Commission Your One-of-a-Kind Knife

 Commission a Custom Knife

Whether you want an existing Doberman Forge model with your choice of handle or an original piece built around your ideas, I’ll work with you to create something that suits your needs.

I’m Gabe Mabry—former professional chef, U.S. Marine veteran, and Forged in Fire champion. I make each knife by hand in my North Carolina workshop, with careful attention to performance, materials, and finish.

An Existing Model, Made Yours

Like a current Doberman Forge model but prefer a different handle material or color? These requests are normally priced at the model’s standard price, plus any additional cost for premium materials.

There’s no extra design charge simply for choosing a different handle material. Changes to blade shape, dimensions, or construction may require a custom quote.

Original Designs

Original commissions generally start around $450 for a small, straightforward knife, with pricing determined by the materials, construction, and work involved. Larger and more elaborate commissions are welcome, from kitchen and field knives to swords and collector pieces.

Please include an approximate budget with your inquiry. You don’t need to know what every detail costs—your budget helps me suggest a practical direction. We’ll establish an expected price range before moving into drawings and detailed design.

In-House Damascus

I make my Damascus steel in-house, starting with individual layers of steel and developing the pattern through forge welding, drawing out, cutting, and further forging.

Pattern complexity has a substantial effect on price. More involved patterns require additional stages of work and can consume considerably more steel than ends up in the finished blade. With some complex patterns, the usable yield can be as low as 10% of the starting material.

Depending on the pattern and construction, Damascus can double the price of a comparable monosteel knife—or increase it further. For that reason, Damascus is quoted as part of the complete design rather than offered at a fixed upgrade price.

Share the patterns you like and your approximate budget, and I’ll help you explore suitable options.

How It Works

1. Share your idea.
Tell me what the knife will be used for, your approximate budget, and any preferences for size, materials, or style. You don’t need to arrive with a finished design.

2. Work out the details.
We’ll discuss what’s practical, establish the design direction, and review pricing and estimated timing. Your quote will specify any included sheath, guard, storage, or engraving.

3. Approve the design.
For original commissions, I generally create a full-scale CAD drawing for approval before building. Maker’s-choice commissions are also welcome—we’ll agree on the budget, intended use, and any essential preferences, then you can leave the design details to me.

4. Begin the build.
Once the design is approved and any required deposit is arranged, your project joins my build schedule. Changes requested after approval may affect the price and completion estimate; we’ll discuss those effects before proceeding.

Reference Photos & Inspiration

Reference photos are welcome. They help communicate the shapes, features, and overall style you like.

I don’t clone or replicate another maker’s work. I can draw inspiration from individual design elements while developing an original piece with my own design and craftsmanship.

Deposits & Special Materials

Most commissions do not require a deposit.

A deposit may be required for expensive materials I need to order or personalization that makes the piece difficult to sell to anyone else, such as a name or personal dedication. Any deposit requirement will be discussed before you commit.

Timing & Availability

Custom work is scheduled alongside other commissions, production work, classes, and shows. Lead times vary throughout the year, and complex designs or special materials can require additional time.

Custom work cannot be rushed. Any completion window discussed is an estimate, not a guaranteed delivery date.

If you have a particular occasion or deadline in mind, mention it when you inquire so I can assess whether the project is a practical fit.

Support After the Sale

Every custom knife is backed by my lifetime workmanship warranty.

I also offer one free professional sharpening per customer each year, with the customer covering shipping both ways. See the warranty and sharpening page for full details.

Start Your Commission

Use the form below or email sales@dobermanforge.com.

Please include the following so I can assess the project before we get into detailed design work:

• Request: An existing model with different materials, an original design, or a maker’s-choice commission.
• Intended use: What you want the knife to do.
• Approximate budget: An amount or range you’re comfortable spending.
• Size and materials: Any preferences for blade length, steel, handle, or finish.
• References: Links or photos, with a note about the features you like.
• Extras: Any sheath, storage, or engraving requests.
• Timing: Any occasion or requested deadline.

You don’t need a finished design. Your intended use and approximate budget are the most useful starting points.

Submitting an inquiry does not confirm a commission, price, or completion date. Those details are discussed before an order is accepted.

Replies may come from dobermanforge@gmail.com.