A question for makers.

J

JohnF

Joined
Jan 8, 2001
Messages
181
Hi folks. My question is, how do I politely approach a knife maker in order to get him to make a knife in the style of another maker? Let's say I wanted a Bob Loveless style subhilt for a price that wouldn't imperil my children's college plans. I've found a maker who I think could do the job for less than an arm and a leg, (maybe more in the little finger range!), but he has his own ideas for making a knife, as would be expected since this is his profession and form of artistic expression. Is there an accepted way to broach this request without being impolite?

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Eclectic Accumulator
 
I like to give the maker an idea and then let them do their intepretation. This has worked for me near 100% of the time. If the maker won't do your idea there might be a serious flaw in what you want. I've seen some real scrap iron come out of non-makers ideas. It's your money but makers have a pretty good idea of what works.

Some makers will give you several drawings to
choose from. I like that idea, but still want
the maker to want to make my knife.

Win
 
Most makers will work to your design as long as it isn't too far out.
Right now the Jones Bros. are making a hunter for me. What I asked for was their interpretation of the Loveless dropped point hunter, and what materials I wanted.
Start talking to the maker and ask to see a drawing of the knife first. If he won't work with you maybe you should pick a different maker.

Dave
 
I have no idea what sort of knife you want, but I would suggest you look at as many websites as possible....one place to look is the International Knife Directory and/or BACKAs site.......many, many knifemakers and websites listed......and see if you can find someone who makes the sort of knife you want in the price range you can afford....I know a LOT of knifemakers make a subhilt that looks very much like the original Big Bear, but there is a BIG difference in price between David Broadwell or Steve Johnson and a maker who is just getting established.

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http://www.mayoknives.com
John 1:14
Love is Stronger than Death!
 
Thank's all for your responses! Let me add another question while we're on the topic. How would you, as a knife maker, FEEL about being approached in this way? Annoyed? Hungry for the opportunity? Aghast at the affrontery? I only ask because I'm just not sure. John.
 
I've done it,It didn't hurt.Most makers just want the chance to show you what they can do.A picture of the knife you want,plus info like thickness,kind of steel,handle material should be enough.
Dennis
 
Hungry for the opportunity to show you that I could do it.
smile.gif


Nick
 
I enjoy making in a manner similar to George, but if the design seemed challenging and not an exact copy, it could catch my interest. For example, a customer is working with me on a mix-and-match Sheffield-esque bowie, which, for a new maker such as myself, should be quite a challenge.
I think if you package the question in the proper way and ask the right maker (do your research), most makers would/should not be offended.

Brett
 
I'll risk sticking my foot in my mouth by saying this.

I always get a kick out of it when guys say that they won't replicate another knife or do two knives the same because it goes against their artistic expression.

Now while I agree to an extent, and I do want to become recognized for my own style and not just a copy-cat, 99% of these guys telling you that they wouldn't do it, CAN'T DO IT.

How could it possibly not be a challenge to replicate a piece and stay within the parameters and tolerances of what another maker has already done? When it's our own piece, our own design...we have the liberty of changing a profile because of an accidental srew-up. In this case we have simply "redesigned" the piece. Do that while replicating another maker's work and you've quite simply SCREWED UP.

I haven't used the word copy, because it's not like we can just lay it on a xerox and hit the print button. It takes a tremendous amount of work to stick exactly to a design whether it's our own or another maker's.

Sorry if I come across as offensive, but it's more defensive...as I do believe it to be a challenge.

Nick

[This message has been edited by NickWheeler (edited 05-29-2001).]
 
Nick,

I can see your point, and I would like to expound on my previous statement as it seems it is I who is now on the defensive.
I prefer to work with my own ideas as much as possible, bearing in mind that most things have been done before, because designing is part of the fun. I should not have dismissed making an exact replica, of even a simple knife design, as easy. With that in mind, why would a buyer want to purchase an exact replica of a knife for a premium price (due to the extra attention required) when it isn't worth the extra money? They could, after all, get a similar knife (but not an exact copy) for what the current market is on that maker's knives.
Since you seem to have alluded to it, I do not have a problem stating my ability (or lack thereof). I would decline making the knife in question because it exceeds what I perceive my comfort zone to be. In the case of the bowie I mentioned, I initially declined to take the order. After a bit of discussion, I agreed to attempt the order with no risk to the customer, should I be unable to complete the order. I look forward to the challenge.

Brett

Edited to remove quote.


[This message has been edited by Kaos (edited 05-29-2001).]
 
Brett-

I'm sorry that you felt that was directed at you, it wasn't at all. It's mostly for the outside comments I've been getting on this and ideas like this.

I have no reason to disagree with anything you said whatsoever.

I do understand that there's a greater satisfaction from creating something "new" if we can. And like I said, I want to be recognized for my own style.

It just upsets me that I keep hearing from these other guys, "Well I wouldn't do that because ________ already did it so it would be no challenge to me."

Now this is an extreme analogy, but that's like saying, "Well, Michelangelo already painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, what would be the challenge in me doing it in another chapel?"

Now don't get me wrong, Loveless knives are probably overcopied, but the Big Bear is not just a quick knife to do like the standard hunter. A lot of guys wouldn't get past the grind.

While I understand and appreciate each one of us having our own style, I think it's foolish to say it's easy to replicate another's work, whether we would want to or not.

So Brett, I whole-heartedly agree with what you said and I'm sorry I offended you...not my intention.

Nick

[This message has been edited by NickWheeler (edited 05-29-2001).]
 
Nick,

I apologize for overreacting to your comments. Even though I thought they were directed in part towards me, I wasn't really offended.

Brett
 
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