Customer shares his knife enthusiasm

[Karl B. Andersen]

I wanted to share these words with ya'll that I just got from a customer.
Of course, I'll admit there's some praise for me that makes me feel good, but I wanted to focus on what he says about his acquaintances.
This guy has bought numerous knives from me from internet exposure as well as the Blade Show.
When he buys one through my mailing list, he always has me send it to his work place - which is a law firm.
And then he makes sure to share it with all of those people he can.
It's customers like this that we need more of. People who don't just get a knife and then stick it on a shelf never to be seen by others outside the current knife world. And we know that happens all too often.
So, you knife buyers and collectors - share your enthusiasm!!!
Spread the love.


Well, Karl…

I don't think I have enough superlatives or exclamation points to convey my opinion about this knife…
Okay, I haven't cut anything with it, either, so I can't comment on that… yet…

But… Form: about as good as it can be.
Proportion: handle to blade - handle thickness to blade thickness, handle length to blade length… balance…
All simply on target for this style knife.

Slight recurve, perfectly done clip… Guard is spot on…

And the SanMai flips people out who don't know what it is until I tell them, and then they just stand there slack-jawed…

Many really like the handle - some don't realize it's wood until I tell them, and then they really look at it…And then I tell them that it can be taken apart for cleaning…

And my boss… She's a plumber's daughter - she knows a little about a lot of stuff… She say's that before she met me, a knife was simply something you used to pry open stuff, use it as a screw driver, or if you could, you could actually use it to cut with… And she loves watching "NCIS" and I've taught her about Gibbs' "Rule #9 - always have a knife"… She now knows what a knife can be and she, too, is really ga-ga about this knife…

People actually really like the sheath - most of them don't know much about them and they love the style of it and the leather work itself…

Yes, I keep trying to convert people's opinions about knives… and work like yours goes a long way to teaching them that a knife is more than something people use to kill each other with or to spread their peanut butter with…

All's I can really say is that I'm honored to be the lucky recipient of this knife, and all the others of yours that I've been fortunate enough to acquire over the years… And I'm honored that you've allowed me into your world of art and humour…

Karl…. YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you again,

joeshredd

 

[Capn]

By gosh, Karl, I like the sentiments expressed in your customer's letter AND your suggestion about sharing our enthusiasm for our hobby.

I hadn't thought about that re knives yet I frequently share my enthusiasm for the shooting sports with friends & neighbors (taking another neighbor range shooting next week). Time to start doing the same thing re knives!

 

[dr_fosg8]

Hey wait a minute...shouldn't there be at least ONE photo of said knife to go with the story!?

Great story. I did the same when I received my first custom folder. Took it to work and let the drooling begin.

 

[lwrhea]

Your work deserves this kind of compliments Karl. As far as value for the dollar, yours are high on the charts. I'm proud of the Andersen knife I own.

 

[Don Hanson III]

That's cool, man!

 

[betzner]

I agree completely about spreading the word. As a collector, I take a different tack, since I typically deal with new collectors, hoping anything I can impart of an informative nature will be helpful in their future dealings with other collectors and makers. I talk personal styles (theirs, not mine), make recommendations, receive lots of images from them with comments like "what about this one?" - and always respond to every inquiry, many daily. Education is everything, and without it, new collectors are wandering in the dark.

As far as that wonderful testimonial, Karl, you deserve it. Your work is perfect.

Best,

Bob

 

[joeshredd]

Ummm... Yeah, what he said.. Where's this pics????

LOL!!!!

Karl is one of many knifemakers I've run into over the years who enobles this art... I won't go into how many makers I know, but they have all helped me learn about what I collect... And they have all been accommodating to my stupid questions and to my sometimes not so stupid ones. And every one of them has been absolutely open to my suggestions or requests and I have been honored to know them and to own their work... Guess for me it's not just been the knives I've collected, but the interactions and experiences of acquiring them that has really kept me interested in knife collecting... And Karl keeps seeming to hit my sweet spot all too often and I feel I just have to add another one to my collection, and to show them around the office when they come in...

 

[erik markman]

Good job, Karl!

 

[Kohai999]

I don't always agree with his taste in knives, but Joe Sheard is a long time knife collector. He knows how to look at knives, how to assess them and how to use them.

Sometimes knife collectors get caught up in the "cult of personality" thing, you see that a lot with tactical knives. Joe isn't one of those collectors....he looks at the knife, first and foremost. A positive review from a collector like him is definitely something that a maker can hang his hat on.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

All very kind words, gentlemen, and they are appreciated.
So as not to miss out on the intent of the topic, please indulge me in saying that I did not mean to solicit anything about me, or Andersen Forge, or even the knife.
This is about Joe.
This is about an educated, seasoned collector who shares his enthusiasm about what we make, sell, buy, trade, share, etc. with others around him who have misunderstandings about what we do.
Joe is always willing to share with me his experiences at work when he gets a knife.
He is on my mailing list, so he sees everything I do, and always has some comment to share in return.
He shows pictures of knives to those at work and even returns to me their comments.
Joe is, I am sure, one of many, many ambassadors for our endeavors.
I just hope that his experiences will generate more enthusiasm in others to "spread the love". :thumbup:
You're a good man, Joe.

 

[joeshredd]

Dang... I was just happy to score a beaut!!!!
But, community keeps it rewarding in far more ways than just owning a piece of art! And this community keeps on giving. My only hope is to pass all of this forward, and one of the few ways I can do it is to educate those around me to what my passion is all about.
Thanks all!