18" Keffeler Sword (K18), AKA The KOD Piece

PeteyTwoPointOne said:
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PeteyTwoPointOne PeteyTwoPointOne

I'd like to address the criticism posted here before the edit. For those who didn't catch it, the gist of it is that Ron is mad at me because his sword was scandalously late and he hurt his finger pretty badly on the tip of his sword because the tip was poking out of the end of the packaging when he received the box which he feels is my fault. When he contacted Jo she offered to repair the damage to the tip of the sword which was apparently an inadequate response. This experience has soured us for him and he won't be coming around anymore. I regret that because he has always been a good contributor around here and he will be missed.

First, I am very sorry these swords are late. If I could go back in time and not do this project I would. I have no valid excuse but there are a number of reasons, which can be summed up by my own experience with the Dunning Kruger effect where I underestimated what would be involved in producing this large double edged piece. The machining, grinding, heat treat, finishing and even the sharpening are all challenges that I have a ton of experience with that did not amount to enough expertise to produce a sword of this nature with our manufacturing capabilities as they were when we got started. I have over 20 years of relevant experience in this realm, this is not my first rodeo, and it was inadequate. The end result has been substantial improvements in our capabilities and some pissed off customers. I've lost money on this project and a lot of hard earned credibility because we're still not done delivering these. This is a good example of one "Ah fuck" undoing a lot of "attaboys". We try to under promise and over deliver, and we usually do, but this is a painful reminder that I don't always get it right. It is an exceptional sword though, we did it right, I stand by that.

Second, the tip of the sword was poking out of the end of the box, and Ron feels this is on me. I disagree with this. We did packaging testing before shipping these that demonstrated to me that our approach to our packing was more than adequate to protect against any kind of reasonable abuse these would see in shipping. Reasonable abuse. The packaging could always be "better". It could be levitated on a bed of foam encapsulated in a steel shipping tube but it still won't survive reentry from outer space. This packaging can survive being dropped tip first onto my driveway from my balcony, tossed around like a football, slammed down hard onto the ground and stomped on. It needs to tolerate drops from a conveyer belt and bouncing around in a truck, but it can actually tolerate being slammed to the ground repeatedly from head height onto all six sides again and again. It's not indestructible, it shouldn't be, but our packaging is more than adequate. The fact that it failed is due to the incompetence and negligence of the shipping company that subjected this package to exceptional abuse to cause that kind of failure. I always try to plan and account for the occasional assholes and idiots who may handle our packages but it isn't always possible to predict what will happen and it is impossible to protect against any and every conceivable failure mode. We did test for this, I didn't just slap this together, and the shipper found a way to fuck it up anyways. It is regrettable, but I do not accept responsibility to the damage this package received in shipping, it is not my fault. I truly am sorry that your package was damaged and you were hurt. The damages and lost packages that our company has had can be counted on one hand, our packaging works 99.99% of the time, but at a certain point it becomes out of my control. Of the many thousands of packages that we have shipped this is the first time a knife that we packaged penetrated the box and injured somebody. I'm sorry that it was you. Please understand it was not due to apathy or an indifference to safety on our part. I don't believe that "sometime shit just happens", that's not what I'm saying. Obviously something went wrong, but I'm saying that at a certain point it is out of my control what happens and there is only so much that I can reasonably anticipate. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, we are adding additional reinforcement but it should not reasonably be necessary.

Ron I would like to personally apologize to you for making you feel like I thought this was not a big deal. It is a big deal and I should have called you to say so.
 
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Nathan the Machinist said:
PeteyTwoPointOne PeteyTwoPointOne

I'd like to address the criticism posted here before the edit. For those who didn't catch it, the gist of it is that Ron is mad at me because his sword was scandalously late and he hurt his finger pretty badly on the tip of his sword because the tip was poking out of the end of the packaging when he received the box which he feels is my fault. When he contacted Jo she offered to repair the damage to the tip of the sword which was apparently an inadequate response. This experience has soured us for him and he won't be coming around anymore. I regret that because he has always been a good contributor around here and he will be missed.

First, I am very sorry these swords are late. If I could go back in time and not do this project I would. I have no valid excuse but there are a number of reasons, which can be summed up by my own experience with the Dunning Kruger effect where I underestimated what would be involved in producing this large double edged piece. The machining, grinding, heat treat, finishing and even the sharpening are all challenges that I have a ton of experience with that did not amount to enough expertise to produce a sword of this nature with our manufacturing capabilities as they were when we got started. I have over 20 years of relevant experience in this realm, this is not my first rodeo, and it was inadequate. The end result has been substantial improvements in our capabilities and some pissed off customers. I've lost money on this project and a lot of hard earned credibility because we're still not done delivering these. This is a good example of one "Ah fuck" undoing a lot of "attaboys". We try to under promise and over deliver, and we usually do, but this is a painful reminder that I don't always get it right. It is an exceptional sword though, we did it right, I stand by that.

Second, the tip of the sword was poking out of the end of the box, and Ron feels this is on me. I disagree with this. We did packaging testing before shipping these that demonstrated to me that our approach to our packing was more than adequate to protect against any kind of reasonable abuse these would see in shipping. Reasonable abuse. The packaging could always be "better". It could be levitated on a bed of foam encapsulated in a steel shipping tube but it still won't survive reentry from outer space. This packaging can survive being dropped tip first onto my driveway from my balcony, tossed around like a football, slammed down hard onto the ground and stomped on. It needs to tolerate drops from a conveyer belt and bouncing around in a truck, but it can actually tolerate being slammed to the ground repeatedly from head height onto all six sides again and again. It's not indestructible, it shouldn't be, but our packaging is more than adequate. The fact that it failed is due to the incompetence and negligence of the shipping company that subjected this package to exceptional abuse to cause that kind of failure. I always try to plan and account for the occasional assholes and idiots who may handle our packages but it isn't always possible to predict what will happen and it is impossible to protect against any and every conceivable failure mode. We did test for this, I didn't just slap this together, and the shipper found a way to fuck it up anyways. It is regrettable, but I do not accept responsibility to the damage this package received in shipping, it is not my fault. I truly am sorry that your package was damaged and you were hurt. The damages and lost packages that our company has had can be counted on one hand, our packaging works 99.99% of the time, but at a certain point it becomes out of my control. Of the many thousands of packages that we have shipped this is the first time a knife that we packaged penetrated the box and injured somebody. I'm sorry that it was you. Please understand it was not due to apathy or an indifference to safety on our part. I don't believe that "sometime shit just happens", that's not what I'm saying. Obviously something went wrong, but I'm saying that at a certain point it is out of my control what happens and there is only so much that I can reasonably do. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, we are adding additional reinforcement but it should not reasonably be necessary.
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One thing I've seen done on some larger knives is to have a piece of wood at the end of the box to keep the point from being able to poke thru.
 
I think that was very well said, Nathan...speaking as one with no skin in this particular matter...but one who knows what it is to have both experienced long delays, and been cut badly and experienced nerve damage as a result. (Through no one's fault, in the latest instance, but simple bad luck.)

Ron, I hope you find the means to see your way back to the community here, as well as some level of forgiveness, regardless of who is or isn't at fault.

If I can be of any assistance in that regard, feel free to message me privately.
 
My post that was edited was meant to be a Private Message to my friend, I mistakenly posted it up as a reply in the stream >>> After which, I immediately <less than 30 sec.> edited it.

In the PM, I made a claim with reasons, supported with evidence. Everything beyond that is subjective, that's fine.

Wish it hadn't went as public as it did, but it did. My mistake about that, thanks for the grace...taking Sir Paul's advice--- Let it Be.
 
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I just finished grinding the last K18 for this pre-order tonight. It's tumbling now. We will assemble it and I'll sharpen it tomorrow and that will complete this pre-order. Good grief what an epic saga the K18 turned out to be. I'm proud of the work and I'm sorry it took me so long.
 
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