Custom Handmade Knives

This page is only for custom knife purchases. If you're interested in finished knives that I have currently available in my inventory, please click here for purchase details on finished knives.

If you're at this page then you've probably decided generalities or specifics on the fine knife you want. I've included information on this page to make the transaction simple, easy, and fast.

Over half my work is custom: made just as the knife client wants. Please remember that I only take a limited amount of custom orders every year, as demand is high, and I don't want to make my clients wait an inordinately long time.

Another important point is that I only make my own style of knife. If you're set on knives that are copies of existing knives by other makers or factories, I don't do that. As an artist, I have a responsibility to my clients and patrons to impart my own style into their projects. Copying other's works does not honor that commitment.

What's the most important thing a client can do?

The most important thing is to keep me informed of your address, telephone number, or email changes!

If you are an existing client waiting on a knife and have changed your address, telephone number, email or other contact information, you must let me know! Otherwise, when I've completed your project and I can't reach you, I'll have to sell your project to the public! I've had to chase a couple clients over the continent with expensive certified letters and unanswered emails, getting disconnected telephones and bad addresses. Please, please, keep me updated or you will lose your deposit and the ability to purchase your knife order!

How does this work?

$100 deposit, balance due on completion

• You decide on the type of knife and features and accessories you want.
• Through email, conversation, or quote form, I give you a quote on a project detailing the knife.
• If you agree to the quote, you pay a $100.00 deposit per knife.
• I put your project in my lineup, and you wait. I work up the design, and start building your knife or knives.
• You wait.
• Okay, I have a long order list, so you patiently wait some more.
• You keep tabs on your knife progress on my "Jay, where's my knife?" page on this website. And you wait.
• Why is this taking so long? See a special page here for the reasons.
• I email you when your knife is finished, and you pay the balance and shipping.
• I send you your beautiful custom handmade knife or knives!

What about custom knife designs?

• A non-refundable $100.00 deposit per knife is required to start work on your knife. The deposit goes toward the cost of your finished knife or knives. This design fee is also your standard non-refundable deposit.
• You may choose from the 360+ knife designs and patterns here, and you can mix and match handles and blades and specify sizes.
• You may submit your own ideas or design, and have me work with you to make the design workable
• You may fill out the Custom Knife Quote and Order Form yourself and decide on the details.
• If you have a very large or elaborate project, I may require a non-refundable deposit of half of the total cost of the project in advance. Of course, the deposit goes toward the cost of your finished project.

My money: how much and when?

Simply put, on most custom knives, I require a non-refundable $100.00 deposit per knife. After we have agreed on the knife I am to make for you, the deposit is used to purchase blade steel, handle material, and some of the expendables that will be used to build your knife. It also compensates me slightly for the initial investment of time to start your project.

For new custom knife designs, the non-refundable $100.00 design fee is required to pay for all my work on a new design for you. The design fee goes toward the cost of your knife. Read the details about the design fee here.

The only thing I ask is that when your knife is finished, please be ready to pay the balance so I can ship it to you right away. I realize that some people like to pay on a knife over time, but with so many knife orders in production, this would translate into an accounting nightmare for me. The easiest and most proven method I've used for over 30 years is the $100 deposit, and balance due on completion process. The waiting period also gives you, my client, the time to save up for the balance.

What if I want to pay more, sooner?

I get asked this question frequently, and I do not accept early payments on most custom knife orders. Large, elaborate projects that require a substantial investment in materials and supplies are an exception. The reasons I don't accept early payments are many.

• The unthinkable: If something were to happen to me, I would not want to leave my family with a huge accounting nightmare to settle, as well as substantial debt to return.
• I like to keep my accounting simple. I don't want to have to use complicated spreadsheets and record keeping to account for every dime of a client's money. I don't have enough time to make knives, much less run numbers and keep account records.
• In our country, we are taxed on income we make. Accepting large payments early requires me being taxed on money that I haven't made yet! Not a wise business practice.
• If something happens to the client or the order is canceled, a modest return is easier to swallow than a substantial one.
• The low deposit and balance due on completion allows clients to plan for, save, and set aside their final payment.
• Paying early is sometimes seen as a method to move a project up in the queue faster. That's not fair to those who've been waiting, so I don't do it.
• There are more reasons, here's a link on my Business of Knifemaking page. Thanks for understanding.

What payment methods do you accept?

• Money order: Upon completion, your knife order is shipped the same day that your money order clears my bank, which may take a few days.
• Cashier's check: You need to send it USPS FedEx, or UPS, signature confirmation for security purposes. Your completed knife order is shipped the same day the cashier's check is received.
• Personal check: I accept personal checks, but my bank may take a few days for the check to clear. The completed knife is shipped the same day the check is cleared.
• Western Union Transfers: This is a good way to directly wire money. A small fee is charged by Western Union. Click here to find a location, worldwide. Western Union can also be used to wire money directly into my account, please email me for routing information.
• Wires (or Wire Transfers): I accept both domestic and international bank to bank wires. Domestic wires are usually verified in 24 hours, international wires take 5 business days. Contact me for routing numbers and account details. You'll incur an additional $10.00 fee for this service; that is what the bank charges me for an incoming transfer.
• Direct Bank Transfer: If you have an account with Wells Fargo, you can directly transfer the payment right into my account. This may be the fastest, easiest way to pay for your knife. Daily limits are $1000. Contact me for account number information.
• MasterCard or Visa:
  Yes, I accept these two types of credit cards if necessary. It's not my favorite method of payment, because it costs me 5-7% of the knife's price in credit card fees. But if you prefer to pay by this method, I'll accommodate you. It takes 2-3 business days for the purchase to clear the electronic transfer, and that's when I'll ship your completed knife. The advantage to you is that you don't have to mail a thing, just email me your cc name, number, and expiration date. I am an active, listed Merchant with Wells Fargo Merchant Services, and have been since 1988. Note: If you decide to return the knife, you will incur the additional credit card fees for the return and chargeback fee.
• Payments or Layaways: Sorry, I don't accept time payments (or layaway) for knives. I expect you to have the balance due before the knife is delivered. You can make arrangements with your credit card company, bank, credit union, or lending institution to pay the balance completely.
• For your records and information, payments are made to:
  Jay Fisher
  1405 Edwards
  Clovis, NM 88101

What about orders outside the United States?

I accept these international methods of payment:

• International wire transfers: Bank to bank transfers: contact me for routing numbers. You will incur a fee for this service, which varies from bank to bank. Make the transfers in US Dollars at the time of the transfer.
• Western Union Wires: Contact me for my location details or look up the nearest location at Western Union's website here. You will incur a modest fee for this transaction, it is a good way to pay for your knife. Make the wires in US Dollars. Western Union can also be used to wire money directly into my account, please email me for routing information.
• Credit cards: I'm sorry, but due to international limitations, I no longer accept final payments by credit card. I can, however accept the initial deposit.
• Money orders: Yes, as the time to complete the custom order allows the money order to clear
• Shipping charges and methods: I now ship FedEx to all locations. Shipping by FedEx is tracked and delivery is guaranteed. Read about my shipping on a special page here.

What happens if I can't pay for my knife order?

You'll see this sign in just about every business, and this business is no different. When the knife is completed, payment is due. If it's a custom order, it's likely that the client has had years to prepare for the payment, and (unlike other knife makers) the client can check up on the progress of his project daily on the "Where's My Knife, Jay?" page at the queue.

When I inform the client that his custom knife or project is complete, the client has 10 business days to pay the balance, or the knife is offered to the public or other interested buyers.

• I do not accept installments or layaways. If you've paid your deposit I expect you to have the balance due when the knife is finished. You can make arrangements with your credit card company, or bank, credit union, or lending institution to pay the balance completely; I am not a bank. Then the knife is shipped to you as soon as it's paid for.
• If you've decided you don't want or can't pay for the knife, then you've forfeited your deposit, and I'll put your knife for sale on my website. I will probably put it up for sale on the site for more than we contracted for, as the knives typically appreciate in value while in the queue!. 
• I understand that things happen, and I also have to protect my work and investment of time and materials. I complete my responsibility of the project and sale, and I expect the client to do the same. It's that simple, and it's worked great for over 30 years.

What if I want to postpone my order?

The only thing I ask is that when the knife or project is completed, that the client be ready to pay for it. Unfortunately, the economy is tough or you've had a problem and you still want the knife, but you can't get pay for the balance... yet. There is no other company that will take a custom order and then hold onto the product indefinitely to wait for the client to complete the purchase. It's not reasonable to ask that of a knife maker, either.

Once in a while, but thankfully, not often, I get asked to postpone an order, or hold on to it because the client does not have the money to complete the purchase. Though I understand that bad things happen, I've done my best to complete the knife order, and spent a great deal of money and time to complete the knife, holding up my end of the contract based on a very low down payment. If the person who ordered it can not pay for it, I'll need to sell it to recover my investment.

Sometimes, if a knife is still in the very early stages of creation, it may be possible to reset it to the recent part of the queue as little effort has been spent yet on the job. But this only works for knives that are early in production, not knives that are half or nearly complete. Like you, I have to get paid for my effort, and I may need to sell the knife to the public for this to happen.  Thanks for understanding.

What about this long waiting period?

My waiting period is shorter than some makers, and longer than others. Please click here for a detailed description of why. It also depends on your knife. Because of my popularity, there is a large demand for my custom work, so a waiting period is expected. I know of makers who may put you on a five to seven year wait! Orders can get hectic, so, you may have to wait a bit. It will be worth it, I guarantee it. Read more about waiting and see who you'd be waiting with and why on my "Where's my knife, Jay?" page here.

What if you can't wait? Sometimes a deployment is the reason for this, and I've started a new program in 2009 for those military combat knife orders with James Beauchamp in my studio. Here's his page and information about the Beauchamp-Fisher collaborative knives.

Are there other fees or costs?

The shipping charge is extra, and it's based on the size, weight, value, and delivery method. I ship FedEx, and each shipping charge is calculated on an individual basis. See my knife shipping page here.

Is the knife guaranteed?

I guarantee my workmanship for my lifetime, for as long as I'm physically able. While I cannot guarantee refunds for elaborate custom projects, I will do my best to make sure you're satisfied. Over 2000 knife purchases over 30 years (20 full time) and all positive feedback proves I'm doing something right! You're in good company as a patron and client, with some of the most demanding knife collectors and users in the world. They are all very happy with their purchase, and my fine collector's custom knives appreciate yearly.