Annoying comments

D

DanOConnor

Joined
Sep 21, 2009
Messages
11
I've only just started to make knives But have been interested in it for year's. I find it annoying when talking about knife making to people uneducated about the art. One that particulary annoy's me is you should put a blood groove in your knives. I've had people tell me hey that's not bad do you make rambo knives. Thats alright but it doesn't have serrations so it's not a good knife. Does this happen to a lot of you or is it not so bad elsewhere. It just gets irritating sometimes.
 
There was a thread not too long ago about this kind of thing. It happens. I'm not usually very outspoken about knifemaking in my daily life because of this very reason. I suspect that it is also why many of us spend so much time here. Might be interesting to hear what kinds of goofy questions and comments other makers get.
Most people seem unwilling to believe that everything is made from scratch.The Kydex sheaths really seem to puzzle some people, once they understand that I made the knife from scratch they still wonder where I get sheaths that fit so perfectly.
 
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people want me to make gut hook knives,, huntin knives, pocket knives, seerraated knives (it wont cut rope unless its "serratted") lol .. and when they ask you what u make em out of,, and they will,, i say A2, D2, S7, CPM M2, Cpm 3v, Cpm 154, 440c, and titanium,, they look at you funny and say huh,, why dont u make them out of old buck saw blades,, that makes some good knives... lol
 
Took me a while to realize I was making knives for my customers - not for me. If it doesn't compromise the quality of the blade, I'll generally make them anything they want if I am able. We'd of course have a discussion - but you have to respect their opinion too. They are paying for a custom.

Rob!
 
yeah, that's pretty annoying. I made a mistake of starting a conversation with an older member at my sailing club about knives. He proceeded to tell me that all the best makers use old files for their best knives. When I tried to explain that using files is not a very reliable steel for knives he just went on and on about the best makers only use files. I know there was a bit of "you're just a punk kid, what do you know" going on with this conversation, but none the less he would not listen to anything I had to say. I have heard the "52 ford springs are the best." "My granddad made knives from old saw blades, best knives I ever used."

I know I don't know much, but C'mon people! At least try to know when you don't know.



-Xander
 
Just the opposite of the above post.....I finally realized I make knives for myself and if they sell..fine.
 
I have been lucky so far all I have ever gotten is well worded and thoughtful constructive criticism, knock on wood:o I have gotten a couple of stupid questions, but I take those as an opportunity to educate those people about what and how I do what I do.

I think the most annoying question I get asked is to make someone a set of throwing knives. Its not that I can't do it, or that I wouldn't want to do it. Its just that there is no way I could do it for a reasonable price. I get asked to make throwing knives about twice a month, normally I just explain what it would cost for a set of 3 and point them to some online dealer that would sell them a set for what I would charge for one and they are happy with that.

George
 
For me, making knives is a creative outlet that I do for fun. It's no longer fun if I'm working on something I don't want to make.

I'll get some weird questions and requests occasionally, but nothing too outlandish.
 
My pet peeve is, “why would I pay for a custom”. When I can go to Wallyworld and buy one for less than $40.00 bucks. :eek: :)

I think you will find the average person when it comes to knives really does not have a clue what they are talking about. They have a lot of misconceptions that folks have thrown out there. They don't understand the different aspects that can make up any given knife!

For most to understand a custom they have to first understand what custom work means! It is like talking about custom furniture, cabinets or a car it’s not for everyone. But those who can understand what goes into a custom knife they appreciate it and are willing to pay for the craftsmanship!
 
Dont worry I thought it was just New Yorkers...I had a guy tell me and insist that the knife he had was a cable damascus blade, in my opinion it was a stainles blade with rope filework on the spine!! He kept it in his cold lunch box....no rust either!!
I recently made a skinning knife for a guy my wife works with. A nice W-2 integral,polished and pretty,when I gave it to him I explained in geat detail that it was shiny,but not stainless...I told him to expect color changes with use...it wasnt stainless...It will stay sharp but it WILL stain.When Isaw him friday he told me his knife is all stained up...:rolleyes: WTF!
I dont even want to get into forge finish knives and why they arent shiny...:eek:
 
I've ran into all of the above. From blood grooves to gut hooks. My main answer is I don't make that type of knife. Just last week I had a lady at work ask about serrated steak knives. I was just about to recommend a good brand of high end kitchen knives when she stated that she found a fine set at Wal-mart. After that I wasn't even gonna quote a price on a good set.

Buzz saw steel. One gentleman said that he recently passed a buzz saw blade in a field and thought of me. Thinking I needed it. I told him there after that. That I'd recently purchased 150# of W2. With a dumb founded look he said what's that?

Best file answer I've found is: I've turned plenty of good knives into old files.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that runs into these sorts of questions.

Oh by the way who chrome plates your blades for you?

Dave from Diller
 
I have found that a more definite reply works best. Like for me; "I make liner locking folding knives mainly for collectors". Or, a person making hunters might say :"I make knives for hunters who want a special knife to take with them as they do a rifle".
This often to begin with makes them realize it's a specialty thing. If things get rediculous I just say "sure" and end it there. Frank
 
The common one that I hear and that bugs me the most is "can you make me a sword" or "I want a sword." The worst I've heard of that ilk was "I'd give you a hundred bucks for a sword." Expecting me to fall all over myself in my haste to lock down the order. These people don't want swords. They just like talking about them. Gas station/dollar store fantasy knives appeal to this set.

I never let it show. I just calmly tell them what a handmade sword is going to cost, at the low end. I've never met anyone face to face who went farther than that with me.

"Blood groove" can be annoying, but it's a very common misnomer so I take it in stride.

People in my neck of the woods are really polite in general and often laconic. If they are ignorant they don't like it to show.

Fast14riot, I've talked to people like that as well. I think it's often a problem of character or a social disorder that leads to this sort of behavior. It bugs the hell out of me and I try not to get trapped in conversation with this type more than once.
 
For a few years the biggest joke we had to endure was the guy who walked by your table while looking at his buddy over his shoulder and said Hey, is that the knife O.J. used. Followed by his ear piercing laugh.
 
I have sold hand made or collected materials to the public for years and I'm still amazed by the comments!

When I explain how a sterling bezel set piece of jewelry is made a lot of people say "Oh I thought it was just made like this (with odd hand gesture)." I get the same thing from people asking how rocks are polished. When I explain that I use several different polishing stages that blows most peoples minds. "Oh I thought you just polished it"

A guy I know who makes knives wants to know why I waste my money on "fancy" steel when you can make a knife by sharpening any straightened out car spring! (no tempering or heat treat of course)
 
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Most of the people you meet have never seen a custom knife or a custom knife maker. We are rare(medium rare for me) and the knives most people use are also commercial junk. All of the questions and comments above are nothing new to me, and there are many more. You will also learn that some people are willing to be educated and some are not. I have learned to listen politely to the "nots" and walk away. Have a little patience and then come here to vent.
Del
 
Do you know so and so?? No, well he makes knives from saw blades. He uses REAL deer horn. He gets nearly $15.00 a piece for his knives.

You should get a table at the flea market. You could do good with your knives.
 
Well, one guy I was talking to about it suddenly proclaimed, "Oh, you should see this knife I have, it's light as air," and then he proceeds to show me a knife that had been made out of alluminum and how I should use that as my "steel".

I tried to show him that it wasn't steel at all, and that it was "alluminum" by putting a magnet on it, but all he said was, "See, that means it's been heat treated properly. I don't have any other knives that will do that."
 
I've hear just about every one of the comments listed in this thread. The one that always stops people in their tracks is the "Will you make me a sword?" question. My response to that one is.."Sure! For $1,000 down, with the remainder due upon completion." Another that I did not see mentioned..."Who chrome plates your blades?"

All fun aside, one our biggest jobs as knifemakers is to also be educators. If someone asks why they should pay XXX for your knife, when they can get one at XXX for XX, tell them and show them why!
I can't count the number of larger knives I've sold because I took the time to chop through a 2x4 for someone, and then shave hair from my arm with the same knife.
Even though a person may scoff at, or be ignorant of custom knives, I've found that those you take the time to educate now, often become clients later.
 
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