John Fitch

brownshoe said:
This is amazing, an "attaboy" post turns into "trial by internet." Are you guys gentleman or cads?
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One thing I can definitely say is that I really didn't expect the kinds of responses that my thread has gotten, but by starting this thread I opened things up for people to post their experiences with John. It is obvious that others have not had the excellent dealings that I have had.
 
Top Three Bladesmith Fibs:

1) The wood handle cracked as I was finishing it--but I will replace it with some really nice whatever at no charge, but its going to be a while..

2) I shipped the knife last month to the wrong address and I am waiting for it to come back. Should be any day now. I have a call in to the mailman...buts it might be a while...I hope it comes back..it wasn't insured..

3) I finished your knife but somehow it got stuck under a pile of stuff on my bench and the blade is badly rusted. I am going to have to refinish it for you. Thats going to take a while, OK?...
 
brownshoe said:
This is amazing, an "attaboy" post turns into "trial by internet." Are you guys gentleman or cads?
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This is a communication platform, not a mutual admiration society - we certainly don't need any more of that in the knife making world. Are you arguing that those comments are untrue, or disingenuous? If so please say so. If you're just saying that some truth are not worth saying, that we should let bygones be bygones, etc, and that new comers should learn their lessons about makers the hard way, I flatly disagree.
 
This thread is a good example where makers are praised for the good and held accountable for the bad. Collectors benefit from hearing both.

I don't see anything wrong as long as all post are factual.
 
I like John Fitch's knives. I own a nice carbon M.S. chopper with an iron wood handle that is now one of my users. I enjoy it very much. However, I did experienced delays and I had to make quite a few phone calls in the procurement of my knife. At times I wondered if I would ever get it. The time frame when these delays occured was when John was still a J.S. before he passed his M.S. stamp. That being said John did make me my knife and I would be willing to buy from him again.
 
Most of what has been said is rumor and gossip. The general comments in regards to standing up promoters and pissing off collectors is second hand back stabbing gossip. At least that's what the nuns taught me.

Mr. Heger repeats negative rumors from a friend. He had a deal fall through because someone or both of them are a poor communicator. That's not a big deal :)

RWS personal experience were made before...that horse was beaten. That little story can be read a different way. The knut of RWS' beef...a collector who dabbles as a dealer didn't get his great deal on a new maker's work. Maybe the knifemaker had to buy shoes for his kids and the extra money was needed...as a CFO, RWS you can understand that.

Hey guys ever had a bad day, month or year? Are you good at your work but not so good with the customer? Ever over extend yourself? I've seen the guys work. Looks good. I've met the man, seems friendly and earnest. Maybe he's the kind of maker that you should buy what's on his table because that's what he really likes to do.
 
brownshoe said:
RWS personal experience were made before...that horse was beaten. That little story can be read a different way. The knut of RWS' beef...a collector who dabbles as a dealer didn't get his great deal on a new maker's work. Maybe the knifemaker had to buy shoes for his kids and the extra money was needed...as a CFO, RWS you can understand that.
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This "little story" can be read in any manner you wish.

Inferring from my story that I'm "A collector who dabbles as a dealer that didn't get his great deal" and somehow got what I deserved because of it is just as easy as deducing that I don't like big and tall, overweight knifemakers from Arkansas and have this innate desire to destroy this guy's reputation because of it. :jerkit:

BTW, I've never sold or traded a knife in my life. I've given a lot of knives away to friends and family though. :thumbup: :D



brownshoe said:
Maybe the knifemaker had to buy shoes for his kids and the extra money was needed...as a CFO, RWS you can understand that.
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My "understanding" as a CFO of people's nature and tendencies helps me to try and lead and manage people that work under and beside me. It doesn't change what happened between John and I, no more than my understanding of why John did what he did will excuse him for it. He did what he did and if you want to rationalize it away so that it somehow becomes an acceptable character trait in knifemakers in the custom knifemaking profession, knock yourself out.

Perhaps he did need the extra money that his knife could now fetch more than I. I definitely thought about that when I told him to keep it and sell it at the show he was going to.

The way I look at it, I gave him about a $700 gift, and I knew it when I told him to keep it....I didn't want his knife any more and the few hundred bucks I could have made on it didn't matter to me at that point.

brownshoe said:
Hey guys ever had a bad day, month or year?
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There's a big difference between having a bad day and having a bad habit. Hopefully, John's lying to customers is no longer a part of his character.

BTW, when dealing with John over the phone, he came across as one of the nicest guys I had ever dealt with....that is of course until he started making up these incredibly outrageous stories and lying to me....then, he came across as a "knut".

I'm a forgiving type of guy and don't believe in holding grudges. So, I have no ill will against Big J.

Besides, he really does make an awesome knife.;)
 
brownshoe said:
Most of what has been said is rumor and gossip. The general comments in regards to standing up promoters and pissing off collectors is second hand back stabbing gossip. At least that's what the nuns taught me.

Mr. Heger repeats negative rumors from a friend. He had a deal fall through because someone or both of them are a poor communicator. That's not a big deal :)

RWS personal experience were made before...that horse was beaten. That little story can be read a different way. The knut of RWS' beef...a collector who dabbles as a dealer didn't get his great deal on a new maker's work. Maybe the knifemaker had to buy shoes for his kids and the extra money was needed...as a CFO, RWS you can understand that.

Hey guys ever had a bad day, month or year? Are you good at your work but not so good with the customer? Ever over extend yourself? I've seen the guys work. Looks good. I've met the man, seems friendly and earnest. Maybe he's the kind of maker that you should buy what's on his table because that's what he really likes to do.
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Nobody is talking about boycotting John Fitch, or bypassing what is on his table. People are relating their experience, and provbiding the rest of us with information. A number of people are relating similar stories, and that is a cause for concern.

Brownshoe--have you noticed that Win Heger's opinions are given a little more weight on these forums than are your own? If not, allow me to point it out to you.


If so, perhaps you should question why that is?
 
Mr Brownshoe, Mr Win Heger,is one of the most honourable gentleman in bladeforums.He is not a rumour monger neither is he a poor communicator.Your unfounded statements are what "rumours" are.
 
Kohai999 said:
Was MIA at the Plaza Cutlery show in Huntington Beach, and missing from the Reno ABS Expo in February.

Anyone know or care to share why?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I have met John many times- his knives are terrific. I do not represent him.

But, he stood up Dan Delevan at the last Plaza Cutlery Show and I think that in light of this thread, and Kohai99's request for an explaination, I will jump in.

As many of you know, the Plaza Cutlery Show is an "Invitational"- that word tells it all. A select number of Knife makers are invited to this exclusive gathering that takes place only every 2 years.

John was on the confirmed list for the 2006 show, as he participated in 2004.

Knifemakers are asked to pay the fees well in advance- this is to guarantee their spot and to comply with the requirements as set forth by the show promoter.

John did not send in his money at the required time and asked for an extension- Dan agreed and up to a week to 10 days before the show, John spoke to Dan and was still promising to send in his money and that he was definitely coming to the show with the number of knives per the show rules.

And then- wham- he bails out. Never shows up.

The excuse? None....

But, after speaking to Dan he did promise to pay the show fee afterwards as Dan had to cover all the costs of the rooms and the empty table etc.

Not to mention that there were many other makers who were left out and not invited because the spot was held for John.

But, in the end, and up to today, John still never paid up like he promised, and Dan had to foot the bill and take the loss.

How do I know all this? Dan (and Pam) Delevan and I are close friends- we have been for many years. They did not deserve to be treated like this. Nobody does.

My final point? Character, being responsible and keeping one's word are just as important in the knife business, as is building a knife with a keep edge and a nice handle.

Neil Ostroff
 
Neil Ostroff said:
I have met John many times- his knives are terrific. I do not represent him.

But, he stood up Dan Delevan at the last Plaza Cutlery Show and I think that in light of this thread, and Kohai99's request for an explaination, I will jump in.

As many of you know, the Plaza Cutlery Show is an "Invitational"- that word tells it all. A select number of Knife makers are invited to this exclusive gathering that takes place only every 2 years.

John was on the confirmed list for the 2006 show, as he participated in 2004.

Knifemakers are asked to pay the fees well in advance- this is to guarantee their spot and to comply with the requirements as set forth by the show promoter.

John did not send in his money at the required time and asked for an extension- Dan agreed and up to a week to 10 days before the show, John spoke to Dan and was still promising to send in his money and that he was definitely coming to the show with the number of knives per the show rules.

And then- wham- he bails out. Never shows up.

The excuse? None....

But, after speaking to Dan he did promise to pay the show fee afterwards as Dan had to cover all the costs of the rooms and the empty table etc.

Not to mention that there were many other makers who were left out and not invited because the spot was held for John.

But, in the end, and up to today, John still never paid up like he promised, and Dan had to foot the bill and take the loss.

How do I know all this? Dan (and Pam) Delevan and I are close friends- we have been for many years. They did not deserve to be treated like this. Nobody does.

My final point? Character, being responsible and keeping one's word are just as important in the knife business, as is building a knife with a keep edge and a nice handle.

Neil Ostroff
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Thanks for sharing that. This is disappointing to say the least.
 
Being a skilled artist or craftsman doesn't necessarily mean you are a good businessman. It takes discipline among other things to deliver on business commitments and provide good customer service.

I have seen many skilled tradesmen make the mistake of going into business for themselves only to find they had it made working for someone else.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Being a skilled artist or craftsman doesn't necessarily mean you are a good businessman.
I have seen many skilled tradesmen make the mistake of going into business for themselves only to find they had it made working for someone else.
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Being a good businessman is one thing- keeping your word and honoring your commitments is another thing.

Promising to cover a debt for being a no show at the Plaza Show was the right thing to do.

Reneging in that promise and stiffing the host, (who protected your spot for months in spite of other knifemakers who wanted in) is simply wrong, dishonest and selfish.

Neil
 
Well, this thread has definitely gone in a direction that I wasn't expecting. Much of the stuff posted here has been thoroughly disheartening.

Neil, thank you for your input.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Well, this thread has definitely gone in a direction that I wasn't expecting. Much of the stuff posted here has been thoroughly disheartening.

Neil, thank you for your input.
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Keith, it shouldn't be disheartening. Big John did right by you, you let everyone know. There are a few here on the other side of that coin though.

We are talking about actual people here, everyone has good days and bad days.

I'm not sure if you are disheartened by the fact that there is some bad stuff that happened, or that your thread is where it got revealed?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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