custom makers: who has the biggest influence on your designs?

[shootist16]

This question is for the custom makers. Who has the biggest influence on your designs? Other makers? Customers? Current trends? Personal experience?

 

[C. Marlowe]

When I first started it was Randall, Morseth and Loveless. As time went by it was still those three plus experience. In the last couple years as Ive been building folders Carson, and Terzoula have been added, not only as design influences but as mentors and friends.

 

[ddushane]

I build what the customer orders for the most part but when possible I build what I like, which are the old traditional pattern folders with my own little twists, curves, & a little filework. I set around & draw when at work or in my easy chair & if something comes up on paper that I like I build it. I'm influenced by other makers like Johnny Stout, Harvey Dean & others as far as fit & finish, but in design I will take a handle shape I've seen somewhere & put a blade on it I've seen somewhere else, for instance, on a liner lock type knife, I've taken a handle that really worked well on the knife it was on, but after drawing several different blades on it came up with different knives & you just make all the guts of the thing fit & work like they're supposed to. That's when knife making gets fun for me. Dwayne

 

[extremesurvival]

I start designing after researching every picture of every knife I can find, sketch parts I like, jot down things it needs to have and the appropriate size, I try to focus on what would work, designs that are comfortable, and practical as well. I like most of the designs I see for one reason or another but the makers whose work I really enjoy are Terzoula, Snody, Crain, and Loyd Thompson has some beautiful stuff too. In the end though I'm inspired by my imagination.

 

[Ed Fowler]

The latest to influence my knives was a maker who worked in Michael Price's shop around 1850. I believe it was Price's father, not all the Price knives manifest the influence that some do. Many 'Primitive' knives have great knowledge and skill behind them, I search for unique designs and try to experimentally explain their nature.

 

[RHINOKNIVES]

i am the biggest influence on my designs. i cant really name a maker. but i have been influenced by every knife i have handled and pic that i have seen and will contenue to be.

 

[george tichbourne]

I credit my customers with the major input into my product, after all,who knows what they need better than the people who actually work with the knives?