Just read this thread and Charlie and I have a question. We have four blades in the HT oven on their last temper cycle, seven blades hardened and ready for final grinding and polishing, Charlie has over heated two grinders working on nine integrals, I'm up to my elbows in stag dust working on a carved handle and my arms are so tired I can't lift them over my shoulders. We just got through drinking a coke and wondered if one of you collectors could tell us who gets to use the one grinder we have left running.
Just kidding guys, these threads tend to get too heavy real quick
As far as our list of orders. We will give preference to an active duty individual in the armed services. Our agreement on the construction of a knife is made with an individual and that is not transferable to anyone else without our approval. We usually try to make knives in the order that we take them, but sometimes it is easier, cheaper and much faster to make several of one model at one time than it is to make knives one at a time. It would mean that some customers would likely get a knife earlier than we predicted, but it would not mean that someone else would get a knife later than they thought they would.
Some of our best customers understand that the knives they have ordered have features that we do when we are in the mood to make that kind of knife. Most of that work is done after hours or on weekends and involves a great deal of hand work. We really appreciate their patience and try hard to fill their orders as soon as we can, but it always takes longer on these knives than a standard custom order. We explain all this at the time the order is placed and so far, have never had a problem.
None of our customers are under any obligation to purchase any knife that they have ordered and may cancel the order at any time. We will not take any prepayment or deposit no matter what materials are involved in making the knife. We encourage customers to contact us if they have questions and really appreciate customers that are patient and pay when their knives are ready.
We wish that customers, that can't take delivery of a custom knife that they have ordered, would cancel the order or at least let us know that they won't be taking delivery. If the customer cancels the order at any time or informs us that they can't take delivery of a completed knife, we will be glad to take an order from them at a future date. If they don't cancel the order or inform us that they can't take delivery when we notify them that the knife is ready, we will hold the knife for 30 days and then sell it as soon as we can. We would not be interested in taking another order from them at a later date.
We do try to run Twin Blades as a business and both of us have many years experience at managing a relatively large business. While many practices will work with nearly any business, knife making has its own set of problem areas and any business practice that is set up needs to be a work in progress. A business always needs to be able to adapt to the changing environment and this one is no different. Some of these changes, while necessary, can be hard to make and may not make everyone happy. One thing that we understand clearly is that for a business to be successful it must have satisfied customers. We have found over the years that it is easier and much cheaper to keep a customer satisfied than it is to find a new customer. We work very hard to keep our customers happy and it has paid off with repeat orders and developed friendships that we will always value.
While we run Twin Blades like a business because it is one, the reason we make knives is we enjoy doing it. If we stopped enjoying what we do every day, no amount of money would make this business profitable to us and we would move on to something else. I don't see that happening!
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