Was on the list for a custom maker for 16 months and when my number came up he basically shot down any idea I had and tried to push me into a pattern he had some blanks pre-made for.
I want something similar to the below. Utility type work knife that will double as a rigging knife when I'm fishing.

Who was the maker? That looks simple, and interesting...

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Hiroaki-Ohta-Knives-OFB-SS-Fixed--33450

This is pretty close to what you are hunting, I've got one and really like it. Not sure where to find one now though

He better have access to a laser cutter. It looks cool, but would be a straight pain in the ass to make if he didn’t have the means to do the cut outs.

Try Tim Olt.

That is something I just asked him about and if you got rid of the cut outs that would be hell for catching and keeping crap in, it would be a hellacious good knife for a lot of things. That is almost exactly what I am looking for out of M4 steel. He should have some left over M4 from sheet that he is making knives out of. Let's see if we can convince him to make a couple.

Replaceable blade, but similar:

https://www.kestrelknives.com/shop/mountain-scalpel

Rather not have the cut outs. Prefer thin profile jigged g10 scales. Miles, you talk him into it, I'm all in for one or two.
Like the kestrel's pattern but no replaceable s scalpel blades.

Anybody have a Dozier k46 hunters scalpel?
Damn near exactly what I've been wanting. Covers the Vickie parer pattern mixed with the design above. Perfection for me.

Oh I like both those jack!!!

One of the old GERBER PIXIES with the armorhide handle would also be good choice, if you can find one.

Have pixies and a muskie.
Like them but don't love them. Like more drop in the blade and the handle isn't the greatest for me. Cool for sure but not "it"

Yours? If so, Interested in making a few?

How I wish!
I do custom heat treat, but alas my grinding is way too poor for anyone's use but my own.
Those were made by Geno Denning. He sent a caper pattern that he found from George Herron and I marked it up. 2.75blade/6.75OAL. .090 stock CPM154.

Another very similar knife is the Tom Krein Kard. I have a pair of those too, but don't seem to have any pictures on here.

You still have the one with black scales/orange liners? Any interest in passing it on to a GOOD home?

What is your definition of utility? To me the the blade you pictured would be more of a skinning, caping, delicate work type knife. However the BTE is way too thick. I could dig that knife pictured with a thin thin thin BTE and in something like SuperClean, 15V, 4V, or Rex 121.

Utility like take place of a razor knife. Cut open boxes, cut rope, cut strapping, pry [bleep] etc... Cut the tail off fishing line knots, cut the seal out of a can of powerbait, cut open a bag of swivels, gut a trout, slice a piece of cheese for lunch, cut a section out of a good target to keep, cut open a bag of dog food, sharpen a carpenters pencil. Something just under 1/8" thick would be knife. Flexible but strong enough to pop the cap off a beer?
It would see saltwater use too so something corrosion resistant and low maintenance.
I'm not asking for much? One knife to do everything, that holds an edge forever, sharpens with ease and requires no care? Also a maker that can turn it around quickly at a low price point?

you forgot cutting off rattlesnake heads....

You for sure want M4!

Don,
If I'm killing a snake, poisonous or otherwise, it's gonna be with a pistola, shotgun or a shovel. No way I'm getting within knifes length of one of the bastards .....

Sorry, those are both my wife's. She wanted them based on my Herron, and the patterns were marked up based on her hand. She uses the [bleep] out of them...

The above screams AEB-L or Vanax SC. I have utility EDC's in both at our home in Alabama.
At our home in Idaho, where corrosion resistance isn't an issue, 3V all the way.
I don't understand the M4 recommendation...

Didn't see this before I posted, but (after AEB-L ) spot on!

Not bad for a chopper but like you I'll pass on the M4.

He's looking for something that stays sharp, is tough and will take a beating. It is not particularly stainless, but the one I have has been used in wet conditions and never shown the slightest rust, not even on a razor edge and I just used it without regard to protecting it from anything. If I had something in the few months I had had it that needed cutting I cut it without regard to what I was cutting or cutting on. I did nothing to keep it from rusting. It stayed shaving sharp until I shifted it to a steeper edge angle, and has stayed shaving sharp since then.

Will it rust? I have heard of it but not seen it. Is it tough? IMO very. Will it stay sharp? Mine has.

I hacked up a bunch of cardboard, cut a fair amount of Kevlar, cut meat and fish, and did nothing but wipe it off. That works for me.

All I can do is shake my head.

maybe this would work....

https://www.arizonacustomknives.com...26/s/crotts-caper-1009219/category/3374/

I really like crotts. I'm thinking my Skinner came from you gene? The one above with a straight handle and the blade half that length would be nice.

Yeah your skinner did come from me and Dan is as talented as they come...

Hey, I congratulate you on finding "the" knife for you. I've had several of those "eurekas" and even have one I call the Magic Knife so know how you feel.

Am actually a fan of the M4 steels in their bailiwick, just don't think the OP's needs fits any of those.

Would love to have a friendly discussion around your thoughtful reply above, but don't have enough info. I've experience in M4, CPM M4, Micro Melt M4 and S690, with knives from 2 factories, 3 other makers, and myself. Can you provide the steel, maker, hardness, surface treatment, etc so I can respond?

Daniel is a great guy. Heck, he probably made or supervised the making of the K-46's above that everyone so likes...

how about something like this? 7 inch OAL with a 3 1/2 blade.. Its handy

Is that the 1095 carbon steel? Elk antler? Very nice!

Gorgeous but really like the longer handle, shorter blade of the k-46 Dozier. With a slightly longer handle and slightly shorter blade, both of the same design/shape/thickness and I'd be golden. A kydex neck sheath to keep it handy when standing knee deep with a rod in hand whether in a mountain stream or the Atlantic ocean.
Thin ground to make it borderline flexible but still with backbone.

Good Luck with the thin grind! If that is what you want then you should think about a Triple B or Phil Wilson.