Complaint on Dale Chudzinski

Old Hippy, it looks like I'm alittle late here and the matter is being resolved with Dale. I have one of Dale's Nessmuks that I recieved last Feb or so. I had to wait about 10 months to put it to it's true calling - skinning a deer.
I think you will be extremely happy with it when you recieve it. I know I love mine. I used it skinning 4 over a week period and it was a true joy to use.
The styling and craftsmanship put into them are special.
True old world type of knife. These are not knives for everyone but if they appeal to you - you'll love it.
If you are not happy in any way with it though -- I will be glad to buy it from you.

I also want to add my support for Dale for others who read these for imput on makers. I have 2 of Dale's knives now -- the Nessmuk I ordered and another utility knife in my kitchen that he sent me for free. I have another ordered and yes I prepaid for it. My money is as important to me and others is to them - this just shows how much I trust Dale. I know he is good for it. I may have to wait and expect to -- I know in the end it will be well worth it.

Jim
 
I own MANY Chudzinski knives, probably close to a dozen. Without exception Dale has been absolutely wonderful to deal with and I count him as a personal friend. He is a man of honor and integrity. His excellent communication with his customers and his extreme genorsity are well known.

As well, his knives are great. Yes, some I had to wait for, but they were all well worth the wait. He forges his knives by hand in a charcoal forge. They are all hand fitted. They are very time consuming to make, and are a bargain at the low prices he charges.

There have been many that have posted their support of Dale, men whose respect has to be earned, that speaks volumes. I can only echo their endorsement. Dale Chudzinski is among the finest knifemakers working in the traditional manner, and has the highest level of customer service that I have EVER seen.
 
This thread no longer serves any purpose. Old hippie's concerns have been addressed and we have enough info to form our opinions on Dale. The thread should be locked before some low post (:D ) ron takes it in unfortunate directions :jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit: I apologize to Cougar Allen if my language isn't temperate enough.
 
We don't lock threads on TGB&U. When people get tired of it they'll stop posting. Those who are already tired of it can stop reading it whenever they're ready.
 
I personally can't stand it when people register just to post in one of these threads for defense. Doesn't do anyone a damn bit of good, and they never post again for squat. Doesn't get a knife/sheath made any faster. The topic creator is the only one who had any genuine info to offer up, especially since the maker doesn't post here. I, for one, have received my due warning. If the mood ever strikes me, I would only order a finished blade from this man rather than wait for an order. If he has a waiting list, than other people can keep on waiting on it, I won't.
 
If no one commented their experience was positive the thread could look lopsided as it implies that no one had a positive experience. The one-shot posting usually is just when a maker is more discussed on another forum and thus there are no regulars of his work here. The problem is that the one-shot posters often don't read the posts or address the problems or are empathatic to the people with the problems and thus it often makes the situation look worse as it reads as more excuses and an artificial call out for support.

-Cliff
 
Dale is my friend and we have walked a long way together.
Sometimes the pressures of having an extended close-knit family calls on his time.
This factor and the fact that he is self-employed and has to grab a job when it is available, does result in him not being able to keep to a scedule.
I know that there are times when he has to leave home at short notice and then has no access to the internet for a while.
I also know that he is, without question, a honest person and that he will deliver as soon as he is able.
Perhaps Dale is not a good communicator, but he is a fine maker of forged knives.
Frustrating perhaps, but understandable.
Dirk
 
Cliff Stamp said:
The problem is that the one-shot posters often don't read the posts or address the problems or are empathatic to the people with the problems and thus it often makes the situation look worse as it reads as more excuses and an artificial call out for support.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

That's it exactly. Enough regs posted here that I feel it wasn't necessary to be inundated by one-shots. A lot of people think this maker is a great guy, wonderful. Great guys still screw up orders and work schedules.
 
oldhippy said:
Mr Chudzinski called me this evening and we had a nice discussion. He assured me that my knife would be in the mail no later than this coming Saturday. He only has to finish sewing the sheath for it to be ready.
Click to expand...



Old Hippy,

Did you ever get your knife?
 
Well, here goes. I too, am a one time poster. I came here to see if anyone else was having a problem with a Chudzinski order.

My experiences mirror OLDHIPPY'S exactly. I paid Dale upfront. I have been more than patient. I have received MANY emails with promises. I do not have the knife.

The last promise I received was in December. I emailed him the first week of February with no response to date.

I was going to wait until hearing from him before I posted this, but frankly, I am tired of delays and excuses.

I appreciate the level of support displayed here and respect the good intentions. Support and intentions do not put a knife I paid for over a year ago in the mail.

I, too, would like to see a post here from Dale. Perhaps a bit of pressure from his peers would steer him in the right direction.

My prepayment and patience has not.

I will be happy to forward any and all of my correspondance between Dale and I to anyone who asks.

This is in no way intended to be a "bash" on Dale. I understand he has a good reputation and make a wonderful product. That is why I paid upfront. I am simply out of options.
 
Interesting - I should have been on the Forum back when I ordered a knife from Dale. I see his “issues” go back to 2005. For those of you who suggest, “Dale will take care of you”; yeah sure! He has “taken me” - to the tune of the full price of one of his Nessmuk knives. "No doubt Dale will take care of you"? Heck, doubt I’ll live that long. "Why not discuss it with him directly instead of publicly?" Let's see, he won’t respond to emails; he won’t answer the phone number that was published; and he won’t respond to personal letters - so how does one do that??
I ordered my knife in August of 2006. I inquired at the time of the order if he had a waiting list of over 6 months. He told me he did not, and indicated he would begin work on the knife as soon as payment was received. In February 2007, after exhaustive efforts to contact via all means available, I sent him a letter expressing my concerns and his failure to make any effort to accept communication or to respond if he had indeed gotten them - and explained I was still giving him the benefit of the doubt knowing that things do happen in life that disrupts many a good intention. However, if I did not hear from him by April, I would pursue other efforts to get my money back. Well, it is now August of 2016. “Everybody gets behind now and then”- Yeah? For 10 Years? I don’t think so. I have no compassion for this man and find him to be a blight on the efforts of every custom maker. Bill Moran taught me to forge knives at RIT in 1986, and one of the axioms he offered me was to never take a deposit or full payment on a knife that you did not have in your hand ready to sell. I guess this is a prime example of that axiom. The whole reason for his thinking was for the MAKER to avoid getting into financial difficulty. Too bad Dale wasn't given that tidbit. But, then again, he seems to have managed to rake in a lot of money in the intervening years, by a simple scam. And he doesn’t seem to have been disturbed by his actions at all. A “Stand up guy” - BS!!!! He’s a crook!
 
"I handforge all my knives using high carbon steel.They are individually heat-treated to assure quality.They will take and hold a razors edge,but are also easy to sharpen. I like to work with natural handle materials such as wood,bone,and antler. If you have a design in mind,or would like to modify a knife here, just let me know.I am willing to work with you to come up with exactly what you want."

"What you want"
 
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