Daniel Gentile -- CAVEAT EMPTOR

Drdan

Drdan

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In February, 2007, I commissioned a Swiss knifemaker, Daniel Gentile, to make me a fighter and small neck knife. I also enlisted him to complete a damascus khukuri, and furnished him with the unfinished khukuri plus a finished one to be used as a model. The damascus khukuri was finally completed in April 2008 (!!!), after I called him out on his excuses and failure to produce the items on Bladesmith's Forum. :thumbdn: He is an administrator there, but has not posted for some time... :rolleyes:

Mr. Gentile has still not made good on the fighter and neck knife, which were paid for in full in advance in February 2007. He still possesses the model khukuri sent him. In April, 2008, Daniel Gentile posted on Bladesmith's Forum, that the work would be finished and sent to me in two months... Since May, 2008, Daniel Gentile has once again not responded to my e-mails, and as months are rolling by again, I am concerned and frustrated, being that he has about $2,000 U.S. of mine in money and goods.

I must add that when my order was placed in February, 2007, Daniel told me they would be completed in about 45 days, being that he had no waiting list. I understand that Daniel might be having problems, but he is not demonstrating any fairness or willingness to make good on his word.

Daniel Gentile admitted everything on Bladesmith’s forum, and the forumites there are well aware of Daniel’s failure to produce the goods he was paid for to produce. In Bladesmith’s THE Way, more information is given. Caveat Emptor!
 
man that sux i hope ya get it worked out.

FWIW its been said a million times so we'll make it a million and 1 dont ever pay up front for a custom knife, a small % for special materials (ie damascus, ivory, etc) is cool but never pay up front, a legit 'smith wont ask ya too anyway in my opinion, i know pat crawford, ernie emerson, bud nealy, darrel ralph, bob lum, never asked me to pre-pay FWIW.
 
Have you contacted Don Fogg? Being that Daniel is a Super Administrator on Don's forum, maybe some pressure could be put on by the owner. It doesn't look good to have an Administrator that has an iffy reputation.


Hopefully this will work out for you in the end. I know I'd be very upset if I was in your position.
 
Sorry for your problems. I have learned that the hardest knife for a custom maker is the one that is paid for completely, in advance. It doesn't justify it but its a fact.
 
I was definitely wrong to pay for the knife in full, and in advance, but being that Daniel was the super administrator, I assumed all would be O.K. :rolleyes:

Don Fogg is a great guy, and is well aware of the situation. He's tried to intervene on my behalf... I noticed today that Mr. Gentile last logged in on Bladesmith's Forum in mid November, but my recent post there might get his attention.

I agree that it doesn't look good for a Super Administrator to admit 7 months ago that he was in the wrong, and then to fall completely off the radar again. On Don's forum, they just advise me to be patient (it's been almost almost 2 years), and many attest to Daniel's character and honesty...
 
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i have one rule about customs, "rule #1", the second someone starts in they want the $$ in advance, i look elsewhere.

and the rule has saved me $$ and grief, more than once i have passed on something i really liked (ie a brad duncan something or another, dont remember the model now) later to find out the 'smith was having problems with delivery.

imho it would save a lotta 'smiths rep if we all went by
"rule #1" lol, taking the $$ in advance seems to really foul some of them up & does it pretty quick.

like i said before a legit 'smith wont ask for it anyway.
 
While reading the Bladesmith forum I noticed several posters blindly coming to Gentile's aid and criticizing you for "jumping the gun". There was one poster who wanted to see this finished project as much as you did but has done NOTHING to help you see that happen.
Now that a significant amount of time has passed, what are those that defended Gentile doing now?
 
At Bladesmith's Forum, most everyone feels that Daniel Gentile will eventually come through, and they ask me to be patient. Some have sympathized that they too have had rough times, etc. It does not appear that he is being pressured there, and I assume he is still the super administrator. For me, waiting almost two years for knife projects that were promised in 45 days is a bit much, especially since Mr. Gentile has sold knives to others since February 2007. :confused:

I was unaware that it is not a common practice for a knifemaker to ask for knives to be paid in full when the order is taken. If I were, the deal would never have happened. Several months after I ordered the fighter, I was told that he was unhappy with the way the hot bluing turned out. That knife was never mentioned again... ;)

The fighter (closely resembling a Randall #1) was to have been given to my nephew, who is a Marine stationed in Iraq. He's now in Afghanistan, and has two Himalayan Imports khukuries, among other knives with him.
 
When a Maker has more than $1500 of your money and refuses/neglects/fails to stay in touch, there is more than ample reason to be impatient.
When a Maker has more than $1500 of you money and fails to stay in touch, other Makers should help out the guy.
Stuff like this is why no one should ever send a maker one cent until the knife is ready for shipping.
Try stiffing a Maker on Bladesmith.com and see how long it takes for you to become the forum pariah!!!
 
Drdan said:
For me, waiting almost two years for knife projects that were promised in 45 days is a bit much, especially since Mr. Gentile has sold knives to others since February 2007.
Click to expand...

If he is up and walking and has made knives for others in that time, then he simply has NO excuses.
 
You may want to file a claim through the Small claims court in his state of residence and get a judgement against him before the statute of limitations runs out on you and you lose any legal options you may have. You will need to provide proof of payment to him and hopefully you also have some emails or a written agreement you can submit to the small claims court as proof of a "contract". Assuming what you say is accurate the court should easily rule in your favor. This is usually a relatively inexpensive and quick process to follow through on and worth looking into from your end. Try the State Consumer Advocates Office where he resides for more detailed advice.

If you get a judgement against him and he still refuses to pay you then at least it will reflect on his credit records and it will cost him more for every credit transaction he is involved with for quite a few years (seven I think). This is not to be taken lightly, especially if he ever needs to buy a house or finance a large transaction like a car or get a loan, etc.

I am not an attorney and the advice above is my opinion. You have been more than patient.
 
Daniel Gentile is in Switzerland. I'm not sure how you go about taking someone in Switzerland to small claims court, but I would be willing to bet that it would be a royal pain.
 
If he is in Switzerland then I agree with you Keith that the above would not apply.

I thought he might be a USA based maker or seller in which case my advice above would be more applicable.
 
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