Custom Engraving Work for Stainless Calypso Jr??

E

Emanym Ton

Joined
Sep 21, 1999
Messages
762
Couple questions:

1. Where do we post threads inquiring about or soliciting Custom Work on Production knives? (If this is the wrong place I apologize but simply made a logical decision in posting)

2. Does anyone know of someone who does this work or perform it themselves? I have this blade and love it dearly. My only concern is the scratching and it got me thinking if it were engraved with some type of artistic design this would not be as much of a problem so I'm making plans to have one done up and need to know who is highly recommended.

Thanks,
Shawn
 
I'm not sure of the best place for this question.

Now engraving! You would be best served at a
local trophy shop. Have a small design with
maybe your initials put on it. Custom knife engraving is very expensive, multiples of what your knife cost. I'm constantly looking for engraving bargains, and there are none.

Happy holidays, everyone.

Win
 
Thanks guys! That gives me a place to start. The cost isn't so much of a concern as the end result will be, in my mind, a one of a kind knife so I'm willing to pay for it.

Thank you,
Shawn
 
Shawn, engraving a knife can be very very expensive. The value of the finished knife, being a production knife, will Never be as much as the cost of fine engraving (I mean scroll work and the like). Nor would you be likely to find a custom knife engraver even Willing to do the work. Engraving custom knives costing hundreds of dollars is often more expensive than the knife. Also, I would think you would be Much MORE concerned about scratching the knife After you had paid to have it engraved. I think I must be confused...

If you mean doing some sort of simple geometric line work, a local jewelry or trophy shop may be able to help you.

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 12-23-2000).]
 
Another thought:

If your main purpose is to keep the pristine finish on your handle scales, you can learn to maintain and even improve on the finish already on the knife. What you need is some ultrafine sandpaper in grits from around 1000 to 6000 or higher. You could also use a dremel with a felt wheel and various grades of polishes available at your local hardware store. I have refinished a number of knives, including some expensive custom knives, by careful and meticulous hand sanding and polishing. It is really not very difficult and takes much less time than you might imagine.

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 12-23-2000).]
 
Hello Shawn,

Take a look at Brooks Burt. I had a Stainless Calypso Jr. done last year...awesome job. I have some pics I could email you of the Calypso if you're intereted (I can't post them though, no site or photopoint set up yet). Let me know.

http://www.angelfire.com/wi/brooksburt/

Take care,
Tom


------------------
"A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains"
AKTI Member A001010
 
Thanks for the info guys. Para you make some really good points. My thoughts on the engraving are that the cuts are made deep and would leave ridges of primary surface to protect the engraving itself therefore making any light surface scratching much less noticeable. My knife is lightly used and just has surface friction wear and light scratches. For a heavier use blade I would definitely not consider doing this to it.

Putting a hundred or so dollars into this type of work on this knife is something that I wouldn't mind at all but, you're correct, several hundred would be a mistake.

I still haven't joined the 'Custom purchase only' world cause my first Custom experience is still ongoing after a year with a significant disappointment after initially getting them and now waiting a short eternity for repairs.

So, my logic in pursuing this avenue is that I LOVE the Calypso Jr and can readily get them any day of the week and if one were tricked out then... 1) I wouldn't risk not liking someone's knife work and the subsequent dilemma of getting it repaired. 2) Would have a semi-Custom Production knife, or whatever term might be applied to it, that I know and love the quality of.

I'm still not ready to sink $400-$500 into a custom yet otherwise there are a number of gents that you guys deal with and I have spoken with that could really fit the bill. I'm still in the $250 or $300 range which puts me in a tougher spot having to deal with some up and coming Custom makers and their somewhat turbulent lives (only one experience so far and I'm definitely learning more about this lurking here and from the info gained in Chat BUT.... ) which drastically affect the outcome.

As far as value, I would never re-sell and am actually thinking of doing a pair of Spyderco Stainless like the Calypso Jr. and then possibly a Cricket for my wife done in a similar pattern.

I'm really just exploring avenues here and maintaining my own by polishing is a really good idea that I hadn't thought of. Is Flitz a product that is worth using or is it just as easy to go to the local Hardware Store?

Thanks guys and Happy Holidays,
Shawn
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Paracelsus:
<snip>Engraving custom knives costing hundreds of dollars is often more expensive than the knife. <snip>

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 12-23-2000).]</font>
Click to expand...

Paracelsus,
Your not kidding. I bought a nice custom hunter this year (as a using knife), and wanted it engraved - Just plain english scroll. The engraving cost well more than twice what the knife itself cost! I like it anyway. I've got a folder on order right now, and it's going for engraving when it comes in. Even with the higher cost of gents folders, the engraving will cost at LEAST as much as the knife - and that's for SIMPLE scroll work. Want fancy work? You could spend many many thousands of dollars


 
Jody Muller with Muller Forge is a new name to the engraving field. He does excellent work and his prices are very reasonable. A jewelry piece of his won 2nd place this year in the Missouri Jewelry show and a knife with his relief engraving on the bolsters won the best embellished knife at the Heart of America show in St. Louis this year. Send email to mullerforge@hotmail.com. I am a very impartial judge of this young man's talent because I am his mom.(He's really good, even if I am slightly prejudiced.)
 
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