Suppliers

A

Absinthe

Well-Known Member
I have placed a few orders for things, some on Amazon, others on eBay, and I have used Jantz, Discount Cutlery, and now Makers Material Supply. In addition to those places I have shopped at NJSB (seems like one needs a large order to beat the shipping), and a few of the jewelry supply places (Fire Mtn, Rio, etc)

Is there anyone that you like who is a full service dealer? It seems like more times than not, even if someone carries something, the particular size is listed as sold out. Or the product is listed, pretty picture and all, and it is "sold out".

Nickel silver seems to be an odd duck. I have found it in sheet in many places, but getting bar stock at 1/8 is a limited proposition. Best thing I found for 1/8" was at ParaWire.

Are there any great ones I am missing? Any I should be avoiding?
 
For steel I prefer Alpha Knife Supply. In part because it is close to me and thus shipping is relatively low. However a full service dealer as you put it would be our very own USAKnifemaker.
There's also Tru-Grit and Pops Knife Supply.
 
USA knifemaker is one of the main suppliers around here - they're the host of this forum. AKS is a GREAT place for steel.
 
RE:USAKnifemaker

So, when something common like 80CRV2 or 1084 is listed as out of stock, how long of a wait is it usually for them to have more? And, the second ?? would be do they ever have it in 3/32 (0.094) or is 1/8" the thinnest they carry?
 
Might just be me, but if I need something really specific and can't find it through "the usual suspects", I just Google it.

Here's yer 3/32 80CRV2 https://knifemaking.com/products/80crv2-high-carbon-chrome-vanadium?variant=34350785429640

3 foot stick of 1-1/2" wide X 3/32". Edit: $18 and some change at the time of me posting this.

McMaster Carr carries a lot of materials. If you need something weird, check their site. I wanted to make some "wrecking bars" out of 5/8" 4140 pre-hardened hex stock. They had it. I forgot the price. It wasn't terrible - still room for a healthy profit.
 
Absinthe said:
RE:USAKnifemaker

So, when something common like 80CRV2 or 1084 is listed as out of stock, how long of a wait is it usually for them to have more? And, the second ?? would be do they ever have it in 3/32 (0.094) or is 1/8" the thinnest they carry?
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I think that would be best addressed directly with them. You can contact their customer service and they should be able to tell you.
 
52 Ford said:
Might just be me, but if I need something really specific and can't find it through "the usual suspects", I just Google it.

Here's yer 3/32 80CRV2 https://knifemaking.com/products/80crv2-high-carbon-chrome-vanadium?variant=34350785429640

3 foot stick of 1-1/2" wide X 3/32". Edit: $18 and some change at the time of me posting this.

McMaster Carr carries a lot of materials. If you need something weird, check their site. I wanted to make some "wrecking bars" out of 5/8" 4140 pre-hardened hex stock. They had it. I forgot the price. It wasn't terrible - still room for a healthy profit.
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Thanks, I got the Jantz one, that is in my shopping cart along with a chunk of brass and some nickel silver.
I like McMaster Carr for lots of stuff.
I figured I would ask to see if I was missing some secret fishing hole. :)
 
Sean Jones said:
I think that would be best addressed directly with them. You can contact their customer service and they should be able to tell you.
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Well they have been telephoned with no answer or answering service/machine. So I sent them an email.

I get that I might be able to contact them and get their official stance on such things.

I will share whatever they tell me.
 
Usaknifemaker is great for a lot of stuff, my only problem is that a lot is out of stock frequently. Whenever I place an order I go through my belts and just look around the site to see what else I "need" haha
 
There is no secret fishing hole! Each person finds and supports a variety of businesses either by word of mouth or plain old research. I started by internet searches for suppliers and searched forums for reliable businesses.
As for supply issues.
1. FIF started a craze thats blown suppliers and supplies out of the water. You've got thousands of newbies wanting supplies and a limited number of suppliers. Theres bound to be shortages.
2. Covids cut steel production. Backlogs occurred and the industry hasn't recovered but you still got thousands vying for those limited stocks. Ur just one of those thousands looking and then you're looking for a special odd size. Good luck finding it.
In times like this when you find what you want you pick up an extra stick for just incase situations.
As far as Contacting the supplier. Just put yourself in their shoes. In this case Beth's just one of a couple trying to sort through hundreds and hundreds of wannabes all wondering where their order , why tye delay and all trying to get stock that unavailable. And when it does come in stock I can guarantee that it'll be out in a day.
 
So, whatever may have been wonky with their phone system before, seems to be corrected. I was able to speak with someone and got very specific times on restocking certain items, and some others they weren't so certain about. However, the fellow I spoke with on the phone was quite courteous and helpful.

Again this is a new vertical for me. I am finding quite a few different resources. Just not one that has everything all the time.

This ain't my first goat-rope :) I will eventually figure out who will be my "A" supplier, and "B" and so on.

The real key will be to find those "out of vertical" sources for things.
 
Absinthe said:
So, whatever may have been wonky with their phone system before, seems to be corrected. I was able to speak with someone and got very specific times on restocking certain items, and some others they weren't so certain about. However, the fellow I spoke with on the phone was quite courteous and helpful.

Again this is a new vertical for me. I am finding quite a few different resources. Just not one that has everything all the time.

This ain't my first goat-rope :) I will eventually figure out who will be my "A" supplier, and "B" and so on.

The real key will be to find those "out of vertical" sources for things.
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Sooooo.... wut you gettin the goats for?

Doubt they'll help with the knives.

Sent by smoke signals using Tapatalk
 
Lots of stuff in all industries is going out of stock quickly and taking longer to re supply, too. Between COVID and the Economy, all industries have been hit pretty hard supply wise and worker wise. Lots of people started new hobbies during COVID and knifemaking is one of those as well.
 
Taz575 said:
Lots of stuff in all industries is going out of stock quickly and taking longer to re supply, too. Between COVID and the Economy, all industries have been hit pretty hard supply wise and worker wise. Lots of people started new hobbies during COVID and knifemaking is one of those as well.
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Knife making is a hobby? Here I thought it was the path to enlightenment:)
 
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