Recommendation? Custom Folding Knife Maker

H

hardman14

Joined
Dec 4, 2020
Messages
5
Hello,

I have drafted some designs for a folding knife I would like to have made. My intention is to take this knife and use it as a prototype in order to have it manufactured. I'm looking for recommendations on capable and creative knife makers who will work with me on this project. I have reached out to a few custom knife makers that I could find while googling earlier in the week. I have yet to hear back from them. I anticipate it will be some time before I hear back due to the workload that they claim to have on their websites.

Thank you for your assistance and recommendations in advance.
 
What kind of folder? Lock back? Slipjoint? Liner lock???

What’s your budget for this prototype ?
 
As I originally designed it, I used an axis-style locking system. I'm open to other suggestions and am more than comfortable using something like a back lock. I've had several knives use them and they are generally very robust.

As far as budget. I need to have a discussion with the knife-maker in terms of QC. I'm not worried about their quality so much as I'm concerned that I might have lackluster QC on production models if the methods used are too complex or difficult for an overseas manufacturing company to automate.

I have a general design created and some inspirational knives that I would like to use to inspire the creation process. I want something unique and of my own design. It also has to be made of materials that are readily available and are easy enough for a production company to scale. I have spoken to three different manufacturing facilities so far, but I have inquiries to 8 total (off the top of my head).
 
Thank you for your suggestion, my friend. I have sourced a manufacturing facility who was willing to work with me through the designing process. I'm getting very close to building out some prototypes for production. Thank you for your help!
 
You sound very skilled and dedicated. Good stuff!

Please share your progress as you go through this.

Welcome!
 
It's been an interesting journey. I'm probably about 70% to the finish line. We're working out some aesthetic changes and scaling/ratios throughout the product line. I hope to be a little more transparent with what's going on once I'm ready to go to market. I'm looking into FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) to deal with warehousing, shipping, and returns. That keeps me from mucking it up and I can focus on more important things with my time. The first run is going to be 500 pieces of one size. I hope to burn through that within a year of release. I will look into releasing a size up or a size down from the original depending on how things go for the second run. I'd love to say that I'll be consistently ramping up as time goes on, but 2020 has been a bear and who knows what 2021 and beyond has in store for us all.
 
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