Beginner knife maker looking to start selling

J

Jack_Daniels

Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
20
So i'm working on a design for a set of neck knives. 3 different style points and i was wondering is there enough of a market to support yourselves. Obviously quality is the key to keeping customers. As a beginner I have a bit of a hill to climb there but what do you guys think. Do any of you support yourselves completely with your business or just supplement your day job?

My goal is to supply a solid knife that will be reliable and not kill the pocket book by using 1084 steal with paracord wrapped handles and kydex sheaths.
 
I would make it out of steel. It sells better than steal.

There have been many threads on making a living/business from selling knives. Do a search and you will find a lot on the subject.

The first requisite is experience.
The second is a quality product.
Third is pricing.
Fourth is size of your target market.
Fifth is competition.
 
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bladsmth...I think that poor old beat up knifemakers finger (if they are like mine), fat-fingered your "o" and made you "pout".

Just having fun,
Jim
 
I would say that there are very, very few people who can make a good living doing this. quite a few of them are featured in Sharp by Coop's picture thread over in custom knives. most of them provide an work of art as well as a functional piece of steel. there are some people who can survive by doing basic knives, but there aren't too many of them. it would probably be more realistic to make material costs and help pay for some new equipment. However, this is just from what I have read. I have no experience in this area.
 
I don't know. My Uncle was an exclusive knifemaker for over 20 years, before he got a job with the DNR... He was doing fine, but listen to Bladsmth; He knows what he's talking about. It's a hard, long road, but if you have the ambition to make it out there, I wouldn't doubt one minute that you could. :thumbup:
I even wouldn't mind getting into it; only if i had the equitment.
Best Regards, Jared
 
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I agree with Stacy.

I would say that over half of my sales are repeat business. A quality product and good customer service seem to be the two most important things once the price point is right.
 
Another thing... when I got into knifemaking I thought the cost of the materials would be my main cost and I was wrong. Overhead, shop equipment and maintenance really take a chunk out of the profit. Belts usually cost me more than the steel! I also spend about an hour on communications for every four in the shop, that is also something to consider.

Good luck! :D
 
For me, making knives part time has really helped with weird little expenses here and there (food on the table, electric bill etc.) It's gotten me out of a few jams. I have little experience and my equipment is kinda laughable too, so don't let anyone tell you that you need a shop full of equipment to sell anything.

I guess you're gonna get as many answers as there are knifemakers. I just do what I do with what I have, and have a blast doing it. It's made me some nice extra money here and there, but I'm not going to quit my day job.

Get yourself decently set up with a basic 2x72 grinder, a drill press, and a few other inexpensive files and hand tools etc. - research these forums and consider trends, and look closely at the quality of the knives being sold here. If you believe that your product is solid and marketable, then get your name in some orange letters and hop aboard.
 
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Josh Mason said:
For me, making knives part time has really helped with weird little expenses here and there (food on the table, electric bill etc.) It's gotten me out of a few jams. I have little experience and my equipment is kinda laughable too, so don't let anyone tell you that you need a shop full of equipment to sell anything.

I guess you're gonna get as many answers as there are knifemakers. I just do what I do with what I have, and have a blast doing it. It's made me some nice extra money here and there, but I'm not going to quit my day job.

Get yourself decently set up with a basic 2x72 grinder, a drill press, and a few other inexpensive files and hand tools etc. - research these forums and consider trends, and look closely at the quality of the knives being sold here. If you believe that your product is solid and marketable, then get your name in some orange letters and hop aboard.
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this was kinda the answer i was hoping for. i just want to bring in some extra cash for now. i bought a 2x72 off craigslist a while back i have a harbor freight drill press (yes i know harbor freight is bad but i'm poor and i get an extra discount cause i have family that works at one) i'm in the process of building a small coal forge so i can anneal, normalize and harden my blades. i will be differential tempering with a torch. i'm working on a fighter right now but that's for me.
 
I got a tiny green harbor freight drill press too. Cost me like 30 bucks man. Every hole I've ever drilled and every kydex eyelet I've ever set has been with that thing. I'm the poorest knifemaker here probably and I make what I have work for me. Don't feel bad about HF tools. Most dudes here have and use them. My grinder is a total jalopy, but I make it work, and it never does me dirty, as crazy as it looks. I'm confident enough to say that I produce very nice work with what little I have. My passion is greater than my tools, so I guess that's what I have workin for me.

Another thing I've learned to let go....the knives. Get them out the door. I'm getting to where I'm not having the "I'm gonna keep this one" syndrome...lol.
 
i am keeping my first just cause i want to beat the hell out of it and fix any mistakes for future knives. the plan is to make a few for xmass and give them to friends. let them show them off you know lol.
 
I think for the majority of people that make knives, if you sell enough to keep you in supplies to make more, and put a little toward better equipment, you are doing good.
 
Just for fun, let's look at your user name.

It's easier to make a living selling booze than knives.

People buy a lot of booze & cost almost never matters.

People buy damn few knives & almost always buy the cheapest thing in front of them at Walmart.
 
Northwest Knife Collectors is a Wa based makers, collectors club. Since your in Wa i would suggest you throw down 20 bucks for a year membership, and start meeting other makers up there, they meet in tacoma and kirkland twice a month, it should be part of your business plan to find an established maker to get tips from but also help you in acquiring materials that will allow you to serve a broader market and establish yourself as a maker, there is a huge talent pool in Wa, and that can make it a bit harder for small makers to cut a nitch but it is possible nonetheless to supplement your income and keep your shelves stocked with materials, and knives being made! Good luck and get grinding!! GHaile
 
GTH11 said:
Northwest Knife Collectors is a Wa based makers, collectors club. Since your in Wa i would suggest you throw down 20 bucks for a year membership, and start meeting other makers up there, they meet in tacoma and kirkland twice a month, it should be part of your business plan to find an established maker to get tips from but also help you in acquiring materials that will allow you to serve a broader market and establish yourself as a maker, there is a huge talent pool in Wa, and that can make it a bit harder for small makers to cut a nitch but it is possible nonetheless to supplement your income and keep your shelves stocked with materials, and knives being made! Good luck and get grinding!! GHaile
Click to expand...
thats a good piece of advice i will look into that thank you
 
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