Explore 11 jaw-dropping custom knives featuring premium damascus steel blades, exotic handle materials, and master craftsmanship.

This summer’s crop of custom knives brings damascus front and center. From twisted and ladder patterns to stainless blends and copper-clad creations, each blade in this collection highlights not just the maker’s skill, but their artistry with steel. Whether forged for daily carry, culinary precision, or collector prestige, these knives turn heads with standout materials—think crystallized titanium, crosscut mammoth, and ringed Western Myall—paired with performance-driven designs. Featured makers range from journeyman smiths to Guild members, each offering a unique take on the timeless beauty and cutting power of damascus steel.

Carlos Queiros Thorn Persian TRS

Knife type: Folder
Blade length: 3.35”
Blade material: Chad Nichols Starfire stainless damascus
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Vintage bright red linen Micarta®
Bolsters: Crystalized titanium
Pocket clip: Yes
Closed length: 4.53”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $4,700-$4,800 at press-time exchange rate
Maker: Carlos Queiros (SharpByCoop image)

---

Casey Brown Dagger

Blade length: 5.5”
Blade material: Ladder-pattern damascus
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Desert ironwood
Guard/fittings: 416 stainless steel
Overall length: 10.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $900
Knife to know: The maker is an ABS journeyman smith
Maker: Casey Brown (SharpByCoop image)

---

Luka Allen Petty Knife

Blade length: 5 5/8”
Blade material: Bjorkman’s twist damascus by Damasteel
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Cottonwood
Fittings: Brass
Overall length: 9.75”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $450
Maker: Luka Allen, lukaallen.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

---

Micah Dunn Chef Bread Knife

Blade length:7.5”
Blade material: Baker Forge & Tool copper-mai Surge pattern
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Spalted chestnut burl and vintage Micarta®
Overall length: 12.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200
Maker: Micah Dunn, mdedgeworks.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

---

Dennis Friedly Art dagger

Blade length: 9”
Blade material: Mike Norris damascus
Blade grind: Hollow
Scales: Picasso marble
Fittings: Blued steel
Embellishment: 24k-gold inlay by Ray Cover Jr.
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $7,200
Knife to know: The maker is a voting member of The Knifemakers’ Guild
Maker: Dennis Friedly, friedlyknives.com (SharpByCoop image)

---

Dane Standen Cleaver

Blade length: 7.3”
Blade material: 243-layer textured damascus of 1084 carbon- and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Colored resin
Pins: Copper
Overall length: 12.2”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for info
Knife to know: The maker is a probationary member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild
Maker: Dane Standen (Rod Hoare image)

---

Josh Howard Folding Hunter

Action: Slipjoint
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade material: Pattern-welded deer hunting scene
Blade grind: Hollow
Scales: Amber stag
Handle frame & bolsters: Stainless steel
Closed length: 5.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact the maker for info
Maker: Josh Howard, deerlickridgeforge.com (SharpByCoop image)

---

Chad J. Jones Hunter

Blade length: 3.75”
Blade material: Mike Norris Hornet’s Nest stainless damascus
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Crosscut mammoth tusk
Liners: Black and white G-10
Bolster: Zebra carbon fiber
Overall length: 8”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,250
Maker: Chad J. Jones (Jocelyn Frasier image)

---

William Manning Hunter

Blade length: 3.35”
Blade material: Random-pattern damascus of 1084 carbon-and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Antler w/copper spacer
Guard: 416 stainless steel
Overall length: 8.27”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for info
Knife to know: The maker is a probationary member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild
Maker: William Manning, manningblades.com (Rod Hoare image)

---

Francois Mazieres Medium Paring Knife

Blade length: 5”
Blade material: Pattern-welded damascus in 150 layers of 1084 and 1075 carbon- and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels embossed using
chevron dies for the final pattern
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Stabilized South-Australian ringed Western Myall wood shaped in a composite Western/cowboy style
Spacers: G-10 and stainless steel
Bolsters: Scalloped, pinned and soldered 416 stainless steel
Construction: Hidden tang
Overall length: 10”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $320.62 at press-time exchange rate
Knife to know: The maker is a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild and a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society
Maker: Francois Mazieres, Yandiwa.com.au (Rod Hoare image)

---

Nate “Tuna” Grant Utility Fixed Blade

Blade length: 4”
Blade material: Rietveld Dragonskin damascus by Bertie Rietveld
Blade grind: Flat
Handle: Titanium, nickel silver, fiber liners, laser engraved
Overall length: 8”
Sheath: Guster leather; inlaid w/exotic animal skin; belt model with snap
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $5,000
Knife to know: The maker’s utility fixed blade won Best Utility at the 2024 Lost Pines Knife Show
Maker: Nate “Tuna” Grant, madebytuna.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

---

Bryan Montalvo Basset

Knife type: Folder
Blade length: 3.25”
Blade material: Grabak damascus by Damasteel
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade pivot: Skiff caged ceramic bearings
Handle: Same material as blade
Lock: Linerlock
Pocket clip: Same material as handle
Closed length: 3.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,000 at press-time material costs
Maker: Bryan Montalvo, keanisonknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

---

More Knife Reviews:

• Sharps Bros. Meanstreak Review: Keen, Mean Cutting Machine
• Relentless Knives Curved Fillet Knife Review
• Cold Steel Finn Bear Review: Light, Sharp And Up To Snuff
• Spartan Blades Clandestina Review: 2024 Blade Knife of the Year