designing a makers mark

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
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I need some guidance, guys. I know it's not a big deal for some, but I want to have a makers mark that has some design to it. Clean and simple, yet classy lookin'.

"KOSTER" doesn't do it for me....:D :p


So here's what I've come up with. I've attached 2 versions of the same thing - with just a minor difference. I imagine it would be around 1/4" or so tall/wide.

It's my initials: "D" and "K" and the vertical piece in the middle is supposed to be like a cross section through a blade.


Any thoughts/ideas? Something to make it better?

I don't mind if it doesn't have my name on it...initials are good enough for me.


Also, I'm torn between getting a custom stamp, or just etching it. I like the permanence of the stamp and would be extra careful to not screw it up, or ruin the blade. I don't like that an etch could get scratched or come off....but it's cheaper and probably more crisp/clean.
 
KOSTER is just fine, I think. I do know how you feel though (Linger - YUK). I got the same problem. Mine is just a plain line of short text. I'd like to have an oval around it but everybody does that.

RL
 
Daniel, why can't an etch be just as deep as a stamp? Certainly an electrochemical etch can be as deep if not deeper. I'd thus think that an acid etch using a resist could be adequately deep also. I also think that a stamp with that much boldness to the letters would be difficult to impress deeply cold, and would mandate hot stamping.
 
Put your name on it, other wise unless you get famouse nobody will know who made the knife years from now.

I prefere an electro etch, you can do it on hardened steel, on a knife that is 99% finished, and it's as deep as a stamp and perfectly aligned.

Just my .02$
 
Where do you want to go with your design graphically speaking?
If you are looking to make a new character, to use as your logo/mark, I think you've got it.
If you want your initials to be recognized from the start, I think you've missed the mark.
When working with letter shapes you have to avoid fooling with the ingrety of the character. The shape that defines the letter. On the D it is the semi-circle on the right side. You made that arc a point, and it is harder to discern.
The defining shape of the K is where all of the lines intersect. By pointing the D and having it touch the K you've created an X.
That is what my eye immediately sees.

Not picking on you now...*this* is the kind of stuff I do for a living ;)
Some ideas...
Try turning the D around so it faces the other way (mirror image) and put it next to the K. The 2 vertical lines will line up and may look nice.
Or you could put the K in the D...or...

2 things to remember, the integrity of the letter and view your work at the size it will be reproduced.
 
I think your logo is quite distinctive. It feels Japaneese to me. No particular reason just the look reminds me of japaneese . Having said that a mate Thomas Gerner I think is Norweigen has use an acent letter text from his region to form his logo kind of a cross and arrow head. I also think your name has a cool sound to it. 2 sylables or less names are always action men Ram Bo
rocky, van dam, norris, segal . I'm not taking the piss just have a think about some of the names they pick for movies. The closest my name got was Ellery Queen. But in my case the Ellery is my surname. Sounds a bit soft kind of like vallery. :( .

I use a view looking down from the top of a leatherback sea turtle as my logo.
Every &^%#$%^& tells me it looks like a penguin but I will keep it. I may update to have my name under the symbol at some stage.

Dave larsen has a very stylish DL on his knives. Dave have you got any tantos ready to show us yet. I still have 3 days until the November Blade mag gets to my news agent.
 
Daniel as much as I like your mark I think I have to agree with Ebbtide. I don't read it as DK unless I already know that's what it says. My mark (which is stamped) is my initials too but I've found that unless people know how to look at it they don't see DL, either. I'm keeping it because it's the way I sign everything, but you don't have to do that - you can do whatever you want.

For what it's worth, etching can make an impression as deep as stamping, and you can get more detail. I don't like it as much because I'm kind of a traditionalist in that regard, no other reason. Well, there's the hassle aspect but you get used to things like that.

Personally, I think the argument that no one will know who made it if you only use your initials is kinda moot. Unless you get famous, Koster and your city wouldn't tell them much more than DK. To me the important thing is to mark your work at all - then whoever does see it down the road will know it was hand made by a crafstman who cared enough about his work to sign it.

No one asked but I've been watching what knives sell for in the aftermarket. And what I've seen is that work by early makers, however well known they were at the time, are usually worth no more than equivalent work by someone nobody ever heard of. The exceptions to this are people who have become icons - Scagle, Moran, Loveless and makers like them. But someone like Ralph Bone or Clyde Fischer, influential makers in their day, sell about the same as contemporary makers I've never heard of. What this means is that ultimately it's the quality of workmanship that determins a knife's value much more than its maker.

Good luck Dan, we'll all be interested in seeing what you come up with. Reg, I guess my name makes me a Hollywood action star too? :D I worked hard all weekend, that's all I'll say.
 
Ebtide's statement about the size is important.
Try drawing it on a knife actual size.How's it look?People bring me drawings of rings they made up on their computers - full page size.I take it to the copier and reduce it down to 15mm and ,"WHOA ,where did all that detail go?" You often can't recognize a logo made small.
 
Dan, I think ebbtide's idea is good. If I understand it correctly, make the D backwards and the K forwards and use the same vertical line for both initals. Back to back so to speak. I thought about doing this with Razorback, reverse the R and back it up to the B using the same vertical line for both letters. Seems simple but unique. Maybe use gothic style lettering or old english. Just a thought.
Scott
 
I agree with Will, put your name on it. I see to many knives with initials and logos for a mark and have no idea who made them. Unless you come up with a very stand offish design or handle material that only you use most all the time and that design becomes very popular, people will not recognize who made the piece, and a recognizable mark on every piece is some of the best advertising you can get. I look at it this way, if you don't think enough of your work to put your name on it, I won't either. Just my .02.

Bill
 
IG - I like that one too....:confused: :(


Keep the ideas coming....hopefully it'll sink into my hard head....I don't want to be mistaken for a penguin!

(:footinmou....j/k Reg)
 
I like the design but feel the name is more important. You can use both. Its small enough to put KOSTER after it.
 
villainvomit said:
Daniel, looks very similar to the Dead Kennedy's symbol, only more oriental. :footinmou

www.deadkennedys.com

In fact, it looks so muc like the Dead Kennedy logo that there might be some kind of trademark issue.

Personally, I vote for a simple logo with your name. Something that will look as good on a variety of pieces.
 
Wowch!


As much as I liked punk....hey! I have a Smiths album somewhere....:footinmou


...gonna have to rethink this one, perhaps.....blech.....:barf:


thank you very much for sparing me the legalities....references, etc. Most people probably don't recognize it as such, but really want to have something somewhat original looking....
 
IG is playing on the fact that I favor the bent blade.....ie., khukuris, etc.

I like that idea, but haven't found a good way to incorporate it.


Here's some fodder: What I really like to make are ethnic, regional, traditional blades....everything from the seax, to the puukko, to the khukuri, to the golok....and so on.

That's why I want some kind of symbol on there that at least attempts to look "exotic"....:rolleyes:
 
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