"2008" A VERY GOOD Year?

Some threads do get rather heated. I don't think there is anything wrong with that as long as things don't go beyond the disagreement stage. However, there is no need for people to start attacking each other personally. It does nothing to further the discussion, and causes animosity.
 
To change the subject back to that of Kevin's original post, here is a nice
Michael Walker I picked up at the BLADE Show.......

Come on, guys, cool down, everything taken into account, 2008
can truly be considered great year so far............

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

picture.JPG
 
David, thats a sweet looking folder! Nice score at Blade.

This knife began a new era of collecting for me. 2008 has been my best yet.

Hanson_B08_04-copy.jpg


Remember: We are all here because we love knives. We ought to put this BS aside and get back to what we can all smile about.
 
Lorien,

Thank you for you kind comments. I appreciate it.

Thank you to everyone else for the overwhelming number of kind emails. Again I apologize for the temporary high-jack of this thread.

2008 has been an incredible year. On the knife side I had incredible shows in Reno, New York, and Atlanta. The hammer in and show I put on here was beyond my wildest dreams.

I am looking forward to taking the 2008 momentum into 2009. I've added the new show in Santa Barbara and can't wait for San Antonio. I've expanded my private show here to nine incredible makers and will be accepting around 30-40 collectors.

It seems to me and to most of the reputable dealers I've talked to that the knife world is soaring to new heights, even in these tough times. Just imagine what the knife world will do when our economy stabilizes.

2008 has reinforced what I've already known. The knife world is filled with incredible people. I can't think of another industry where comeptitors and customers are so close with each other.
 
Josh,

Great thread.

I can see from this thread and a few others why Les Robertson was banned for years from Bladeforums and had to post under the name Woodworker Ghost.

Jim Treacy
 
Josh,

First, I sell more forged blades annually than any of the dealers you mentioned.

Unlike the dealers you mentioned I have written articles on 5 -10 forged blade makers per year over starting in 2006. How many articles have those other dealers you mentioned written promoting any makers?

How about setting up at shows? Possibly with the exception of Paul (not sure how many shows he sets up at) I set up at more than the other two. That promotes makers work as well.

So once again the "Web Site" point is not relative to the overall promotion of knives. It is merely one part.

Les you should consider starting your own organization if you are the all knowing. I see you are no longer a part of the CKCA. Wow, in less than three months. What happened Les? Did you make somebody mad? Were you unable to be civil during discussions and disagreements while in turn offending people with your harsh words? Or did you just change your mind and decide an organization for collectors was a bad idea. Surely you will take away a whole new list of grand ideas for the perfect organization.
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Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. Just like anyone else I only need to pay my dues. An organization for collectors is a great idea. And I was first to write...it should be for collectors...no dealers and no makers. As each would have an agenda that will benefit them. The same will be true for some collectors.

As for the knife show. Again, you are ill informed. The Hotels we checked with (even the one the show was at) would only take us back at double the rate for the room and we had to sponsor a luncheon or a dinner. I checked with 6 other hotels and none would allow a "knife" show in their hotel. Then the Blade Show moved to Atlanta. Note, the Cobb Galleria is right on the border of Fulton County (Atlanta). If you step across the street from the show you are in Cobb County. With the Blade show in May (as it was originally was) there was no reason to try and force another show 3 months before that. As well the Flint River Knife Club also had a show at that time. It is now combined with a gun show, but they still have it in the fall.

Josh, you are tied to the ABS...you have to support it. As it goes so go you and your business. Which Kevin doesn't consider a real business. Perhaps he just meant dealers. So he would then believe that the dealers you mentioned are not in a real business.

You and Kevin are quick to point out my web site. Neither you nor Kevin has still explained why the ABS cannot update its website. Kevin has no answer, perhaps you can address this. Is it really the lack of manpower to add the 6 ABS Mastersmiths to a list of already existing makers? It was a rhetorical question, I don't expect you to know why. Why should you care...the ABS doesn't.

Listening to you and Kevin rant I can't understand how I have been able to do this full time before either one of you knew what a custom knife was.
 
Kevin,

I respect and admire each man you mentioned both as a person and as successful businessmen. As a matter of fact Jerry is one of the most savvy businessmen I have ever had the pleasure to meet. That's one of the reasons I collect his knives.
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So for them it is a "real" business(your words not mine)....just not for custom knife dealers?

Make up your mind Kevin. Either custom knives is a real business or not.
 
Hi Lorien,

Les, I'm wondering if you have ever felt any impact on your sales from the posts you make in here. It seems to me that calling people out on whatever, especially collectors, would be counter productive to your bottom line. I truly am curious why you think it's worth the risk?[
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Lorien...I deal in the reality of custom knives. As a businessman everything I do is geared towards the bottom line.

I can't get caught up in the "kumbaya" that so many want. That is not the reality of the custom knife market. When you get a chance count up the number of people who post regularly on BF in the custom room. Use a relatively low number like 5. I think you will be amazed at the number.

Now compare that to the totality of the custom knife market.

Hell compare that number to the number of members of BF. Note the percentage.

Joss once made the comment that I should speak less with my "balls". What some people fail to consider is that it was those same "balls" that made me think I could become a full time custom knife dealer. Like with most things there is always a positive and a negative.

Perhaps on occasion that would be the best choice. A couple of times I did the Kumbaya thing...and I received negative posts for doing that.

Most business people are familiar with the Pareto Principle. Study after study has held that to be true.

Yes, my web site is horrible an abomination before the web site Gods! :D

Yet it is easy to use and get to what you want to see within a couple clicks.

Yes, I expect to have a new one by the end of October. Yes, there will be those who still find fault with it.

You know what your customers think about your business. You know what they want and you try to provide it for them as best you can. My clients ask me very pointed questions. They are not interested in Kumbaya.

Most makers have come to realize that it is best not to post on forums. The same for dealers. Count up how many makers and dealers post regularly on this forum. No Dave Ellis's "Saturday or Sunday Goodness" doesn't count. :D
Thats just a veiled marketing strategy. One I plan I think is a smart move and plan to utilize as well in the near future.

The reason most don't post is because of the abuse they have suffered from the "anonymous" posters. Here and on other forums.

There is a reason that some of the better known posters have taken an "official" break and others just aren't posting as much.
 
Kevin and Les are bound to disagree on a personal level for many different reasons....FWIW, I have not and do not have that level of animosity towards Les.....BECAUSE, in spite of his flaws....Les is very to the point, and has a view and experience that many can benefit from.

That said, perhaps we should let the animosity dangle, and move on...this has been a good discussion for the most part, and useful information for young and old...if the primary antagonists, and attendant peanut gallery can get back on track.....it would be appreciated.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Les Robertson said:
Joss once made the comment that I should speak less with my "balls". What some people fail to consider is that it was those same "balls" that made me think I could become a full time custom knife dealer. Like with most things there is always a positive and a negative.

Perhaps on occasion that would be the best choice. A couple of times I did the Kumbaya thing...and I received negative posts for doing that.
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Les,

For the record, I think you are largely right in the key stuff you said here ... but the way you said it sucked. Josh in my opinion is a consummate communicator. We would all gain from studying his style.

Clearly you misunderstood what I said about the balls. One can have the balls to say something controversial along with the brains to say it reasonably smoothly. It's not either vomiting everything that goes through your mind on one hand, or kumbaya on the other hand. A best of both world, or at least a decent effort in the sense of polished communication style, is possible.

Anyway, back to our regular programming...

JD
 
Marketing strategy???
Did not know that I was that smart!
I thought that I was sharing pics that otherwise would not be seen.Try not to show pieces currently on my site or for that matter that are even for sale but if it is marketing you want????
Dave Ellis
what's my site name again??
 
Hello Dave, WELCOME to the BladeForums........

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
Anybody notice there seemed to be a lot of first-timers at Blade this year?

Several of my buddies that have been to quite a few other shows visited Blade for the first time. And don't think it will be the last. :thumbup:

Hans, trying to guess whose blade's in your photo? Matt Roberts? :confused:
 
matt roberts?....i thought he was a j.s.....or are my eyes going at a young age...to me it looks like a fisk i've seen before...like a nessmuck hunter sort of....hans spill it:D....ryan
 
I'm guessing Hans' MS bare blade might be from Russ Andrews. Basing that on the plunge line going to the spine...the shape of that blade also reminding me of an earlier Andrews hunter that I've seen.
 
ryan9977 said:
matt roberts?....i thought he was a j.s.....or are my eyes going at a young age...to me it looks like a fisk i've seen before...like a nessmuck hunter sort of....hans spill it:D....ryan
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Good eye ryan, I didn't catch that.

It's not a Fisk blade.

Maybe Russ Grapevine, but that blade profile doesn't look like his work to me.
 
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