How goes this business of custom knifemaking?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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Someone in Bladeforums told me some time ago that there are in excess of 4,000 knifemakers in the entire United States.

Of course there are a handful who have more orders than they can handle in their lifetime. There are a few dozens who have a "steady business" which will keep them busy throughout the years.

Then there is that wide middle belt who are working in the shadows.

I know it's not like a regular paying job, 9-to-5 sort of profession, business may be real slow on most months and there's nothing concrete over the horizon.

Is it a profession you would recommend to anyone, or just those who really nuts about knives?
 
It's a tough business to making a living in, knifemaking is my sole source of income. Loving knives is not enough to keep you going, you have to love making knives; love the craft, the artistry, and the effort to make each knife as perfect as possible. And while striving for perfection on each knife, you have to be skilled enough for the process to be effecient enough to make money on each knife. You have to be self motivating to get up each day and go to the shop and work on knives. You have to be able to get used to the solitude, this is a lonely job; yet still have the people skills to communicate with customers. Not minding 16 hour days, 6 days a week doesnt hurt either, I often find myself not realizing what time it is. -- Charles
 
im rather new compared to some makers around... but:

i dont think that there is any way that i would recommend this as a career move.
i feel that this is one of those jobs that you fall into.
if fate doesnt want you there, then i dont think that a humble recommendation will help any.

and i must agree with Mr Marlowe .. its not enough that you love knives.
a love of knives is for sure a grand thing to have with you along this journey, but its the love for the craft that really keeps pulling you out of the bed each morning.
at least, thats what does it for me.

while squirreled away in your workshop for X many hours per day you tend to be left to your own thoughts.
which can be a good thing. in fact it can be a great thing... especially for the first week or so.
then you tend to be a little glad that Mr Beltgrinder is still here with you to keep you company.
now, personally i am fine with the isolation, but i know that a lot of people go a little weird.

but all in all, its one heck of a great job.
one of the guys who was paramount at helping me onto this path only said to me last week, blade in hand, "do you ever just sit there and look at a finished blade and think to yourself.. i made this."

well, i do.
each and everytime.
i think its magic. :)
Mr Beltgrinder sure things its spiffy too.
and then i bring it inside and show it to Sherry.
its a great process and one that i wouldnt want to ever give up.
being an insomniac sure does help too.
:D

[end ramble mode]

D.
 
Charles, well said!! I look forward to meeting and talking with you in person some day. Are you going to the Vegas show??

The most important thing I've learned over this past year is to say NO!! The busier a knifemaker gets, the better he must become at saying no and having the customer understanding why. It's impossible to please everyone that contacts you. One person can only produce so many knives in so many materials with so many options. It's very easy to promise more work than what can be realistically produced. Over the past few months I've found that communication skills are far more important than knifemaking skills.


Neil
 
Yo Neil- communication skills? Like, Duh????

Speaking of communication reminded me the old joke about the similarity between a man in a relationship and an ant on a truck wheel....

They both know they are on to something big...they just never realize it until it squashes them...

(courtesy Dave Barry...)
:D
 
Knikemaking is indeed a tough business... but somebody tell me what business isn't tough these days? I've been making knives myself for about 5 years and it has grown from a hobby into a business / artistic endeavor. Part of that is because the graphic design business has really suffered in the last two years, but partly it's also because I've been in the graphic design business for about 25 years.

I would agree with Neil that communication - I would add marketing - skills are important. Saying no is indeed important. So is knowing your limits and where you want to go with knifemaking. Don't underestimate the amout of tools and expertise with them required to make a knife that can compete in the market. I know I know, some guys say you can make a knife with a file and an old saw. Sure you can. But Guys like Ron Lake and Darrell Ralph etc etc have a few more than that... and those are the guys you will end up competing against in the marketplace. Customers are more educated and have more knowledge about knives than ever before and through the Net they have access to a giant assortment of product.

So be sure can judge your own product with an open mind.

If you're going into knikemaking to make money, then you need a good background with machine tools - hopefully CNC - good designs and have someway to get your product to market. Otherwise it's gonna be an uphill battle.

Making knives by hand - which is what I basically do now - is very labor intensive. You gotta get faster without cutting corners. But people are willing to pay for an individual product. Of course there are limits to how much they will pay... and how many knives you can make...
 
Is there a direct relationship to the business of knife making and being active on one or more of the knife related forums?
 
I can't add anything to this...I can testify that these are pretty accurate observations........however if you like feeling like a one legged man in an ass kicking contest every day then knifemaking could be the ticket for you.

Hope to see you all at the Vegas Classic. larryd
 
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