[Bryan W.]

Is there a list of good people who currently take on commissions for pattern welded blades in the US? I emailed a few "well known" people but no one has bothered even in this economical era to get back to me. If someone is skilled at what they do and reliable I'd like to send business their way at some point.

[Tim Lison]

I might try to contact Michael Pikula. He does fantastic work and is a great communicator. I have 2 pattern welded pieces that are simply perfect.

[Matt Corbin]

Dave Stephens up in Alaska has been making some VERY nice pattern welded sword blades recently.

His website isn't the best:

http://www.stephensforge.com/

But if you go over to Don Fogg's bladesmith forums, there are some threads showing some of his more amazing work.

[Matt Corbin]

I guess I should have asked, but what size/type of blade do you want made?

[Bryan W.]

A great question which makes things a bit more complex for me I suppose.

I personally collect smallswords and was looking for someone who could make one to such standards though I'm sure others who view this thread may be interested in more than just that so probably keeping it generic may be better for the forum as a whole.

Dave Stephens does awesome work from what I've seen in pictures but I don't think he takes commissions.

[Lee O'Hagan]

Michael as mentioned does some really good work from what i've seen,defo great on the comms,
Dave's work looks lovely,but i think he does it as a way to relax from his day job,if it isnt gifted to you i dont think he moves much on of what he makes,from reading at Don's,be surprised if that doesnt change in the future though with the quality of the work he's doing,
Kevin Cashen has done the mentioned type a few time's,excellent pattern welder etc,
John of Odinblades has done similer useing steel from one of his friends,looks grand stuff,
Vince Evans would make a grand piece,
Don Fogg's forum has alot of the makers posting regulerly from here and other fora,showing all different works,

personally,
i've had good luck getting a pw billett and then going to a specific maker,
had great service on steel from Al Massey and Rob Deker, Dekerknives,
that would leave you free to go to Arms and Armour,who have posted some nice smallswords from their custom section,
there is a huge choice of pattern welders in the states,
Ric Furrer does some really nice steel,from pics i've seen,
and a huge choice of high end sword makers,
i could probly type names for an hour,but if your already contacting people etc,alot comes down to pattern and steel type you prefer,sword makers you'd be happy to have make the item,
there are alot of one stop option's but i havent had personnal experience with the majority,
at least with the billett option,you can break down the costings over a couple of years or more,
with your mention of some of the makers yet to reply,not to speak for them,but i've found quite a few dont get on the comp too much,some i've dealt with reply within a day or two,some within a fortnight etc, so if the contact is important,i'd lean toward the guys you hear good things about via word of mouth or queries such as this,
the people i've mentioned are all very good in getting back,all things being equal,
sounds a grand project,
from memory,i think Stepen Fischer on here posted a few fantastic pieces,worth a search through the forums,
good luck with it and be interested in pics when you have it made,

[Dave Stephens]

Hi. Thanks for the kind words re: my work.

As someone already noted, I don't sell my work and don't have any plans to start doing so in the future.

However, I would recommend The Mad Dwarf Workshop. I think they're starting to get a lot of orders stacked up, but David and Andy are both great swordsmiths and I think they are still taking orders.

Cheers,

Dave Stephens

[Glen A Cleeton]

Peter T. Swarz-Burt of
http://www.dragonsbreathforge.com/
http://forums.swordforum.com/member.php?u=26572

working with Matt Parkinson
http://www.fallinghammerproductions.com/
http://forums.swordforum.com/member.php?u=25320

These guys have been doing some nice commissions and collaborations.

Peter is also into making his own crucible-wootz steel

Cheers

GC