'Custom' Pakistani Made Bowie Knives?

[Dispatch]

I was looking for a knife maker for a custom made 19th century 'style' Bowie knife to compliment a gun rig, the most important aspect, it has to look and feel 'Period Correct'.

The thing I'm wondering about, are any of the Pakistani makers reputable and are the knives of good quality?

It's tough to answer this without seeing one in person, I was hoping maybe someone here has with more than one knife maker.

I checked with various American makers, to have it done with any of them would require a minimum of 6 months to a year wait and cost three to four times as much.

I found one on ebay that says he makes them from scratch and he can do anything you want to it, custom ordered.

He charges $300 for this one which includes shipping, he is proposing making it aged looking like pictured, removing the wording on the blade and with a vine pattern filing on the spine and with a Camel bone handle.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Handmade-5160-Spring-Steel-Aged-Juan-Padillo-Bowie-Knife-Custom-Order/193161647365?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Any advice from actual experience is greatly appreciated.   

[Capt Quirk]

Talk to this guy, Ray Johnson in Melbourne FL. Real good guy, did a custom sword for me years ago. Does really nice work, including Damascus. https://m.facebook.com/Raymond-Johnson-Knives-280416075418046/

[Professor Marvel]

Oh My.

Here omes a Wall O' Text from Prof Babbelmouth!

firstly, we all know you get what you pay for.
in 3rd world countries metal is likely unknonw scrap, possible old British Railroad Track.
in 3rd world countries wages can be as low as $.25 per day

the problems with buying from overseas middleast third world makers
are innummerable. inumberablke , too many

one has no knowledge of who they are or what they do exceptwhat they post on the web ( it's on the WEB it Must Be True!).

And how many problems do we have with people claiming on the web about what they are not?
My "favorites" are the predators on social media posing as a 15-17 year olds looking for a date that the cops are nabbing via "honey pot" traps.

especially thirdworld...  oh yes the nigerian gentleman who just needs your help ...
(did you know that nigerian internet scammers are looked up to as entrepeneurs and heros?

also, doing business with anyone out of pakistan *will* get one on a list ,
a lot of money going thru pakistan and etc are funding terrorists....

last, even if they are legit the materials used and workmanship are iffy.

I have picked up a few items cheaply and did some crude analysis.
whislt the work is usually fairly well done, the welded layers vary dramatically even in the same piece
and the "steel" and layer interfaces  are insananely prone to rusting.

for the most part, the vast majority of mid-east knives are ok for lookin' at but not so much for usin'

Good news:
at one time Atlanta Cutlery had a contract with a "manufactory" in india with
boots on the ground to ensure good QA. Every "pattern welded" knife blank I got from
Atlanta Cutlery was a good piece.

here's some of what they have now:

https://www.atlantacutlery.com/search?q=damascus

---------

BUT... you wrote "the most important aspect, it has to look and feel 'Period Correct'."

so we need to ask exactly what sort of period correct knife?

rich guy? working bloke?

what time period?
what style?
Jim Bowie style?
San Francisco Dirk?
Plains Belt Knife?
Texas Cowboy Knife?
Dakotas Buffalo Skinner?

that "Juan Padillo Bowie" you posted is authentic, but is it right for your rig, era, and place?  Or do you care about that?

ah the possibilities for a long drawn out discussion are endless!

yhs
prof marvel

[Professor Marvel]

Oh, and we have our own knifemaker/ swordsmith Tinker Pierce
he also makes interesting C&B conversions....

Oh and I forgot, did you look at the "knives" child board over here?
The Cutting Edge
https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/board,90.0.html

lotsa neet stuff and pics...
lotsa history ....


and if you need ideas, the late Chuck Borrows of the Wild Rose Trading Co did some beautiful work and he also posted in the Cutting Edge Board here

here is a link to some pics of his work on the web (for traditional ideas)
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22chuck+burrows%22+knives&atb=v152-7__&iax=images&ia=images

( remember kids,  google IS evil;  duckduckgo is less evil )

and there is Track Of The Wolf and Crazy Crow (vendors)


yhs
prof marvel

[Dispatch]

Oh My.

Here omes a Wall O' Text from Prof Babbelmouth!

firstly, we all know you get what you pay for.
in 3rd world countries metal is likely unknonw scrap, possible old British Railroad Track.
in 3rd world countries wages can be as low as $.25 per day

the problems with buying from overseas middleast third world makers
are innummerable. inumberablke , too many

one has no knowledge of who they are or what they do exceptwhat they post on the web ( it's on the WEB it Must Be True!).

And how many problems do we have with people claiming on the web about what they are not?
My "favorites" are the predators on social media posing as a 15-17 year olds looking for a date that the cops are nabbing via "honey pot" traps.

especially thirdworld...  oh yes the nigerian gentleman who just needs your help ...
(did you know that nigerian internet scammers are looked up to as entrepeneurs and heros?

also, doing business with anyone out of pakistan *will* get one on a list ,
a lot of money going thru pakistan and etc are funding terrorists....

last, even if they are legit the materials used and workmanship are iffy.

I have picked up a few items cheaply and did some crude analysis.
whislt the work is usually fairly well done, the welded layers vary dramatically even in the same piece
and the "steel" and layer interfaces  are insananely prone to rusting.

for the most part, the vast majority of mid-east knives are ok for lookin' at but not so much for usin'

Good news:
at one time Atlanta Cutlery had a contract with a "manufactory" in india with
boots on the ground to ensure good QA. Every "pattern welded" knife blank I got from
Atlanta Cutlery was a good piece.

here's some of what they have now:

https://www.atlantacutlery.com/search?q=damascus

---------

BUT... you wrote "the most important aspect, it has to look and feel 'Period Correct'."

so we need to ask exactly what sort of period correct knife?

rich guy? working bloke?

what time period?
what style?
Jim Bowie style?
San Francisco Dirk?
Plains Belt Knife?
Texas Cowboy Knife?
Dakotas Buffalo Skinner?

that "Juan Padillo Bowie" you posted is authentic, but is it right for your rig, era, and place?  Or do you care about that?

ah the possibilities for a long drawn out discussion are endless!

yhs
prof marvel

Upper middle class? 

To match the rig, solid built, low profile look but of top quality.

Civil War to 1880's.

Like you said, the Juan Padillo style Bowie, it would cover all time aspects.

The Pakistan maker seemed to be on the level with a 100 % feedback score, it also has the ebay buyers protection on top of the purchase being through a credit card so all bases would be covered.

[Capt Quirk]

Yeah... Not sure how much I trust the feedback, or eBay for that matter. They might refund you, but how long will they drag their feet doing it? Call Ray, I can vouch for his integrity.

[Dispatch]

Yeah... Not sure how much I trust the feedback, or eBay for that matter. They might refund you, but how long will they drag their feet doing it? Call Ray, I can vouch for his integrity.

Will do and thanks for the heads up...

[Major 2]

There are several good knife makers right here on the BB

+ 1 for Tinker Pearce

Cliff Fendley

Mike Carter

[Dispatch]

There are several good knife makers right here on the BB

+ 1 for Tinker Pearce

Cliff Fendley

Mike Carter

I sent pm's to all 3... 

[Galen]

Look up the Bowie knife made by Condor. They are in Central America and cost about $85.00 delivered.

[Dispatch]

What about the ones on arizonacustomknives.com?

[Major 2]

Check this one out

and by Gil Hibben  who made the Rambo knives

https://www.amazon.com/Gil-Hibben-West-Bowie-Knife/dp/B07L53RMX9/ref=pd_lutyp_crtyp_simh_2_2/147-9740846-0029221?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07L53RMX9&pd_rd_r=4ad9a152-5be1-4198-b59d-8a71d59290a3&pd_rd_w=DAC39&pd_rd_wg=ZGnQW&pf_rd_p=06852cd5-d143-44e6-b5b7-d51110cd2298&pf_rd_r=RJ7657BPD7755R3KHFY6&psc=1&refRID=RJ7657BPD7755R3KHFY6

[Dispatch]

Check this one out

and by Gil Hibben  who made the Rambo knives

https://www.amazon.com/Gil-Hibben-West-Bowie-Knife/dp/B07L53RMX9/ref=pd_lutyp_crtyp_simh_2_2/147-9740846-0029221?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07L53RMX9&pd_rd_r=4ad9a152-5be1-4198-b59d-8a71d59290a3&pd_rd_w=DAC39&pd_rd_wg=ZGnQW&pf_rd_p=06852cd5-d143-44e6-b5b7-d51110cd2298&pf_rd_r=RJ7657BPD7755R3KHFY6&psc=1&refRID=RJ7657BPD7755R3KHFY6

That's a beautiful blade but I'm looking for a non-traditional 'Alamo type' Bowie knife as I consider that one to be, I want something from scratch with the makers artistic touch to it and with a little personal flare of mine thrown in as well...

[Capt Quirk]

Ol Gil done went Hollywood

[Robert Swartz]

That's a beautiful blade but I'm looking for a non-traditional 'Alamo type' Bowie knife as I consider that one to be, I want something from scratch with the makers artistic touch to it and with a little personal flare of mine thrown in as well...

Got one of the foreign made knives about 25 or more years ago. Defarbed it, squared off the brass guard and made a decent sheath. The steel is still crap. Best advise, get a copy of Flaydermans knife book, get some ideas. Then find a good knifemaker. You'll be a lot happier in the end and you'll have a knife you can really USE!

[DeaconKC]

Smoky Mountain Knife Works has knife kits and blanks for making your own custom knife. Might be useful to you.

[1961MJS]

Hi

If you want to make your own, check out Jantz Supply of Oklahoma.  They're a nationwide dealer in knife making supplies.  I've made several Green River knives using their supplies.

https://knifemaking.com/

I've purchased, but not really used two daggers from this place:

http://www.kultofathena.com/daggers.asp

Good, but not great.  Relatively inexpensive.  I bought an 1880 Springfield US Hunting knife but it's WAY too big to be a close match to a real one.  The same with the Rifleman's knife.  I think the two together cost less than $120.00.  If you buy from these guys, I would suggest using Windlass made stuff.  They're who used to make things for Atlanta Cutlery.  I have an Atlanta Cutlery Kukri that I've used to cut brush for decades.

Be careful buying Norm Flayderman's Bowie knife book will cost you much more than the $ for the book.  Trust me on this.  My 30 year old daughter thought it was a catalog...

Later