40th Birthday help!

[thorpey0]

Hi,

It is my 40th next year and I would love to have someone make me a bushcraft knife that will last me and maybe even give me something to pass on to my son.

While I would love an Alan Wood Woodlore, £600 is pushing it a bit! I am looking at a Ben Orford knife or maybe someone else (suggestions would be great!) and wondered what wood would make the perfect handle and what else I should be looking for?

At the moment I get by with an Enzo Trapper with curly birch handle, it holds a good edge and works so I just want something similar but better and unique....

Suggestions...? Thanks

 

[Man of Tanith]

hillbill or fygt of this parish mate

 

[Countryman]

As Man of Tanith says. Both have done work for me and are excellent craftsmen and both damn nice blokes.

Can I suggest you consider a blade in Elmax?


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[thorpey0]

Elmax? Please tell me more Countryman....

I have emailed Mark, who is fygt?

 

[Dreadhead]

+1 to those makers above. also Dave Budd or Kristophish of this parish

 

[Samon]

Go for hand forged if it's a special birthday!

The fancy knives all cleanly cut and shaped from stock steel are lovely, but nothing says special like a hand forged knife. That's my perspective anyway.

And there really are loads of talented makers on here, some are less well known than the more popular names and actually make (in my opinion) nicer looking stuff!

 

[Countryman]

FGYT is Duncan as Dorset Woodland Blades.

Elmax. Newish metal. Best qualities of Carbon a Steel and Stainless. Absolutely excellent stuff. Mark made my custom blade from it and everything since seems vastly inferior.


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[Mesquite]

As it's such a special occasion why not book a one to one knife making course with Dave Budd and hand forge your very own blade?

 

[thorpey0]

Some good ideas there folks! I will definitely look at the Elmax a bit further!

 

[HillBill]

Elmax is good.... bit expensive now the supply in the US has dried up... need to go to the UK supplier who have a minimum order charge of £125 and a fixed £32 delivery charge. Very few places ever have it, as the company who produce it don't sell to resellers, only end users.

 

[vizsla]

Plenty of cracking makers have been recommended chap, my advise is try and have it with your own personal touches to make it individual to you, that way it's special!

 

[weekender]

Another thought is to get an idea of what you like in a knife so you have ideas and preferences to give to the maker ie handle shape size material and blade shape size length. Also sheath preferences?? Just some thoughts
Oh and happy birthday 👍🎉


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[thorpey0]

That's the thing I guess, so much choice, so little experience! I know the length and thickness of blade that's about it! Apart from it being a bushy knife, but not really a woodlore clone....