Do I need a "company" name, or should I just use my real name?

[Noshtero]

I've been going over this for months now.

If I did a company name, I would use my forum handle, so "Noshtero Knives".

Or I could just use my last name, so "Schwiesow Knives".

Here's the delema. I want my real name on the knife, so people will identify it with me.

I've been advised to use Noshtero just because it's easy to remember and sounds like a company.

I don't know about that. I tried to get them both on a stencil, but it didn't work out too well. I ended up with this:

The font on my name had to be so small that it blurred no matter what I did.

If I dumped the dragon image, I'd just have two names and nothing to separate them.

I almost think it makes the most sense to just drop the Noshtero, drop the dragon, and just use my name. I could blow it up to 12pt font then, and it would be a nice dark image. Then I could also put some sort of doodad on either side of my first name, like this:

or this:

The other option would be to use two stencils. One with Noshtero on one side of the blade, and then one with my name on the other side of the blade. I've seen some people do that. I think Fiddleback does that, for example. Fiddleback on one side, Andy Roy on the other.

Thoughts?

 

[ohen cepel]

I like simple. I would go with just your last name, it's uncommon enough that people won't confuse it. Plus, it will be nice, clear and uncluttered that way.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[panch0]

I think the name would be better. Or R. Schwiesow to keep it simple.

 

[george tichbourne]

The advantage of using your own name is that you will be easier to find. If people have to find a name they are unfamiliar with like your screen name they might not be able to and you will lose business.

The second reason for using your own name is that you appear to be more approachable than an anonomous company.

George

 

[v-6]

what ever you call you company it will still be you. because whin you sign up for a state or fed,id # you will be signing your own name.
vern

i would just use your own name.unless your going in incorporate

 

[A. Brett Schaller]

If people want a knife from a company, they'll buy a Buck, or Schrade, or Gerber or something. When people buy a HANDMADE knife, they want the maker's name on the blade!

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Another vote for R. Schwiesow. I've also thought about this for a long time and decided that this was the best for this kind of business that is more one on one with the customers.

Patrice

 

[Josh K]

I like the dragon, I'd say keep it and incorporate it somehow into your last name / last name + first initial.

 

[Justin.Mercier]

We live in the day of the internet, so whatever you pick needs to be something where someone can find you using a search engine like google. Be it a real name, or a company name, or a chat handle, as long as it's uniquely identifiable as YOU it's ok.

 

[Patrickknives]

Some of your problem may be the font, a thinner less complicated font may give you the spacing and clairity that you need for your name. You can change the spacing in between the letters (most programs) to prevent bluring.

 

[Noshtero]

I like the dragon, I'd say keep it and incorporate it somehow into your last name / last name + first initial.

Ya that dragon is part of a one-of-a-kind tattoo I have over most of my back. So, it's sort of unique to me.

hmm......Rough outs:

 

[Josh K]

Maybe something like this?

You could also just use the dragon, and do a "Schwiesow" or "R. Schwiesow" on the opposite side of the tang / blade.

 

[Hmathews]

I like a maker's mark that allows me to find the maker. In collecting maker's marks, I have come across many that are just a single name or even initials and some just one letter like M or a symbol of some sort. Where do you go to find the maker? The internet is a big help if the maker has a web page, but a name with a city and state really helps. Whatever you pick as a name to use on your knives, you need to find ways to get it before the knife buying public and make sure that when they search for it on the internet they find something with your contact information.

Send me an e-mail or use the sticky up top to send me that logo you choose and I will add it to the collection I am working on for the CKCA.

 

[unky_gumbi]

Maybe something like this?

You could also just use the dragon, and do a "Schwiesow" or "R. Schwiesow" on the opposite side of the tang / blade.

Use that but somehow incorporate the R into the wing, its close enough now you should be able to pull it off

 

[rifon2]

We live in the day of the internet, so whatever you pick needs to be something where someone can find you using a search engine like google. Be it a real name, or a company name, or a chat handle, as long as it's uniquely identifiable as YOU it's ok.

very good advice IMO :thumbup:

 

[hellgap]

the one on thread #12 looks good just add your first initial in the front of it and that looks really good. kellyw

 

[cotdt]

If I were to sell just a few knives every year, should I use my real name or just "cotdt"? I think my internet handle is easier to find than my real name.

 

[panch0]

Here is mine I was gonna put a picture of a Texas Star or somethink in the middle. I decided to keep it simple.

 

[Hmathews]

Cotdt I just Googled your name and came back to these forums. I still don't know who you are. If I wanted to get one of your knives, I would have to join the forum to contact you. Why not use your real name, send me your information and maker's mark and I will add it to the data base. That way there will be a record of it that will be permanently available to anyone that is interested. Why not use your real name on these forums? If you make knives and want to sell them, this is a great place to get exposure.

I will add this about my maker's mark. If there hadn't already been a company that sells knives named Mathews, it would have been in our mark. We picked Twin Blades because it was easy to remember and my twin brother and I make knives as a collaboration. It seemed a natural. We also include our city and state in the logo so people can go to directory assistance and find us. We sell a lot of knives to people that don't use computers at all. To me the makers mark should make the person that made the knife easy to find because every knife you make is like a working advertisement

 

[Noshtero]

hmmm.....