Does it seem to you that a fair number of older, "name" knife makers are retiring from the business at this time? Are there any new, younger makers who are making a name for themselves by producing knives with usable patterns, high quality materials and excellent fit & finish? I'm hoping there is a new generation coming up to fill the void.

RS

There are a few coming up, but I do not think enough to fill the future void.
Just my opinion.

might well be a dying art in America.

Several….


Rocky Menefee
Bryant Hollinger.
Jeff Oekle

They’ve all made me knives. Top notch work.



You can find a bunch of guys ( prolly even gals ) posting on Instagram.

Seems that’s easier than keeping a website. More popular than FB.

Another guy i follow on IG is Josh Smith.

He does high end customs.

Last year during the china flu he quit his day job and started Montana knife company.

He’s ( the company ) is making mid-tech knives. Machine cut and hand finished.

It’s crazy the numbers of knives they are selling.


They’ll do a drop and sell out in MINUTES.
100’s of knives at a time.

Seth Borries, owner of Southern Longbeard custom knives, in Gautier, Miss.

"Forged in Fire" winner, builds quality no-nonsense knives, and his prices aren't unreasonable.

My wife bought me a drop point hunter for Christmas, two years ago.

www.slbknives.com

I got in the custom knife game a few years ago. I wish I started much earlier because most all the makers of my knives are retired or will be very soon. Some people just should not be allowed to get older.

To add to the list of suggested new guys, you might want to check out Lee Baumgart. http://baumgarthandmadeknives.blogspot.com

I have his B&T. Another member on here, JGRAY, has the very same knife.

I make custom knives. I sell a few here and there but I don't do enough of them to fill any sort of void. I've been making since 1998, got serious in 2001 and have been making them since. In 2014 I decided I needed to get serious with the leather work to accompany my knives. That has been a journey to say the least. I just turned 40. I have 4 kids. 11, 9, 4 and 1. They are all going learn the trade even if just a little. If they want to continue it that will be up to them but I want the skill passed on. I feel I could easily go full time and make an honest monetary living doing it. What doesn't come with being a custom knife maker is insurance, vacation, 401K and scheduled days off. I like to play too much to be disciplined enough to work for myself right now. My current plan is work for "the man" 10 more years and go full time knife maker when I turn 50. The wife has a good job with insurance now so it may happen sooner.

I'm a member of a few knife groups on Facebook. Also bladeforums.com.. There is no shortage of coming up makers. However, there is a huge shortage of coming up makers that don't need instant satisfaction and are willing to put in the time to produce a knife with that next level of fit and finish.

Todd

Tony Baker folders, Tim Robertson folders, Wes Lyon Damascus straight knives and folders, Nic Overton Forged in Fire winner straight knives, Casey Cleveland Forged in Fire I think winner, are just a few of younger guys making nice goods right now.

I forgot Paul Lusk from Spring Texas. He makes fabulous liner locks and straight knives.

Lucas Forge. Doesn’t get any better.

https://www.sunfishforge.com/kylehansonknifegallery.html

Dunno how old he is but I’m liking this guys work

Wayne Walker with WW Customs make some great knives.

Another vote for Tony Baker. Chris Sharp makes really nice knives and has a pretty cool patent on an integral bolster/liner/escutcheon machined in.
There are a host of young makers in instagram that are turning out very impressive work.