Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

iKnife Collector

The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Custom Knives by Alan Davis

Thought I would start a blog here to showcase the work of my favorite knifemaker. I stumbled across Alan Davis, a knifemaker from Boerne, Texas, in late 2012. I was blown away by his knife designs. Even more astounding was the fact that they were virtually all one of a kind creations. Alan didn't just make one or two patterns and then just outfit them with different materials. Each and every one was pretty much different. While he did have a few designs that people seemed to like and ask for, even those were made a little differently to make them unique. Alan works with all types of handle and blade material ... but does prefer Damascus blades. I currently own 67 of his knives (mainly his linerlock folders, do have a few frame locks, slip joints and fixed blades) and jokingly told Alan that I would love to have owned 100 of his knives before I die. Wasn't sure that would happen (while I sell many of his knives, I have been known to give a some away to close friends, so that they understand why I keep praising Alan's work!) ... but, that milestone was reached on April 19th, 2021, when I hit that 100 goal. He is the only maker who I would have no problem asking to make a knife for me and leaving everything (material/design) up to him ... and be confident that I would be thrilled with the results! I have done this twice .... and thrilled both times!

To start things off, here is one of my favorites that I picked up in 2014 (though I have so many I love, that picking favorites is a very difficult task!). It is a beautiful linerlock folder with amber Sambar stag scales and M3 composite bolsters. The blade measures 3.375" and is made from Damascus by Zoe Crist (in his Blackhawk pattern). Pocket clip is also Zoe's Damascus. Backspacer and liners are nuggetized and anodized a sort of plum color. All in all, a beautiful knife that feels super nice in the hand and is not too large or heavy to carry around clipped to your pocket all day. Hope you like it.

Stay tuned ....

Tags: Alan, David, Knives

24 members like this

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of iKnife Collector to add comments!

Join iKnife Collector

Comment by Dennis Hibar on March 4, 2017 at 4:28: Here is a neat Davis that I picked up in 2014, mainly because of the wood. The scales are some of the darkest Australian Ringed Gidgee I had ever seen. Bolsters are M3 composite and the blade is a San Mai Damascus by Rob Calcinore comprised of his Turkish Checkerboard with an O1 cutting edge. Blade length is larger than I normally like, at just under 3.5 inches, but I made an exception due to the Gidgee!

Comment by Ricky Ray on February 25, 2017 at 8:32: ZOWIE!

Sometimes I think that craftsmanship is dead in this day and age.

But then I scroll through your Alan Davis knife photos and change my mind.

O.K., mine is going in my pocket today! (still not sure I can force myself to cut anything with it though)

Comment by Dennis Hibar on February 25, 2017 at 4:22: Time for my Saturday Davis showing.

Here's a beautiful Davis folder that I love, but one which really clashes with my typical attire (jeans and shirt!). This trailing point gent's folder features a fantastic color combination. The scales are Mammoth bark. Bolsters are absolutely incredible. They are copper that Alan first textured, then buffed, sanded and gold plated. He then sanded and buffed them again to give the bolsters a nice antique look which accentuates the colors in the Mammoth bark very nicely. The thumb stud is also copper that Alan hand carved, gold plated and added an inset blue topaz. Back spacer is highly polished carbon fiber with alternating citrine and blue topaz gem stones. This knife fits my comfort zone perfectly, with its 3.125" blade from Doug Ponzio stainless Damascus. But, as I told Alan, I won’t be adding another with all that bling … as it makes me feel too high class!!!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on February 18, 2017 at 4:32: Here’s one of my Alan Davis gent’s knives that has it all. Great looks, perfect size, and outstanding combination of materials. The blade is a multi-bar Damascus forged by Rob Calcinore using his Turkish twist and snowflake patterns. Alan nitre blued the 2.75 inch blade and mated it to a liner lock frame with Mammoth bark scales and M3 composite bolsters. He also used M3 composite for the back spacer. Sad to say … this is one of the few that doesn’t get very much pocket time. It’s just too eye catching to risk marking it up!! So, it only comes out for special occasions.

Comment by Dennis Hibar on February 12, 2017 at 5:05: Yup Jan ... beautiful wood. Then again, this is coming from a wood lover!!

Comment by Jan Carter on February 11, 2017 at 19:43: Dennis,

Having spent a good deal of time in the redwoods, I perked up a little when you said you had purchased a burl! This is such a beautiful way to honor a majestic tree. Make it into a knife using equally amazing steels !!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on February 11, 2017 at 4:34: Back in early 2013, I bought a nice block of redwood burl ... just because I liked it. I had no idea what I would do with it. Then the light bulb lit up in my head. In September of '13, I sent it to Alan and asked him to put me back on his books and make me something out of this redwood. I told him that I didn't want to know anything about it and to fit me in whenever he got an idea for something special. I was in no hurry. The only thing I told him was that I wanted him to keep the blade between 3 and 3.25 inches, it needed to have a clip and that I thought gold tones might go well with the redwood. Everything else I was leaving up to him. Regardless of what he made for me, I knew I would love it. Well, Christmas came early when Alan told me September 20th, 2015 that it was ready. My 2-year wait was over. To say I love this one would be a huge understatement. This beauty features my redwood burl mated to a 3" Del Ealy Damascus blade in his fish pattern and Doug Ponzio Damascus bolsters. Alan also used Del's Damascus for the clip and back spacer.

Comment by Jan Carter on February 4, 2017 at 15:02: I also would have a hard time with this one Dennis. The burl is simply stunning and I am an ADS nut!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on February 4, 2017 at 4:21: Here’s a Davis folder that falls into my “conundrum” category. It sports some absolutely beautiful ironwood burl scales, carbon fiber bolsters and a 3.5” parkerized Alabama Damascus blade. I keep telling myself that I should let this one go, as it has far more blade length than I really need. Then again, I really like the wood and the Damascus! Therein lies the conundrum!!!

*Note: This one is no longer with me in my collection.

Comment by Dennis Hibar on January 28, 2017 at 4:30: Thought I would post this one today, while the memory of her is still fresh in my mind. You see, this past week she went on a journey across the country. I have a friend who likes Alan’s knives (why the heck would he not?!!) and really wanted something with a stainless Damascus blade. Since he also loves bolsters and Mammoth … I figured this one would fit the bill. It did! Alan made this gent’s folder with a 2.75” Damasteel blade, textured titanium bolsters and some really nice looking Mammoth bark scales. He also did some his outstanding Roman knot file work on the back spacer (I love his Roman knot … and fortunately, I have another with it!!) While I do prefer high carbon Damascus over stainless … I kind of like unmistakable look of Damasteel. So, will be on the hunt for another of Alan's knives with a Damasteel blade!