long it will take them to do it.

[butch]

thats a pile of great info right there

i will add
will it need a spyderco hole
what kind of lock are you looking for

those are maybe the biggest 2 things to sort by
also followed maybe what steels they work with and are comfortable heat treating

[jackknifeh]

Thanks Deacon,
Several things I hadn't even thought about.


Butch,
I don't know about a spyderco hole. I don't know how the Spyderco folks would feel about that. A knife could be made that they wouldn't want mistaken for a Spyderco. Blade steel is of course one of the most important requirements and heat treatment is the key or so I understand.

Lots to consider. I've just been thinking about the knife so far. Could be choosing the maker is the most important decision especially if he heat treats his own steel.

Thanks for the help guys,
Jack

[The Deacon]

Jack, there are a number of makers ranging from well known old timers like Pat Crawford to relative newcomers who are licensed by Spyderco to use the Spyderhole opener. In fact, several members here are on that list. Not to mention the maker's who've done collaboration models. However, there are also makers who us it without permission so, if you see knives with it on a maker's website, and there's no mention of them being licensed, ask them.

Butch was right, the first thing to do is get a reasonably clear idea of what you want. Not down to the fine details, but at least general size, lock type, opening device, handle style (bolsters or not, full scales or partial overlays). Some of those choices will limit your choice of makers. Many, for example, will only do Walker and Reeve lock knives. Plus, a guy who does dynamite tactical folders may not be as good when it comes to traditional slip joints, assuming he'd even make you one.

If you're looking for ideas, I'll once again suggest visiting website like True North Knives (http://www.truenorthknives.com/vcom/index.php) Arizona Custom Knives (http://www.arizonacustomknives.com/), KnifeArt (http://www.knifeart.com/), and BladeArt
(http://www.bladeart.com/) both to get an idea of what's some maker's work looks like and to solidify your ideas of what you want.

[psychophipps]

One very important thing to consider is the reasoning behind your going for a true "custom" knife in the first place. If you're looking for an excellent cutting tool for a variety of uses then I can say with great authority that the extra expense in going custom simply isn't necessary. If you want to own an excellent cutting tool that possesses the heart and mind of a particular artist as well as possessing an excellent cutting tool for a variety of uses then I strongly suggest you go with the custom option. Custom knifemakers appreciate the collectors but they truly love the users as they are the reasoning behind their art and the drive of their ambition to make the "perfect knife".

[jackknifeh]

One very important thing to consider is the reasoning behind your going for a true "custom" knife in the first place. If you're looking for an excellent cutting tool for a variety of uses then I can say with great authority that the extra expense in going custom simply isn't necessary. If you want to own an excellent cutting tool that possesses the heart and mind of a particular artist as well as possessing an excellent cutting tool for a variety of uses then I strongly suggest you go with the custom option. Custom knifemakers appreciate the collectors but they truly love the users as they are the reasoning behind their art and the drive of their ambition to make the "perfect knife".

I’ve been using knives all my life and would always look at knives in stores in the mall but never would spend more than $20 for a knife. I’ve also never been really happy with any knife I’ve owned. Now however, I have a set of 3 or 4 knives that I really like and they cover any use I’ve ever needed or probably will need. I’ve had to buy around 15 knives to get the ones I’m happy with for EDC pocket knife, EDC larger knife on my belt and a work knife. Now I have lonely knives in a tool box just for knives and stuff. So I know what you are saying about additional cost being wasted as far as cutting needs. No one knife will suffice. I have learned that. Even my $20 knives would cut just fine. They just didn’t stay sharp long, broke somewhat easily, etc.

I want a knife for EDC that is durable, reliable, good simple lock (no assisted opening or any of that BS) and really beautiful. The more I think about it there are only two things in a knife I don’t have covered. A truly gorgeous knife and one that you will never see just like it. One thing that will make it one of a kind is my son’s name will be engraved on it. He will have it someday. Or maybe I should have my name on it as the original owner and if it is handed down to my grandson who is 8 months old now the history of the knife would have the original owner and maybe a born on date (like the beer, I forget which one). I just thought about that and it came out of my fingers onto the keyboard.

As to your comment before, this knife definitely would be used but taken care of. I’m not a collector. I am definitely a user. I never have had the desire to collect anything. I don’t know why. Lots of people I’ve known have collected different things from shot glasses to NASCAR stuff and other sports memorabilia. Now I’ve been introduced to knife collecting people through the internet. The small “collection” of knives I have now has just been a search process. I do want to keep most of them though. I’ve gotten long winded again but I am getting more and more interested “and excited” about this endeavor. It’s going to be a couple of years before I actually order one I’m thinking. This will definitely be and “extra money” purchase so I’ll need to save for just this. I have no idea what it will end up costing. I’ve never done that for anything as unimportant as a tool that I already have what it would be used for covered. This is something I just want. Simple as that.

I’m done, you can wake up now
Jack

[Ed Schempp]

Deacon had some very good advice. I would like to add that Blade Gallery is another good venue to check as they are also a bricks and mortar.

My personal preference is to change the design for every knife, I have too many ideas. It is hard to get me to build anything but an idea that I have given much consideration. Some makers design 5-20 patterns and that is all they make. Yes you can choose variations of materials to customize their pattern, but that might be as far as it goes. Not every maker makes every style of mechanism or style of construction, most specialize in one or two.

Pick-up a couple of used Knives (1984-2009) and find what you like and who makes it. Get as close as you can then customize....Take Care...Ed

[psychophipps]

One thing to keep in mind with my posts, and many others I'm sure, is that I'm just tossing stuff out there so others who might be wanting to ask similar questions can get some additional information. It can be a bit vague, and a bit frustrating as it sounds like I might be dogging on you, but I was also trying to help out other knife users in a similar situation. Sorry if my response struck you as insulting in any way.

One thing that frustrates me a bit is the tendency for a lot of knife buyers to feel that custom is the only option for a "good knife". They drop some super-bucks and six months later you see them trying to trade it off for the next flavor-of-the-month knife on various self-defense forums. As a firm believer in "Go over show" and "Buy right or buy twice", I try to help inform folks that might have a similar bent that their perception is not necessarily the reality of the situation.

[butch]

back in the day i wanted a "dress knife" to replace my millie

many $$ (and years) later i have my replacement and i am some what bored with my now not fresh knife (over 2 years old now )

im happy with the trip i took getting "my knife " and now i need a new one (it is after all a sickness )

[jackknifeh]

One thing to keep in mind with my posts, and many others I'm sure, is that I'm just tossing stuff out there so others who might be wanting to ask similar questions can get some additional information. It can be a bit vague, and a bit frustrating as it sounds like I might be dogging on you, but I was also trying to help out other knife users in a similar situation. Sorry if my response struck you as insulting in any way.

One thing that frustrates me a bit is the tendency for a lot of knife buyers to feel that custom is the only option for a "good knife". They drop some super-bucks and six months later you see them trying to trade it off for the next flavor-of-the-month knife on various self-defense forums. As a firm believer in "Go over show" and "Buy right or buy twice", I try to help inform folks that might have a similar bent that their perception is not necessarily the reality of the situation.

I appreciated your input immensely and was in no way insulted. Everything you said made perfect sense. And what you said about knife makers who truly love making a knife to be used instead of being put in a display case really interested me. I’m going to try to include that into the list of what to search for in a maker (if that is possible). It’s hard sometimes to write in a manner that reflects your true thoughts or it is for me anyway. So if you thought I was insulted please know that you were mistaken. Quite the opposite in fact.

Actually, your thoughts hit home concerning one of the reasons for this new interest of mine. You gave a new insight into the process which is the “personality” of the maker. I’d like a knife with it's own “personality”. I have just never thought about putting it into those words. That says a lot I think so I owe you one.

The not insulted one,
Jack

[jackknifeh]

I've been thinking of Damascus steel for the blade. Any thoughts or experience on performance, durability, edge retention, etc?

Jack

[The Deacon]

I've been thinking of Damascus steel for the blade. Any thoughts or experience on performance, durability, edge retention, etc?

JackIf you worship at the alter of high performance steels and consider VG-10 and S-30V to be "inferior", then damascus is not the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you're like me and are willing to trade a little performance for beauty, the right damascus should be able to satisfy you.

Everything I've read makes me believe Damasteel, properly heat treated, would be "as good" as VG-10, perhaps even better. I'd bet some of the better custom damascus makers stuff is also about its equal.

Never cared enough to do any "cutting comparison tests", but I can say with absolute certainty is that the Devin Thomas stainless raindrop damascus blade (http://paulberetta.com/images/one_eyed_jack/one_eyed_jack_020.jpg) on my A. T. Barr One Eyed Jack (http://paulberetta.com/images/one_eyed_jack/one_eyed_jack_022.jpg) holds its edge well enough for me.

[jackknifeh]

If you worship at the alter of high performance steels and consider VG-10 and S-30V to be "inferior", then damascus is not the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you're like me and are willing to trade a little performance for beauty, the right damascus should be able to satisfy you.

Everything I've read makes me believe Damasteel, properly heat treated, would be "as good" as VG-10, perhaps even better. I'd bet some of the better custom damascus makers stuff is also about its equal.

Never cared enough to do any "cutting comparison tests", but I can say with absolute certainty is that the Devin Thomas stainless raindrop damascus blade (http://paulberetta.com/images/one_eyed_jack/one_eyed_jack_020.jpg) on my A. T. Barr One Eyed Jack (http://paulberetta.com/images/one_eyed_jack/one_eyed_jack_022.jpg) holds its edge well enough for me.

Since I started thinking about a knife to hand down to my son, grandson, etc. the looks of the knife became even more important than it already was. I gave my son the pick of about five knives of mine a few months ago. I told him the pros and cons of each (based on my experience) and he picked the worst of the bunch concerning performance because he liked the look of it better. They were all nice knives so he didn't get a piece of junk but I was suprised how important the appearance was to him. If he knew he was going to get a knife with a blade that looked like damascus does he might hire someone to rub me out. lol

My understanding is the original damascus steel has not been made for hundreds of years. Any info on that?

Jack

[Ed Schempp]

Al Pendray has the patent on Wootz, crucible smelted steel. Most cultures developed some form of san mai steel to stretch their resources and to make a better product. Today hundreds of people make many traditional laminates to exotic mosaics. A greater variety of high quality all tool steel of Damascus is made today, more than ever.

Damascus has been made in Europe since its development and has not really ever died out having to be rediscovered. Japan has a rich proud history of forging high quality blades that goes back over a thousand years.

There are quite a few smiths that smelt there own steel with a variety of methods and materials.

Manfred Sachse Book on Damascus is probably the best single reference book available, when you can find it in English...Take Care...Ed