Introduction and a question about makers marks

Cody Hofsommer

Cody Hofsommer

Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
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Hi, my name is Cody Hofsommer, ya I know that my user name is messed up, (can I fix that or should I just rejoin?), and I have been making knives for about year. I made some KSO's as a kid, but that don't count. My interest is mainly in Damascus, but anything sharp has my attention. I do some blacksmithing, ornamental stuff and I'm a farrier by trade, so I the forge is running almost every day. Winters here in northern Minnesota are cold and farrier work slows down, so that means more time making knives! I will post some work shortly, but right now Im working on a markers mark. Ernie at blue lightning is going to make a stencil for me, and I have a design that I'm happy with. My question is it a good idea to date your blades? It would work with the design, just not sure I want that. Yes I would have to change it every year, but the stencils wear out anyway. It seem like a good idea, but I don,t see many of the top custom guys doing it. Is there a reason not to?

Thanks for any input you might have.

Cody
 
I think dating them would be kinda a cool idea. I have seen a few makers number them. Not like a batch number or anything just what knife it is in the whole group they have ever made. Forty fifth knife gets a little 45 etched. Regardless of what style it is.
 
Welcome to the forum.

You could use a stamp for your name and an engraver to put the date on the other side. Or get a sheet of stamps with a variety of years, assuming that the sheet would hold up through the years

Jason
 
Many makers have placed the location that the knife was made on the knife with the makers mark. People can guess the general date that the knife was made based on the location and the time period that they were at that location. Just a thought.
 
Add on the type of steel, the town you live in, etc.. What use does the date serve? Is it for you or the customer, or posterity? Frank
 
I mark the steel type, and the number of each knife made with that steel, example: CPM154-10, this is etched into the edge of the tang on the bottom. I make each stencil from the stencil rolls sold at Jantz Supply, they are printed on an old dot matrix printer. It works great and customers like the serial number.
J.D.
 
Some makers give a certificate of authenticity with their knives. Most contain a picture of the knife along with all the particulars. The date the knife was made is part of the certificate.

Fred

Welcome to the forums!
 
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