Premier Knifemarker on this forum

[flintsghost]

I know that when the discussions on this forum turn to knives many of the members tend to think of such common names as Randall, Benchmade, Cold Steel, Chris Reeve, Strider etc, to name a few. But there is a member of this forum who is well known, though not on this forum, particularly for his forged steel blades and his work is extremely good and because he isn't nationally recognized as a superstar, way under priced. That's Matt Lamey. Every so often he has shown up and had some parts for sale or other parts he has needed. If you are looking for a high quality blade that is actually forged from quality steel, you couldn't go wrong looking at his. I don't actually own one but have seen a few and you can get a pretty good idea from his website.

http://www.lameycustomknives.com/Site/Welcome.html

Since he doesn't toot his own horn on this forum, I'll toot it for him and I don't even know him and have done no business with him. His work reminds me a lot of Bill Bagwell's work. Bill for those who don't know was the 2nd man right behind the late Bill Moran to successfully forge damascus steel in the 20th century. Bagwell was the #2 Master Smith in the Bladesmith's society. Lamey bears very good comparison with Bagwell and Moran and I have owned Bagwells work and seen Morans. As a knife aficionado I have wondered why no one ever seems to mention Matt.

[Daimyo]

Strider? If you knew Mick Strider's background you wouldn't buy his knives. I sold/gave away all mine. I only buy Spartan knives (Owners are former SF)

[flintsghost]

The post only mentioned Strider in passing. It's about Lamey. I don't own nor have I ever owned a Strider and don't know anything about him or his background and don't care. Being former Army, Marine Corps, SF or whatever, doesn't make you a good knife maker. Depending upon what your MOS was, it doesn't even make one knowledgeable about knives or how they're used or made. The last two knives I bought were made by Vaughn Neeley a former owner of Timberline knives and he makes all the orignal Timberline designs now. He is a former SF er from the 60's. But he makes good knives because he is both a master machinist and a craftsman, not because he was in SF. Matt Lamey makes good knives because he understands how to control steel while he is forging it and how to heat treat it. His knives have a great reputation and I just thought I would mention him because he is on the forum occasionally and I know he has an interest in M14's and M1A's.

[CAVman]

Originally Posted by Daimyo Strider? If you knew Mick Strider's background you wouldn't buy his knives. I sold/gave away all mine. I only buy Spartan knives (Owners are former SF)

Darn You, Daimyo !!!
I Spent At Least An Hour Reading About MS On The 'Net !

Fascinating Story!
You would need a month to get it all straight in your head...
And while I don't always believe that where there is smoke, there is fire...
In This Case...Yeah, I Do.
AND, it also seems to me the story is like a 'microcosm' of how No Matter What somebody is accused of or how clear the facts are...Some Folks will continue to defend the guy forever, regardless...on the basis of---Well, I Know Him, and He's Never Done Me Dirt(Yet!)
It's almost a Universal Dynamic, it seems to me...
Perhaps loyalty to a fault, perhaps just unwillingness/inablity to accept that we could be So Wrong about somebody!?


CAVman in WYoming

[zmon1911]

Matt builds some of the BEST using knives around - here's a few of mine...

[pine snake]

Search online for a gentleman named Terry Vandeventer from Terry MS, he is an excellent craftsman.

[cheepertokeeper]

Whats in a name, beauty in the eye of the beholder and function over form. Seems the custom knife industry has alot in common with the New York art community. Need to be a member of the club to command a high price. I am an avid collector with some no name blades I've used/abused and would carry confidently for most any use. I've met many fine knivesmiths vending their products at shows, etc. Lots of these craftsmen/women know their steel, forging, grinds, materials and build knives worthy of our attetnion. Often forced to sell at prices lower than name brand imported brittle toys. Always willing to educate their customers, chat these starving artists up sometime, examine their products, pick their brain. Might come away with something worth having and help keep an American craftsman employed. Also kinda surprised not much mention of Marbles knives on the forum. Good enough for Teddy Roosevelt, Lindberg, etc. My Yooper heritage may hint of bias but these are/were worth a look at. Mea culpa, highly collectible, lots of fakes hitting the market, beware. A good "Ideal" hunting knife can still be had for under $100, hand forged heirloom quality workhorses. Meantime anyone have a nice Randall I can afford:)

[pilotc7a]

I carried a randall in vietnam/laos for five years.
Money talks. Save up and buy a randall. You'll never wear it out, and you can give it to your grand kids and during your lifetime, it'll never wear out.
And I never heard of a Randll breaking.

Pilot c7a

[leadbug]

Thank you flintsghost. I looked quickly, and they are gorgeous!

[Earthquake]

those Lamey blades are sweet looking, how are his prices?

A fiend of mine dad used a Randell #1 fighter to split the breast bone on a elk once and it distorted the middle of the blade but I would still love to have it.
My favorite blade is still my Blackjack "Mamba" But I have never bought a custom knife, some day I hope.

Casey

[zmon1911]

Originally Posted by Earthquake those Lamey blades are sweet looking, how are his prices?

Matt's pricing is very reasonable for the custom knife industry, Casey.
Best I can remember the 10" bowie with the clay hardened blade was $600, the cleaver was $400, and the utility was $275.

Matt's work IS a fine example of the craft!