Comments on this year's BF Knife Process.

waynorth

waynorth

Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
33,354
It seems like I could not "pause" the process without leaving room for comment, so here it is!
I am happy that we hit 300 knives, and I am hoping we can add more as I said before. Meantime, search your soul, and see if you can help with next year's knife. It is too early to volunteer, but that time will come. When this one is done, I think I will take a break for a while.
So if you have anything to add, here is your chance. Any comments, constructive criticisms, ideas on making the process better etc. please go to it!!
Thanks!
 
Charlie, you set the bar really high sir. I think I speak for everyone here when I say, we can't thank you enough.
 
waynorth said:
I am happy that we hit 300 knives, and I am hoping we can add more as I said before. Meantime, search your soul, and see if you can help with next year's knife. It is too early to volunteer, but that time will come. When this one is done, I think I will take a break for a while.
So if you have anything to add, here is your chance. Any comments, constructive criticisms, ideas on making the process better etc. please go to it!!
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Me, I want to know how you did it. How did you bring the knife to fruition so quickly, with such clear communication, at such a wonderful price point?

How?

Or: as this is perhaps not the arena for full disclosure, I am hopeful that whomever attempts to do this next will have the benefit of your insights and expertise on these matters, including how you were somehow able to winkle the project away from a problematic middleman and pass the benefits of other makers' good will directly on to the forum members.


In which I'm mostly trying to say:

THANK YOU.

~ P.
 
I think it went great. You are the #1 cat-herder on the planet. Thank you for all the work and enabling us to have a beautiful forum knife for 2014. Even though I wish we ....................... LOL!
Thanks Charlie.
 
Charlie, the selection process went so smoothly, the knife choices were all wonderful and the price is unbeatable. You can't get any better than making Everyone happy by arranging for both knives to be made. Thanks to everyone involved.

Very best regards

Robin
 
Good assistants are the key, Sarah!
Aw shucks you guys! Well, you are all welcome!
Now let's get to the other stuff!
 
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This was the first I was around for. I thought it went perfectly, and appreciate your work! Thanks! I would be willing to help in some capacity next year,
Though I have no applicable skills
 
There was nothing done wrong with this project, except in you having to shoulder so much of the burden.

I don't think our future efforts will ever be able to top or even approach this one. What you brought to the table was:

- Knowledge of what would actually sell, so that we could streamline the process and avoid the "choice overload"
- Relationship with the makers AND the community, which meant unquestioning trust that it would be done right and fairly
- Complete disregard for profit. All of your time and efforts were completely un-remunerated. If someone was having to be fairly compensated for their time on this one, no way we could have kept the price down.
- Whatever blackmail evidence you had on John Lloyd to get the stag donated for free.

In short, this will be the crowning achievement of BF forum knives. You have set the bar so high it will never be reachable again unless another senior statesman of the community picks up the yoke.
 
Great job Charlie!

How bout a stag fund for this year to help Mr. Lloyd out? Not sure if the demand for knives has been reached but i would be willing to help out. Than maybe you could open the orders back up? Just a thought.
 
Charlie,
Congratulations on reaching the goal.
Thank You For Your Hard Work To Get This Far.
Thank You To John Lloyd For His Contribution Of The Stag.
And Thank You To Everyone Involved.
 
This is not to minimize Charlie's leadership or expertise in any way, because it was the driving force behind the successful process. But the successful number of sales is due in great part to the free stag which John so graciously provided. It is not difficult to convince knife nuts to buy a $120 knife for $75, especially with some communal connection. Next years process could go just as smoothly if we follow Charlie's example of limited selection and voting, but it will be hard to reach anywhere near 300 in sales without the tremendous value afforded by the free stag.
 
You are absolutely right Jeff. John's Stag was the key to the huge numbers.
We had free Stag for the Barlow (2009?), but the price crept up with the fancy decoration of the knife.
This one is a deal for the ages, thanks to John!!!!
 
One cannot fix what is not broken, the process seemed flawless to me. Charlie, John and everyone involved behind the scenes, you did awesome, can't thank you guys enough!

Now, let's start planning that Sodbuster BF knife for next year:D:D
 
trevytrev said:
One cannot fix what is not broken, the process seemed flawless to me. Charlie, John and everyone involved behind the scenes, you did awesome, can't thank you guys enough!

Now, let's start planning that Sodbuster BF knife for next year:D:D
Click to expand...

^^^ This is my sentiments exactly!!! ^^^
 
I think everything went just fine Charlie. The only negative thing I have to say or comment on is that some people wanted a run off of the poll when it looked like things weren't going their way. I'm glad you stuck to the "majority wins" as to the selection. I thank you for that.
 
Charlie, John, and everyone who has helped make this year a go, Thank You!!!

Maybe I missed it, but I had no idea there was a limit to the available knives. I can't help but think that there are at least a few people who thought there was more time to come up with the funds, or just decide weather they wanted one, or like me thought I had time to decide if I wanted to pony up for a second. Not that there wasn't enough time, IMO there certainly was, but someone deserving still might have missed it for whatever reason.

I absolutely agree that asking John for more free stag would be in poor taste, and I applaud your effort to find some more stag. How about buying some more? I will put my money where my mouth is and pledge $10 to help cover the cost of stag for anybody who has posted in the traditional forum (anything other than a giveaway entry) before today and missed out thinking time wasn't up yet.

If we have any regulars who missed out and my $10 can help, please let me know.
 
jc57 said:
There was nothing done wrong with this project, except in you having to shoulder so much of the burden.

I don't think our future efforts will ever be able to top or even approach this one. What you brought to the table was:

- Knowledge of what would actually sell, so that we could streamline the process and avoid the "choice overload"
- Relationship with the makers AND the community, which meant unquestioning trust that it would be done right and fairly
- Complete disregard for profit. All of your time and efforts were completely un-remunerated. If someone was having to be fairly compensated for their time on this one, no way we could have kept the price down.
- Whatever blackmail evidence you had on John Lloyd to get the stag donated for free.

In short, this will be the crowning achievement of BF forum knives. You have set the bar so high it will never be reachable again unless another senior statesman of the community picks up the yoke.
Click to expand...

Could not have put it better myself....:thumbup:
 
Modoc ED said:
I think everything went just fine Charlie. The only negative thing I have to say or comment on is that some people wanted a run off of the poll when it looked like things weren't going their way. I'm glad you stuck to the "majority wins" as to the selection. I thank you for that.
Click to expand...

I think that's where we waded into the mud last year and got bogged down.
This year was straightforward and as simple as can be.(for me at least-I'm sure it got a bit frantic round at plaza del charlow:o )
Yes the bar has been set high for 2015 but the course for this year was clear and straight and the track nice and firm.
Thats despite the early clamouring at the starting gate when we thought the race might be scratched altogether.
Thanks for making it possible at insanely good value.
 
This is the first forum knife I've gotten in on, wasn't really around for the others. I honestly can't believe how smooth it seemed to go and the value that were getting. Thank you to everyone involved. I have no idea how John can donate the stag for 300 knives, that is amazingly generous. So to is the time and effort you put in to make this happen. I'm thrilled with the design this year, I love stag and single blades so it's perfect for me.

I can't wait to see the photos that will follow delivery of these!
 
trevytrev said:
One cannot fix what is not broken, the process seemed flawless to me. Charlie, John and everyone involved behind the scenes, you did awesome, can't thank you guys enough!

Now, let's start planning that Sodbuster BF knife for next year:D:D
Click to expand...
You made a typo sir. I think you meant to say "Now, let's start planning that peanut BF knife for next year :D :D" :)
 
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