Does advertising on a custom knife bother you?

M

mucklechumps

Joined
May 16, 2011
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I've seen quite a few custom flippers with the IKBS bearing that have the IKBS logo etched on the blade and it bothers me. I like the IKBS system but when I buy a custom I'd rather not have the advertising etched on the blade. I feel it detracts from the handmade craftsmanship of a custom knife. I like to see the makers mark and possibly the steel used for the blade, but much else turns me off. How do you feel about logos on your custom knives?
 
I could be wrong , but as far as the IKBS you have to have approval to use it , perhaps licensed , so perhaps adding the IKBS logo is part of the agreement ?

Similar to how some makers would put the Paul Bos logo on the offside of the blade , to show where the heat treat was done.

Me personally , I don't mind things such as those. Now if starts looking like a Nascar , that is a bit much.
 
As far as IKBS goes I like to see it as I know that the maker has had to show they know what they are doing and that the knife will perform to a standard. Same for the Bos logo as I may not know the maker but I trust Bos with heat treating.
 
Maker's name / stamp; MS / JS if applicable, year made (if the maker so chooses). That's it. I don't want anything else on the blade, and generally speaking, less is more.

Roger
 
at least the ikbs logo looks good and is relatively new, and what it stands for is a particularly cool improvement. but after another few years with the logo being on more and more knives, I am sure that it will get a bit old.
 
I will usually lose interest in a knife at a glance if the first thing I notice is a brand or advertising or even an overstated maker's mark for that matter.
There are a very few exceptions where certain maker's mark actually add to a design in my opinion. Two that immediately come to mind are the classic Loveless "naked ladies" and Bruce Bump's oval mark.
 
I personally don't look at a knife that has any extraneous embellishment on the blade, other than what Roger has mentioned.
 
You all have to remember that Flavio Ikoma does not charge ANYTHING for the use of the IKBS bearing system. The logo is a simple "thanks, for a job well done" tribute.....It isn't advertising...it IS a testament to the maker meeting the minimum action standards that Ikoma requests. It is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on a knife, and should be welcomed, imnho.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 has it right. Flavio Ikoma (and Korth) shared this bearing application to the knifemaking world without lining their pockets. A little bit of homage is OK.
 
Kohai999 said:
You all have to remember that Flavio Ikoma does not charge ANYTHING for the use of the IKBS bearing system. The logo is a simple "thanks, for a job well done" tribute.....It isn't advertising...it IS a testament to the maker meeting the minimum action standards that Ikoma requests. It is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on a knife, and should be welcomed, imnho.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...


I agree! +1 :thumbup: Pure advertising would be annoying, but a tribute to the maker of the steel (i.e. S30V, CPM154,... etc.), or the heat treater (Boz) is OK. This is great information, especially if the maker uses different steels. :thumbup:
 
Kohai999 said:
You all have to remember that Flavio Ikoma does not charge ANYTHING for the use of the IKBS bearing system. The logo is a simple "thanks, for a job well done" tribute.....It isn't advertising...it IS a testament to the maker meeting the minimum action standards that Ikoma requests. It is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on a knife, and should be welcomed, imnho.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

This. :thumbup:
 
Kohai999 said:
You all have to remember that Flavio Ikoma does not charge ANYTHING for the use of the IKBS bearing system. The logo is a simple "thanks, for a job well done" tribute.....It isn't advertising...it IS a testament to the maker meeting the minimum action standards that Ikoma requests. It is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on a knife, and should be welcomed, imnho.Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Good and true point, however the Good Housekeeping seal is on, however not readily seen at a glance on my new toaster. ;)
Perhaps the IKBS seal/mark should be likewise.
 
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I really have no concern on the issue of advertising versus homage versus tribute - my preference is to have a minimal amount of information on the blade of a custom knife for aesthetic reasons.

Roger
 
Kohai999 said:
You all have to remember that Flavio Ikoma does not charge ANYTHING for the use of the IKBS bearing system. The logo is a simple "thanks, for a job well done" tribute.....It isn't advertising...it IS a testament to the maker meeting the minimum action standards that Ikoma requests. It is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on a knife, and should be welcomed, imnho.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

If Ikoma does not charge for using their designs, or ideas I think it's only fair to recognize their contribution to the knife industry with a mark so be it. I welcome it. How many here would prefer to see a harmless mark "IKBS" or an increase in price to pay for the designs or better yet NOT use the IKBS system and have no mark?

I am with Kohai999 +1
 
Luis G. said:
If Ikoma does not charge for using their designs, or ideas I think it's only fair to recognize their contribution to the knife industry with a mark so be it. I welcome it. How many here would prefer to see a harmless mark "IKBS" or an increase in price to pay for the designs or better yet NOT use the IKBS system and have no mark?
I am with Kohai999 +1
Click to expand...

Not really applicable to me and the knives I buy. My comments are addressed to the broad question of logos and other extraneous materials placed on a blade, not to the specific merits or otherwise of the IKBS logo.

Maybe someone with one of these knives could post up a pic?

Roger
 
Kohai999 said:
You all have to remember that Flavio Ikoma does not charge ANYTHING for the use of the IKBS bearing system. The logo is a simple "thanks, for a job well done" tribute.....It isn't advertising...it IS a testament to the maker meeting the minimum action standards that Ikoma requests. It is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on a knife, and should be welcomed, imnho.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...


STeven is indeed correct. When I was licensed to use IKBS it didn't cost one penny.
There is, or was at the time I inquired, a requirement that you submit to Duane Weikum, a Folder or Bali example that used IKBS. Duane would examine the IKBS details of the knife to make sure it met the standards put forth.
If everything checked out, the OK was given, along with an IKBS stencil ;) , and the knifemaker could use the bearing system details in any future knives, free of charge.

The knifemaker was politely asked to apply the IKBS logo to any knives the system was used on.

That's the way I understood it anyway.

I'm not sure if the procedure is still the same today. For those who may be interested, here's a link ....

http://www.ikbsknifetech.com/11/index.html

FWIW, I think it's very cool for Flavio Ikoma and Rick Lala (Korth) to so freely allow other knifemakers to use, what I'm sure must have taken a lot of time and effort to perfect.

For those who may not know, IKBS = Ikoma Korth Bearing System

Thanks for sharing the technology guys :thumbup:

:cool:
 
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