Have you or would you pay for engraving on practical/tactical knives Yea or Nay?

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Wolf7

Joined
Jul 11, 2006
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220
Mods: I don't know what section it belongs in, please move if you have to. I'm NOT advertising or selling anything just looking for advise and feedback.

Dear forum members I need your help and advise!

First, I'm not a collector but definitely a hoarder! I do own only one collection of Boris Valejo fantasy set of about 40-50 knives from Franklin Mint. I don't know anything about collecting custom/art knives, I like them but never had budget for them. This is where I need your help and advise!

I hoard practical/tactical all black sterile no markings type of knives, I might get tired of using some of them so they go into storage, never for sale, after all I might need them one day!

Now recently I have upgraded my EDC SD to SOG Fatcat & Tomcat 3.0, while both of these knives are great they both suffer from identity crisis IMHO. They have classic blade and handle shapes with modern tactical materials. It seems like it can't decide is it tactical or classic or neither? So my plan was have one of the forum vendors to replace "Kraton" handle which btw this handle shape doesn't need, with classy wood or dragon scale and add some classy relief engraving to bolsters. This would turn these knives into classy/practical/tactical, family heirlooms.

Second, by trade I'm graphic designer. While surfing YouTube for engraving inspiration I came across business opportunity that combines two of my passions knives and design!

Now, before I spend time and money about $3K on equipment and training, I would like to know is there market demand for custom engraving on practical/tactical knives? It's too much money to spend on just 2 knives for me, but if there is market/demand for it, than it's an investment in business opportunity!

Let me clarify, I know there is some demand for art, museum quality collector knives, I'm interested in narrow niche of people like me who come from practical/tactical side.

Have you or would you ever pay for custom engraved practical/tactical knives? ex: your initials, scroll leaves, animal head on your EDC bolsters or handle. Blade will remain unmarked so you would not be afraid to use it or sharpen it in the field. This would be step up from custom scales to custom engraving.

The idea behind it is take fixed hunter or tactical folder customize it with engraving YET keep it practical/useable, art design should never interfere or impede tools function ex: SOG's Fatcat, Tomcat or Buck 110 with plain bolsters or ZT with plain titanium handle and engrave deep relief scroll or initials in it. It takes classic utility/tactical and transforms it into classic gentlemen's utility/tactical, family heirloom!

Now the company that sells this air powered rotary engraving equipment claims there is huge demand for this type of service, but they need to sell their equipment, that's how they make living!

SO I need un-biased opinion from you knife users/makers.

1. IS there demand/market for tactical/practical engraving service?

2. Has anyone dealt with SCM Systems Inc, good or bad experience?

3. Is their 400XS air powered rotary engraver quality, dependable tool?

4. Anyone purchased their System 1 Business Kit opportunity, what is your experience with it?


Thanks. for reading this long post, I appreciate all help and advise on this subject!!!
 
I can only give my opinion on question #1....

I wouldn't make the investment. I'd think most 'engraving' on new knives is done by the cheapo method offered by some of the dealers upon sale.

For someone purchasing a higher-end knife seeking true quality engraving, they're going to find a jeweler or one of the mall engravers at the least.

For you to make such an investment, IMO you're going to have to spend a ton on marketing/advertising to bring in enough business to just break even eventually. Too many 'local' jewlers or engravers around for quicker work than sending it in to someone a distance away. High quality engraving seekers for better knives has to be a miniscule percentage of all buyers.

Another case of where we all need to remember the public at large, i.e. the 'average' knife buyer, isn't NEARLY as into this stuff as we are. It's so easy to lose track of that.

Just my .02. Best of luck if you decide to do it. Keep us posted if you do.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Like this?

Click to expand...

No, as I said engraving on blade interferes with performance, I'm talking about engraving ONLY bolsters or handle like on this one done by David Martins wife forum member here Post#4:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...bolsters-engraved?highlight=buck+110+engraved

Check out picture gallery of these knives engraved with this equipment, again NOT selling or advertising anything just look at pictures!

http://www.scmsysteminc.com/photo_gallery.php?screen=0&cat_id=9&action=images&keyword=

Does it not look awesome?
 
Last edited:
Wolf7 said:
No, as I said engraving on blade interferes with performance, I'm talking about engraving ONLY bolsters or handle like on this one done by David Martins wife forum member here Post#4:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...bolsters-engraved?highlight=buck+110+engraved


Does it not look awesome?
Click to expand...

If you can quantify the performance loss from engraving a blade, I would love to see/read the real world loss numbers.....

Until then, I absolutely love the Charlie Mike engraved that chopper!
 
JR88FAN said:
If you can quantify the performance loss from engraving a blade, I would love to see/read the real world loss numbers.....

Until then, I absolutely love the Charlie Mike engraved that chopper!
Click to expand...

What I mean by performance loss is, if it has beautiful artwork engraved on blade like on these pictures here

http://www.scmsysteminc.com/photo_gallery.php?screen=0&cat_id=9&action=images&keyword=

then knife stops being user knife and becomes museum collector piece! You wouldn't want to damage expensive artwork on blade by chopping trees or digging holes with that blade, right?
 
I do not know about whether or not engraving affects performance of the blade but it certainly could affect the performance of an investigation into who brought the knife to the scene.

That said, specifically in regards to "tactical" knives, I could maybe see myself getting some of my more "practical" knives engraved.
 
Wolf7 said:
Sorry for confusion, this is not my wife but David Martins, who is a member of this forum. I think she did spectacular job on that knife!
Click to expand...

Oops, I guess I read things wrong :foot:
 
Here's the other knife, by the way... I'm carrying these right now.



Truth and Reconciliation
 
I personally would not pay for engraving on a knife or gun after market. If I want an art knife, I will buy an art knife to begin with.

Now custom file work is a whole different thing, and something I would be more inclined towards.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Here's the other knife, by the way... I'm carrying these right now.



Truth and Reconciliation
Click to expand...

Scratches on these only adds character, it wouldn't affect your design!

Personally I would have only added engraving to top portion of spine, back lock and area where it says CS/Knife Name, not he whole blade. Some classic Viking scrollwork, maybe.
 
ebidis said:
I personally would not pay for engraving on a knife or gun after market. If I want an art knife, I will buy an art knife to begin with.

Now custom file work is a whole different thing, and something I would be more inclined towards.
Click to expand...

I like file work too, as long as it doesn't affect function, like on the back spacer/lockbar! I seen pictures of knife in custom production section, beautiful work BUT maker put file work down the spine all the way to the tip on I believe Buck Vantage Pro? Now that knife just lost it's penetration ability, it will have harder time going into material and will get snagged/stuck on the pull out! That's what I'm talking about when design/art impedes performance.
 
More "engraving" ... though Darrel did this on a Haas vertical machining center.



 
Charlie Mike said:
Here's the other knife, by the way... I'm carrying these right now.



Truth and Reconciliation
Click to expand...

You know what would be cool on these knives, blade shape looks like a shark just put eyes open mouth with razor sharp teeth on each side. It would look like you're holding sharks by their tails!
 
B
Wolf7 said:
What I mean by performance loss is, if it has beautiful artwork engraved on blade like on these pictures here

http://www.scmsysteminc.com/photo_gallery.php?screen=0&cat_id=9&action=images&keyword=

then knife stops being user knife and becomes museum collector piece! You wouldn't want to damage expensive artwork on blade by chopping trees or digging holes with that blade, right?
Click to expand...

Sorry man, didn't realize it was THAT kind of engraving....

I think there would be a very small customer base for that kind of work.
I am not sure what the cost would be, but that would be one big issue. You can't do work like that for cheap.

So what knives would someone want to engrave with an intricate design?
That's the question that needs to be answered.
 
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