After the sale?

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I dont have time to read all the posts but Kit Carson has taken time from his shows to talk to me and give me advise every time he sees me.
He is the man in my book.
I hope some day I can be as good as him in the all around buisness.
It is one thing to make a knife but to be able to make all the right moves is another.
BRAD
 
My wife has a medium TNT with the drop point she dearly loves but felt it had a little too much belly(it is a true drop point) for her use, and while at the BAKCA Show gave it to Tom Mayo, and explained the situation to him, and he said no problem but might be a tad shorter when we got it back. Well a week later got the knife in the mail, and put a great big grin on Luana's face, and she said "perfect"!! And not only that he re-blasted the knife, and it looked like it had not even been carried or used. I mean it is a perfect knife. As for the work done it was not a fault of the knife or him, it just was all that was available at the show as everything else was sold, and so he was asked to re-profile the blade to Luana's liking. The charge for all this you ask???, $10 for shipping, and handling!!!!!! Heck of a guy, and great person to deal with.
The other person who was also at the show was Allen Elishewitz. I gave him a couple of his knives to refurbish, and also a week later they arrived done, and again perfect, and no charge!!
Larry Chew, and Larry Davidson are a couple of more knifemakers who go that extra mile to make their customers happy, and do what is right.
There are are more but wanted to give credit where it is due, and like some have said here any good knifemaker who value their customers go out of their way to make sure they are happy with their knives, AND that is why you pay extra for a custom knife, and also to have it the way you want it.
The one person who I did not list here is Brad Duncan as the Whiplash D/A I have of his is perfect, and have never had a problem with it in the 14 months I have owned, and used it. It was perfect out of the zippered pouch, and still is after much use. He told me on the phone one time if I wear out the stellite/ats34 blade he will replace it free!!! Can't ask for more than that!!
I have NEVER not had a knifemaker not do an excellent job of fixing/re-furbishing a knife I owned.

Just my .02 cents rounded off to a buck:)

Larry

Ps-I know this is more than a couple but as I was typing these others came to mind :D
 
Well - I second what everyone said about Kit Carson, Tom Mayo, Jerry Hossom and Neil Blackwood.

I did, unfortunately, had a less than perfect experience with Greg Lightfoot.

Now: don’t get me wrong - I think Greg makes some superb knives, BUT:

I got one of his folders in a trade - and it was suppose to be new. Well - it did look perfect - no blade wear and no scratches anywhere - so I have no complaints to the trader.

However, shortly after receiving it (and I do mean shortly - like 5-7 times opening and closing it) I realized the action wasn't smooth and on close examination found the blade pivot to be loose. I very gently tried to tighten it - but to no avail. The pivot seemed to be loosening to the point the knife was beginning to fall apart.

I emailed Greg and he was kind and efficient - but he charged me 50$ (!) to fix the knife.

The knife came back in perfect condition and I never said a word to Greg - but this incident made me sell or trade all my Lightfoot knives.

Greg makes some great FB and folders, but I expect the service to be on par with the quality of the knives. There are so many great makers that stand firmly behind their work - even if abused – which I most certainly did not do to this knife) that I see no reason to be asked to pay 50 $ to fix what was basically a new and unused knife.

:grumpy:
 
I really appreciate the fact that some makers will go out of their way to accomodate their customers.

Especially the full time ones. The work they do for you to touch up a blade, "clean up" some character marks, or whatever, really speaks to their character. I mean, bear in mind, this is in effect taking time out of their schedule that they could be using to produce a new knife to sell.

Tom Mayo is one that comes immediately to mind. Another is Audra Draper. I recently had such an experience with Audra. She is a class act. Simple as that.

As a matter of fact, I owe Aud the best steak dinner I can find next time I see her. I guess Mike can come along too. :D
 
The best makers I have ever dealt with in terms of after-sales backing are Darrel Ralph and Allen Elishewitz.

Both were quick to answer questions even with a heavy workload,
communication is always the key to good service.


recoil
 
Kit and Darrel are both top notch and stand as fine examples to other makers.

In one instance Darrel suspected (rightfully) that I was a little disappointed with something on a knife he had made for me. (I hadn't even said anything.)

He pleaded with me (insisted might be more accurate) to return the knife in question. Not only did he correct the matter, he built me an entirely new knife that was far superior on a variety of levels.

This all without asking.

Kit has also gone above and beyond for me both with repairs and the "little things" and "special touches" that he doesn't have to do but does because, well, because he's Kit.

(This doesn't imply that others aren't as exceptional as these two gentlemen, as I've had some very good experiences with other makers as well...I'm just afraid that I might forget to add a name or two, such as...Rob Simonich, Ray Kirk, Dan Farr, Bud Nealy, Bob Dozier and a host of others. You guys know who you are. ) :cool:
 
Kit carson, I think I read about him when I was a kid:p :p :p

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."has been" and will always be;)
 
I literally BROKE the lock bar on my small EDC. NO fixing that :( . I emailed Darrel, he said:

"Send it to me, I'll fix er up".

He looked at the knife, and built me a whole new knife for a very reasonable fee. He always answers my emails. He phoned me (his long distance bill, not mine) about an hour ago to say he was sending the knife out today and wanted to know which address to send it to. I didn't want it sitting on my porch so I had him send it to my work address where I can keep an eye out for the UPS truck! And this is a knife I didn't even buy from Darrel. I took it in a trade. So, agreed, he took time out of his schedule to fix a knife (that I stoopidly broke) instead of making a new one he could sell and make money on. I want everyone to know what great service that is. Thanks Darrel!

Leo Gilbert:D

For comparison purposes, I got a response from another maker to "send the knife and a check" just to tighten up some clip screws. My questions were left unanswered. I sold the knife.
 
I've never sent a knife back to Kit for "defects." I'm slightly bias when it comes to Carson knives. . .simply. . .they are the $hit ! That's why I have 4 M4's as EDC's and a few that are always on display (in the house) and several that are locked up.

I've only sent one knife back to a maker. . .and that knife should have never left the shop in the first place. It was that bad ! I won't mention his nor the dealers name. . .it brings up way too many bad feelings !
 
I don't mean to imply I had any defect in the knife. I should have never sent my M4 to Cliff :) (vbg)
 
Speaking of the great has been. I was talking to him tonight. I noticed some vertical blade play on my baby (M21 w/S30V). He told me to send it on and he would take care of the rest. Ill send it out this week (or as soon as I can work up the nerve to mail it :( )

Not to mention sending me a clip at no charge after getting it stuck in the couch,and even replacing the blade on an old M4...cannot beat the customer service.

thanks kit!
-mo
 
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