"THE CANADIAN EMBASSY" hosted by Ron Dumeah

This group is for anyone with common interest of manufacture, discussion or acquiring knives for collection. 

  • Jakub Capek

    Hello all you Canadians!
  • Arjun Gandhi

    Does anyone know of any Canadian branded knives (not customs)? The only good one I'm familiar with is Grohmann.
  • Arjun Gandhi

    Hey Andrew,

    Actually I just ordered one from the clearance section for about 36 bucks. It's not the classic designs, but those are on the 'to buy' list over the summer (yay paid internships). I was going to get carbon steel for those. As for edge retention the one I ordered was stated to be tempered softer and it's in stainless. I guess it won't hold the best edge, but should be easy as hell to sharpen.

    http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/clearance.html
    It's the first knife.
  • Shlomo ben Maved

    There is also Skalja Knives in what I would call a semi custom folder maker as they sell their knives to various dealers -- like AG Russell for resale...I've handled them, lovely things, but haven't gotten one and don't think I would in future either as I'm not into that style of folder too much...

    There is a YYZ company called Canada Knives that has some quite nice designs but I don't know anything about them, where/how they are made but they have a fair number of their own label/brand on their site...Their machete/kukhri blades have some interesting variations...

    I have every version of Grohmann’s D.H. Russell Belt Knives -- original and flat blade in both Rosewood and Stag, if available and a 7pc set of their better quality kitchen knives with block...
  • Jakub Capek

    The Grohmann company has a long history. I think they are fairly good knives, but I also do not have any... Guess I will take a look and maybe buy one in the near future. Get the Canadian economy back on its feet! ...
  • Jakub Capek

    Hello Ron, I guess the rest of us Canadians are stuck in some snow storm or something...

  • Smiling-Knife

    Hi Everyone. I'm a Canadian living the UK. I mostly have Sheffield made knives with some German and US knives. Looking forward to seeing you onboard.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Hi everyone, I'm not a Canadian but my Cajun French ancestors were from Canada and I'm proud to have Canada as my ally. Thanks for the invitation to join ya'll group, if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.

  • Smiling-Knife

    I like the new name.

    Welcome Robert, great that you decided to join us.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Have any of guys heard of a Canadian knife maker named Laurent Doussot? I have heard he makes great knives, I just haven't seen any.

  • Jan Carter

    Happy National Flag Day!!!


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Yep, I second that, Happy Flag Day you Guys and Gals.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Wow Ron, he is a true master and thanks for sharing his work with us.

  • Jan Carter

    That is a beauty!

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    I am submitting for your edification and perusal a small database of knifemakers producing custom knives here in Canada--I know I'm missing lots but at lest it's a start.

    There is a very good dealer called True North Knives located in Montreal that has a great selection of custom blades.

    Also Canadian Knifemaker Supply for all your needs

    They're grouped somewhat by notoriety and by style with the first makers models I own or really wish to in the next months or so to others are alphabetical

    The Canadian Knifemakers Guild

    Besh Knives = Brent Beshara 

    Greg Lightfoot 

    Kirby Lambert 

    Brian Tighe 

    Randy Doucette 

    Gaetan Beauchamp = Couteau 

    Spear Tip Knives = Jeff Maron

    Jeff Diotte 

    Côté Knives 

    Wolf Knives = Wolfgang

    Chantal Gilbert -- Art knives

    Steve Vanderkolff 

    Ralph Boos 

    Alain Miville-Deschênes 

    Mel Long 

    Brad Anderson 

    Ranger Original = Rob and Marilyn Ridley 

    Storch Knives = Ed Storch 

    Bandit Blades = George Roberts 

    Entwistle Knives = Trenton Entwistle

    Wilder Tools = Rick Marchand 

    Valley Gunsmithing = Smith Tactical Systems - V-42 repo

    George Tichbourne -- for reference only -- deceased

    AJH Custom 

    Beebe Knives 

    Brent Bennet

    Bleeding Edge Blades 

    Brian Lyttle 

    Irv Brunas Blades  

    Seth Cosmo Burton 

    Couteax Deva - Dave Fortin -- site down

    Eric Seguin 

    Eric Elson 

    Eugene Schreiner 

    Finnie's Knives = Doug Finlayson

    Thomas Haslinger 

    Matt Harilstad-- Site down

    Jose de Braga-- Site down

    James McGowan

    J M Kemble Knives

    Steven Kerr

    Hugh Kerr -- Site down

    SKALJA KNIVES = Laurent Doussot

    Little Hen Knives = Ron Leuschen

    Mark Banfield

    Matthias Grusz -- Site down

    MercWorx 

    Mike Fenwick - Site down

    Mike Pisio

    Sean Ohare

    Opasquia Custom Knives - Syd McKay

    Paul Savage

    Peter Marzitelli

    Peter Spiess-- Site down

    Ron & Bard Post

    Rick Frigault

    Jeff Ritledge 

    Don Stevenson

    Tony Painter

    Weston Knives

    Zepf Knives

    Swordsmiths & Armourers

    Jake Powning

    Darksword Armoury

    Forgeron Coutelier

    Medieval ReproductionsWally Hayes

     

     

     

     

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    Laurent Doussot owns a company called

    SKALJA KNIVES

    http://skalja.com/

     

  • Jan Carter

    Shlomo, 

    good information,,,thanks for sharing

  • Jan Carter

    good to see some growth and discussion in here.  Looking forward to learning more


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    I didn't know that AJH Custom knives was from Canada. That's great, learn something new.

  • Jan Carter

    Ron,

    Can anyone tell us about some Canadian Manufactures?

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    Check in the Topic above "GOT A GROHMANN? SHOW IT OFF HERE" for a description of the only noted knifemaker in Canada.

     

    There is also Skalja Knives owned by Laurent Doussot who makes folders listed below.

     

    Comment by Jan Carter23 minutes ago

    Ron,

    Can anyone tell us about some Canadian Manufactures?


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Shlomo, I think you may have spoken to soon to say that Grohmann knives is the only  noted knife maker in the great country of Canada. That's okay I get excited about some of my favorite makers. There is alot of fine makers in Canada and after reflection, you'll agree. We all love our best knife makers.

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    Actually I haven't!

    As Ron stated, I posted a list of some of the custom makers earlier but Skalja (Semi Custom) and Grohmann (Commercial/Production) are about it for makers nowadays.

    There were a few small cutlers who made for the hardware chains here but they died out in the 1970s along with the hardware stores---except in small towns and those are getting few and far between.

    We aren't like the US with Ka-Bar, Bear & Sons, W.R. Case, Entrek, Emerson etc., etc., etc. that are made CONUS.

    We almost always imported either from the US, England or Europe...You got to remember that we're nearly twice your size in land mass and don't even have the population of Los Angeles and surrounding environs---we're just around 30 million.

     Comment by Robert Burris:

    Shlomo, I think you may have spoken to soon to say that Grohmann knives is the only  noted knife maker in the great country of Canada. That's okay I get excited about some of my favorite makers. There is alot of fine makers in Canada and after reflection, you'll agree. We all love our best knife makers.

  • Jan Carter

    So that brings up the question (at least for me)

    Who do you all think the most imported knife manufacture is?

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    Do you mean custom or commercial?  Manufacturer implies mass production, maker is one or two att a time.

    Canadian or elsewhere?

    My favourite Canadian makers are Mel Long, Brent Beshara, Gaetan Beauchamp, Rod Ridley, Ed Storch, Geo Bandt, Trent Entwistle, Greg Lightfoot, Jeff Dotte, Brian Tighe, Pierre Rodrique, Randy Doucette, Jeff Maron, Rick Marchand, Kirby Lambert, Steve Vanderkolff and just got two small blades from Sean O'Hare.

    As to manufacturers available--we only have the one but whatever you can get in the USA we can get here as well and we might not have as great an affinity to "Made in the USA" most of us still prefer them over what you call imports but remember here in Canada y'all are imports to us.

    Comment by Jan Carter

    So that brings up the question (at least for me)

    Who do you all think the most imported knife manufacture is?

  • Jan Carter

    Shlomo,

    I actually meant manufacture.  Ron says in his area it is Gerber, who do you think it would be in your area?

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    As I said earlier, whatever you can get in the USA we have here.

    The array of my friends and family carry everything that's out there, not any one maker over the other.

    I collect CRKT, yet, most of my daughters carry the Bob Dozier folder by Ka-Bar because it was one of the first ones that were available in pink, my wife carries a Chris Reeve Sebenza and I have a Boker Deluxe Camp in my left pants pocket, my two brothers carry SOG, one of my S-I-Ls carries her husband's old Emerson and the other a Zero Tolerance, my sister a Buck 119 and her husband a Knives of Alaska Hunter CF...They were over for dinner this evening and I asked them to show me their carry knives..

    That would be for today, tomorrow, the only constant will be my Boker and my B-I-L's Hunter (which we got him for his B-Day).

    My married daughters and their husbands carry a variety of makers amongst themselves.

    Gerber would probably be the least carried of the major makers since they cheapened their line, quality wise, so much and the Canadian Tire store near us carries more then just Gerber.

    The Cabela's store we have here carries a different line-up of knives then the sister store in East Grand Forks, MN.

  • Jan Carter

    Well it sounds about as varied as we are around here.  I love the knives from Knives of Alaska, his site is awesome


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Shlomo, USA or Canada is like a line in the dirt for me, I like knives and makers on both sides.

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    Quite an expensive line--for us--as we have to add 20% duty, 6.5% GST (Fed Tax) and 12% exchange rate to the dollar...The duty varies by certain criteria and exchange rate fluctuates but this is the general rule of thumb. 

    $100.00 + 12.00 (exc) = $112.00 + 22.40 (duty) = $134.40 + 8.74 (GST) = $143.14 and then a brokerage fee from Fed Ex or whomever of $5.00 to $20.00 but that's at least on the whole order not the individual blades...As you can see, it works out to 43% plus brokerage so I just half the amount again when looking at US prices. 

    At one point the exchange rate was almost 60% and boy did that cut down on cross border shoppers from Canada but boy did we ever get a lot of Americans coming to buy--which was the intent in the first place.

    We also like the US knives but we don't really have another choice unless you go European, which I did with Boker, Puma, Scandinavian and Italian makers when the exchange rate was horrendous.

    We have a huge Icelandic population hereabouts as well as a large amount of Finns so the puukko wasn't something foreign to me as lots of our friends carried them hunting and camping and which is why I got into collecting them.

  • Jan Carter

    Cant wait to see it Ron

  • Jan Carter

    Some really good info there Ron, thanks for sharing

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    Here are three of the V-42 which is the famous knife of the Combined Force:

    The first is by Rob Carlton of Damascus USA who has made a number of knives for me over the years...Great knives, excellent prices, super customer service and I'm hoping to be ordering three more from him this summer...His price for this is $375

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This one is a reproduction that CAS Hanwei has been making for a few years now...It is a very finely made knife.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This last one is by a US maker whose name I have lost (for the moment) that he is making a run of IIRC ten blades...He didn't have a sheath made yet so he used the one from the original.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    These two originals:

     

     

     

    M.H. Cole Version

     

     

     

     

    W.R. Case  First Special Service Force

  • Jan Carter

    Happy Victoria Day!!

    OK, I know it's on my calendar but I don't know what it is, someone share what your celebrating?

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    The Ulu -- greatest skinning knife ever devised as well as a damn good food preparer, eating utensil and general all around cutting tool.

    There are two distinct styles with many variants within each one. 

    They are the dual stem (usually found around Alaska) and the single stem (usually found in the Eastern Arctic to Greenland)...How many metal stems project from the metal to join to the handle…The most common is the Greenland style.

    Bjarne Rasmussen (SWE) Damascus custom Eastern Greenland pattern

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Eagle River Brand Oosik (Walrus penis) Western (Alaska) Style

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Eastern variation by Mark Knapp in quilted maple

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Outdoor Edge version

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Blade Tech folding version

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Ron, I can't believe that a Blow Gun is banned. I have a cousin that has one and it's good fun. I can't see it as a dangerous weapon at all. Sorry to hear about all that.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Wow, that's a bummer, ya'll need to get together next election and try change things. I don't want to get into ya'll politics because I end up with someone misunderstanding what I'm trying to say. I hope ya'll the best of luck changing things the way ya'll want. You have my support. Good luck. my friend.

  • Sue OldsWidow

    not the greatest of copies....but nice...

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    The link above for the WCKA takes you to "Knife Dogs" -- a really good forum for knifemakers.

    Blade Forums also has a thread allocated to the WCKA

     

    This is the link to the actual  WCKA - Western Canada Knife Assoc.

    http://wcka.org/

     

    I had the link for the CKG - Canadian Knifemakers Guild but somehow it got corrupted.

  • Jan Carter

    "never too soft and free from flaws.”

     

    Cool tag line for an Axe!

  • Smiling-Knife

    Happy Canada Day weekend everyone. Here's a  special little knife for the occasion. It was made by Boker and dates to the very early 1900s (patn 1907). The sterling silver scales depict the 9 provincial shields as they existed at the time. Some have changed in design since then. They are arranged from left to right in order of joining the confederation (photo 1). Alberta and Saskcatchewan being the most recent additions and, of course, it would be quite sometime before Newfoundland and Labrador became the 10th province.

  • Jan Carter

    SK,

    I really like that one.  The shields are very clear and the blades look well loved

  • Shlomo ben Maved

    A little more info on that knife:

    That's a Ed Wusthof designed for Boker 1907 pen knife depicting the Canadian Provincial Shields issued for the 40th birthday (July 1st, 1867) 

    Joined Confederation:
    01) 1 July, 1867 Canada formed consisting of four provinces, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
    05) 15 July, 1870 Manitoba
    06) 15 July, 1870 Northwest  Territory
    07) 20 July, 1871 British Columbia
    08) 1 July, 1873 Prince Edward Island
    09) 13 June, 1898 Yukon Territory
    10) 1 September, 1905 Saskatchewan
    11) 1 September, 1905 Alberta
    12) 31 March, 1949 Newfoundland (later renamed Newfoundland and Labrador Territory)
    13) 1 April, 1999 Nunavut Territory