How many styles of knives do you make?

Chuck Gedraitis Knives

Chuck Gedraitis Knives

Joined
Dec 10, 1998
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I had a customer mention this and I have been thinking about it lately as well.
Do you think that you are more valuable to the knifemaking community if you make more that one style or type of knife.

I know that thare are makers that just make folders, or just fixed blades but not both. Are you limiting your customer base by doing so?

Currently I have made single blade slip-joints, multi-blade slip-joints, linerlocks, balisongs, automatics of various mechanisms, flipper folders, forged fixed blades and Japanese style fixed blades.

One of these days I will make a lockback.

Thanks for your thoughts,
Chuck
 
Chuck, I only make fixed blades and probably will never bother with folders. My customer base, the outdoor community mainly use fixed blades. Hard use large fixed blades are at least 80% of my business.
Scott
 
Im still new at this having done it for less than 30 years (seems everyone has been making forever!) but i think its important to be able to make many styles simply to find where your personal style best compliments the knife style. Limiting to one niche does limit your customers, but it also allows you to explore that niche more extensively than others who might spread themselves across many styles.

Would you go to a general surgeon for a complicated, risky eye surgery? No, youd go to a specialist....if i wanted a high end hawk, i would be going to someone who specialized in hawks. The longer a maker makes, the more he becomes specialized in, imho.
 
If you are a part timer like myself, I would say make what you have fun making. Currently I don't do for income, I do it to pay for new tools. I am fortunate to be able to sell everything that leaves the shop whatever it is, so for me it is doing what I like to do, and can sustain.
 
I'm with Frank, I love to make differant styles, and both large and small, even the ocasional folder. It keeps it interesting. Sometimes you just got to try something differant.
 
I would lose my mind if I made the same knife over and over. I enjoy the challenge of doing something new. Its good to stretch myself and learn new things.
 
So far I have not made two of the same design. Some may be close to each other but prt of the enjoyment for me is designing the blades on paper first. Also I think by making different designs all the time you're bound to increase your skill as you will be woking in slightly different ways with each knife. I think in time it allows you to be more diverse in what you are capable of. But then I'm just a part timer as well... I think making the same one over and over would allow you to become very good at that particular style though...

Mike
 
Not having the knifemaker title, but having owned lots of knife-making supplies for a LONG time, I've established myself as a maker of almost finished projects...
I'm expanding into folder parts collecting...
Procrastination is practiced and perfected here.
 
right now im sorta looking for a "style"
that said i have no plans on locking into one type of knife
i too want to be able to keep doing different things all the while people knowing thats a "harner" knife
 
Chuck that can be a double edged sword for sure but a lot of fun..no pun intended..the best jobs for me are the ones that the customer says make me something..:) that freedom comes at a price sometimes, there are less customers like that than the one playing safe,,
make me one like that will you:)
I don't limit myself, though I do reproduce my own work :rolleyes: and long gone makers work like Price bowies, I will try to make anything asked of me..
next on the list, a cut and shoot, :D
 
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