This is a review of the service provided by Richard. While I don't have the knives back yet (and I will write an honest review of what I think of the sharpening), I have no doubt I will be happy with that portion of the service. Edited to add: See later posts for (positive) feedback about the knives themselves.
What matters more and more, with so much competition, is customer service, value, and competence. I bet there are a lot of guys who could all do a good job of sharpening my knives, but I'm going to be a repeat customer of Richard's.
Bear with me...
I am a busy person with 2 jobs, both of which I keep my own hours on...sound good? Kind of, but I have to budget my "off" time VERY carefully, and I don't get "warnings," I get buried under work if I screw around, and no one to blame or answer to but myself...and if it gets to the point where clients are asking "WTF" I am screwed.
I had bought a 1x30 HF belt sander a while back and got a great edge on a couple of knives and nearly ruined others. I found it wasn't really superior to a well maintained edge by hand, but worked well for reprofiling...sometimes. I learned not to trust myself on it, because - maybe due to the machine being fairly cheaply made - it seemed to behave differently with different belts, and sometimes I'd put it up perfectly adjusted and find there was too much slack. Too hard to find a sweet spot. Not enough time or disposable knives to practice on. :grumpy:
So I just said forget it, I'll pay someone on Bladeforums to sharpen all my EDC/users and a kitchen knife or two...and those ESEE AH1 arrowheads
.
So I contacted Richard and we spoke on the phone last Thursday. He already has my knives sharpened and they're going out today; not to mention he undercharges. I'm all for capitalism but this guy deserves more than $1/inch no matter what he says. So I gave him more; whether you do or not is up to you, but it's still a steal even paying double what he asked. He is a genuinely nice guy who has a helpful soul and this forum means a lot to him. I listened to him and learned a lot during the hour and a half we talked the first time, and I came away feeling like I had a new friend...because I do.
You can't buy that, it has to be freely given, and many people overlook this aspect of dealing with customers. If the knives I sent come back even 50% as sharp as the ones in your vids, I'm going to be a repeat customer and will send others your way whenever possible.
As I said this will be continued when I get the knives back, but I have no reason to doubt the quality of the sharpening and look forward to confirming this (crucial) aspect. Still...if you want respect, patience, kindness, and generosity to go with your sharpening, and you want to support a great guy, please send something to Richard.
Conwict
What matters more and more, with so much competition, is customer service, value, and competence. I bet there are a lot of guys who could all do a good job of sharpening my knives, but I'm going to be a repeat customer of Richard's.
Bear with me...
I am a busy person with 2 jobs, both of which I keep my own hours on...sound good? Kind of, but I have to budget my "off" time VERY carefully, and I don't get "warnings," I get buried under work if I screw around, and no one to blame or answer to but myself...and if it gets to the point where clients are asking "WTF" I am screwed.
I had bought a 1x30 HF belt sander a while back and got a great edge on a couple of knives and nearly ruined others. I found it wasn't really superior to a well maintained edge by hand, but worked well for reprofiling...sometimes. I learned not to trust myself on it, because - maybe due to the machine being fairly cheaply made - it seemed to behave differently with different belts, and sometimes I'd put it up perfectly adjusted and find there was too much slack. Too hard to find a sweet spot. Not enough time or disposable knives to practice on. :grumpy:
So I just said forget it, I'll pay someone on Bladeforums to sharpen all my EDC/users and a kitchen knife or two...and those ESEE AH1 arrowheads
.So I contacted Richard and we spoke on the phone last Thursday. He already has my knives sharpened and they're going out today; not to mention he undercharges. I'm all for capitalism but this guy deserves more than $1/inch no matter what he says. So I gave him more; whether you do or not is up to you, but it's still a steal even paying double what he asked. He is a genuinely nice guy who has a helpful soul and this forum means a lot to him. I listened to him and learned a lot during the hour and a half we talked the first time, and I came away feeling like I had a new friend...because I do.
You can't buy that, it has to be freely given, and many people overlook this aspect of dealing with customers. If the knives I sent come back even 50% as sharp as the ones in your vids, I'm going to be a repeat customer and will send others your way whenever possible.
As I said this will be continued when I get the knives back, but I have no reason to doubt the quality of the sharpening and look forward to confirming this (crucial) aspect. Still...if you want respect, patience, kindness, and generosity to go with your sharpening, and you want to support a great guy, please send something to Richard.
Conwict
Last edited:
.
:thumbup:
