I will be glad to manage the KITH if everyone is on board with the same set of rules.
The below explains why I haven't posted it yet.
The above posts and suggestions are part of how this became confused.
Some new makers sent photos of their work and asked for critique and if they were ready to submit to a KITH.
Some were fine, and I said so.
Some were not ready to join in, and I said so.
A few egos got bruised. A newbie KITH was then started ( NKITH for short).
Some who were joining the NKITH showed me their work and I said it was easily of a quality to be in the regular KITH. They moved to the KITH, and some of the newbies cried foul.
Some were going to enter both KITHs, which is contrary to why there were two.
Last year, after the KITHs were done, I posted my suggestion that we would just have one KITH and would find a way to make it work and keep everyone happy.
I was flooded with many suggestions like the dozens in this thread, and received many that were more bizarre.
I also learned that giving people a long time to work on the knives just made some folks put it off till the last minute. Thus, I had planned on posting the KITH thread on October 1, until this thread came up. I sat back for a read on how folks were feeling now. I'm not sure everyone has moved on after last year.
What I have come up with was this:
A single KITH where the entrants would decide if they were ready for this or not. They would have to be honest with themselves about their skills levels and their time restrictions. If they wanted to ask another maker, or me, an opinion, that would be fine ( best done by email and not on the forum). In the end, the maker himself would decide whether enter his knife in the KITH and his name would go into the random drawing.
The basic requirements were that you have been a forum member since January of this year and that you have made a sufficient number of knives to gain the needed skills. Ten knives is the suggestion. This fits 95% of all who might want to join in the KITH. Anyone who was out of those parameters could send some photos of his work and if they were OK could join in. From there on it was a standard KITH with all entries going into the hat for distribution. The names would be drawn, and the info on the recipient of your knife would be sent to you.
So, here is the KITH as I drafted it. If this is OK with everyone, I will post a KITH thread Monday..
2012 CHRISTMAS KITH
This thread is for all those interested in joining the 2012 KITH.
While it is usually called the Christmas KITH, it can be a Hanukkah KITH, or a Winter Solstice KITH, etc. The purpose is to make a knife and give it away to another knifemaker. In return you will get a knife from someone. No one will know who they are making the knife for until after the knife is finished, and no one will know who they will receive a knife from until it arrives in the mail.
SOME BASIC RULES :
1)Entrants are Bladeforums Shop Talk members who have been a member since January 2012. They should have made enough knives to have gained the needed skills to complete a good quality knife. Ten knives completed is suggested as a good guideline.
2)The entrant must make, finish, and box the knife by or before December 1, 2012. Once finished, the maker can then post on the “2012 KITH - I’m Ready” thread. This thread will be posted starting November 1,2012. Photos of the completed knives can be posted on a separate “KITH Photos “ thread.
3)By December 10, 2012, or sooner, I will make a list of the entrants who have posted on the “I’M Ready” thread. I will use a random generator to match the names to another on the list. I will then email the name, contact info, and prepared shipping label of their recipient to each person who completed a knife in the KITH. The entrant will ship the already boxed knife within five days of receipt of his recipient's label and info.
Shipping is recommended to be done by Priority Mail with tracking and insurance. The tracking number should be emailed to me as soon as the box is shipped.
About the knives:
The entry can be any knife or bladesmith related item. Fixed blade, folder, axe, hawk, sword, etc. The only requirement is that it be made by the submitter ( For simplicity, I will refer to it as “the knife“
. The workmanship should be of the best quality that you are able to do. Levels will vary depending on ability and experience, but if you feel your knife will be a suitable gift, then by all means enter. If you are just starting, and still learning the basics, perhaps sitting this year out would be best. The knife should be fully completed, and a sheath or case is advisable. You should provide all the pertinent information on the knife in a note to the recipient ( put this in the box). Outside services, such as Water Jet, Stabilization, and Heat Treatment are fine, but the workmanship on the knife should be yours. Kit knives are not permitted.
Those with questions on the suitability of their knives should contact me by email before entering.
The value level of the knife is up to you . It should be something that will be happily received by the new owner, but levels of value will vary, depending on the maker and their circumstances. It is a fun gift exchange, not a swap meet. It is not about what you get back for what you put in. Some knives will be worth $100, and others will be worth $400. I would suggest that you keep the knives in the general range of $200 in value, but it is totally up to you. No one is obligated to go beyond their means to enter this KITH.
So, what do you folks think?
But you basically know you're going to receive a decent knife. Hopefully that rambling makes sense. 
