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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

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Comment by Dennis Hibar on October 7, 2017 at 4:50: Today’s posting marks the last Davis which, at the current time, I can feature. All tallied, I’ve featured 75 of Alan’s knives which I have owned. I currently have 61 of those knives still in the collection. I am sure I will add more (and even sell or gift a few), but for now … this one represents the last one I have yet to show. And … a magnificent one it is. It is gent's folder featuring some really outstanding dark caramel crackle Mammoth bark Ivory scales, textured Del Ealy Damascus bolsters, a 3" Bill Burke Damascus blade and Damascus back spacer. Thumb stud is carved Damascus. The bark on this one is really neat, as I have rarely seen crackle bark with this particular coloring.

Comment by Dennis Hibar on September 30, 2017 at 4:35: (Update: This knife has been gifted)

It’s funny what catches my attention in a knife. I bought this one from Alan in 2014 because I liked the bolsters! It is a flipper featuring a 3.2" Chad Nichols Hailstorm pattern Damascus blade, Mammoth bark Ivory scales, and textured M3 bolsters. While the Mammoth scales are nice and the Damascus blade is eye catching … the bolsters are what first caught my attention.

Comment by Dennis Hibar on September 23, 2017 at 4:40: Here’s a Davis gent's folder that I barely know is resting at the bottom of my pocket. It features some creamy Mammoth ivory scales and a 2.625" Chad Nichols Damascus blade in his iguana pattern. Besides being a beauty, it only weighs in at 2.15 oz … making it a joy to carry.

Comment by Rick Propas on September 19, 2017 at 10:35: Dennis, congrats. That is a real stunner. I am envious!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on September 16, 2017 at 4:44: This is the newest Davis to enter the collection. Alan has chosen to use this handle material on two other folders. Really wanted them … but there was something about each that prevented me pulling out my wallet. One had a tanto blade, which I really don’t care for … and the other had bolsters very similar (material) to one of his knives I had just purchased. So, I kept waiting … until this one popped up. The scales are ancient bog oak. The 3” blade is from Doug Ponzio’s Damascus in his version of a feather pattern. Bolsters are brass infused carbon fiber. Alan double anodized the hand carved titanium back spacer to add some color. Each part of the knife complements the others exceptionally well.

Comment by Dennis Hibar on September 9, 2017 at 4:53: Today’s Davis is one that almost had a new home … but not by choice!

It is one that I love giving plenty of EDC time. It’s a good looker, holds a super edge, and is sized right for most of the cutting tasks that I encounter. Anyway, last fall I took my wife’s winter tires in to have them replaced with new ones. Instead of rolling them into the tire dealer’s bay, I just carried them two at a time. I am sure they would have done it for me … but me being me ….! I was carrying this knife that day. After stacking the tires in the bay, I went to the office to wait for the new tires to be mounted. After a few minutes, the office gal (hope I am not being sexist here) came over to me and asked me “Did you lose this?” She was holding my Davis! When lifting the tires from my side to stack, the one in my right hand must have snagged the clip and out onto the floor it dropped! My eyes bugged out, as I had no idea it was missing from my pocket. I couldn’t stop thanking her. So, I then reached into another pocket and presented her with a CRKT Drifter. I buy a lot of Drifters for gifting to people when they do something that pleases me or catch my attention (in a good way). It’s a great, and very capable gift knife that is very underrated as far as I am concerned. What I didn’t do, however, was let her know the price difference between the Drifter I gifted her and my Davis that she found littering the tire changing bay. Had I done that, I am sure it would have been "her" eyes that started bugging out!

But anyway, I guess I have “drifted” far from taking about today’s knife. Bought this Davis in 2013. Aside from a few scratches (wonder where they came from!!!), it’s got beautifully figured buckeye burl scales and a 3.357” Alabama Damascus clip point blade. Alan gave the blade spine some rope filing that really looks good.

Comment by Dennis Hibar on September 3, 2017 at 5:02: Another story about this one ... well, at least something funny Jan. When the package from Alan arrived in the mail, my FIRST thought was ... "oh no, was I sleep knife shopping again?!!!!" Then, I opened it up and saw Alan's note that my friend had purchased it for me. She hasn't admitted it ... but I presume she started to feel guilty about all the knives I've given her. I keep telling her that gifting gives me just as much pleasure as getting. Only, in this case, the getting was pretty sweet!

Comment by Jan Carter on September 2, 2017 at 18:44: Not only is this exceptionally beautiful Dennis but the backstory makes it a priceless gift!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on September 2, 2017 at 4:27: Here is one of two Davis fixed blades I have and one that I hold near and dear to my heart, as it was a gift from a friend of mine. It is a small hunter with desert ironwood scales and a 3.2125” 1084 blade with an antiqued finish.

Alan is a member of the Texas Knifemaker’s Guild. In June of this year, the Guild partnered with the Tarleton State University mechanics department to host a continuing education knifemaking workshop. A total of 42 knives were made during the 2 and a half day workshop by the 10 guild members, 24 Ag teachers and 8 TSU students and employees. This is the knife that Alan made during the workshop.