Where do you buy your Knife Supplies?

Where is the best place to buy knife supplies? I have noticed that the cheapest shipping for Jantz is $10 bucks, even if you buy some brads.

Are there some places that have better shipping rates? Or do most of you just try to order a big inventory once at a time?

So because of shipping rates you will shop there? How about other things like quality of products, parts in stock and delivery time? How about trying our very own Midwest Knifemaker's Supply. If Tracy doesn't have something, he will get it and stock it if need be.

Not that I do much ordering of parts anyway, but my first look is always Midwest...

I buy from Jantz and Texas Knife Supply ONLY if I can't find what I am looking for at USA Knifemakers Supply (Midwest Knifemakers Supply) owned and operated by our own Boss Dog and his wife, Lora. Tracy has the best service of any of the suppliers and the best quality products. Without Boss Dog we wouldn't have a forum in which to ask our questions so to me it is like buying "locally" versus going out of town. I understand that you are new to this forum and probably don't know who everyone is or their relationship to the forum so this might help: Boss Dog = Tracy Mickley = USA Knifemakers Supply (also known as Midwest Knifemakers Supply) = the guy who so graciously started this site. No one could expect you to know all this but I hope I have helped sort out who we all go to first for supplies whenever possible. And FYI, Jantz and the other suppliers have a list of ways to ship ranging from USPS Air to UPS Ground, all of which cost a different amount. Thank you for your question and Welcome to Knife Dogs.

Shipping rates only????

I feel that Tracy and Lora have been very reasonable with shipping rates.
The orders shipped to me have cost no more than what it would cost me to ship them, sometimes even less.

But as has already been mentioned, there is more to the story than shipping fees.

A few points:
1. Description of products. The better the description, the more likely that the vendor has actual experience with the product offered for sale.
2. Quality of products. This will be closely tied to the above point. When an individual has experience with something, he/she will quickly learn what works and what doesn't work. They will quickly learn what lasts and what doesn't. As a result, their offerings and suggestions will be based upon personal experience, and will reflect what they would use/purchase themselves.
3. Website structure. Wishlists, memorized shopping carts, etc. are always a bonus. I find it very convenient to put an item in the shopping cart at the time I think of it, then still have it in there if the order is placed at a later date. This is extremely helpful if one tends to place larger, less frequent orders so as to maximize shipping value. Or if building a "needs" list in anticipation of a future project.
4. Pricing. By now we all realize that, in general, we "get what we pay for". Compare apples to apples, and oranges to oranges. If you can get an identical product elsewhere at a lower total price, great. But after doing the homework, BossDog's pricing is already at the low end for quality products.

There are many reasons to choose one vendor over another. Shipping is important, but is usually the least of my worries- other considerations are far more important to me.

Thanks I'll check MKS out. I didnt mean to disrepect anyone, I am new, and I dont know all the good suppliers only what I see from posts etc.. A bunch of guys on GON (Georgia Outdoor News Forum) said this was the best knife making forum and thats why I signed up. The only reason I asked the question is because I ordered something the other day that was $1.95 and I paid $9.95 to get it to the house.

BRAD704 please give me some tips........If you dont order much, where can you pick up the metal and brass for knives. I make all my handles from wood or antlers that I have, but being a newbie I dont know what types of places to get scrap that is good quality. Would love some pointers.

Thanks guys, please accept my apologies

I have been getting 1/4" 5160 from a local custom spring shop... The shop foreman is also the owners son, and he lets me pick through the bucket of drops whenever I need some steel. As for Brass... I am not a big fan of brass, so I haven't been out looking for it just yet... I would probably just order that from Midwest.

One thing I have realized is that there are many ways you can use what is around you and what you have to help you make knives, but in the end, there are some things that you are just gonna have to bite the bullet and buy.

If you don't have a local place to pick up steel, we also have our friendly neighborhood steel peddler, I mean supplier. Check with my Uncle Aldo over at the New Jersey Steel Baron's forum in the Supplies, Services, and Resources area. Just like Tracy, Aldo deals in top quality products at great prices with awesome customer service.

aldo@njsteelbaron.com
Ph # 862-203-8160

Mostly i get my stuff from Midwest Knifemakers Supply. You cant beat the service. Shipping cost is about the same everywhere. i have also used Jantz, Texas knifemaker supply and Sheffeld.

Ogeecheehunter said:

If you dont order much, where can you pick up the metal and brass for knives.

Click to expand...

Is there a Fastenal, Grainger or MSC outlet near you? Many times those type of industrial suppliers stock common tool steels like O1, A2 and D2 (all three can make very good knives) or will order it into their location without charging you shipping. It's a good way to go if you only want one bar.

Brass in bar or rod form can often be found at Lowe's, Home Depot or other hardware stores.

U can get steel (5160) and brass from ur local scrap yard...

If you are an ABANA (www.abana.org) member you get discount pricing and free shipping from Grainger.
ABANA is the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America. Dues are $55.00 per year and I save the more than the cost of dues every year so even if I were not a blacksmith and even if I didn't like the publications and what they do for the craft it would be worth joining.

I buy nearly everything either locally, or from usaknifemakers or alphaknifesupply. Tracy and Chuck are both really good guys. Tracy has a larger variety than Chuck has, but sometimes Chuck has just what I was looking for. I've talked with both of them and highly recommend either. One thing that sets them apart from Jantz in my opinion is that it's just a couple people running these two, and they will answer your call, or respond to your email sometimes within minutes. They've answered my questions before I've ordered anything from them, even if it was just a question that wouldn't have earned them any money. They just had the attitude of helping that makes me look forward to my next order at either place.

USA Knife Makers, Alpha Knife Supply, NJ Steel Baron, Burl source, and Kelly Couples.

All are top shelf.

Greg

I buy from all the Knife Suppliers. Each one has something the other doesn't have.

I use Midwest only...never had a problem.

This list was made by another person and has been around for a little bit but here you go!!

Knife suppliers list - the first grouping is an all around suppliers list. the rest is specifics. ( much info)

GROUP 1.

http://www.knifelinksportal.com/
http://www.knifelinksportal.com/
http://www.internetbusinesslinks.net/SupplierList.html
http://ajh-knives.com/supplier-1.html
http://cutlerscove.com/links/index.html
Burl source - it’s a burl his own site/plus blade for http://burlsales.com/
Gallery hardwoods- Larry - - http://www.galleryhardwoods.com/
shaughnessy-on the blade forum
North coast knives http://www.northcoastknives.com/
usa knife maker supply- http://www.usaknifemaker.com/
alpha knife supply http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/
texas knife supply http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php
west penn hardwoods http://www.westpennhardwoods.com/
gilmer woods http://www.gilmerwood.com/
cook woods http://www.cookwoods.com/
bad dog burl http://www.burlsource.com/ aussie wood ++
exotic wood group http://www.exoticwoodgroup.com/
Sheffield knife supply http://www.sheffieldsupply.com/
Arizona ironwood http://www.arizonaironwood.com/
bell forest http://www.bellforestproducts.com/exotic-wood-blanks/
griffin woods http://www.exoticwood.biz/masurbirchfigured.htm
lee tree woods http://www.leetreewoodworks.com/
blankity blanks http://www.blankity-blanks.com/
house of burl http://www.houseofburl.com/
Australia burl .com http://australianburls.com/
logstolumber http://www.logstolumberexotics.com/servlet/StoreFront
hearne hardwood http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/
texas woodcraft-- native texas wood http://texaswoodcrafts.net/
ironwood by Don http://www.ironwoodbydon.com/
Dale the burly guy http://www.dale-the-burl-guy.com/slabs
wood world tx http://woodworldtx.com/
provision forge ( gene martin)-forum member http://www.customknife.com/
righteous woods
pops knife supply –steel, great priced belts http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/
Don Hansen—great misery crotch walnut--forum
coremark wood—mostly wood from Africa http://www.cormarkint.com/home.html
discount cutlery
JT KNIVES—knife makers scribe and more—blade forum
http://elliscustomknifeworks.hightem...-mainpage.html
North coast knives http://www.northcoastknives.com/
Radweed forge-scandi knife blanks, material http://www.ragweedforge.com/index.html#catalog
http://www.caffreyknives.net/PlatenPage.html --caffrey platen
Jantz knife supply—steel a bit of everything - http://www.jantzsupply.com/
knife kits—steel – a bit of everything http://www.knifeandgun.com/
JIM TODD—G-11—on the blade foru42 ajh knives http://ajh-knives.com/
guy sells juniper burl knife blocks/scales http://mmilleroriginals.com/page7.html
Thompson scandi http://home.comcast.net/~bradjarvis3/
brisa scandi - https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.ph...tpage&Itemid=1
knife and gun http://www.knifeandgun.com/
folder kits- http://www.kovalknives.com/
prem knife supply- http://www.premiumknifesupply.com/Ca...gory=Equipment
Hawkins knife supply http://www.hawkinsknifemakingsupplies.com/
Bobs exotic wood http://www.bobsexoticwoods.com/servlet/StoreFront
spa city wood http://www.spacitywoodworks.com/
exotic global woods http://www.exoticglobalwoods.com/ind...order=5&page=1
cocobola .com http://www.cocoboloinc.com/
55. Knifemaker.Ca everything yall need http://www.knifemaker.ca/ --canada
56. riverside--uncle al http://www.riversidemachine.net/productCat0.ivnu
57. woodcraft http://www.woodcraft.com/
58 exotic blanks-- http://www.exoticblanks.com/index.ph...page&Itemid=53

GROUP #2

Ivory,tusks,horn,stag , pearl, --supply

1.alpha knife supply http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/
2. fine turnage production http://www.fineturnage.com/
3. culpepper and company http://www.knifehandles.com/
4. brett mathews –blade forum
5. koivory.com http://www.kowakivory.com/fossil_walrus_ivory.html
6. miles of Alaska http://www.milesofalaska.net/
7.Mase craft http://www.masecraftsupply.com/
8. Canadian ivory
9. tide mammoth
10. motherofpearlcc –on the forum
11. www.osofamoso.com
12. Elen hunting and importing http://www.elenhunting.com/
13. bigantlers.com http://www.bigantlers.com/
14. the smiths—scrimshaw,knives and silversmithing http://www.thesmithsshop.com/
15. discount cutlery http://www.discountcutlery.net/en-us/dept_22318.html
16. Brett Mathews—Forum
17. the knife connection http://www.the-knife-connection.com/ssroll105.html

18. Indian sambar stag http://indiasambarstag.net/
19.Mark Knapp--- http://markknappcustomknives.com/erg...2&uk1=4&uk2=52
20. Elephant ivory tusks http://www.elephantivorytusks.com/iv...ndle-c110.html
21. coastivory.com http://www.coastivory.com/
22. custom grips and knives http://www.gripsandknives.com/Mammot...s_p/scale5.htm

GROUP # 3

STEEL SUPPLY

1. alpha knife supply
http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/bladesteel.htm
2. Knife kits http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index....7699e0427039a3
3. Jantz http://www.jantzsupply.com/cartease/...ring2=Barstock
4, pops knife supply http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/
5. Niagra specialty Metals http://www.nsm-ny.com/
6. texas knife supply http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php
7. admiral steel http://www.admiralsteel.com/shop/
8. usa knife maker supply- http://www.usaknifemaker.com/
9. Sheffield knife supply http://www.sheffieldsupply.com/
10. MSC industrial supply—rods,brass etc.. http://www1.mscdirect.com/cgi/nnsrhm

.11 Alabama Damascus http://www.alabamadamascussteel.com/servlet/StoreFront
12. . ALDO—from the blade forum
13. Dan Seaver—billets—on the blade forum
14. steel express http://www.steelexpress.co.uk/toolsteel/01.html
15. knife and gun supply http://www.knifeandgun.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1
16, riverside-uncle al http://www.riversidemachine.net/productCat4748.ctlg
17. Damascus -- i think it has a tutorial but i may be wrong--- Matt Walker
matt@matthewdwalker.com
http://www.matthewdwalker.com/
18. flatground .com-- http://www.flatground.com/index.htm
19. metrics unlimited-- http://www.metricsunlimited.com/

GROUP # 4

Tang stamps-

harper- http://www.harpermfg.com/hm_tangstamp.html
Henry aevers http://www.henryaevers.com/Knife_Makers.htm
riverside--uncle al http://www.riversidemachine.net/productCat0.ivnu


Etching/stencils [/U]

1.etchomatic http://www.etch-o-matic.com/knifemaker.htm
2.. Ron Claiborne http://www.onlineknifeshow.com/supply6.html
3. knife and gun http://www.knifeandgun.com/ProductDe...roductCode=MK1
4.Trugrit http://www.trugrit.com/knife-misc.htm
5. north coast knives http://www.northcoastknives.com/nort...ls_Etching.htm
6. us knifemakers http://www.usaknifemaker.com/
7. texas knife supply http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=659
8. Sheffield knife supply http://www.sheffieldsupply.com/
9. Ellis Custom http://elliscustomknifeworks.hightem...-mainpage.html
10. Jantz knife supply—steel a bit of everything - http://www.jantzsupply.com/
12. Hawkins knife supply http://www.hawkinsknifemakingsupplies.com/
13. Ernie Grospitch of Blue Lightninig stencils www.erniesknives.com

GROUP # 5

Machines, grinders, buffers,

1. us knife makers http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/g...2c7ee0b3ac1db9
2. Buemont-KMG http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/index.html
3. pops knife supply –steel, great priced belts http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/
4. texas knife supply http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=659
5. Sheffield knife supply http://www.sheffieldsupply.com/
6. ellis custom http://elliscustomknifeworks.hightem...-mainpage.html
7. Jantz knife supply—steel a bit of everything - http://www.jantzsupply.com/
8. Hawkins knife supply http://www.hawkinsknifemakingsupplies.com/
9. grizzly http://grizzly.com/

GROUP # 6

Belts/sandpaper

http://www.klingspor.com/
HERE IS AN ABRASIVE AVAILABILITY CHART:
http://klingspor.com/products/MtlAvail.htm
TRUGRIT http://www.truegritabrasives.com/
pops knife supply –steel, great priced belts http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/
CHECK MANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED KNIFE SUPPLY SITES
online industrial supply-- http://www.onlineindustrialsupply.com/


FILES-small-needle

1.grobet http://www.riogrande.com/MemberArea/...dle+Files+Sets
2.titan- http://www.titantoolsupply.com/index...FSduswodtkhNJA
3.moldshop http://www.moldshoptools.com/?gclid=...FQO2sgodGyLyJg
4.widget http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/...FQO2sgodGyLyJg
5.http://www.grainger.com/1/3/nicholson-files
6.Nicholson http://www.thebestthings.com/newtool...ss_pattern.htm
7.shop inter- http://www.shorinternational.com/fileshalfrd.htm

Larger files

1.http://www.hobbytool.com/steelfiles.aspx
2.craftsman http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...vName=&x=5&y=6
3.Nicholson- http://www.drillspot.com/tag/nicholson-files-and-rasps/
4. http://www.grainger.com/1/3/nicholson-files
__________________

I buy from Tracy, Jantz, Knifekits, North Coast, Knife & Gun, Track of the Wolf and a couple of others. Knife & Gun has a really good epoxy that takes 24 hrs to set up and they have forge supplies also...

Spend $9.95 to get an item that cost $1.95--??? You could not find anything else you could use, to increase the size of the order-? I hardly ever make an order for supplies that does not exceed $100.00. The suppliers are always looking for ways to help us out, but they can't help much on shipping. I have probably purchased from every supplier I can find, and I'm still looking for new stuff. My personal favorite: "Pop's knifemaking supply"...... Jon <sharpdecisionknives.com>