Finding distributers/dealers for your knives:

Robert_Phelps

Robert_Phelps

Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
475
My knives have come to the point where I'm comfortable that they won't let anyone down, so I'd like to start trying to sell a few knives here and there. (Can't afford to enjoy the hobby too much if I don't start selling them) Does anyone have any tips for finding distributers/dealers to sell your knives? I think I'd rather go the local route right now, rather than online sales... Unless you guys have a easy cheap way to do so. :cool:

Thanks for the help:)
 
Ebay is cheap but I'm guessing you have to get a reputation or have some awesome knives to get what you want out of them. Maybe a sporting goods, hardware store, antique shop... where they could put them in the display case? My brother did that with stuff he carved (he did a lot of carving of bowling balls and asked the bowling alley if he could put one under the counter) and now he's got some business. He's doing metal sculpture now, was working as a pest control applicator and would go into peoples backyards and always carried a book with pictures of the stuff he had done and show his customers, one day he met a woman that was running the show at an art museum, so he put some of his stuff at a fundraiser she held at her house, now he has a lot of business, let's just say he doesn't have to kill bugs anymore. C'mon, you have to know someone that'll least take a look and pass the word around.
 
look for privately owned business because to try and sell thru a chain store you have to contact headquarters. if yo cant find a privately owned business that will carry them then get someone to help you make a webpage and list it with google and yahoo and all the others out there. i have a lumber yard/hardware store and a convience store that are interested in displaying my knives once i get better. i probably can find a few more too. just look for any business taht you think your stuff might sell at and go talk to the manager and have a few samples for them to look at.
 
I've seen a lot of really nice looking knives not sell on ebay, or not sell for what they're worth considering the time and effort that was put into them. I'd go to the local gunshop or fishing tackle store. Donate one to the owner for his next excursion- if he's a believer, he'll sell them for you. Heck, if there's a mark up he'll likely sell them for you!:rolleyes:
 
Ok, I think I'll stop by some hardware stores and gun shops, maybe whip up a batch of small general purpose knives for incentives. :) Thanks guys.

...Also, I asked a cop one day what blade length was legal, he said 4". Is it legal to sell knives of a longer length? I know I've seen longer knives for sale here, but I'm not sure.
 
I've been thinking about this too, and it seems to me PimpinSquee and That Other Guy are right. There's a new surplus store in my town, I'm thinking he'd be my best bet when I get kinves together. Mom-n-Pop stores are the way to go, it seems.

There are more threads about legal elsewhere. Google your state and city/county for local laws. In most cases I think the laws apply only to carry, especially concealed carry. But for instance, if you browse some online retailers you'll see they can't ship certain things to certain places.

I recently modded a CS Bushman for a fellow forumite; he just needed it scaled down because anything over 4" was illegal to carry in his locality unless actually hunting or fishing.
 
Another couple questions I thought of...

If I sell Joe shop owner some knives to retail, let's say I call it an "RSP Custom," will Joe be able to have any claim to the name? Will I have to get it copyrighted? It's basically just my name, not some catchy title, but still.. I don't want any trouble.

Also, would I need a business license to sell a couple knives a week (If I'm so lucky)?

Thanks again :)
 
does joe shop owner have any claim to the name "Kraft peanut butter" if he stocks those? exactly the same situation.
 
I have found that small outdoor stores work well, hunting, camping, guns, I have some of my knives in 4 stores right now. Although one thing that has helped me sell at gun shows and stores is an old quote from Bob Loveless. It goes something like this "I don't see why people go out into the woods with a $500 rifle and a $5 knife. The knife is your guns best friend. The gun's job is over in a second, but even the best hunter takes minutes to dress a deer." (I think I got it from "Living on the Edge", but it could be an old Knives annual, I'll double check)

It really is interesting how little people value a hunting knife compared to other equipment. :(

Ken
 
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