Ask the maker.....questions for JK

If you could have one knife back that you at one time owned or made, what would it be?
 
protourist said:
If you could have one knife back that you at one time owned or made, what would it be?
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My Randall #1. 6" stainless blade, #2 commando handle, nickel guard, and my name engraved on the blade. It was stolen from my truck about 28 years ago.
 
cbwoods67 said:
I bet you thought you'd never have to make another one, too.:D

What made you decide to make knives full time?
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Now that I figured out how to grind it, no problem! I had been making knives part time for awhile, then when I lost my job I thought long and hard about it, and discussed it with The Boss, before I decided to give it a try. I miss the money a real job provides, but I`m happy, so who cares!
 
I know I am a pain in the 'tocks, but I think the hard work really paid off - the DBH is a spectacular tool.

What do you think your direction is in terms of your cutlery making? What would be your aspiration for products or services in the future?

best

mqqn
 
mqqn said:
What do you think your direction is in terms of your cutlery making? What would be your aspiration for products or services in the future?

best

mqqn
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I thought long and hard before answering this one, because it might piss some people off. I aspire to be more than just an "entry level maker." By that I mean the maker people buy from to get started in handmade knives. I see it all the time, someone buys a knife from me, then disappear, only to be seen on other makers forums buying from them. This makes me think one of two things, my knives are pretty bad, or the other maker has a better reputation, either from making a fancier looking knife, or more exposure in other areas of BF.
I`ve also been asked why do I only make four or five knives a week. I could easily make more, I have the time, but the sooner I finish off my backlog, the sooner I quit making knives and go out of business, so why rush it?
 
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Hi John,

1. Have you ever made a knife for a customer that you really wished you could have kept for yourself? If so, what knife was it?

2. If you were going to make a knife for yourself - and that would be the only knife you owned - what knife would you make and what materials would you use?
 
JK Knives said:
I thought long and hard before answering this one, because it might piss some people off. I aspire to be more than just an "entry level maker." By that I mean the maker people buy from to get started in handmade knives. I see it all the time, someone buys a knife from me, then disappear, only to be seen on other makers forums buying from them. This makes me think one of two things, my knives are pretty bad, or the other maker has a better reputation, either from making a fancier looking knife, or more exposure in other areas of BF.
I`ve also been asked why do I only make four or five knives a week. I could easily make more, I have the time, but the sooner I finish off my backlog, the sooner I quit making knives and go out of business, so why rush it?
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I thought I'd respond to this since I have owned a lot of your knives (still do own quite a few of them) and I own (or have owned) quite a few knives from other makers.

Your reply doesn't piss me off in the slightest. In fact I completely understand your thoughts.

I don't see you as an "entry level" maker at all. In fact I see you as one of the very top makers in a very talented (and crowded) field of fine knife makers. I think your knives are fantastic tools that are worth every penny and then some. I've owned knives from something like 15 different makers and, as you know, I rank you (and one other maker) at the very top of the list. There is a reason why I own more of your knives than any other maker's knives.

I think all of your knives are tools first. That, to me, is a very good thing.

But that doesn't mean you don't make knives that are absolutely beautiful - IMO my JK CBK is the most beautiful knive I've ever seen. Some of my JK knives probably wouldn't be considered as being beautiful - but I ordered them the way they are with purpose. That's the knife I wanted - a tool that could be used hard (without guilt) for the rest of my life and beyond.

As for my reasons for owning knives from other makers...

Some of it is simply because I wanted to give that maker a shot. Sometimes it is because I've owned knives from that maker and loved them. And sometimes that maker made a knife that just spoke to me. But not one of those other knives were purchased because I thought they'd be better than yours. Your knives are (to me) measuring sticks in which other knives are compared. You set the bar (IMO).

I wish I could order more of your knives, but right now I just don't have the extra money. That will change at some point and I'll be ordering more of your knives. There is a reason for my desire to own more of your knives and that reason has to do with the quality of knife received for the money.

BTW - I applaud your desire to get better and better. That isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of strength.
 
Tahts-a-dats-ago said:
Hi John,

1. Have you ever made a knife for a customer that you really wished you could have kept for yourself? If so, what knife was it?

2. If you were going to make a knife for yourself - and that would be the only knife you owned - what knife would you make and what materials would you use?
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1. I`ve made quite a few I wanted to keep, the most recent was the Rule #9 in ironwood.
2. I think it would be a Camp Knife in 3/16" stock, with ironwood handles.
 
I would guess you don't often say no to customer requests but is there a common one that you have to turn down?
 
JK Knives said:
My Randall #1. 6" stainless blade, #2 commando handle, nickel guard, and my name engraved on the blade. It was stolen from my truck about 28 years ago.
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I've got to remember this when watching Randalls on EBAY. If I see one with your name on it...
JK Knives said:
1. I`ve made quite a few I wanted to keep, the most recent was the Rule #9 in ironwood. 2. I think it would be a Camp Knife in 3/16" stock, with ironwood handles.
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As much as I love my ebony Rule 9, I am seriously jealous of that ironwood one. That is a showpiece.:thumbup:
 
for the first time in my sons young life he decided he wanted to look at my knives, found him looking them all over, he'd opened the case i keep the folding knives in and was looking at them intently.

My questions: is it strange to feel very happy when you 6 year old son asks if he can have a knife, and picks out the Red SAK tinker you got at the JK Spring Gathering of 2013 because it is "his favorite"? :D
 
I'm an entry level fixed blade buyer and I think that the Trapline knife I bought from you is not an entry level knife. I use it every day. I'm on this forum almost every day looking at hand made knives from many knife makers and I also go over your line up all the time. The problem I have is that I don't see any knife that I would rather have,or replace the one I have. It does every thing that I need it to do. One maker talks about edge geometry, it has my curiosity but not enough to buy it. John, do you have any thoughts about edge geometry? Any way, your knives are great and you are a great person.
John Smith
 
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