2 many "knife-makers?"

Bob Loveless once said that knife making would know success when there was a knife maker at every country crossroads in the US.
I go along with his thought. Every new knifemaker brings in more folks with him.
I believe that my only competition is with myself.
Good thread
 
Ed Fowler: "I believe that my only competition is with myself."

I could not agree more, Ed.
 
Interesting thread. The fact is, as I understand it, the market will correct itself and all those involved - so long as allowed to without adverse regulatatory interference. My fears and thoughts about how many of us and at what caliber: who cares(?).

RL
 
I think one of the most important aspects of knifemaking is to make your perspective knife buyers happy. I've found making what I like in a knife may not be what my customers like. Luckily, 90% of what I make is what my outdoor/hunting customers end up buying. Communication about what your limitations are, are a key issue when it comes to making a custom knife for someone. There are alot of things I won't do, mainly because I'm ethier not equipped or not knowledgable enough. I also agree with Ed, your main competition is yourself.
Scott
 
One aspect of making knives that I love to watch is that the kind of knife you make will bring clients to you who share your thoughts, life style, and dreams. It is as if the shared love for a knive (or a dream) brings together soul mates.
Like any art, there are those who are attracted to Charles Russell and those who chose Remmington. Some are extremely attracted to one, others to the other. Both worked in the same meduim, but came to the mountain via different paths and knowledge. Naturally there are those who like both.
 
I have loved knives my whole life. I have been drawing sketches and having makers put them into steel. I have wanted, for years, to make mine. I have just taken that leap.

My parents own 2 retail business. My mom asked me if I wanted to put some knives in her shop to sell. I think it pi$$es her off that I am not running to the shop daily with "stock". I told her that eventually, I would like my hobby to finance itself. But, I know I have a ways to go. I haven't sold any yet, but I have given away 6.

As a greenie, I make a low of mistakes. Usually, I can regrind, reheat, rehandle, do something not to discard a piece of steel. Sometimes, though, all I have is a learning trophy. You know, that is fun. The experience of learning.

I appreciate the "old timers" answeing the questions here. I also appreciate the newer makers asking questions that I haven't thought of yet. I have learned a lot from this forum.

Hopefully, there will be enough knifemakers and buyers fokr a long time.
 
Okay, forgive me for the intrusion. I, myself, find the flame growing within to make works of art from steel. :D

Regarding new makers, I think they are a valuable stepping stone for new enthusiasts. I manage a knife shop and enjoy educating people about custom knives and the work that goes into them.

Real quick... It is not my intent for the following to sound crude or flameful. It's late and I will try to type exactly what I am thinking. Here goes :D :eek:

With new makers coming in, they are providing knives at a lower price that may be more cost oriented for the new enthusiast looking to purchase. Their grinds may not be perfect and the handle materials may not have a certain fit in finish, but provide a nice stepping stone for more quality prone pieces in the future. I have seen certain customs knives that sell for example, $150. The grinds are slightly off, and other things that would iritate me. These also help me for demostration compared to a $400 knife.

It's fun to see, as we all have, people climb the price scale. We once winced at $60 knives, now we don't blink at $400. I think the two, New and Old/Experienced, help compliment each other.


If the above didn't help, my apologies. Just felt that need to post. ;)

Bryan
KAAK

And thanks for all the information all of you share. Priceless. :cool:
 
It seems to me that the internet has been the greatest boon to our craft there could be. If it weren't for this forum I'd still be hacking away in a vacuum with no feedback and no benchmark to judge myself against. I wouldn't have leaned a tenth on my own what I have here, just because of what you said - makers sharing freely and people asking questions that hadn't occurred to me yet. This is a great thing and Shop Talk is, in my humble opinion, the best of the forums. I really appreciate this community and everyone who's done so much to help me and so many others along.

The net has also done more to spread awareness of custom knifemaking than anything else has. (Again, my opinion.) The magazines are great and shows are superb - but people have to make an effort to avail themselves of these. Knife info is available all over the internet for free and people who otherwise might not have seen the work of so many talented knife makers, see it often and everywhere online. And it's a great way for potential collectors to be introduced to the - industry? craft? - without laying down a lot of their money until they're well informed.

Because of this I believe that the customer base will continue to grow as rapidly as the maker population is. And because learning is so well supported by venues like this one, some collectors will eventually take a hand at making a knife or a hundred of their own, and come to understand firsthand the value behind the price of a handmade knife.

Nothing in my everyday life is quite so fulfilling for me as completing a knife - unless it's starting a new one... ;) Or watching someone's eyes light up when they pick up a custom knife for the first time, or discovering the work of a hitherto unknown maker, or finding that perfect handle material, or...
 
Well said. I feel that this is one of the best forums as well. The wonderful thing about here is that you get abundent info and different points of views (without "hiccups" :D ). I feel that the makers themselves are what drives the growing numbers of customers buying custom knives.

I thank you guys for sharing your info and putting up with the same questions over and over ;) :cool: (from me anyway)
 
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