Custom knifemaker etiquette

UnixDork

UnixDork

Joined
Dec 2, 2001
Messages
453
Here's something I've wondered for a while, I hope some people here can give me an opinion, hopefully some makers will offer their opinion.
Is it considered "bad form" to ask a custom maker to take on a project that's completely of your own design? In other words, can I draw up a pattern on my own, and then solicit a maker? I don't know if that is commonly done or not. I consider custom knife making art, so I could see that a maker could be offended if they were treated essentially as a knife making machine. Just to make this a little more interesting, what if my designs are for working knives, not art pieces? Does that make any differences? What if my designs aren't knives, for example, a hatchet?
 
It really does depend upon the maker. Take a little time to talk and get to know them. I know excellent makers that only make what they want to make as well as excellent makers that will go with a customer's design as well as excellent makers that work somewhere in between those two boundries.

One I always keep in mind on that type of project, depending upon how fancy, is that I do not have a problem paying the maker I have chosen as the knife progresses and materials are aquired.

Typically I would try to find a maker who has a style similar to the knife you have designed and start talking to them. In some cases you might have to listen to what is not said as well as what is said.
 
I get special request from time to time and have no problem with it..some times I take the job...other times I don´t...depending on how firm the design is I might redesign it to fit my way of doing things...if it is approoved we go on from there...
 
Dont forget,also, that not all designs are feasible (if you plan to carry or use the knife,anyway)... balance could be out of whack,the handle may be uncomfortable,and the maker may just not feel comfortable making it,for his own list of reasons.

As far as the rest goes,Gus nailed it (and the goat :p)
 
It never hurts to ask. Some makers are happy to work with other peoples designs and some are not. As Mo has stated, the design will have to be something the maker is comfortable doing.
 
I don't think it's "bad form" at all, but don't be offended if the maker says he'd rather not. Each maker knows where his experience lies and what he can do well. It is a matter of personal pride to me that I don't want to put my name on a knife that I am making for the first time; there is a learning curve with everything, and as you work, you can see better ways to do what you are doing, but usually after the fact. Bottom line for me would be that, if I were comfortable with the design, no problem, but any "practice knives" would be factored into the cost.
 
i agree wholeheartedly with what has already been said.
it is for sure not bad form to ask a maker to look at your designs.
in fact i actually prefer when people to come me with a design that they have always thought about.
not saying that i am going to accept that design above all else .. it has to be looked at .. and ... tweaked.
but i like the idea that someone gets to go away with something that they feel good with.

it is a nice thought to be able to give a customer their dream blade.. but sometimes their ideas and concepts just wont work or cant be done or would make it reallllly difficult to use for what they wanted.
thats where the experience of the maker comes into it and they would be able to tell you how it would be better designed .. and that also includes how it can be better designed to allow for the maker to feel more comfortable in making the blade.

long story short.. not bad form, just ask .. knifemakers are happy to talk knives with whoever will listen.

D.
 
So what are your designs? :)

I have made one knife that was completely to the customer's design and in that case I wasn't happy with it because it was of a style totally different than mine. But that's rare.

I have done several where the customer said that they wanted this and that, and in one case I ended up with one of the nicest using knives I've done. So it can be a very good thing if all goes well.

Like has been said, it's good to try to find a maker that has a style somewhere along the lines of what you're wanting to have made, and go from there.

Best of luck :)
Nick
 
Speaking for myself a customer with his own design is welcome anytime, however if that design is dimensioned +/- .001" I get a bad case of the giggles.....In the world of handmaking where handheld grinding and profiling are the norm IT AIN'T POSSIBLE.

Don't let the makers reputation get in the way give the maker of your choice a call, you may be pleasantly surprised.
 
Thank you all for your kind replies. My "designs" if they qualify as such are pretty simple. One is a rather simple hunter/skinner that will be a gift for my father. It's still swimming around in my head, and isn't concrete yet. For myself, I'm looking to have made something I've never seen before. Imagine a hatchet made out of plate like Buck made their 106 hunter's axe. They were essentially a profile of a hatchet shape cut out of plate, with scales added for a handle. They are still in production, they've changed the handle material a few times, and now added a laser cut Buck in the head. (yuck) My version would be similar, but the head would have a tomahawk profile and the handle would get stag scales with steel or nickel pins. I'd have the tang stick out clear of the scales, with a lanyard hole. The head would have a round hole in the poll side for pulling tent stakes. I think the profile of a tomahawk would cut some more weight out of Buck's design, and also just look a lot better. The steel would be high carbon, if forged, with a hammer mark finish. If stock removal, with a satin finish. So, since I've spilt my guts, does that sound like it's feasible? By the way, if that sounds like something someone wants to try, I don't claim any ownership of the idea, knock yourself out!
 
George- yeah, I figured as much. I guess about all you could do is refer them to a shop that makes aerospace parts. Then ask them what the price quote was. That does seem rather silly, I bet they don't measure their hand or their pocket to that tolerance to see if it fits right. That could be pretty lucrative, though, as they'd have to have another version made for each pair of pants.

Takes all kinds, I guess.
 
actually,that hawk sounds like a good idea...as a matter of fact,i have a maker that i can recommed by the name of 'maxtheknife' here on the forums. it will be forged,though,not stock removal.

he makes a hell of a knife that you can bet your life on,though...you can reach him at mburnett@cswnet.com
 
Maurice- after looking at some of Max's work, I think your suggestion is a really good idea. I think Mr. Burnett and I are on the same page already, I like his style a lot. I hadn't thought of going that "mountain man" with it, but I think I'd like it a lot better if I did. I'll shoot him an email and see what he thinks. Thanks alot for a great suggestion.
 
As a collector (that means I have more knives than I can carry at one time;)) I often have a vision of what I want. Usually, I'll look around and find someone who has done something similar and contact them. So far I've had great luck going that route.
 
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