Got a Favorite Knife Maker?

[22hipower]

Over the years I've accumulated a few knives but only actively sought those of one maker; Clay Gault (Texas, 1935-2007, voting member Knife Makers' Guild, Texas Knife Makers and Collectors Association). He worked extensively with Sheep Horn and other exotic materials, and used Vasco Wear primarily for his steel. Vasco Wear is extremely difficult to grind and finish. Clay did it by a lot of draw filing, and hand sanding. The sheaths were of elephant ear, cape buffalo, ostrich and other leathers.

Use to see him at gun shows with his head bent over working on a knife. If interrupted he would chat a bit and if pressed, would get out his notebook of knife orders and add one more to the list. You might get it a year or two later. . . .if you were lucky.

I'm sure others here have favorite makers and I'd love to see some of their work.

The last picture of the single knife, is the only one of Clay's that I actually use, VascoWear, Oosic, and Ostrich.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2n1CuX2 https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2n1HohH
https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2n1HNE7 https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2n1CuVd https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[alwslate]

When it comes to knives that are to be used rather than displayed it's pretty hard to beat Buck for the money.

 

[Cal44]

Favorite: Benchmade

For low cost: Kershaw

 

[Johnny Diamond]

Older CASE XX, Schrade, Uncle Henry, Old Timer.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[tlawler]

Randall Made (when I can afford one)

And

Benchmade

ETA: picture of my triathlete EDC

 

[brucev]

My favorite is Benchmade. Also very much like Camillus Boy Scout whittling knife (ca. 1970's). Also ... Buck and Case and Remington. Nothing exotic ... just basic plebian user grade. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Buck, Benchmade, ZT and Spyderco.

 

[jaguargolf]

Puma, Buck

 

[psquarejr]

Buck, Case and Western

 

[30-30remchester]

Like trying to pick your favorite girlfriend. But having to pick just a few in order of the drool factor.
Vintage 1920's Remington's
Vintage New York knife co circa early 1900's
Honk Falls from the same era
Miller Brothers from the turn of the 20th century

Oh, so many. For the first 3 decades of collecting antique folders, I was all about bone scales. Those old Remington's had stunning bone scales. While collecting I invariably got celluloid handled folders in the mix. Never gave them much notice. As a person ages many things change including taste and desires. Through my early decades I was all about blonde women. Now to me there is nothing more attractive than a natural redhead. So has my change in taste of knife scales. Now I am dragging out from under the bed my vintage knives that have weird and exotic celluloid scales. From goldstone, waterfall, Christmas tree, candy stripe to what I refer to as linoleum scales. So many varieties and colors. Just today I showed to another collector a vintage arched Utica from the 1920's, large Coke bottle single blade folder with wild looking celluloid scales and tomorrows show and tell with be a LF&C Universal split back whittler with stunning green swirl scales.

 

[browningcollector]

I like Case and Kershaw for EDC. Jim Downs is from Powell Ohio and makes custom knives. He has a website and often sets up at the OGCA show

Kelly

Below is a small fixed blade I bought from him and I have a back pocket leather sheath

 

[Goldstar225]

Benchmade and older USA made Shrade-Waldens

 

[garddogg56]

Slipjoints=Buck,Schrade and Case
Modern= Benchmade,Kershaw and Spyderco
Fixed =Marbles,Buck and Anza
Dream=Randall

 

[flagaman1950]

I live about 20 miles from an excellent knife/sword maker named Kyle Royer. His work is excellent and his fathers is pretty nice as well. But unfortunately, I have not been able to turn loose the money needed to have one made so I will just stick with Buck and occasional Benchmade.

 

[pistolpete10]

I guess it's Case for me. Unless it's a hunting knife I just carry a regular pocket knife like a Mini Trapper or Canoe or Teardrop.

 

[Chukar60]

My daily grunt and sweat knives are Benchmade.
But I do own a Arno Bernard and will have another soon.

 

[John in Bismarck]

Buck, my first good quality hunting knife was a 112 Ranger, which I still own
Case, I have a small collection, all but one from a favorite shop in Mackinaw City, Michigan
Bark River, beautiful fixed blade knives, made in Escanaba, Michigan
Then there's Swiss Army and Leatherman, and I've carried one or the other almost every day for over 50 years

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Going with NM Good Ole Boy, Cody Westcott. RIP.
Cowboy, Blacksmith, Farrier, Member of the Knifemakers Guild.
Here's a couple of his Folders.

 

[Rudi]

There are a lot of good knife makers. Always been a fan of Gerber.

 

[rbrbrb6]

Kim Ralston out of Mississippi is my maker of choice I should say for my fixed blade knives. I have carried Benchmade EDC knives for years and I think the Osborne model I have now is one of the best of their knives.
These are a couple of Kims knives with snakewood scales.

Ivory

Musk ox
Dall sheep

Bighorn

Musk ox, buffalo an ivory

 

[Onomea]

22highpower, those are lovely knives. I really like Clay Gault's work. In the third picture, what is the four-piece set?

I don't know the name of my favorite knife maker. He didn't mark the knife of his that I have. Some forum friends have speculated that it could be a Bob Loveless, but who knows?



Here's an earlier thread about it: http://smith-wessonforum.com/firear...ombie-fitch-1959-a.html?highlight=Abercrombie

 

[nate-dogg]

I've owned lots of great knives from various makers over the years but Buck, Behring, and Randall are the only knives I buy anymore.

 

[STCM(SW)]

As far as I'm concerned nothing beats a Buck for the money.

 

[Kitgun]

Fixed Randall, folding Benchmade.

 

[pharman]

My 3 favorite brands...

Scagel...Ruana...Remington sheath knives 1925-1940...

 

[Valmet]

Some very nice knife porn in this thread. I can't say I have a favorite but from a collecting standpoint I'm partial to Larry Page and Randall knives. For general use, Benchmade and even good old Camillus.

 

[22hipower]

22highpower, those are lovely knives. I really like Clay Gault's work. In the third picture, what is the four-piece set?

That is a caping set; meant for the close work around the eyes etc. when caping a trophy. The scales on that set are 5000 year old (supposedly) walrus (said mammoth before but walrus is what they are) ivory and the case is elephant.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Mr. Tettnanger]

I am all in with Scott Gossman and Gossman knives!

These are hard use knives that I would bet my life on.

 

[Old_Cop]

22hipower that is a great collection.

 

[Lonegle57]

Went to college from 75-79. While there met a dorm room mate who was making knives, at the time stock removal. We became friends and the friendship continues today. He is now a very talented gunsmith and rarely makes a knife. He turned his knife making to the forge and became one of the first to become a Mastersmith in the ABS in the state of Georgia. I now have a number of his knives from college days to present and am always looking for another. His name, Keith Kilby, my latest aquisition from him is a custom 30-30 Ruger number 1.