A Living

For a while now I have been considering taking this guy I know up on the offer to teach me to make knives. He makes some customs that we sell in our store, and he always brings in his new stuff just to show me because I'm probably one of his biggest fans. He's a retired police officer.

Mostly he just makes them as gifts and he always has requests from people so he has a waiting list. He loves doing it, and that is obvious. What I love about his knives is not only that they are beautiful and artistic, but the fact that he puts so much careful work and craftsmanship into them. He thinks of everything! He also often uses recycled materials for the blades, like tool steel, but always good steel, shaped and sharpened to perfection. I'm in awe of him, and anyone who can make knives like that.

The same guy bought me stuff to teach me how to scrimshaw and some extra "scraps" to practice on. I only wish I had the TIME to spend with him so he could teach me more.

~ashes
 
It's all about time. The downside to being part-time, like I am, is that you have to make really tough decisions. When you work 12 hours a day, do you want to spend your evenings and weekends in a dirty, uncomfortable basement shop, especially when it's 80° and sunny and you could be out on Lake Michigan in your kayak? :grumpy: So, you make sacrifices about what you want to do and when. If I took every order that came in I would have a 2 month backlog right now, but this would be a second job for me and not much fun. So, I don't take orders and I lose business because of it, but that's the way it shakes, I guess.
 
This is a good thread and I agree with pretty much everything folks have said. Knife making is sure no living for me, and I wouldn't even consider it. I do plan to go "full time" when I retire in about 10 years, but I'll have pension and 401K and insurance and possibly social security to back me up. There is simply no way I could make a living solely out of knife work.

That being said, I think there is plenty of demand for handmade knives. I have never had a period when I didn't feel pressured by my order list and deadlines, and I do not promote myself or my work. Scott is right that there are plenty of niche markets for makers of all stripes. I just don't believe there is enough leeway in pricing to make a good living at it - for all but a select few anyway.
 
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