Custom knives… talk me out of / into one..

Never lost a knife either. Still use my first stalking knife occasionally. It’s over thirty years old.
Forget your Mora rubbish and get and look after a good knife. Or a few 😁
 
There's a big difference between a Custom Knife and a Hand Made Knife to my mind. A Custom is designed by you in conjunction with the maker. Others are simply hand made and offered for sale. The latter will probably be all the knife you'll ever need, but your only input will be handing over the moolah.
If you want a Custom, then choose your maker carefully and discuss usage, design options and materials with them. Know what sort of thing you're after by looking at good quality hand made knives first.
When I was making knives full time I made some absolutely hideous things and some very odd-shaped blades (IMO) but they were what the customer wanted so I made them as Custom Knives.

Do yourself a big favour I plead ... DON'T get talked into a Scandi grind for a deer knife !
 
If my wife knew how many “custom” knives I had I’d be in deep trouble!
Drawers

Drawers is what you need 2 drawers one with THE knives in and the other left slightly open near the door of man cave so if SWMBO passes by or brings you tea and biccies can easily view and little comments if said SWMBO is within ear shot of how you’ve got to spend time on these cheap blades to get an edge on them for next week

My wife doesn’t fall for it anymore since I got caught taking an empty gun bag out and it was full when it come back 🥹. My luck took a few years to run out, now most times I can get pass security on receiving the rolled eye look

I wish I had a works office address. Problem solved 😂😂😂😂
 
I have never regretted getting this one.



@Stuart Mitchell, made, many years ago. ( can you remember when, Stu?) A few like-minded folks came up with the spec, and Stu made them. It's been my stalking carry ever since.






Steve.
 
I’m of the view there are multiple types of custom knives, albeit one might argue some are simply a high-quality knife of limited manufacture.

My thought is:

1. A knife of rare design and master-craftmenship execution in materials given of aesthetics that are pleasing to the beholder. A “Sunday Best” stalking knife or one that simply brings pleasure to fondle and see I it’s display case.
2. A knife of singular purpose-specific design with master-craftsmanship execution in materials best suited to complement the task that are given of ruggedness & longevity.

3. Drawer Queens.

K
 
Love both my Emberleafs. They're both orange handled which helps the "loss" thing and the newer one glows in the dark for the same reason!
Expensive? Yes. Fabulous? Yes. A joy to look at? Yes. A joy to use? Yes.
Great service and I will undoubtedly go back and get others as they evolve. I use them all the time (in the same way I've never kept nice watches in a drawer either) and they make gralloching something to look forward to (ok, I maybe exaggerate slightly on that point ;-) but you get my point).
 
Love both my Emberleafs. They're both orange handled which helps the "loss" thing and the newer one glows in the dark for the same reason!
Expensive? Yes. Fabulous? Yes. A joy to look at? Yes. A joy to use? Yes.
Great service and I will undoubtedly go back and get others as they evolve. I use them all the time (in the same way I've never kept nice watches in a drawer either) and they make gralloching something to look forward to (ok, I maybe exaggerate slightly on that point ;-) but you get my point).
Everything you say is correct! Except I definitely look forward to gralloching…. The bigger question for this thread is which of these lovely makers comes up with the best knife! They are all so lovely that I seem to want to collect them all!
 
Everything you say is correct! Except I definitely look forward to gralloching…. The bigger question for this thread is which of these lovely makers comes up with the best knife! They are all so lovely that I seem to want to collect them all!
They all make exceptional knives often to your specification. The best will all come dow. To the quarry you intend to use it on, size of your hand, preferred blade spare and many other variables. Stalking show and others are good places to get a hand on to a blade you might want to buy. Can then tweek material etc to suit personal requirements. Cant imagine anything worse than spending a lot of money and ordering a knife to your requirements that you’ve not held a version of, could end up very dissapointed.
 
Life is too short, just get one! I too have never (permanently) lost a knife. Below are my 2 Danums, the wood handled one is a fallow stalker, I fully processed 7 reds and 5 roe last week with it and it only needed a quick strop to fettle. The other is my old falky F1 which Alan sorted into a rather unique custom.
IMG_0751.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Life is too short, just get one! I too have never (permanently) lost a knife. Below are my 2 Danums, the wood handled one is a fallow stalker, I fully processed 7 reds and 5 roe last week with it and it only needed a quick strop to fettle. The other is my old falky F1 which Alan sorted into a rather unique custom.
View attachment 350725
Yep. Been using my fallow a lot and that’s all it’s ever needed a strop up also Alan just made a couple of kydex sheaths work a treat really pleased 👍
 
Back
Top