Using a knife before you sell it.

[gimmejr]

How many of you have made a knife, maybe a big one, maybe a small one, and think to yourself I just have to use this thing first before I sell it?

[bladsmth]

I have used them to test cut, taken them to the kitchen and cut up vegies, and done other edge tests. Beyond that, if I use a knife for personal use, I keep it. I would look on selling that knife as selling a used knife.

[mgysgthath]

At what point does it stop being quality assurance and start becoming "use" ? That question changes depending on pre-finishing or post.

[gimmejr]

Im just finishing up my first sword and Im itching to go beat it on something or at least cut some water bottles.

[james terrio]

I don't think cutting a few water bottles is out of line in that case. If it's meant for chopping down trees and whatnot, I don't see anything wrong with making a 2x4 smaller, then cleaning up any scratches. Especially if it's your first in that size/pattern/steel etc. How can you know it works if you've never used it? Heck, take pics/vids of your testing and show them off on your website/sales threads.

Generally, I test one knife out of a batch of the same steel and HT pretty hard, and keep it.

[Maniacal Pete]

I agree, if you are the maker, who's to say when it is finally finished being "made," except for you?
If you make it "new" before you sell it, well, it is still new, IMO.

[crimsonfalcon07]

I'll do some test cutting. If it won't survive some chopping, cutting, etc, it won't get sent to the customer, and I'll have to make another. Fortunately, with Darrin doing the heat treat, I haven't had to worry about those problems. But I still need to make sure I got my edge done right.

[bladsmth]

Test cutting and putting it through a series of semi-abusive tests like 2X4 chopping and bottle cutting is fine. But if I took the knife hunting or fishing and after skinning game or filleting a few rockfish cleaned it up and shipped it out, I would not feel I sent a new knife.

[Monofletch]

I would be more than happy to get a knife that was "quality assured" by the maker! A knife he wouldn't use himself, he probably shouldn't be selling!

[Bufford]

I have test driven new designs by using them to butcher hogs to see how they stand up and for determining performance and have sold them off. I take them back into the shop and clean and buff them a final time before sending them off to their new owners. If there is some damage I cannot properly fix, I keep them or sell for a slightly lower price.