Custom Knive according to out-of-production production-knife

[TLoFP]

To all custom makers,

Is it offensive to ask a maker to copy an old out-of-production design from a well known maker who has since passed. I want to neither offend the legacy of the late maker, nor creativity of the new maker.

I am really on the fence about this one so please don't stone me. On one hand I can see how a knife maker would be offended if Joe Blow (me) asked him to make a knife, instead of ordering one that he spend decades developing. I can also see it as disrespectful to copy someone else's design. On the other hand though I am asking for a one-off, not a production. The one-off aspect should negate the copying issue, as no one is flooding the marked with a knock off. Lastly I have been looking for a knife that comes close to my old grail knife for a long time and can not find anything.

To summarize, I would like to have a one-off knife, copying the shape and balance of an out-of-production knife, while making minor modification (sharpen false edge) and updating with modern materials (VG10 or S30V vs. AUS8 for example).

If this is inappropriate please just tell me, don't stone me. If the consensus is that this is an offensive thing to ask then I will not approach custom makers with this request.

Thanks - T

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

I dont know the answer to your question ,but I want to say I like the way you asked it .
-Regards-
Eric

 

[TLoFP]

I dont know the answer to your question ,but I want to say I like the way you asked it .
-Regards-
Eric

Eric,

I really appreciate that response.

Thanks - Dominik

 

[Bill Siegle]

You could try contacting the original producer and asking permission to use the design and explain your intentions. I have had pretty good luck with that method in the past. Good communication up front will help avoid hard feelings down the road.

 

[TLoFP]

You could try contacting the original producer and asking permission to use the design and explain your intentions. I have had pretty good luck with that method in the past. Good communication up front will help avoid hard feelings down the road.

The original maker is deceased and the company fell into the hands of corporate overlords. That makes it a little bit more tricky but worth a shot. The design I want to copy is an AlMar BTW.

- T