A name?

Wachtman knives!
"For when you need to Wacht your back!"
"The blade of choice for those Wachting out"

I think you could go big. Own it :cool: :p but really it could work
 
If you sell knives in Germany, or Argentina, they will probably say Vacht-mann. Other places, they may mis-pronounce it as Watch-man, but they still will have it right on the knife. Once people know who you are, they will learn how it is pronounced.

IIRC, Wachtman is a Jewish surname. I had a friend named Wachtsman, and he said it used to be Wachtman before his family emigrated to the US. He has so much trouble as a businessman with people switching the letters he changed it to Waitsman.

I would like to know where you live, and where your family came from. BTW, fill out your profile, so your location and some info about you will be available.
 
I agree with others about using your last name, it does stick out and it is a name that people would remember.

Every now and then I think of coming up with a makers mark too, but I have a similar problem. I've been called bird my whole life, it's always a 50/50 between being called bird or Kevin, just whatever comes to mind first for people. So I'm stuck between making up "brand" name around bird or using my full name.
 
Jesse Smith said:
When I see a knifemaker selling knives with just his name, my mind thinks 'custom knifemaker' and not afraid to do business 'in person' rather than behind a company name. (NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE WHO USES AN ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME!)
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Only issue is some names don't work so well particularly if you want or plan to only use your last name.
 
If you sell knives in Germany, or Argentina, they will probably say Vacht-mann. Other places, they may mis-pronounce it as Watch-man,
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Either way, Sounds like a reliable or trustworthy name for a knife brand.
”Wachtman” is also german word meaning ”Watchman”. Or ”Policeman/Patrolman” in some contexts.
 
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Alec Wachtman said:
Yes, that IS how you pronounce it. I'm just a little jaded I guess, almost everyone that has seen my name and/or tries to pronounce it always ends up butchering it in some way:D
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Yup. I’ve got the silent “w” in the middle of my last name.
 
I agree that using your actual name is the best choices most times. But, I also like the mystique associated with some brand names... I think it can be an interesting or evocative part of branding. So, I mark some knives as "Promethean Knives by Salem Straub" in an oval with a torch logo, and some with just the Torch in a circle for Promethean. As long as it doesn't get too cluttered, that's something to think about if you have an image in mind (like the above fellow, could be "Bird"Blades by Kevin Whatshisname, or just K.W. with a bird logo, or some such. Be creative if you like! Just stick to something for a while once you pick it so you build that brand up.
 
If you get a website called Wachtman knives you should also have a second domain name Watchman knives that would send you to the same site , post 8 shows why.
 
When I started to get into selling and marketing my knives, I googled "Riley knives" and found that there was already another maker who had the audacity to use MY last name....:rolleyes::D
Since I was following another maker who went by "JT Custom Knives" (he posted earlier in this thread, as a matter of fact), I thought that AR Custom Knives had a pretty good ring to it. In retrospect, I wish I had just stuck with "Riley Knives", and before it's all said and done, I'll likely change to "Riley Knife and Tool". At any rate, I wish I'd just stuck with my last name from the start.

Now all that said, I do put "A. Riley" on every knife that I sell.
 
It’s funny how jt custom knives came about. It started when I first started making blades. I felt I needed a website so I searched for anything that would work and jtcustomknives was open. So I used that. I never really me t for that to be my shop name but it kinda turned out that way and it has worked out fine. I no longer own that domain name. I axadently let it laps and it was snagged up quicker then I can say custom knife. But it’s actualy not a big deal for me becaus I don’t get customers from that. And right now I have more work then I can do and a waiting list that’s full to the end of the year. I think what’s important is sticking with what you pick. There was times where I seriously considered changing JT Custom Knives to another name. But why what’s the point? Would it get me more customers? No, it’s just a name, your work is what does that for you. So don’t be wishywashy with names. Pick one and own it.
 
Spalted said:
If you get a website called Wachtman knives you should also have a second domain name Watchman knives that would send you to the same site , post 8 shows why.
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I was actually suggesting he change the spelling of his last name to “Watchman” for his logo, since he was concerned about people messing it up anyways. I can’t think of any examples right now, but I know some company names are shortened or altered spellings of the founder’s name.
 
Wow guys, I had kinda stopped watching this thread for a while. I guess this is what I get:D. Anyway, I was thinking about calling it "Walkingman custom knives" or something like that, sort of a play off my last name as well as an implication for the kinds of knives I make (I prefer bushcraft/hiking knives). What do you guys think?
 
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