I need your opinions/suggestions

H

Hagar

Joined
Aug 15, 1999
Messages
147
OK I'll be the first to admit that my knives are not perfect. On the plus side the improvement in the last 20 has been amazing
(I can see the difference in each knife)
Back in Dec I made a trade (with a guy that saw the quality of my knives) his 2 x 72 for 10 blades. At the time he was happy with them, but now after the fact he is complaining about them.( I still owe him 2 blades) he phones at least once a day and if I am not working on one of his knives whines and complains.... (did I mention that he changes his mind on the design 3-4 times during the course of making it and then when its done says it should have been one of the other 3 ways he wanted it)
He also wants to market the knife I built to his specs... I build them - he sells them (if my quality is better). But he does not want my name on the blades.
The potential is here to make some $$, but I have serious doubts whether its worth it.
Right now I am mad enough to take the grinder back and tell him to shove it.
What do you think? I know its my call one way or another... but I respect your thoughts and opinions. Thank you.
Garth... (Hagar)

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There is no such thing as "good enough", either your work is good or it is not. How is your work?
SGT BLADES www.therockies.com/hagar/
 
Hagar,
Are you making only the blades? Or the whole knife? I never sell just a blade to anyone with my name on it. The potential is there for someone to create a poorly done knife from a blade with your name on it, and then you have to work your way out of a bad perception. People will not care if someone else finished/created the knife, all they will know is that your name appears on it.
As for the complaints the other party has....it depends on how badly you want the grinder. I admit that I would likely being feeling a little like you do, if I were in that same situation, but the potential is also there for this person to do great harm to you in your trying to build a good reputation. You might try pinning the individual down on exactly what they want, maybe trace a pattern out, or make sketches, but he/she must make it clear what they want, and you must make it clear what they will receive. Then if there is dispute over the finished product(s), you have a "base line" to go from. You will also run into some folks who you simply cannot please, no matter how hard you try. If this is the case, I would suggest getting everything squared as quickly a possible, and not to deal with the individual in the future. Just my thoughts.

Ed

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Ed Caffrey
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.caffreyknives.com
 
I would finish the last couple of Knives ASAP and not deal with this person any more!He sounds like the kind of person that will try to ream you at every chance he gets.if he's not happy now what makes you think he will be happy later.If the Knife design is that good you shouldnt have trouble marketing it yourself.If I finish a Knife I put my NAME on it no questions asked,if I help someone on one or let them handle one of my Blades my name isnt on it.The deal sounds fishy to me why wouldnt he want your name on the blade ?? Just my opinion....Bruce

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!!
 
What kind of belt grinder was it?

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
 
Whenever I make a blade for someone else to finish I never put my name on it. The finishing is what makes a knife not the blade grinding so if the fellow wants to get his act together and settle on a design go ahead and sell him unmarked blades if you can make enough of a profit on them. If he can't get his act together get away from the deal as fast as you can, you don't need the agravation.


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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
I agree with Ed and George my.02

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It is better to bear the rebuke of a wise man than to enjoy the flattery of fools.
 
Well I gave the grinder back, now to suffer through the 4 x 36 and 1 x 18 till I can srounge the $$ for another. We parted amicably, he asked if I would still make knives for him, I said sure but these are the rules....
he figured they were fair... so all is well.
for now he is going to try and grind the ones he wants to market himself. So after he tries for awhile he will prob call me up to do some... If not, oh well....
Feels like a ton of bricks was lifted off my shoulders.
thanks for your opinions

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There is no such thing as "good enough", either your work is good or it is not. How is your work?
SGT BLADES www.therockies.com/hagar/
 
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