Thread: Best custom knife maker NZ

Hi fellas,

Any experience or advice on who does a top job in NZ for custom hunting blades?

Any feedback on not so flash also appreciated.

Cheers

Jase

I have Ripi knives and Steve Wheeler...happily referred either

Sent from my SM-G996B using Tapatalk

There are so many its frightening actually - spoilt for choice really.

Auckland Knife Show on 24-25th September at the Ellerslie Event Centre in Auckland.
There will be at least 30 custom makers.

Brent Sandow
Richard van Dijk
Colin Hair
Leif Haseltine
Nick Turner
Dylan Harding
Aaron Green
Frank Schatz
Caleb Smit
Peter Birch
Matt James
Colin Nicol
Brett Martin
Justin Williams
AJ Prime
Rick Jochem
Stu Lind
Shea Stackhouse
Skye Eilers
and last but not least,
John Worthington.

and Von Gruff, thanks

There are probably plenty of others, I just cant think of them at the moment.

If you want contact details I can obtain them for you although most are on the web and easy to find.

@viper right here on the forum is making superb knives .. .. anda second for Von Guff

@ Tentman , thanks for the kind words but I am not really in the same league as people like John Worthington who mentors me.
I have a long ways to go yet.

bottom line is...YOU ARE....... go and book in and make your own one.......all the fellas above make a wonderful knife,but custom is a personal thing,made to your specs with your needs in mind. Im not saying my effort is better in any way than what these guys make because it is not...but its MINE and MADE BY ME so its personal. the other bottom line is if you going to spend $300 plus on a knife of anysort,there will be tears if you loose it or chip blade doing dumb shit.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

... the other bootom line is if you going to spend $300 plus on a knife of anysort,there will be tears if you loose it or chip blade doing dumb shit.

The same could be said of anything of value which makes the point moot but I definitely agree with making your own if you have the ability/means or can attend a workshop to make one. Money well spent as you get a knife and the basic skills of knifemaking.

well yes n no.....its not moot point as OP could go a buy a $16 bacho to do the same job....... if you going to spend decent chunk of the housekeeping money you better look after the plurry thing!!!! which is what I was aiming at with comment.
the nice fella who ran course I was on has a few very very nice knives on display and forsale......there must be loads more backyarders out there turning out good product.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

well yes n no.....its not moot point as OP could go a buy a $16 bacho to do the same job....... if you going to spend decent chunk of the housekeeping money you better look after the plurry thing!!!! which is what I was aiming at with comment.
the nice fella who ran course I was on has a few very very nice knives on display and forsale......there must be loads more backyarders out there turning out good product.

My point was you could buy cheap or expensive (insert product here) and lose it - losing it shouldn't be a factor.
Besides, you (read: most people) are more likely to look after a $300 knife than a bacho!

Thanks for the feedback fellas. Cheers

Bill Nikl

I don’t have one, but want one!

Just a point, some knife makers specialise ( and sometime excel) in one area more than another.
It could be a folder Vs fix blade.
Kitchen knife Vs hunting knife
Forged Vs stock removal
Super steel Vs Damascus
…etc
And there is also what the knife maker enjoy to make and which one may already have some designs that you like.

Asking a knife maker who specialises in folders to make a big camp knife would never come to my mind.

Going to the blade show would be an awesome idea. Each maker has their own style. A few of the makers listed above have wait lists, and AJ Prime is out for a bit as he had a bit of an argument with a grinder.

Also if you have a steel preference find a maker who works with the types of steel you like.

John Worthington (Ripi) made mine.
I wanted a Candian style knife made to fit my medium hands. And I wanted it in CPM-3V with micarta scales.
I drew it out on card and sent it to him

It is wonderful. What an edge it takes.

Shame Hamish isn't making any more sheaths...

Originally Posted by 7.62

Bill Nikl

I don’t have one, but want one!

I do have one and will never get rid of it . Its magic .