ETIQUETTE.......Did I spell that right??

[soopy]

I am a newby hobbiest wannabe knifemaker. I have been trying to design a original fixed blade for my first knife,but i aint no arteest if ya know what I am typing. As you all know there are about a bazillion beautiful knifes out ther in mags and books, so is it in bad taste to copy a design thatlooks like it is my kind of knife and that I think I can do with my minimal skill.Should I contact the maker whos work has cought my eye and ask if it is ok to draw from his design for inspiration etc. I would never think of trying to pass off somebodys original work as my own and I dont want to be thouhgt off as a 'DESIGN LEACH' or create any bad feelings......thanxalot......

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I don't think any maker is going to mind that you used his knife for the inspiration for the design of your first knife. Look how many makers still do knives that look an awful lot like the knives Bob Loveless made popular in the 70's. Taking design ideas that have proven themselves and then adding your own vision to them will eventually lead you to a style of your own. It seems to me that the most popular makers all have knife designs that are easily recognized as being theirs. A lot of these makers started of making knives that looked quite a bit like those being made by the top makers of the day.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

As long as the knife you make is a basic design, and not intended to be as exact a copy as you can make of someone else's really distinctive style, you're good.

Have fun!