2007 A GOOD Year?

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
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You can't help but notice that "2007" was a very good year for handmade knives in general form the spectacular Bowies, Hunters and Folders posted in the recent "Best of/Greatest threads.

But was it a GOOD year for makers, dealers and collectors? In other words how was your year from a handmade knife prospective?

I feel I had a good year in that I probably learned more about handmade knives this year as a result of my first year participating on this custom's forum. Also have made many friends through collecting and have been fortunate enough to acquire some very nice pieces this year.

So makers, dealers and collectors; How was your 2007?

Makers, sales/production up? Down? Do you feel you grew as a maker in 2007?

Collectors, did you purchase more or less knives in 2007? Are you more satisfied with your collections now than 12 months ago?
Show us your special pieces of 2007?

All things considered, do you think the custom knife industry is better off now than 12 months ago?

Are you optimistic about 2008?
 
07 was a very good year for me, finally purchased a house/settling down, getting a shop set up just how I want it etc.

I do think 08 will be better, as the time/funds I put into the shop will help me get more knives made, and do things that Ive had stuck in my head for years ;)
 
First of all - I want to see a full size pic of that avatar. ;)

2007 has been a great year for me - I definitely bought more knives than in years past - though the stronger Canadian dollar probably had more to do with that than any other single factor.

I did pick up some kinda special pieces from the likes of Andrews, Bradshaw, Cashen, Farr, Foster and Wheeler.

Then there was the extremely rewarding experience of participating in the Bladeforums Benefit Bowie.

Yep - it sure was a great knife year.

Roger
 
I actually sold a few knives in 2007, so it was a good year for me. I hope to sell more in 2008, so it should be considerably better:D I think that is is safe to say that each year that passes is a better year as far as the quality of custom knives goes. You don't have to go very far back in time in your Knives book collection to see how much custom knives have improved in general in the last 10 or so years. Some guys have been VERY good for a long time, but what I am seeing is that folks farther down the "food chain" are getting good in larger numbers. Had I started making knives in 1992 when I first got interested in customs and not in 2005, I would have been comfortable selling some of mine much sooner.......assuming they were of the same quality. The help and advice you can get nowadays is much more significant than it was back then.
 
I don't know if I even count in this conversation, but for me to do well makers have to make them and dealers and collectors have to buy them and between the makers, dealers and collectors I had my biggest year ever in 2007 as it concerns knife related production. I produced and shipped about 575 sheaths. I'm not sure what my total capacity is, but it can't be much more than that.

Any way, the point of my post is that it must have been a pretty good year all around for the makers, and the collectors for me to have the opportunity to do what I did. So far the trend for 2008 is on track to repeat 2007.

Paul
 
I couldn't have been busier. record year in terms of prodction from me, too. My output and subsequent gross were up a full 30% from 2006. Custom knives are popular, and makers/dealers want to show them off.

Frankly, I am running on empty at this level and actually wish for less work. Such is the price of success. ;) Remember, this is my second FULL-TIME job. Ugghh.

Still and all, I run to this forum for a bit of respite and camaraderie. This makes it worthy. :thumbup:

Coop
 
Kevin, 2007 was very good for me. I actually made less knives but the book keeper is happy :D

I shipped over 10,000 pounds of W2 tool steel to other makers last year. This really cut into my knife making time but was a good distraction.

I've been doing this full time since 1991 and have been fortunate to have a better year each following year. I look for 08 to be better than 07.

Thanks to all for a great year!
 
Don Hanson III said:
Kevin, 2007 was very good for me. I actually made less knives but the book keeper is happy :D

I shipped over 10,000 pounds of W2 tool steel to other makers last year. This really cut into my knife making time but was a good distraction.

I've been doing this full time since 1991 and have been fortunate to have a better year each following year. I look for 08 to be better than 07.

Thanks to all for a great year!
Click to expand...

The bookkeeper, eh?;) I had noticed that whenever I send you a payment through PayPal, the name that pops up as the recipient is a rather feminine sounding one:D I think if we asked her, she would say that her actual title is CFO and probably CEO too...lol. As for the 10,000 lbs (!!!!!) of W2, it has served it's [urpose admirably. Lots of good looking blades with wild hamons in '07.:thumbup:
 
2007 was more or less a downer here. Knife business has been moving rather slow, the cost of living has gone through the roof with fuel prices out of control and fewer people are buying to make financial ends meet.

Mom in her 80's has had a series of mini-strokes and I worry about the big one as the doctors are not sure of the exact cause yet.

Minew my 16 year old cat that has followed me through the house and watched every step of knifemaking passed on.

My health has been crap with the Chron's being more active.

2008?
I don't know what to expect, again very uncertain. Just recently an area of forest that I hunt on frequently for the past 26 years, and has put moose and deer in the freezer is marked for logging- huge clear cutting practices of the past still prevail here. It seems unfair how they can haul a whole forest away and leave the land in waste for the next 2 generations. And what happens to the forest, well it gets turned into toilet paper and then flushed down the toilets of the nation.
 
2007 was an odd year for me in terms of collecting. As I was moving back to the states and getting settled in, I was mostly just absent. I was only able to attend one show in '07 as well.

I only added a few pieces to my collection, mostly just purchases of opportunity. I did take delivery of one most excellent comission (Bruce Bump's 'Deadwood'), and that was pretty much the highlight of the year for me.

Didn't place any orders in '07 either, so '08 will likely be a slow year for me in collecting as well - just a few orders from '06 that should be finishing up.

Am I happier this year than last with collection? Absolutely. For next year though my goal is actually to sell some pieces - not that I'm getting out of collecting, just want to trim some (mostly) lower end pieces to free up some space for the future.
 
2007 was a most interesting and THE most busy year I can recall. The standout highlight was the birth of my daughter in Feb. Couple that with the clear cut logging of my land and more specificly the cleanup effort, I can't recall a dull moment. When not int he shop, I am on a bulldozer pushing up burn piles of brush. Capping off the year with the introduction of my integraframe folders is a great ending and even better beginning for 2008.

Sales were good, but a little scattered and harder to predict than previous years. Overall it kept me busier than I wanted to be, and I am thankful for it.
 
2007 was a great year!:thumbup: Went to some fantastic hammer-ins and shows. I did some knife making classes...I took damascus class...got my hammer running(still needs a new motor)...made more knives than 06...put lots of steel in shops all around the country....plus so much more!
Good times...good times...
Mace
 
07 was a very good year for me. I had several good shows, especially the Fisk Micro Show. My wife and I enjoyed it so much. We met new friends and hope to continue these friendships for many years to come.
My son got married in March to a great girl and they seem to be happy. As a father, I cant ask for much more.
I've enjoyed reading the comments. Lin:)
 
Thanks for your responses.

There are various publications where one can look at year's end to get information as to how various collectibles, arts, investments and such faired during the year. However to my knowledge there's little published information as to how the handmade knife industry is getting along from year to year.

So thought I would ask and it seems for the most part things are going well.

Glad to hear good news from Paul and Coop as photographer and sheathmaker sales are obviously good indicators as to how makers are doing.

The knife shows I attended this year (Reno, Blade and Fisk Micro) all seemed to be successful which is another good indicator.

No surprises above regarding the makers that stated they had good years.

Like to hear from some dealers?

Collectors, based on your purchases do you feel knife prices in general rose? held? or declined this past year?

No matter what, ALL involved in customs seem to be enjoying themselves.
 
2007 was a good year for me. I got a couple of great knives. There will probably be four additions to my collection in 2008.

Some makers prices rose in 07, but overall, I think prices seemed to stay pretty level with the year before. Delivery dates of the popular makers got longer.
 
It has been un-real for Manuela and I. It just keeps getting better and better!! To top it all off, We have just been invited to attend the Plaza Cutlery Show. As an invitational, it is a great honor. Manuela and I are very much looking forward to it! Mike and Manuela
 
Congrats,Mike! :thumbup:

2007 was a pretty good year for me as well.
After picking up 3 Matt Roberts knives on the secondary market in '07,I managed to snag one directly from him.
Scored a Fitch,another one of his JS knives, a Jason Knight and my second Craig Camerer.

Also an L6 Merc' from Shiva as well as one of his Spirit blades. :eek:
Flame away!! :D

Really looking forward to '08.
God,I love this place. :cool::thumbup:

Doug
 
I had a great year as well. Ive been published many times and will have Deadwood on the cover of Knives 2009. Im getting good orders although not very many they are high enders. My son Michael and I will grind out some hunters for bread and butter income this year. I added a welding/forging room to my shop and will get a bigger mill and surface grinder this year. Im looking forward to 08.
 
07 was good to me I won 2 custom knife awards. I sold two knives at the 1000$ mark and 12 or more under that. My fit and finish has got better and I have made some new friends. I have my sights set on MKA bowie award with a monster frame out bring your best stuff boys, and lets have a grate 08.
 
In terms of collecting, 2007 was good for me. Got some damn good prices and had great dealings with several folks here at BF, so that was really nice. I bought less knives than in 2006 but in the end I was happier with what I got and held on to more of it. The larger volume in and out of '06 helped me draw better focus on what I wanted in my collection and I'm happy for that. I hope I can keep that focus in '08 and land some long-sought pieces.
 
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