Grizz Bowie

Carter, Mike

Visit this maker's website: Carter Crafts. Mike Carter has been making custom knives for a little over 5 years after learning the craft from his friend and mentor Gil Hibben. He is a probationary member of the Knifemaker's Guild and hopes to earn voting status with the Guild at the 2009 Guild Show. Mike is still a part time knifemaker working from his home shop in Louisville, Kentucky. Mike makes a wide variety of fixed blade styles. His favorite designs are larger Bowie knives although he makes a lot of skinners, hunters, and camp knives. His small neck knives with a unique sheath system of his own design has proven to be one of his most popular knives. Mike occasionally expresses his artistic side and Hibben influence with some more stylish creations. He is also beginning to work with folding knives. Most of Mike's work is for custom orders but he does make a variety knives to show and sell at several knife shows he attends throughout the year. "I like the shows and meeting the people but my Internet and direct sales have been strong so I expect to be doing fewer shows next year and spend more time in the shop rather than traveling" Mike said. About his creations, Mike says "Every piece I make is unique. Except for a couple of models, I do not use templates. Rather I just grind the knife until it looks and feels right to me. As I was taught, I grind all of my knives freehand using no jigs or guides. I prefer the natural beauty of exotic woods and other natural materials for my knife handles. I also prefer 400C stainless steel as I think it is still one of the best all-around knife steels available although I do use other steels if the customer wants it. I do use a lot of Brad Vice's "Alabama Damascus" steel and I have been very impressed with it. Nearly all of my blades are hollow ground and I often mirror polish them for appearance and ease of use and maintenance. I also make my own hand sewn leather sheaths."