Design etiquette

Welcome OLC. I too am glad you are worried about copying designs and giving credit where credit is due.

If I could make a suggestion on your wifes garden knife. Maybe add a small finger choil so she could choke up on the blade for hard cutting/digging.
 
Suggestions are always welcome!
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Are you saying make this deeper?
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Or add one on the blade part like this?
 
That’s Paul Letourneau’s work.

https://www.pmlknives.com


O.L.C. said:
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So here it is. This is what got me thinking about it. I found the first picture on pinterest, and want to make a garden knife for my wife and friends (gifts only). Clearly some differences in the handle but the blade is really close.

If anyone knows this knife maker I am more than willing to talk to them.

All this is great info though. All things to consider the deeper I dive in
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More like in the top pic in your post #24. I wasn't sure if that was a dedicated finger choil in the original post.

There is another discussion in the general thread about finger guards. I like a little bit of a finger guard + choil (like on an ESEE 6) since they help keep your hand from accidentally sliding down the knife. Your wife might have to hack at roots, prune, etc and you want a little protection if she hits something hard to keep her hand from sliding down onto the blade.

I'm not trying to take over your design. Just a few thoughts on a work tool.
 
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danbot said:
I think you pretty much have to go out of your way to make a knife that would be considered a copy of someone else's patented or copyrighted design.
A lot of knife designs are just generic and then the makers own style is naturally imprinted on it. That style will become apparent and easily recognizable in mostly all of their designs. Even though it's very similar to the generic designs, you can just tell who made it.
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I agree, a lot of it simply has to do with intent. Am I going out of my way to recreate something from somebody else to profit off of their design and name or am I simply feeling inspired by their work take influences and end up making it my own. It's a bit of a fluid move in and out of a blurry gray area.
 
b00n said:
I agree, a lot of it simply has to do with intent. Am I going out of my way to recreate something from somebody else to profit off of their design and name or am I simply feeling inspired by their work take influences and end up making it my own. It's a bit of a fluid move in and out of a blurry gray area.
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I like to use Bob loveless as an example. He encouraged others to make knives the way he did just to help others become knifemakers themselves. He gave permission to some makers to use his "football" style logo and he let some that worked for him or visited his shop to make copies of his actual patterns. But to make a Loveless design knife and copy his logo and try and sell it as a Bob loveless knife, is clearly wrong!
 
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My intent is pure inspiration. The curve of the blade will be great for harvesting. And that "horn" could be useful to scrape out dirt.

And like I said suggestions are welcome. I am brand new, and that is why I joined this site, to learn from others so I don't makethe same mistakes.

I will read that guard thread sounds like a good one.

I appreciate all the help everyone.
 
O.L.C. said:
So here it is. This is what got me thinking about it. I found the first picture on pinterest, and want to make a garden knife for my wife and friends (gifts only). Clearly some differences in the handle but the blade is really close.

If anyone knows this knife maker I am more than willing to talk to them.

All this is great info though. All things to consider the deeper I dive in
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If you are making those for friends and family....nobody is going to be bothered. At least they shouldn't be.

Now when you get famous, and you sell those, that will be a problem. Your drop point might not be, but those would. That is a pretty distinctive profile.
 
Since finding out it was Paul Letourneau’s work, I actually emailed him to ask permission. We will see. But I am with you, I wouldn't think it is a big deal. But nonetheless i will still givethe respect and ask.
 
O.L.C. said:
Update... Paul gave me permission, and wants to set pictures of how they turn out.

Again I appreciate all the advice and help.
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excellent to hear
my initial thoughts were, if they are gifts and personal use tools, (ie, no money exchanged) and you aren't trying to pass them off as original - you are good to go.
 
O.L.C. said:
Update... Paul gave me permission, and wants to set pictures of how they turn out.

Again I appreciate all the advice and help.
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Excellent news, and that's often the way these things turn out. :)
For the minimal effort of an e-mail, you get full peace of mind, plus the interest of a knife-maker in seeing your work. :thumbsup:
 
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