clashing taste with a customer

D

Dan Zawacki

Joined
Sep 23, 2006
Messages
366
I was just wondering how people go about handling this sort of thing. I'm working on a knife for a customer, and things have become somewhat troublesome to me.

I haven't made any sort of big deal about this with him as of yet, mostly because, well, he's the customer.

But, that makes me stop and wonder if maybe I'm making too big a compromise, or if I should keep my two cents out of this one...

The problem being, I worked with the customer to design a fairly unique knife. We both really like the design, with one small exception.

I met the customer personally, because he was going to be in my area anyhow, and he wanted to see how I was doing things in my shop. I had no problem with that. When I showed him the progress on his knife, he asked if I could make the handle bigger, to fit his abnormally large hands. At first I had no problem with that, but now, having drawn the handle out a bit, and fitted it to the customer, he's happy as a clam with the shape and form of the knife, and I don't like it at all!

The issue I'm having is that the blade length was originally very proportional to the handle length. It balanced well to the eye (at least to mine) and lookes like a knife that was well designed and proportioned. Now, the blade looks a bit stubby with the longer and slightly beefier handle!

I asked the customer, and he doesn't want me to bring the blade out any. There's enough steel that I could draw it out a bit more (and save myself some file time to boot) but the customer wants the blade short like that.

So, do I chalk this one up to the customer's preference, or do I stick to my guns and make the knife look right?
 
if you hate it but can put it aside and give him quality then go ahead and just make what he wants...

if your dislike of the design would create work thats just not your best effort then perhaps you and he should talk a bit more about lengthening the blade, which sounds like a good solution for you both ascetically and work wise.

good luck-
Loosey
 
The blade and handle each need to be the right size for what they do, not for each other, but for the job. The handle's job is to fit the customer's hand -- that's why he wants a custom knife, not to take potluck from a factory. The blade's job is to cut what he needs cut, not too large to be controlled or too short to reach. Blade/handle ratios as an aesthetic decision have nothing to do with the job the knife should be designed for, and thinking about them is an unnecessary distraction.
 
If you make it only to your eye and dimensions to fit you then it's not a custom knife ,only semi-custom ! He has to tell you what he wants as far as fitting him and how he will use it . If it's not your "style" then he'd have to find someone who will do it. Big handle small blade can be very practical!
 
I believe that you should make it as the customer wants it or not make it at all. If you are to the point that you wouldn't want your name on the knife, don't make the knife. The customer is paying for a custom knife made as he wants it. If you can't come to a compromise, either make it as the customer desires, or don't make it at all.
 
cotmurp1 said:
I believe that you should make it as the customer wants it or not make it at all. If you are to the point that you wouldn't want your name on the knife, don't make the knife. The customer is paying for a custom knife made as he wants it. If you can't come to a compromise, either make it as the customer desires, or don't make it at all.
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Just about what i would say if you change the blade he may not take the knife and i would not blame him a bit as it would not be what he asked for.

Bob
 
The customer deserves what he wants but I would make sure it's paid for otherwise if he backs out you'll be left with an abnormal knife that may never sell. If you hate it enough to prevent putting your mark on it, politely decline to make the knife at all.
 
Well since I just looked at my own thread and realize it's too long for most people to actually read through it.... here's my summary.

YOU have to be happy with the design, it's going to have YOUR name on it and that one single knife will represent you as a craftsman to anyone who sees it.

He is paying with his hard earned cash (or inherited ;) ) and deserves to get what he wants.

The simple, common denominator here is honesty.

Tell him how you REALLY feel, while reassuring that you want him to be happy. IF, after doing that, you two cannot agree to a single design, then let him know that you're just not comfortable doing it and try to recommend another maker for him to look into.

:)
 
NickWheeler said:
Well since I just looked at my own thread and realize it's too long for most people to actually read through it.... here's my summary.

YOU have to be happy with the design, it's going to have YOUR name on it and that one single knife will represent you as a craftsman to anyone who sees it.

He is paying with his hard earned cash (or inherited ;) ) and deserves to get what he wants.

The simple, common denominator here is honesty.

Tell him how you REALLY feel, while reassuring that you want him to be happy. IF, after doing that, you two cannot agree to a single design, then let him know that you're just not comfortable doing it and try to recommend another maker for him to look into.

:)
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I agree with Nick.

In the long run,... if you don't like the design, it's probably best to turn the order down.

True, he is paying for it, but if you don't like it, you are going against your own artistic sensibilities.

The real problem is that it could wind up on the secondary market (be advertised), and will not be a good representation of your work. (However, anyone in their right mind shouldn't judge a maker by just one knife,... but some people still do.)

You have to ask yourself, if someone else sees it and wants one like it, would you do it again and again and again and want become known for it.

I even turn some down that I designed before, but don't want to do anymore of.

... I think it's best to turn those kind down, no matter how much you need the money or want the job.

Yes, "custom" implies catering to the "customer", but you have to draw the line somewhere and be selective about the orders you take.

You are your own boss. :)
 
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I'd also like to see the knife in question. It may be that we could suggest something that would be just the right compromise.
 
Maybe you could etch "Custom made for ???????" on the blade. Then it will be known that it is a custom design and not the standard style you make. Just my $.02.
 
Wow, that's a lot of thoughts on what I didn't think was such a big deal! Honestly, the difference is subtle, and I had planned on just giving the customer the blade he wants, but I was working on the scales yesterday morning and just had a moment where I shook my head and thought "it just doesn't quite look right like this". The blade would only have to be like a half inch or so longer to make it look right.

Oh well, I'm still overall happy with the design and proud of how it's coming out thus far, so in the long run I guess it's not that big of a deal this time around.
 
Good to hear you aren't compromising anything. Hope both you and your customer like the way it turns out!
 
If it were an issue of the customer compromising the function of the knife, I would speak differently on the matter, but since it is an aesthetic issue I believe it is the customer's decision. If you really do not want the knife to representative of your work then don't etch your name, but I think backing out of an order completely because the customer finds a knife more comfortable than the way you want it to look is less than respectable.

This being said, I'm not exactly a master smith or an expert of sales, so take this as MY opinion.
 
I'm a little more willing to tailor the heat treat than the design,... but it's all your call.

If someone wants a knife they can sharpen with a file, or to put edge holding first, it's O.K. with me,… as long as it goes with the knife concept or design logically somehow.

Design and performance are both subjective and a matter of taste,... but design and artistic expression come first in my book.
 
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Sounds to me like this fellow has a physical attribute (abnormally large hands) which make him a unique customer. He may also have very valid reasons for wanting the blade the way he wants it.

Are you making the knife for him, or for you?

Andy
 
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