I seem to be hearing this more and more, a sad commentary on the people in my profession. A little long, and if I'm in the wrong forum hopefully the moderator will let me know and or move it.
I recently replied to a post in a machinist oriented Usenet news group looking for someone to make sword handles for him. This is his posts and my replies;
: ZJ (I changed the address) > wrote in message
:
: I have a weird requirement, and I think it will have to be done
: commerically, or if by a hobbyist, one who can be relied on to do the
: work. (Most hobbyists have the best of intentions, but a life!)
:
: It's not ab ig, but it is fiddly and I have no idea how to find
: someone who can do it.
:
: What is it?
:
: Sword hilts.
:
: IF you go to http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/swords.htm you'll see the
: top end of what we want, but supposing we wanted 10 of
: http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/2post.htm
: Then how would we go about finding someone who could do it?
:
: The exchange rate is a killer, we can't buy them from the US, so we
: are hoping to find a local firm who can do small runs for us. We
: realise it won't be cheap, but we still suspect it will be cheaper
: than importing.
:
: (We'd handle the wooden bit your hand wraps around ourselves, it's the
: metal we want.)
:
: How shuold I go about looking for a firm who could do such things?
: Lots of places advertise "no job too small" but do they mean it? What
: kind of place would do it, any idea what yellow pages category to try?
: Where do such people hang out, how to track them down?
:
: We have a physical item they could look at, so they'd not have to work
: from photos.
:
: But only of course if the versions we have are something that's easy
: to make... What makes something easy? Am I right in assuming that the
: fewer curved bars the better?
:
: ZJ:
: --
I replied
> Try rec.knives or bladefourms.com
> There are quite a few enthusiasts (knife knuts) from AU that frequent
> both groups. I'm sure they know, or know of, custom knife and or sword
> makers there.
> Good luck.
This is his reply to me;
: OK, I'll give it a go.
:
: Not too hopeful about that source though, because such guys are
: usually slow and expensive
:
: Not to mention reliable! I've had so many *bad* experiences from
: custom makers of knives and armour that I would be very wary about
: dealing with them. A commercial concern has a better handle on
: delivery dates I feel.
:
: ZJ
This is such a shame.
I hear from so many Knife Knuts that custom knife makers they have dealt with are angry, rude, short tempered, and in general very caustic to deal with. I just don't understand this kind of attitude.
I like my customers, and not because they are buying something from me. They are usually interested in the same things I am, knives being the primary interest. Their enthusiasm is infectious when looking at or handling a new acquisition or an associates new knife.
They call me and go on and on about a knife I've just sent them. I get such a thrill that someone else enjoys what I've done, as much as I enjoyed making it.
It makes me wonder why they are into knife making if the result for them ends up making them so abrasive. I know I love doing what I'm doing. To me, nothing could be finer than just loosing yourself for hours and sometimes days doing something you really love.
--
Paul-R
I recently replied to a post in a machinist oriented Usenet news group looking for someone to make sword handles for him. This is his posts and my replies;
: ZJ (I changed the address) > wrote in message
:
: I have a weird requirement, and I think it will have to be done
: commerically, or if by a hobbyist, one who can be relied on to do the
: work. (Most hobbyists have the best of intentions, but a life!)
:
: It's not ab ig, but it is fiddly and I have no idea how to find
: someone who can do it.
:
: What is it?
:
: Sword hilts.
:
: IF you go to http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/swords.htm you'll see the
: top end of what we want, but supposing we wanted 10 of
: http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/2post.htm
: Then how would we go about finding someone who could do it?
:
: The exchange rate is a killer, we can't buy them from the US, so we
: are hoping to find a local firm who can do small runs for us. We
: realise it won't be cheap, but we still suspect it will be cheaper
: than importing.
:
: (We'd handle the wooden bit your hand wraps around ourselves, it's the
: metal we want.)
:
: How shuold I go about looking for a firm who could do such things?
: Lots of places advertise "no job too small" but do they mean it? What
: kind of place would do it, any idea what yellow pages category to try?
: Where do such people hang out, how to track them down?
:
: We have a physical item they could look at, so they'd not have to work
: from photos.
:
: But only of course if the versions we have are something that's easy
: to make... What makes something easy? Am I right in assuming that the
: fewer curved bars the better?
:
: ZJ:
: --
I replied
> Try rec.knives or bladefourms.com
> There are quite a few enthusiasts (knife knuts) from AU that frequent
> both groups. I'm sure they know, or know of, custom knife and or sword
> makers there.
> Good luck.
This is his reply to me;
: OK, I'll give it a go.
:
: Not too hopeful about that source though, because such guys are
: usually slow and expensive
:
: Not to mention reliable! I've had so many *bad* experiences from
: custom makers of knives and armour that I would be very wary about
: dealing with them. A commercial concern has a better handle on
: delivery dates I feel.
:
: ZJ
This is such a shame.
I hear from so many Knife Knuts that custom knife makers they have dealt with are angry, rude, short tempered, and in general very caustic to deal with. I just don't understand this kind of attitude.
I like my customers, and not because they are buying something from me. They are usually interested in the same things I am, knives being the primary interest. Their enthusiasm is infectious when looking at or handling a new acquisition or an associates new knife.
They call me and go on and on about a knife I've just sent them. I get such a thrill that someone else enjoys what I've done, as much as I enjoyed making it.
It makes me wonder why they are into knife making if the result for them ends up making them so abrasive. I know I love doing what I'm doing. To me, nothing could be finer than just loosing yourself for hours and sometimes days doing something you really love.
--
Paul-R
