How long does it take to make a custom knife?

"If I had to explain it to you, you would not understand." That is so prolific. I have learned Sooo much this past week:D :D I came into this thread with a little different perspective on the "knife-maker". It was not a "bad perspective" just one that needed FINE-TUNING. YOU BET I GOT TUNED:eek: :eek: :eek: But, I survived, got a chance to have one very special "heart to heart" e-mail from one hell of a guy (Thanks Jerry)and have made a new TRUE friend who I spent an hour with on the phone yesterday and I CANNOT wait to call him today;) (Thanks MAX, you are invited into my life, FRIEND)What did you guys expect from a NEWBIE? It is far better I learned this now, and I am the better Man for it. Thanks for giving me a chance to look at this from YOUR side of the knife. NOW, I am almost ready for CHAT.......Thanks.....wolf:D :o ;) ;)
 
I've got 2 cents to add to this most frequently asked question.
My stock answer is "about two days and twenty years". It's not quite as flip as it sounds at first blush. It took me twenty or so years to learn how to make knives efficiently and with a minimum of loss either in time or materials, and to accumulate the tools and machinery in the shop.
I work in batches of 10-12 knives at a time and can usually finish a batch in 1 1/2-2 weeks. As most are aware, I have my handle and blade parts rough cut by laser or waterjet but that only gives me a coarse, oversize blank which still must be profiled by hand, drilled reamed and tapped before even starting on the fitting process.
Custom orders take longer as each indivual knife may vary within the batch and breaks the smooth flow of work. I generally work 8-12 hours a day, usually 7 days a week. I don't have a life! But I love what I do and would have it no other way. BOB
 
Wow, quite the thread here...

It's cool to see so many makers with honest answers.

I remember the first lawn I mowed for my neighbor was a nightmare, it was nearly waist high grass. I had to mow it twice and spent hours on it with a weed-eater. When I was done, my dad asked me how much I thought I deserved...he pointed out that some jobs you should be paid by the hour while others should be paid for the actual job and the final product.

This can't carry over more true to knifemaking.

It's nearly impossible to put an hourly tag on something like knives. A prime example is the bowie I'm working on now. I've ground the blade, hand sanded it, re-ground it, hand sanded it, etc... so many times that I don't think I'd make any money (time-wise) if I get $3000 for it (which I WON'T !!! :) ) But I keep at it because I'm after the final product, not the route in which I find a price.

But, I'm not supporting a family, or even myself with knives...I have a "real" job too ;)

Thanks for bringing this up,
Nick
 
Nick said,
"A prime example is the bowie I'm working on now. I've ground the blade, hand sanded it, re-ground it, hand sanded it, etc... so many times that I don't think I'd make any money (time-wise) if I get $3000 for it (which I WON'T !!! ) But I keep at it because I'm after the final product, not the route in which I find a price."

And I hope that he sends me a photo and that the knife is as good as the dagger I have so I can add it to my collection if "the price is right". And if not me, I know of another nice home for it too, Nick.
 
Being a part time maker time is a very big commitment. If I plan to get out to the shop and grind on 4 or 5 blades on a Saturday morning thats great, but the best laid plans of mice and men...
If its a cool morning like the last time I was in the shop I thought I would take advantage of the weather and make a 360 layer bar of damascus.
So put aside the blade grinding, fire up the forge and start welding. Somtime in mid after noon the wife comes out and asked what I wanted for lunch. While contiplating lunch I decide that I should do a cable billet while the forge is hot.
So lunch turns into a pop and a couple cookies and the day of grinding has turned into two damascus billets and its now supper time and the boss says that I am coming in to eat.
That was a 12 hour day on my day off from work and I never did make a knife!!!!
I do NOT want to know how long it takes me to make a knife. I will just continue to work to delivery deadlines.
 
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