Allen Blade

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

averageguy

BANNED
Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Jun 10, 1999
Messages
1,599
I am saddened that Allen doesn't seem to be making knives anymore. I have two of his knives and am very fond of them.:(
 
Are you sure that Allen is not making knives any more? I think that this would be a big surprise to all the people that have knives on order with him.

Allen has been an exasperating maker over the last few years. He has gotten himself into more trouble than any other maker I know of for not supplying knives that are promised and then telling fibs about why they have not been shipped. He disappears every now and then, only to appear again later with promises that this time things are going to be different. This may be just another of those times. He will probably appear in awhile with some sort of hard luck story and tell everyone that he is OK now and will get everyone the knives that they have on order.

From what I understand, Allen was hurt in a fire that happened in the place they were living and at least one of his hands was badly burned. Maybe this means that he can not make knives any more. Maybe this time he has decided it would be best just to quit and be done with it.

Allen and his wife Cori had their own knife forum called the Knifenut Community that just closed down yesterday. It closed because Allen and Cori said they were to busy to take the time to take part any longer. If Allen has quit making knives, I wonder what they are so busy doing.

Also, from what I understand, Allen is once again not getting back to people that have knives on order. His email address has changed about four or five times in the last six months and they have moved three times in the last year or so. That must make it very hard to make knives.
 
Like I said - I am saddened that Allen doesn't seem to be making knives anymore. I have two of his knives and am very fond of them.:(
 
Originally posted by averageguy
I am saddened that Allen doesn't seem to be making knives anymore. I have two of his knives and am very fond of them.:(
Click to expand...

Ok. Perhaps you could elaborate on what you know?

I have one MEUK and it's a really great knife for what it is... Maddog-like handle (very comfortable and practical, tough), simple utilitarian drop point blade with a super flat grind that has better symmetry than knives 4x the price, and out of Talonite. Perfectly ground edge bevels on the dropped point top side (swedges). Very snappy, good fitting kydex sheath.

Alas, from a maker who you can't trust with an order.

That really is a tremendous shame.
 
Sad, just when I'd thought he'd finally begun to hammer out his problems and devote himself to his work. So where's his son? running, ducking, and dodging the bullets :p
 
I was extremely disappointed with the slow demise of the forum he started on EZboard. Some time back, since it was obvious that he and Cori just didn't have the time to spend on it, I volunteered to administrate there, because I couldn't bear to see the place languish. (The forum Allen and Cori started was the first one at which I ever moderated, so I felt kind of attached to it.)

In the last few months it became pretty obvious that the forum was on its own, and while the few members who still visited did their best to keep it going, there was nothing about the site to make it special without Allen's input. When our small group of regular members suggested that the site should be closed, I e-mailed Allen to see if he agreed, and he did. I closed it right after I got his e-mail.

He does indeed work a regular day job, and (I gather) makes knives in his spare time.
 
I dont know anything but it SEEMS he is not making knives anymore. My purpose in starting this thread was to hear from other owners of Allens' knives in the hope that enough positive response here might encourage him to go back to knife making full time and perhaps even return to Bladeforums. I believe Allen is a talented knife maker and that there is a ready market for his work.
 
Allen does great work. His customer service skills need some honing. I would rather a maker tell me it would be 24 months, than to blow sunshine up my a$$.
 
Well, I am one of the (un)fortunate people with a current order on the books with Allen since 11/2000. I was contacted by Cori once for an update of my order to ensure it was right. I also emailed her a couple weeks back to see if she could get me an approx. delivery date. I was told that he is working full time and that is busy making knives on weekends and as time allows. She said that she would try and get an answer from Allen that night and get back to me with a date. I have heard nothing more.
 
Originally posted by copfish
Allen does great work. His customer service skills need some honing. I would rather a maker tell me it would be 24 months, than to blow sunshine up my a$$.
Click to expand...

I agree. I only have a small Chipmunk from Allan, but the workmanship is worthy of a custom jeweller. It would be a shame if he really DID stop making knives.:(

I would order another knife right now just to encourage him - but only with some kind of assurance that I would receive it by the end of the year.:(
 
Have had a handful of knives on order from Allen since Oct 2000. All paid up and waiting..... I will live with Allen's decision what ever it is.
 
Originally posted by commrick
Have had a handful of knives on order from Allen since Oct 2000. All paid up and waiting..... I will live with Allen's decision what ever it is.
Click to expand...

Commrick, I mean this very seriously: I do hope you get your knives someday soon, like within a year or so.

I have no idea what Allen's policies are... 10% deposit, full prepayment, whatever.

Personally, I certainly would not send him any money at this stage...oh, maybe 10% on a $100 knife, maybe. (Kinda like a waaaay outta the money call option... cheap, might pay off like a slot machine, won't piss you off if it expires worthless)

Entering an order, with payment to be made on knife's completion? If others started reporting this method was working, then sure. (i.e. he was actually making knives, and had a piece done when he said he did, and actually shipped it quickly after he received payment).
 
Don't mean to be a complete paranoid, or to be heaping negativity on someone who may be down on their luck... but there is something just a bit ... uh ... different about using what sounds like a person's name (Allen Blade) as a pseudonym... as a company name, of sorts.

What is Allen's real name? Alan _____ ? Or Allen _____?

I mean, Maddog knives, sure... obviously a company name.

I can't think of another maker who uses a pseudonym.

Actors & Authors? Yeah, I guess that is common.
Knifemaker? :confused:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Here is a thread by Cori about what happened...microwave oven caused fire, Allen burned his left hand and is left handed. I sure can't tell he's left handed by looking at his knife grind.

http://pub39.ezboard.com/fknifenutcommunityfrm20.showMessage?topicID=43.topic
 
I have always thought that Allen was offering a product that had tremendous value. His knives are far better than the price would dictate. He has stated that he has stopped taking deposits or payment in advance because of the problems that caused. He had a habit of spending the money on things like food and rent rather than on knife making materials.

I have been pulling for Allen for a long time now and really hope things work out for him. What I don't understand is why knifemaking can't be his full time job. He seems to have a lot of orders for knives and if he showed that he could supply in a timely manner then I am sure he would get many more. I get the feeling he thinks that knifemaking just isn't worth the effort and the headaches. He has stated more than once that he was going to get right out of the business. If that is how he feels, then maybe it is better for him to do just that. No need being caught up doing something you don't enjoy.
 
Actually, his real name is Scott Allen Fowler I think. He goes by the name Allen.

This is in answer to a question by Rdangerer that was later edited.
 
Maybe Allen needs a "business manager"? I used to have an Art Director who was absolutely BRILLIANT - but had no "people skills" (geez, I hate that phrase). So we kept him totally isolated from clients, etc. and just let him do his stuff, and everyone was happy.

But Allen's case may be a bit different (I don't know him personally). You can't teach attitude, responsibility, etc. Judging by that single little unpretentious blade I own, he could be making a VERY nice living at this!
 
Yes, it does seem that Allen could make a good living at making knives. I had 2 of his pieces, and they were extremely well built. Had I known that he would be out of the business I would have kept those knives. I also ordered one of his Equinox pieces, and am rather disappointed that I may never see it. I sure would like to some day though.

I always did pull for him too, as his knives were an exceptional value and I always hoped to add more of his stuff to my inventory. I still do wish the best for him and hope some day he gets back around. But like Keith said, if ya don't like doing it, why do it?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top