Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Looking for a knife maker - suggestions please

Between Rick, Tim, and Godogs57, you can't go wrong.

Many thanks…

Cotis,

You've gotten feedback on some great makers (though at least 4 are retired or semi-retired.)

By my count only 3 left standing actually make a knife similar to what you're looking for IF you truly want a Loveless style drop point/hollow ground/tapered tang/soldered guard per your picture. Couple of my friends from the "Knives and Blades" forum waaaay down at the bottom here, that you might not have known existed, have PM'd that they are staying out of this based on how the thread has segued from your actual question: i.e. "a knife maker to make a knife like this" in a "really good steel." These guys are seasoned experts and could really help you if you refine your parameters:

1.) Budget?, again as I asked above.
2.) Is it just the Loveless Drop Point blade shape or the full menu (guard/soldered/tapered tang/hollow grind? you're after?
3.) What, to you, constitutes "a really good steel?"

Yes Mike E Miller!, makes his own sheaths too very nice!

+1

Journeyman,
These are good questions. I do not have exact answers, but will number them as you asked.

1. Budget - I am seeing knives in the $250-$300 range. For the details and features I want that would be a steal. I fully expect to pay much more than that.
2. I am not stuck on this EXACT design. I like the general concept, but I am so far from an expert on designs it is not even funny. I believe my wants fall more into the "full menu". I want to have productive conversations with a quality knife builder and create something that both of us will be proud of
3. Again, talking out my ass. Probably something more than D2. There are so many good options and I am sure a good builder knows that and what he/she likes to use.

Thank you

I am fortunate that my friend has several thousand dollars tied up in a Tormek with every accessory and japanese water stones and a bunch of stuff I don't even know what he is talking about. He really went down the rabbit hole getting all the fancy stuff to sharpen knives. Think there is even a unicorn to pee on it for lubrication

You can’t go wrong with Tim Olt and his pricing is way lower than you’d expect to pay.

I have a PM dialog going with him. Thank you

Good choice.

Mike Miller does his Cowboy model, a slender’er pattern with bolsters.

Skyblade knives are very nice also...you can google it and find the web site.

I cannot find contact information for Kim Ralston. Can someone please share? Sounds like he is close enough to me that I could visit in person.

I have my knives made by Lin Rhea out of Prattsville, AR. He has a lot of his sheaths made by Kenny Rowe from Hope, AR. Lin has a reputation for making some really nice Bowie knives but also makes a variety of other styles. I really enjoy going into the forge & watching him work. It’s nice to see a skilled craftsman plying his trade.

For hunters wanting a "using knife", you will be hard pressed to improve on McCrosky knives. You will skin and bone out half a dozen elk before you have to touch up the knife. A friend skinned 300 beaver before he had to sharpen his.

Check out this guy. I know him personally, LEO with Phoenix PD, works with my son. Does phenomenal work.

https://jmcquillan.com/

https://www.instagram.com/j.mcquillan_az/

Dan Thornburg, he posts lots of his work here as Dan308:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/19179474/1