American Chopper Knife - Rock Video Showing Making Of the Knife in Our Shop

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Im sure you want to be taken seriously so Please dont take this the wrong way but mabey you should post some more traditional knives that you make every now and then.
 
Archer, I appologize, I didn't mean to sound rude. I was simply just stating MY opinion on the aesthetics of the knife. I think that if you like it and can get other people to like it enough to buy it then by all means, keep it up. You can't expect every comment to be what you want to hear though.
 
Hopefully my posts were not taken as masked bashing. I remember when you first asked for advice, you seemed to take everything well and in stride and it seemed like you were going to take the suggestions to heart. The last several knives have shown many of the same things that were first pointed out and I thought that I would bring it up again, gently. Any maker or collector can tear almost any knife apart, mine and yours alike. I always try to be honest but fair, there's no point in tearing every bit apart in one shot, folks just won't work to improve.

When I first brought my knives to another Maker's shop I was really proud of them. The first thing he said was "these aren't knives, they're wedges", then he showed me how to grind. Next time he said "you're making crowbars, where are your curves?". Then it was finish, handle shape, blade design, etc. Each time it tore me down, but I went home and thought about what I was told. That maker is now someone I like to call a good friend, he still tells me the truth about my knives and I still go home and think over what he tells me.

All of this is leading up to some last bits of unsolicited advice: if you're going to put your knives out there for the public to see and buy, then be prepared to get over yourself and take the bad with the good. If you're just making knives for yourself then nothing we think matters, if you're making knives for other people then other people might be the place to get advice.

Go get a close look at a Hibben or Warenski knife. Stop by and ask Steve Johnson if you can have a look at one of his. Take a look at Dusty Moulton's or Koji Hara's work in person. Next take a look at your knives and ask yourself what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong. Maybe you'll even come back to what some folks here are telling you.
 
Don’t get me wrong, I do accept and expect ideas from the great knife makers here. I just don’t have the patience for the guys that come on here with a few words of crap and are gone. Trust me, I have taken my share of beatings and changed A LOT of my techniques for the better; but to just make a comment about how “that’s not the right way” or “I hate it” then they go on. That aint cool, and we should not take that in the name of criticism. There are a number of makers here I call friends and I take to heart what they have to say. I think people who come on here to just say their crap and leave should be kicked off this forum. But that’s just my opinion. And I’ll bet you one thing, most them guys wouldn’t say that kind of stuff if I was standing there in person, but that’s also just my opinion. It’s easy to be rudely opinionated through a key pad and monitor.

I value and appreciate this forum, believe it or not, and will be back with more knives, regardless of the few.
 
And I’ll bet you one thing, most them guys wouldn’t say that kind of stuff if I was standing there in person

I don't consider what I said rude, and yes I would say it in person.

LOL, if thats you're attitude, you better grow some thicker skin. You're going to hear alot worse in a career as a knife maker.
 
I wasn't offering constructive criticism. I was being a wise a$$. I guess I was successfully.
For the most part I try hard to pass on commenting knives with unusual or unfortunate aesthetics. However you are offering a knife for sale as custom, the "fit and finish" should be as least well executed. When I saw the secret compartment wide opened, I thought I'd point out how useful it could be. I have handled a number of Hibben knives and the fit and finish was outstanding. Even the knock off import Hibben knives were well executed.
I'm still trying to figure out the Chopper angle on this knife. As an old biker, and a former Air cav member, I don't see the connection and your blade geometry has been mentioned.
 
Well, I guess I will say it. . .

Your knives are crude, and need work.

I am not saying this to be an ass. I actually wish you all the best with your endeavors, it is just that you are not the first beginner knife maker to have an inflated view of his work and a hard time taking criticism. An artist needs to be his harshest critic to excel. Legions of sycophantic yes men blowing smoke up your ass about how great you are will not help you improve.

I guess the bottom line is, your knives have come a long way from this thing:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=113761&d=1226718719
But they have a ways to go.
 
Archer Here said:
. And I’ll bet you one thing, most them guys wouldn’t say that kind of stuff if I was standing there in person, but that’s also just my opinion. It’s easy to be rudely opinionated through a key pad and monitor.

I value and appreciate this forum, believe it or not, and will be back with more knives, regardless of the few.
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Well I went to my first gun show this last week end and I will tell you that people will tell you exactly what they are thinking, but harsh criticism is how we grow the fastest. I have been making knives for about 18mo now and have come a very long way, but I am still nowhere near where I want to be. You can only grow so fast and it feels like you grow at a snails pace some times. something that I do is keep my first knife in my shop so I know how far I have come, then I get on the forums and read blade to see how far I have yet to go.

these are great people on these boards, and I can't think of a single other hobby/profession that has a community as great as ours. where the best in the business and the noob gather in one place, some of the best makers in the world are on these boards and they share information freely with any one who has questions.

you have this "mans man" attitude, and yet you let a few insensitive posts and a little criticism get you all agitated. most makers on this forum have been making knives less than 3 yrs and we could use all the criticism we can get, especially from this crowd.

-Josiah.
 
Oh man, a few of you guys just can’t help yourselves, can you. I’m saying this the only way I know how, so listen to me… I’m not repeating this again. Some of you are like children, so I realize this is hard for you to understand. So one more time, I accept and expect criticism. Just not the “key pad tough guy crap”. I’m sorry if you can’t see the difference. Oh and trust me, my skin is plenty thick. I just don’t hang my head and let people say what they want. Next time you feel like saying the things you say, go talk to your dog or something.
 
Archer Here said:
Oh man, a few of you guys just can’t help yourselves, can you. I’m saying this the only way I know how, so listen to me… I’m not repeating this again. Some of you are like children, so I realize this is hard for you to understand. So one more time, I accept and expect criticism. Just not the “key pad tough guy crap”. I’m sorry if you can’t see the difference. Oh and trust me, my skin is plenty thick. I just don’t hang my head and let people say what they want. Next time you feel like saying the things you say, go talk to your dog or something.
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I think that the first person here being a "key pad tough guy" was you when you claimed that none of us would tell you our opinions face to face. Most of us would, if we thought you were serious about making decent knives. If you were just there to talk yourself up then many here would not waste their time talking to you.

By the way, accepting criticism sometimes includes hanging your head and letting people say what they want.
 
Archer Here said:
Oh man, a few of you guys just can’t help yourselves, can you. I’m saying this the only way I know how, so listen to me… I’m not repeating this again. Some of you are like children, so I realize this is hard for you to understand. So one more time, I accept and expect criticism. Just not the “key pad tough guy crap”. I’m sorry if you can’t see the difference. Oh and trust me, my skin is plenty thick. I just don’t hang my head and let people say what they want. Next time you feel like saying the things you say, go talk to your dog or something.
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I can see quite clearly that you aren't interested in anything I might say to you.

Good luck in your endeavors,
 
As I said, you just can’t help yourselves. Now you are claiming I’m not serious about making knives. Are you kidding me??
As far as knife shows, the last one I did in January was fantastic. I placed several orders and got a lot of positive feedback. The pictures link to the show are on my home page.

I don’t know if it was the painted flag or what, that really rubbed you guys the wrong way, but it wasn’t worth all this.

I’m done.
 
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