Stinger Custom Mammoth: One Man, No CNC
Troy DuPont built this Stinger Custom mammoth automatic by hand in Minnesota and signed it No. 8. The Maniac is an extremely skilled automatic knifemaker on the rise.
No CNC machine touched this knife. He performed every operation himself. We Buy Knife Collections is an authorized dealer for Maniac Machining, so this piece comes to you new and direct from the bench it was built on. Browse the makers we follow most closely in our guide to the most valuable custom knifemakers.
Troy DuPont and the Second Chapter
DuPont has machined for more than 35 years. The nickname came from a boss at his first machining job, who could not believe how fast he turned out prototype parts without a blueprint. He established Maniac Machining in 1998 and reopened it in 2021 for what he calls a second chapter.
He describes himself as a dinosaur, stuck on the way this country made things ninety years ago, when products lasted a hundred years. He designed the Stinger from the ground up.
DuPont sits on the cusp of wider recognition, and the reason is simple. His work reaches a level most shops cannot hit without automation, and he uses none. See the rest of the makers we carry on our shop by maker page.
Brass, Mammoth, and the Safety He Always Wanted
DuPont machines the bolsters from solid brass and polishes them to a mirror at both ends of the handle. Between them he sets mammoth ivory in warm cream and amber. That fossil material spent tens of thousands of years in the ground, and no two pieces match. Brass hardware carries the theme through.
He fits the firing button into the front bolster by hand. Alongside it sits a sliding safety with a red indicator, and that detail matters more than it looks.
DuPont has said he always wanted a safety on his conversion knives and never had one. So when he designed his own automatic, he built one in. Our knife knowledge library covers how automatic mechanisms work.
The Blade and the Action
The blade runs a drop point with a long swedge, mirror polished, and carries the Maniac Machining mark on the flat. It fires hard and locks up without play.
DuPont cut the scalloped pattern along the brass spine by hand, like everything else on the knife. The seam between brass and mammoth disappears under a thumb. This is what hand work looks like when nobody rushes it.
Condition of This Stinger Custom Mammoth
New from the maker and in mint condition. The Stinger Custom harkens back to a simpler time before CNC machining, when wit and raw talent ruled the day.
The brass shows no handling marks. The mammoth carries no oils or wear. Nobody has touched the edge, and the action remains exactly as DuPont tuned it. Read how we grade to see what our condition language means.
What Comes With This Stinger Custom Mammoth
Everything Maniac Machining ships. That covers the kraft cylinder presentation tube with its Maniac Machining label, the Maniac Machining decal, and the contact card for warranty service directly with the maker.
The Certificate of Authenticity records the knife as Maniac Stinger-Custom, Brass-Mammoth, No. 8, Built By The Maniac, U.S.A. DuPont signed and dated it by hand.
One period note for collectors. From 2025 the Stinger Custom ships in a cylinder tube with a velvet sleeve. Read more about how we document provenance.
Specifications
- Maker: Maniac Machining, established 1998
- Maker Name: Troy DuPont
- Model: Stinger
- Variant: Custom, with safety
- Serial Number: No. 8
- Date Made: July 27, 2024
- Country of Origin: USA, made in Minnesota
- Knife Type: Push-button automatic, side opening
- Blade Material: 440C stainless steel
- Blade Style: Drop point with a long swedge
- Blade Finish: Mirror polished
- Blade Length: 2.75 in
- Overall Length: 6.16 in
- Closed Length: 3.5 in
- Weight: 7.2 oz
- Edge: Plain, unsharpened factory edge
- Bolsters: Solid brass, mirror polished
- Handle Scales: Mammoth
- Spine: Scalloped hand-cut brass
- Hardware: Brass
- Deployment: Brass firing button in the front bolster
- Safety: Sliding safety with red indicator
- Pocket Clip: None, dress automatic
- Manufacturing Method: Entirely hand-machined, no CNC
- Condition: New from the maker, mint
- SKU: 00173-MAN-STINGER-CUST-BRSMAM-20240727
Video Introduction: Custom Stinger Automatic by Troy DuPont
This video shows the Maniac Machining Stinger Custom No. 8 in mint condition, with its brass bolsters, mammoth scales, mirror-polished blade, firing button, and safety. Overall length is 6.16 inches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Maniac?
Troy DuPont. He has machined for over 35 years, established Maniac Machining in 1998, and reopened the shop in 2021. He designs and builds every Stinger himself.
Is this really made without CNC?
Yes. He performed every operation on this knife by hand on manual machines. That is unusual at any price for an automatic, and it separates his work from most of the market.
What is mammoth?
Fossil from woolly mammoths, recovered from permafrost after tens of thousands of years underground. The material is from an extinct creature, and no living animal is involved. Minerals in the soil create the coloring, so every piece is unique.
How do you verify authenticity?
This knife came directly from Troy DuPont with his hand-signed certificate. Questions are welcome on our FAQs page.
Automatic Knife Legal Notice
This is an automatic knife. Laws governing purchase, possession, and carry vary by state, county, and municipality.
The buyer must know and follow the laws that apply where they live before ordering. We do not give legal advice. For current state-by-state information, consult the American Knife and Tool Institute.
Buy This Maniac Machining Stinger Custom
We inspect, photograph, and honestly describe every knife we list. Browse what else is available on the Maniac Machining Brand Page. If you own custom pieces yourself, sell your collection for a same-day offer.
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