Fillicietti, what happened?

WoodWorkGhost said:
However, as you point out several people talk about how they get ripped off by the same few makers. Makes you wonder why people continue to buy knives from that maker????
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Once the word gets out I don't think that people do continue to order from these makers. I know, there was the one guy that knew about Jack Crain and still decided to take a chance. People that do not frequent the forums would probably not know about these makers, and I think these are the blood that keep these leeches going.
 
Some people with questionable pasts never go away, they just reappear. This is for both dealers, individual sellers and makers. For example, there is a little feature box on Allan Blade in the recent Tactical Knives, where S. Dick recommends him as a good low cost alternative for a "british" style survival knife. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the third re-incanation of Mr. Blade. The most recent death was played out in living colour on these forums. But then if you're a christian, maybe you can believe in the redemption of these people. It just isn't wise to bet your money. Also makes you wonder where Mr. Dick is coming from, can he really be in this business but so clueless?
 
Allen Blade makes a good knife. That much has never been in doubt. It's his business practices that need working on.
 
Allan has been cranking it out on British Blades and his rep is spotless there. Tough call. I ordered another knife from him, but I arranged it so I wouldn't pay until I had the knife in my hands. We'll see!
 
sunfishman said:
Chiro, You make it sound like there are alot of makers ripping people off :(
There have only be a very few. They just get talked about more than the good ones, which is a good thing, people need to know.

Don Hanson
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I've bought plenty of customs,and rarely if anytime have i been taken advantage of. Butchie
 
That's a pity.. I remember a few years ago seeing him at the Southeast Custom knife show, in Winston Salem. His knives were priced cheap and looked very nice. His large bowies were priced at around $400.

But, there is no excuse for ripping people off... sorry to hear that.
David
 
Fillicetti owes a friend of mine over $2000.00 for knives paid for and not delivered. He's a criminal. plain and simple!

My experience is that most makers are honest, hardworking folks trying to make a living doing what they like. Good for them!

Win
 
Chiro75 said:
Allan has been cranking it out on British Blades and his rep is spotless there. Tough call. I ordered another knife from him, but I arranged it so I wouldn't pay until I had the knife in my hands. We'll see!
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How about arranging it so you don't pay until every single one of Allan's customers receives what they are owed?
 
If I knew someone who has been ripped off and not repaid I would take a different stance. As far as I knew he made good on all of his dealings here that went sour. And, if he hasn't, then my original question still stands: why doesn't someone do more than just post things like this about him?
 
Perhaps you don't know him personally...

I suppose it's the support of new customers that allows Allan Blade to repay the old customers. Which is unfortunate because I don't think Allan Blade should get any new customers until the old ones are taken care of. He hasn't exactly demonstrated that he has the ethics, the discipline, or the business sense to run his own business. In a perfect world, he'd be working for somebody, and his paychecks held in escrow...

Same thing with Filicieti. Someone, somewhere is paying him to do something...
 
With that kind of current reputation, it's really hard to believe that Tactical Knives gave Blade about a 1/3 page free advertisement. But then S. Dick is a designer for TOPS and his magazine regularly gives their product line excellent reviews. Some of their other reviewers have similar basic conflicts of interest. Wonder what TacKnives got for their Alan Blade endorsement; the knife in the picture?

Chiro, I'd cancel that order. Bad karma, and there is a world of knives out there.
 
The only way that I would purchase an Allan Blade knife would be if once I received the knife I could then send the money directly to Joe Chen. Not that Allan would ever sell me a knife in the first place. After all the crap I piled on him for what he has done, I'm probably the last person he would make a knife for.
 
G'day guys, just thought I would post a few comments before the irrate phone calls and e-mails start again. It seems everytime Steve Filicietti's name comes up somewhere or someone sees one of my knives that I have used his damascus on, I bear the brunt of their frustration. While I can understand peoples anger over this matter, I would ask that you please realize that I do not have your money or your knives. To all that have previously contacted me, please be assured that I have done my best to rectify this situation, and I am sorry that I have been unsuccessful.

Anyway, to answer some of the most asked questions;

1/ Steve Filicietti is no longer a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild, and has not been for some time. I know his name was still on the Guild website, but it has now been removed.

2/ Steve and I do not collaborate on knives. I have puchased damascus from him over the years and I still have some that I have not used.

3/ No, I don't have your knife or money.

4/ No, i can't force him to complete orders, refund money, or contact you.

5/ No, I'm afraid I am not able to refund your money or fill your order.

6/ To the best of my knowledge, Steve is not currently making knives.

7/ And finally, NO, ALL AUSTRALIAN KNIFEMAKERS ARE NOT RIP OFF MERCHANTS.

Those of you that have seen my work will know that in the past I have used damascus from several well known makers, including Steve Filicietti, and as I still have some left, I will use it when I feel the knife design suits it.
I know this decision has cost me sales, even to the point of someone contacting me to tell me that they would not purchase my work because of my ' association with Steve Filicietti'.
While I find this regretable and I understand peoples depth of feeling on this matter, all I ask is that people please judge my work on it's quality, Not on their animosity toward someone else.

If anyone still has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

Regards,
Doug Timbs
President,
Australian Knifemakers Guild
 
I thought that he seemed to be a person of excellent character.

I am truly sorry that people are taking their frustrations out on you, Doug, that would be rather uncalled for.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I agree with Steven - Doug is a stand-up guy and a quality maker to boot. It would be most unfair for him to have to bear the brunt of any Filicietti-related anger.

Roger
 
Doug Timbs is a first rate maker and a completely trustworthy individual. imho.

I recommend him and his work to everyone, with NO hesitation whatsoever. :)
 
This is an additional problem we have when buying anything outside the US. Our legal system does not offer any protection or recourse in situations like this.
 
Why in the world would someone hold something that Steve Fillicietti did, against Doug? Even if Doug and Steve did collaborate on knives, why would that be any reason to feel that Doug was in some way responsible for what has happened? I'm absolutely flabbergasted.
 
I guess people expect him to throw away a bunch of perfectly good, and expensive, steel he has already paid for. :rolleyes:
 
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