Dag Gabit! Another freebe -

R

rlinger

Joined
Mar 29, 2002
Messages
4,591
One too many beers and I got roped into making another for free.

I don't know about the rest of you but it takes me about two weeks and about 55 bucks from start to finish.

This is absolutely, positively, without a doubt, no matter what, forever and ever the last freebe!

Well, maybe just one more.

Roger
 
One more freebe or one more beer?

I told myself the last freebe I did was going to be the last one also. See how long this holds up.
 
Roger, I'm with you on this one; it's hard to resist! But as I sense you're leaning toward not doing too many more I won't say much. It's a road to burnout if you do too many freebies - there's just no reward for your talent and work like someone's hard-earned green...

Dave
 
When you first start out, everybody wants a knife. Your wife's Uncle Ernie wants one, heck your wife wants you to make one for her dad, brother, brother-in-law....darn, even the missus is against ya! :)

There are couple of things that you can do...

If (or rather when) this happens, tell this person that sure, you would be more than happy to make a knife. Be sure to tell them of the material cost. They will then of course offer to pay for the materials, I mean its only fair. Now this next part is very important. Tell them that if they want you to make them a knife they HAVE to be there the WHOLE time you are working on it, from start to finish. They will ask you at some point how long it will take. Be honest.

Now, its not too late with this last freebie you committed to. You can ask this last person if they will come over while you are making "their" knife. Oh, yeah, explain to them that there is no beer drinking while working with sharp, pointed objects. If they are busy at the time then tell them to "let you know" when they are ready so you can get started on it. Then go enjoy yourself a beer.

One other thing, if you do end up making a freebie, don't put your mark or name on it. Lets say years down the road you become a well known maker. No one can prove that its one of yours. Besides, what do they expect for free...all they wanted was a knife, right?

C Wilkins
 
Roger - I did a minor screw-up on the underside of the quard on a knife I put a whole lot of hours into. Its in an area you don't look at that much, but I considered it fatally flawed and would not even sell it as a second.

Then a family member wants that particular style. I don't want to charge anyone from family, so I say I have this one for free and e-mail pics with a close - up of the flaw. He says great & he want to pay full price. I in turn make him " an offer he can't refuse" - the only way I'll sell him the knife is if he pays for the cost of the sheath & he gets the knife for free - otherwise no deal.

The knife is the third on down on this page: http://www.southriverknifeworks.com/page2a.html

I shipped it this week and bottom line, this was a real feel-good deal.... though, the more I think about it its not a blue print for the future (I don't want to screw up knives!)...I think I like CL's thinking here.

Bob
 
I still like to give a few away from time to time. But I can say I have used a similar method to C wilkins. I say come around and we will make one together. A couple of guys have come around and we had a good time. I get them to do as much as possible.

I have given some away to blokes I like. That is good too, especially if they send a little something as a swap that you had not expected.

The only time I get a bit, yeah right mate is when you get somebody who you know would not appriciate it or the hours of effort. They come up and say, You make knives, I'll give you a bit of blah blah blah and you can make me a knife.

My next freebie is for the bloke at the saw doctor who gives me old saw blades for damascus. I will not put a time limit on that but some time next year. Probably when I have saved up for my own rolling mill.

Purhaps next time you feel a rush of blood going to your brain take another sip or two of beer and count to ten.

By the way I could do with a nice little skinner. Yours look fantastic.
 
if i send you a couple of sixers of your choice of brew, you will make a knife for free for me? :D
 
Rhino,

I'll tell ya what: You want'a start talking about that 1911 Colt and I'll deal with ya real quick.


Roger
 
I thinkst I complaineth too much. After all I am only on knife #9 right now and I do need the schooling and I do need to get some out there. Next month or a little later I think I'll build a little web site for the knife stuff and see if I can generate something. All the ones I've done so far are ones that I wanted to do without ever being asked. This last one comming up though just rubbed me wrong. His complaint was that "well you make them for everone else and I shouldn't have to pay for the cost of supplies". That just doesn't set well, but (on my own) I gave in.

Really, I can think of two more off hand that I do want to make for free. One for an Uncle of mine and one for a best friend (who doesn't even know I'm doing this stuff yet).

Roger
 
Bob,

I've been kinda half way looking for a design that will give me an opportunity to deviate from the Loveless and D'Holder styles I have so far been making. I still like those as a favorite and hope to make a bunch more. Your Persian hunters are the ticket for me. They turn my cranck. I would like to use those pictures of yours as a model for me. The workmanship and choice of materials is such that I will have something high to shot for.

Okay???

Roger
 
....sounds good to me , Roger. I've learned so much from others, its just right to pass it along...

Bob
 
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