Commissions or Speculation-built? Where are you on this continuum?

[i4Marc]

I definitely prefer to do spec knives. I primarily make knives for myself. They will be sold. But the exercise is to get ideas from my head to my hands. I have a lot of ideas of knives I'd like to build. So that is what motivates me the most. I get a great sense of satisfaction when they find appreciative homes and I really like seeing a customer happy but I need to be happy first. There is little financial reason for me to make knives because I probably loose money on every one but I'm driven to make them. It is one of my artistic mediums and I need that outlet.

I do commissions as well. I have no problem at all with that. If it results in a happy customer, I'm in. But it has to be in my wheelhouse and it has to be able to be sold if the customer drops out. If the customer wants things I feel are not in line with my "style", shall we say, I will suggest something else or someone else. I had a customer who contacted me and wanted me to make a knife he saw on my website. But he wanted some changes I wasn't comfy with the way he proposed. I explained to him why. He then asked for me to just make the knife like the original and he would "modify it" when he got it. I said not a chance. But I wanted him to get what he wanted so I modified the design myself to incorporate the changes he requested but in a way I felt was better designed. He was very happy and placed the order. When the knife was ready to ship he started finding fault with the knife, trying to knock down the price and telling me he had other expenses. I canceled his order and two days later it was in a happier home. No harm, no foul. I can't do that if I agree to make a knife I am not comfortable standing behind and ready to explain the reason for every aspect of the design and build.

I will take suggestions or make suggestions. I will work with different materials. I will modify designs. It's all good. But it has to be well designed and well executed according to my own particular artistic and knifemaking sensibilities. All my clients have been wonderful and I greatly appreciate each one. I try to keep them in the loop throughout the process and give them a chance to make suggestions or changes at key points of the build. Aside from that they let me do what I do. This has worked very well.

 

[Win Heger]

This a good topic, the kind this forum is all about. Personally, I've commissioned a lot of knives and also bought ones I liked from makers I liked.

I'm one of those that always asks a maker "what do you like to make?", don't ask a I maker that hates spear point bowies to make you one. I like having input in the handle material and the general design. Like Dudley said, I'm not the artist. My collecting days have pretty much ended, aging and watching $$ is in play. I still love watching this forum, seeing some pretty cool pieces from makers that are new to me.

 

[brownshoe]

I buy other types of art such as photos, paintings, sculpture, quilts, etc. As such I like any piece to be "of the maker." I've had artists that have made me things, but I had little input into what was actually made other than them asking me in general what I like. Without asking, one painter painted a scene I described to him, it hangs in the living room.

I like to experience art, fall in love and then possess it. This precludes specifying particulars. You cannot design and have made a woman or man to love You have to appreciate it for what it is and fall in love...