Blade only sales?

Gossman Knives

Gossman Knives

Edged Toolmaker
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Apr 9, 2004
Messages
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Have any of you guys ever had anyone ask you to just sell them a finished blade to finish themselves with handles? What are your feelings about this?
Scott
 
Yes thats how I got started. I dont see anything with this as long as you tell you did not make the blade. Dont see why it should be a problem either? :)

Johan
 
The only problem I see is if they do a terrible job on the handle and try to pass it off/sale it as one of your knives. Even if they do a good job it wouldn't be right for them to try anything like that. You wouldn't want something like that to affect your knives reputation. How is that S7 going for you Scott?
 
Mark Nelson said:
The only problem I see is if they do a terrible job on the handle and try to pass it off/sale it as one of your knives. Even if they do a good job it wouldn't be right for them to try anything like that. You wouldn't want something like that to affect your knives reputation. How is that S7 going for you Scott?
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That's what I was thinking. I don't want my mark on a knife that I didn't complete myself. I figured maybe leave it unmarked. I sold that S7 knife I posted several weeks ago.:D I'm building an S7 fighter right now. A little different then my usual style. It's a custom order.
Scott
 
I think I would avoid this as well unless it is specifically planned out ahead of time that if sold, it will be marked as a collaboration, and you approve it. Otherwise, who knows what they are planning....not many knife-buyers could do a handle as good as a knife-maker, so its hard to judge wheat their intent is....if anything, agree to rough it out, ht and grind to near the final edge, and let them finish the blade, too....
 
Nope, no way. They screw it up and pass it off as yours and you get a bad rap for it. I'd pass.
 
If everyone was ethical --- I would give a resounding "yes." But.. . . .like someone said, they could sell something as yours, or if you don't mark it, they could sell it off as theirs (sole authorship).
 
I asked this because I had a request for this. I wasn't planning on doing it especially after thinking on it but was curious as to what other makers thought of a situation such as this.
Scott
 
One option might be to come up with a separate mark for unfinished knives. You would probably want to include something in the mark that made it clear it was the blade only, though I can't think of what off the top of my head.

That would prevent the buyer from trying to sell it as one of your knives, and it would prevent them from selling it as their own knife.
 
Selling unfinished blades (someone will put the handle on) tends to be a European tradition..especialy in Scandinavia.

I have had lots of requests to sell blades unfinished...I sold a few... I prefer not to ..cos I like to finish the knives myself:) .....
If I do, I will change my marking method ...maybe use a mark instead of my name.

A lot of European makers make their living by selling unfinished blades.....its been done that way for a 1000 years:)
 
sure I do it, but I leave my mark off
and grind it a bit differant.. but the price will put most of them off.
they think twice about the price of the blade and if they can do the knife Justice,

I've taken in blades and put handles on too. Randalls to mention some and some scandi's ect..

if you'd like scott I'll post a Randall big bear blade I did if you'd like :)
 
I've sold over a hundred blades for the customer to put a handle on.

My world hasn't fallen over yet. :jerkit: :D

You don't mark your name on it... that's all there is to it.

If a person can buy a blade from you, make a horrible, shittty looking knife, and mark YOUR name on it, AND then people BELIEVE THAT YOU MADE IT... then you need to make better knives. :)
 
I would just direct them to one of those knife kits. Why buy a custom knife if you don't want it totally custom made by the maker you've solicited? Buy a knife kit and it's all theirs, no marke, no hassles, no nada.
 
I have started out by making handles for knives that were made by others. In doing so i have looked around at alot of the kit knives and I can understand why someone would want to order a custom blade made for them to put a handle on. Sometimes it is hard to find just the right blade you want to work on so rather than compromise why not order what you want made and then finish the rest of the knife yourself?

I have found it a good way to learn and I am sure others will have found the same. Some folks don't have the space or equipment to start making blades. For others (and myself) it is a way of breaking down the process and learning how to do each part over time. I have made 5 handles now and I feel happy with how they turned out and now I am working on stock removal (man hand filing gives you blisters!). In time I hope to try my hand at forging but only when I am happy with filing and grinding. I also know makers that only do handles specialising in those and I have seen some very nice work.

If you are worried about someone passing off their work as yours then either leave the blade blank as Nick says or mark it as such so that people know that only the blade is your work.

Hopefully noone will take offence at my views :) Just giving them as I am someone that enjoys making handles while learning to make blades.
 
Sounds fair, that's why people buy knife kits so they can experience knife making alittle and also take them apart and put them back together and figure out how they work. Sure. However, isn't it part of commisioning a knife from a maker, requesting certain handle materials and styles? Making it custom. :)
 
NickWheeler said:
I've sold over a hundred blades for the customer to put a handle on.

My world hasn't fallen over yet. :jerkit: :D

You don't mark your name on it... that's all there is to it.

If a person can buy a blade from you, make a horrible, shittty looking knife, and mark YOUR name on it, AND then people BELIEVE THAT YOU MADE IT... then you need to make better knives. :)
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Hey, I just finished making my first Nick Wheeler knife!!! Wanna buy it?
 
I would not hesitate to sell unfinished blades if someone asked me. I just wouldn't put my mark on it. Ten years ago, I used to buy blades from Bob Engnath at Blades-n-stuff in Glendale, CA. I finished a few of his knives and had lots of fun doing it. I still remember one day I went in their shop and they were having a closing sale because Bob passed away. I would be happy to have someone else finish one of my blades.
 
Gene Osborn and Craig Barr offer both knife blanks and damascus bars for sell.
Bob Dozier used to offer a "kit". An unfinished blank, micarta scales and tubing to hold it together.
John Greco is another that has blade blanks and handle materials for sale on his site.
I don't think any of them are worried about their unfinished blades being finished and passed as their customs.
Who else will do unfinished blanks?
I have a few of Bob Engnaths blanks, and a couple from Bob Havorskys estate. (sorry if I mis-spelled:o ) One Greco and a couple of Japanese style knives I want to cord wrap are part of my collection too.
 
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