You want a custom knife built. Now what?
With custom knives, you’re not limited by what some Chinese manufacturer thinks is cool, but by what you want in a family heirloom. I’ve had some people come to me with the craziest ideas that turned out awesome. The decisions to make are these:
1: What do you want to use the knife for? Will it be your daily pocket knife, a display knife on your desk in the office, a carving or brisket knife, or the hunting knife you have always dreamed of?
2. Next, the use of the knife will determine what kind of blade material we use. You don't need to know the different kinds of steel, I can pick that out for you depending on the use. For example, you may want a Damascus blade for your carving knife, but they are high carbon, tend to rust when over-exposed to water, and are just generally a bad idea for the kitchen. Just because you see them on TV doesn’t mean they are real Damascus, usually not. Our standby for most knives is 154 CM, D2, or AEBL. ATS 34, the old standby for bladesmiths, has gotten more expensive with much lower quality. We won't use it anymore.
3. Pick your handle material. For kitchen knives, a good hardwood like Beau D’ Arc will last forever under any condition but a synthetic like G10 or old-fashioned bakelite is a great choice. Hardwoods can look very pretty and be highly functional without breaking the bank. I’m finishing up a brisket knife with flamed box elder. Badass. Mesquite, cocobolo, or a root ball from just about any hardwood makes beautiful, lasting handles (also called grips or scales). Do you have an old tree stump from grandads family ranch? If it's seasoned enough (not wet inside), we can get a few slices out of it and use that. Badass. I work with most exotics like Woolly Mammoth Ivory or tooth, which is usually a minimum of 8,000 years old, about the time they died off, up to about 50,000 years old. With that, you get a knife AND a great story. Exotics can be expensive and usually add another $200-$400 to the cost. I charge you whatever it cost me from a known reputable dealer and will show you the receipt. All exotics are guaranteed real. Water buffalo horn, giraffe bone, moose antler, or any antler really are much. less pricey.
4. So now you know what kind of knife you want, the steel and the handle material. What’s next? Well, we sit down with some templates and you pick a design or we draw it out on steel until you’re happy.
5. Custom vs store-bought. Like anything else, there are little-known secrets in the knife world. Most store-bought knives are made in China or Pakistan from inferior steel. Any one of my knives can usually cut its blade in half. Most knives at gun shows are in this category. They won't hold an edge either, but they look nice. Look the grind and steel over closely. If it's perfect, it's probably machine-made and not a custom knife. they have small imperfections or “birthmarks” that distinguish them as handmade and one of a kind. You can usually get a great-looking knife at the store or gun show for $20-$100. Custom will cost 3 or 4 times that but your great, great grandchild will still carry the knife you had made for “them” 100 years from now.
Are you a veteran interested in learning to make knives? Shoot me a note and we can talk.
