Brand new unsharpened knives

M

marlin39d

Joined
Sep 26, 2004
Messages
68
One of the first custom knives I bought came with a blade that was obviously left unsharpened. I assume this is done from time to time so you can put your own edge on the knife at whatever angle you like. I'm also aware the demo knives that are going to be handled a lot at shows and so forth are purposely left dull.

Am I right to assume that this knife was left this way on purpose or was it just an oversight on the makers part. I have more than one knife from this particular maker and the rest of them came razor sharp. Keep in mind none of these were bought directly from the maker but through one of the well established web-sites that sells custom knives only. All of these knives from the same maker were bought through the same web-site. One out of four came without a sharp edge.

So what do you think....oversight? knife originally bought at show?

How common of a practice is this if it was done on purpose?
 
I'm not the authority on customs but I do have a few.

I cannot imagine anyone intentionally sending out a knife that had no edge put on it. It's one of the first things I check out! I imagine its one of the first things most new knife owners check out.
 
The buyer of a custom knife can save some expense by requesting a blade be left unsharpened. The maker has less time in the knife and can charge less. And, the buyer may have another reason to want it that way. But through the web, if left unsharpened, I would think that would be spelled out on the site's decription? Sounds like you need to make contact with them for an explanation. I would like to know what they say.
 
Don't know how it could happen, but it sounds to me like the maker forgot to sharpen the knife. You should probably contact the maker and ask.
 
I have heard the above rationalizations before. But in all my years and conversations I have never encountered a maker to leave a knife unsharpened after completion for any reason. Even for a show. But that's just me.

I do have two custom knives that have the worst 'edge' I have owned, but that's a rarity.

I would surmise a missed step in the completion process. A phone call is in order to someone.

Coop
 
I'm betting it was an oversight. Easiest way to find out is contact the maker.

Every once in a while, I'll ship a knife out to the customer, then wake up that night at 2:00AM and think, "I DID sharpen that knife, didn't I?" I haven't forgotten one yet (at least not that my customer has ever informed me) but I have nightmares about it.
 
Contact the maker, send him the knife and he will put an edge on it.
I had to do that once with a knife made by a big name mastersmith.
 
I talked to the maker and he said send it back. Didn't know how that happened but he will make it good.

No big deal to me but it's nice to hear someone step up to the plate and say I don't know how that could have happened but get it back to my shop so I can fix it.

My hats off to the honest pros who who let their reputations ride on their product.

I owe you a big thanks....you know who you are.

Sincerely,

Chris Flanagan
 
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