Internet forums & custom knives

[Sid Post]

Who are the makers that have been attacked here? Just curious.

There are many. A few of them spent so much time defending themselves you don't see them around here anymore. Answering email and responding to posts is an art in itself at times. Add to it, the fact that many of the long time knifemakers are not computer savy and you have the potential for a lot of bad and hurt feelings along the way. Do they really need this stress in their live?

Does the knifemaker give you a one sentenace response because the are stuck up and hooked on the their own image? Or, is it because they can't type? Kids of the computer generation take for granted the ability to type at 80 words per minute or more. In high school, I took a class that included typing. If that was the only thing in the class, I would have probably flunked out. A few years later in college, I was typing on a keyboard over a 100 words per minute. Give the old guys a chance They may in fact find the computer thing very frustrating.

Also, keep in mind that some of the best knifemakers don't post in forums ever. They may or may not have a really out of date website. They may never reply to your email because they don't own a computer! On more then one occasion, I have had a knifemaker blow me off. Later, I found out that they work full time and this was their busy season. Or, their web-site was made by someone long ago who managed their email for them. It's amazing what a simple phone call will do at times. I went from being ticked off to buying two knives with one phone call!

Now, how many people are really on-line? How many knife collectors go to knife shows? The first knife show I went to was a local show. Being dumb as a rock at the time, I did not know or understand why the knives were so over priced. I did see one very nice camp knife by this unknown guy. The knife looked really nice but, $260 for a camp knife. Sure it had some awesome stabilized wood. I learned the neat little pins it were called mosaic somethings. The handle actually fit my hand instead of fitting my hand to it. The bolster finger guard was nice to. But, $260? From this no name upstart Jerry Hossom out of Georgia? Like I said, dumb as a rock....

The good news is I got smarter . Like one purchase I was admiring earlier this morning as someone asked my about Curly Koa wood. Nick Wheeler might remember that one. I don't recall ever seeing a piece if his work in person. I read around the forums and saw a few good pictures of his knives on line. I described what I wanted and gave him a little artistic license after some rather good responses to my post on this site. Wow, what a bargain! I think I stole that knife for something like $400 - it was worth more. I love those new guys!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

ps- sorry I sort of hi-jacked your thread for a second Keith

No problem at all Nick. I don't mind when threads head off in different directions, as long as the comments are pertinent, interesting and informative.

 

[Megalobyte]

There is no doubt in my mind, I would not have a custom knife collection, nor would be the knife enthusiast I have become, were it not for the net.

Whether a maker should or shouldnt participate in the forums I think depends entirely on how diplomatic they are, if you are the type who cannot turn the other cheek and avoid controversy, you shouldnt use the forums, it'll get you into trouble. Sometimes, when your livlihood is on the line, a little ass-kissing and damage control are the better part of valor, some can do that, some can't, I can respect both, but the one who can't, wll get into trouble in a public forum atmosphere. If, OTOH, you recognize the forums as a valuable business tool, and not a place to speak your mind with unwavering frankness, it can and will work for you.

Every single knife I own, was purchased as a direct result of the net. Many of us, for various reasons, cannot attend shows, my reason is that at the ripe old age of 35, I am 90% disabled, the net therefore provides an invaluable resource for these people, like me.

I do caution everybody though to be very suspicious any time you see a Boguszewski Cobra, or a Fogg Bowie with a killer Hamon for sale in a forum, your best bet is to report it to me and I'll take it from there...

Seriously though, the net and forums both, provide you with a vast array of nearly endless choices of many of the world's finest knives, literally at your very fingertips, and there is NO way that is a bad thing. It also allows the collector to show off and share his collection with other, like-minded people, which is half the fun of collecting.

 

[shaldag]

The internet is definately an important tool for me when deciding on a custom knife. However, I would never rely on the internet alone. The most important thing is reputation, of course. That's why makers just starting out can't demand the prices that well-established makers can. The internet definately serves as a gateway to the new makers--lets them show what's out there. If I like the looks, I'll start asking around, amybe make a phone call to the maker, see if they will be in my area in the near future, etc. References are important--sometimes the maker's mentor will recommend their work. Even in the case of older, established makers, the net is important just for posting contact info. If I want a custom knife, and am willing to pay the price, it would be rare for me to do so without picking up the phone and calling the maker to talk about it for awhile. Each custom knife has it's own "personality" if you will, and I want to know about it. This would even be true if I were considering a knife by a maker with as good a reputation as... well, fill in the blank.

 

[RDT]

The forums can help tremendously. They are self promotion, they are advertising and they are a small window into the personality of the maker. I love BF and can't thank this place enough for letting me talk smack about myself now and again. It's true that most of my sales come from people outside the forums. However, it's a buzz that can start here that makes people talk and spread the word about your stuff. Then before you knwo it, those people that don't use the forums have heard of you and are doing searches for your knives online or asking their friends if they have your tel# or address.....R

 

[blgoode]

LOt of good discussion here guys. I started and continue to learn by visiting these forums. I have had a negataive attack on the britishbladeforum but it was more of a prank than an attack. I was just the lucky guy to be on the butt end of the attack. With that said the other forum members quickly jumped in and took up for me. No skin off my back. These forums are a great way to meet people who can benifit from what you have to say as well as meet people who can help with questions you have.

I try to pay it forward by answering what I know to the questions asked.

Oh yeah. 99% of my jobs have come from the net.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

I've been involved in net-based discussions of knives (among other things) since way back before there were any forums! All the way back to when rec.knives on usenet was new and cool !!

One of the first things I did when I started making knives was put up a website. The immediate response I received is one of the main things which kept me in knives too. First the financial aspect, being that I SOLD knives and could afford to kep making them and second, the support aspect, that is getting feedback from people all over the world, helping and encouraging me. Have I said "thank you" lately? Let me say it now: THANK YOU

In short, I think the Net is THE single most important marketing and sales tool available to the knifemaker or dealer in custom knives. One has immediate access to a world wide market. Bingo. The market for expensive, custom knives nobody really needs is fairly narrow anyway. Here everybody sees you. So be honest and make the best knife you can, and let the chips fall where they may.

For buyers it is also a dream. The wealth of information, product and experience that can be had on the net are a buyer's paradise.

Sure there are some a**holes on the net: makers and buyers and trolls, whatever flavor. But the benefits far outweigh the downside for all parties. I don't think any maker should avoid or fear this or other forums. What do they have to be scared of? An honest maker selling good knives doesn't need to fear being "dog piled" by a few d*ckheads. There are more than enough good folks who will (and do) jump in to help a good guy getting kicked when he doesn't deserve it.

On the other hand those "Guns Show Knifemakers" selling Indian Tin can Damascus knives they claim to have made themselves don't last long around here. Crooks selling crap get their head handed to them fast. Wouldn't it be nice if that was the case everywhere on this planet?

 

[A T Barr]

The Internet is my friend. I probably sell 90% of my knives off my website. I only attend 6 or 7 shows a year. So, the exposure I get from my website is a necessity. Of course it doesn't hurt to have the domain name customknives.com.

Stay Safe,

A.T.

"Don't you buy no ugly knife"
http://www.customknives.com