How many makers

kungfumo

kungfumo

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Aug 21, 2006
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I have had this brought up in a few conversations and I was wondering what every bodys opinion would be.

How many custom makers do you think are in the world. I'm only talking about makers who make more than 10 knives a year and sell them. Or you would consider them professional makers (I know some guys only make 1 or 2 but sell them for $10,000)

Also,how many make folders also.

I would guess just over 1000. maybe 300 folder makers?
 
I have no idea. You could start by counting the membership lists of the various guilds and societies, maybe double or triple that and get a ballpark figure.
 
One trip to the Blade show and you will see your numbers are very low.
I would go with a high number like 100,000 or more. Compare this to doctors, with more than 10,000,000 worldwide.
 
bladsmth said:
One trip to the Blade show and you will see your numbers are very low.
I would go with a high number like 100,000 or more. Compare this to doctors, with more than 10,000,000 worldwide.
Click to expand...

I would think it would be even higher given the amount of small and remote villages. especially when you consider 3rd and 2nd world countries. where they still have village smiths...

Jason
 
In the US alone, consider all the knife supply companies that are supported on those makers.



In the remote areas of the world, those makers would be even more significant to their customers who have no access to commercial production knives.
 
Worldwide, out of almost 7,000,000,000 people, I'd probably go a lot higher than 100,000. Of course, throwing the 10 knives sold per year restriction would probably lower the number of US makers.
 
If I remember correctly about ten years ago it was estimated by someone who was doing another style of knife annual at about 4,000. They went out and tried to make contact with everyone who has ever had their named published in any knife magazine or knife related book. I think Bruce Voyles could shed some light on this. I think 100K is way too high. I think 10K would be way to high.
I run into people all the time that are surprised that there is such a thing as a custom or handcrafted knife.
 
Last numbers I heard of were in the 7000-9000 range. There are over 1000 members in the ABS alone. Can't for the life of me remember where I saw it though.
Brion
 
Not sure about the 10 knives per year - or even if that's fair - but we have around 1000 customers - and that's probably over half of Canadian knifemakers. With Canada having something like 0.5% of the world's population, that translates into over 200,000 worldwide. I know - too many assumptions - but undeniably, the honourable craft is growing. :thumbup:
 
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