Last January, at the Las Vegas knife show, I came across a table full of very interesting folders.
A number of them looked familiar, some very familiar and some vaguely familiar. In their design
, some were graceful, some audacious. The knives had a lot going for them: good-looking handle
materials, semi-precious stones, anodized titanium, heath-colored Damascus, carvings in steel and
pearl, file-worked liners and back spines; everything shimmering, bright and alluring. All of them
were priced shockingly low compared to other custom-made folders with this much work involved.
After talking to the dealer – Keith Newman – this is what I have learned:
The third-generation knifemaker’s name is Suchat Jangtanong of Uthai Thani Province of Thailand
. There are three more members of the team in his shop who contribute to the knives in their final
form: Panja-(scrimshaw and engraving), Marcus (design ideas), Tita, his sister (anodizing and
business operation). The location of the shop (equipped with very basic knife-making tools and
machines) explains the low price of the knives. I bought a couple. I met Keith again at NYCKS in
November and the knives on his table seemed to improve as far as mechanism and design. Prices
were slightly higher. Some of them still looked very much like other makers’ designs, but not
many; hopefully the team will soon find their own inspiration and obtain a solid place among knife
collectors. Here are a few of my choice.
Quintessential Cutlery - 1K to 2K$ Folders
2F043abc
S u c h a t J a n g t a n o n g
Carved Damascus Liner-lock
Alabama Damascus drop-point blade is 3" long. Closed knife; 4-1/4".Damascus carved bolsters.
Titanium file-worked, anodized liners and back-spacer. Red sapphire thumb stud.
Price: $1,200.00
Quintessential Cutlery - 1K to 2K$ Folders
2F044a,b,c
S u c h a t J a n g t a n o n g
Damascus Linerlock Folder
Chad Nichols Damascus blade is 2-1/2" long. Closed knife: 3-3/4".
Titanium shaped anodized bolters and fileworked liners. Damascus bale. Mother of Pearl carved scales
Price: $ 1,400.00
Quintessential Cutlery - 1K to 2K$ Folders
2F045abc
S u c h a t J a n g t a n o n g
Damascus Linerlock
Damascus blade is 3-3/8" long. Closed knife:4-1/2"
Damascus carved bolsters and bale. Fileworked anodized liners. Gold plate screws and thumb stud with m.o.p. inlay.
Carved and textured mother of pearl scales.
Price: $1,295.00
Quintessential Cutlery - 1K to 2K$ Folders
2F046abc
S u c h a t J a n g t a n o n g
Damascus Linerlock
Damascus blade is 3-1/4" long. Closed knife: 4-1/2"
Damascus carved frame. Titanium fileworked liners. Gold plate screws. Gold lip m.o.p. scales.
Price:$1,400.00
Quintessential Cutlery - 1K$ or less Folders
1F051ABC
S u c h a t J a n g t a n o n g
Damascus Linerlock
Chad Nichols hot-blued damascus blade is 3" long. Closed knife: 4-1/2"
Damascus and titanium bolsters, titanium fileworked liners. Fossil ivory scales.
Gold plate screws and thumb-stud with semi-precious stone.
Price: $1050.00