Honesty among knifemakers

T

TomW

Joined
Oct 7, 1998
Messages
1,128
It doesn't take long to notice something unique in the knife business that is missing in so many others.
It's the honesty. Why is that so? Have any of you really thought about it?
I've been selling knife pouches worldwide to hundreds of knifemakers
for years now. As policy, more for my own convenience, I give new knifemakers pay on delivery credit account and have NEVER had a customer that didn't pay me. NEVER
Believe me that is very unique. I doubt I could say that if I was dealing with any other kind of people.
But knifemkers are just people. From all different walks of life.
very diverse. Why is it different?
My belief is that "They" adjust to the principles already laid down in the business.
Could it be that we owe something to the founders? To AG Russell
and the early guild members that laid the groundwork for the business that we all work in now? I think we do?
When I was a kid working at a fast food place I was taught to keep the lot clean. Clean lots stay clean dirty lots get dirtier.
Who messes up a clean house?
To the men that are still around from the early years I realize and appreciate what you did for knives.
To the hundreds of knifemakers that have never betrayed the faith I had in you. I sincerely thank you.
Tom Wilkinson
 
Well my take on it is, Honesty is money in
the Bank. Its alot easier to be honest then
lie. The wife tells me I`m to honest?? I say
what I thank an yes I`ve pissed a few people
off.


If you don`t want my opinion.
Then don`t ask me cause you
may not like what I say.:grumpy:
 
From my stand point if you are not honest it will always come but to get you,Nothing goes unnoticed.And in Knife making you will be noticed as a dishonest person and you are only hurting yourself in the long run:)
 
Originally posted by TomW

Could it be that we owe something to the founders? To AG Russell
and the early guild members that laid the groundwork for the business that we all work in now? I think we do?
Click to expand...

Tom, I couldn't agree more.
Well said.

BTW Tom, where ya been? I haven't seen you around in a while.
 
Tom,
That's a no brainer. I love, let me say it again, Love your zippered cases. If I screwed you over a hundred dollars, where would I get more zippered cases of the quality that your are?
Good to see you back. Where the hell ya been?
 
Tom,

In all HONESTY, the word 'unique' requires no modifier. The 'very' could have been saved for later use.

Roger :eek:

And where can I see a picture of the zippered case??
 
I think the vast majority of knifemakers still hold to older rules and morals that place a high value on honour and honesty - and not because somebody might catch you or find out but because that's the way a person should live and do their business. Taking something that doesnt belong to you is stealing. It doesnt make a damn bit of difference if anybody is looking or not. I know what belongs to me and what doesnt. I know if what I say is the truth as I know it or not.

The important thing about honour is not whether others know and care about it; it's what you see in the mirror and know about yourself that matters.

One of the best things about knifemaking is the that the majority of makers know exactly what I'm talking about. This goes for knife collectors and customers too. This makes it a pleasure and privilage to be part of the knife community worldwide.
 
Your word is your business and if you do not stand by it you have no business. I think a lot of the knifemakers were just born in the wrong century, I know I was. It is a small knife community and it doesn't take long to get a bad name.
I am like Syl. tell it like it is. If some of you haven't noticed I got a BIG MOUTH. :D :D :D
 
My wife says I am too trusting. Well, I don't think so. I guess I trust people because they trust me, which I havn't reflected upon, until Tom's fine post. I've made more and the best friends since I started making knives some years ago. Complete strangers trust us with money and matters without any seemingly prior knowledge of us. It's how things used to be in small communities years ago, and the knife community seems to be the exact same small rural type community. Pretty astounding, the way things are nowdays. An old timer once told me you don't have to worry about a fellow that is willing to work hard for a living, and I think this applies to folks that work with their hands, also. It's good therapy, for one thing. Maybe the labor of building a knife brings balance to our lives. Makers and collectors can recogize what is involved in building a decent knife, which is a labor of love. Even when we are cussing when some part of the project isn't going right. And George, you may be a Mr. rascal, but a good one. And no, you are not a bigmouth. Your honesty and humor is appreciated here by all. I never would have beleived knife folks were so wonderfull if I wasn't fortunate enough to be a part if it.
 
Tom, you can pat yourself on the back. The trust you placed in me several years ago has a very high value to me- then, as well as with each subsequent order. You are helping to maintain the high standard in our community.
 
I think it all goes back to instant gratification. People want instant everything these days... and knifemaking is not something that is 'instant' in any way, shape, or form. There is no easy way to learn the skill and therefor is kinda a self cleansing art.

I too think the same goes for anyone who works with their hands.

I find that in martial arts this is the same too. About 1 for every 100 that visit our class decide to try it for more than 6 months, and 1 out of that 100 decide to spend the years of time needed to attain a black belt (something I might recieve in a few years).

anyway... that is my perspective.:cool:
 
Knifemaking is indeed a journey. We meet all sorts of people along the way. Nothing here happens in a hurry. For one, our skillset especially does not happen overnight, akin to the example of martial arts in the post above.

With some folks sad to say, honesty and integrity are not a natural trait and if it is ever acquired, must be a learned behavior.

It is refreshing to see those that are naturally honest and just as refreshing to see those learning although I must admit for those which are still learning (the hard way I may add), they are starting out in a very deep hole indeed. More sadly, some folks never learn and then wonder why they are treated in a particular manner. These are the ones that don't make it in the long run and tend to have a chip on their shoulder.

C Wilkins
 
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