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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 January 9, 2018 at 18:09: Thanks Jan ... I will! All of Alan's work impresses me ... but none more so than this one! It goes right to the top of my favorites!!

Comment by Jan Carter on January 9, 2018 at 17:45: The spacers are very impressive but OMG the work that went into marrying those bolsters to the scales !! I have to hand it to you also though, getting those pics to show that off could not have been easy. Enjoy this one, it is exceptional!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on January 9, 2018 at 13:12: Well, I was going to wait until Saturday .... but was so pleased with this one, figured what the heck! Alan got right to work on this one at the end of December and completed it on the 6th of January. This one is definitely going to be in my favorites category. As I mentioned in my heads-up post. The scales are hartebeest horn (an African breed of antelope, also known as kongoni). Bolsters are titanium TextureTech in a lava tube pattern. The blade is 3" and made from Burke Damascus in their River of Fire pattern. It has a front opening tab which makes it effortless to open without the need for a thumb stud (and provides for a very clean looking blade). The back spacer features some incredible hand carving from Alan in what I call a feathered chevron pattern. I love absolutely everything about this one, but what impresses me the most is how Alan was able to match up the contours and height differences between the bolsters and the scales. He told me he spent a great deal of time planning and sanding to ensure perfect mating of the two materials. He did a fantastic job. Hope you like (as much as I do!!).

Comment by Jan Carter on December 29, 2017 at 7:02: Those are some beautifully rich colored scales! I can't wait to see this one, sounds like a great combination of textures!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on December 29, 2017 at 4:40: Just a heads up ... well, a teaser of sorts! Alan should begin work on a new folder for me sometime in January (Yikes .... we are almost there!). Not sure how long it will take, but I think the wait will be worth it. I asked him to do this one for me with a front opening tab (like the last one I got from him) for a cleaner blade look. Blade will be some Burke Damascus .... River of Fire pattern. Scales will be from rich black Hartebeest horn. Bolsters will be from titanium TextureTech in a lava tube pattern. Back spacer will feature some hand carved feathered chevrons. Excited? Yup!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on November 11, 2017 at 4:38: Somehow, I knew it would not be long before I was able to add another Davis to the collection. I now have a new one to fondle! This little gent's folder is a real gem. It features a 2.5" acid etched and stone washed CTS-XHP blade with a front opening tab and some nice blue mammoth bark ivory scales that are accentuated by Timascus bolsters. The blue, geometrically file worked back spacer and purple liners tie everything together. This little beauty will be seeing lots of pocket time!

Comment by Rick Propas on October 13, 2017 at 11:39: Good. I read it as a hiatus rather than a cessation. I know that my acquisitions move among my favorite makers. Now I seem to be on a Shirogorov kick. They lack the "soul" of Alan's knives, but they are really exquisitely precise machines.

Comment by Dennis Hibar on October 11, 2017 at 4:50: I'm sure there will be more of Alan's knives in my future ... but, have been becoming more picky about what I add to make sure each piece is markedly different from the others. Now, if that dang Prize Patrol would show up on my door step ... I would buy everything than Alan makes!

Comment by Jan Carter on October 10, 2017 at 14:10: Well, you have sure ended on a high note!!

I want to Thank you Dennis ! Not only have we had the opportunity to view more of Davis's work that we could at ANY show, we have also learned the quality and types of materials he uses.

I can say, I know a number of makers and they get stuck in a groove sometimes with...I like this makers Damascus, liners, ect. Mr. Davis seems to be just as happy regardless of the maker and long as the steel has great quality and a reputation for such.

PS, this is the kind of mammoth that makes me drool LOL