KITH questions...

Lorien

Lorien

Nose to the Grindstone
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Hello fellas,
Ian Bailey just posted a knife he made for a KITH, and it got me thinking that I'd like to be involved in a KITH type thing.

My knife making is not really anything to speak of, but I have lots of patterns and designs I've drawn up, and what I was thinking was to post one of them and see if anyone was keen to do a KITH thing with it.

Whoever wanted to take part would receive a photocopy of the design, and I suppose there'd be a timeframe involved (?). Then, I'm not sure how it would work, but I'm guessing each maker would send the knife they made to another maker, and receive one in return(?). And my hope would be that each knife made based on the pattern would be photographed and posted at the end of the thread.

Am I barking up the wrong tree, or does this sound like an idea you'd be interested in pursuing?

I'd be grateful to hear your thoughts on this topic, and would be interested in taking a look at any of these KITH things which may have been posted so links would be great, too.
 
That could work. On another forum they're just wrapping up a similar project; a bunch of profiles were all cut the same, and a bunch of makers all ground and finished them with their own ideas and touches. Some hollow ground, some convex, some full-flat... etc. In that case all the knives are being donated to soldiers heading overseas but I imagine it could work for a KITH, too.

Post some of your designs and see if there's any interest!
 
I have been in a couple of kiths (and am in the one Ian is in) and they can be good given the right circumstances. Depending on the idea for the kith and the rules (if any), some people are more interested in them than others.
 
here's a pattern I drew up;
hugefighta.jpg

I gave this design I think to Charlie Edmundson, (pretty sure it was him) so I couldn't use it anyway due to not being able to send a 'to scale' photocopy to participants.

I'd prefer to draw up something specific for a KITH, which would be based on feedback/preferences of the participants. Like, maybe they'd want to do a boot knife or a hunter or whatever...
 
We have been doing a KITH every year at Christmas time for the last 3-4 years here in the Shoptalk forum. Stacy headed it up this past year, and his system worked great!
 
This is more of a mass build than a KITH.
A KITH is when you exchange knives with no knowledge of what you are getting or who it is coming from.
 
cool, thanks. I appreciate your posts:).

I guess where I'm coming at with this, is I have so many design ideas swirling around in my head, and on paper, and it would be sweet to see how other folk interpret them, or how a number of other folk interpret one. I work 60 hours a week, and my low tech approach ensures low output. Man, I got four knives in the works in various stages and probably won't finish any of them for another 6 months or so. But I'm constantly turning out designs on paper and refining them as best I can.

I dunno if KITH is the best way to make this happen or not...but I sure would like to pursue something like this, so if anyone is keen, just drop me a pm.
If I can get a few guys interested, then maybe the idea has legs. It sure would be cool, for me anyway, to see what could come of it.
 
If you call, they will come !

A 'knife in the hat' does not need to be blind, or secretive, just everyone makes one, and gets one back.

British blades has a fraction of the members here, yet there have been at least half a dozen knives completed for the KITH mentioned in this thread. (sadly that was the first kith ive had to drop out of :( )

Why not shortlist 3 designs (that are managable by most makers) run a poll on the favourite, then say whos in for having a go at this design? :)

I organised a '1 hour KITH' and it worked out well. Fact is you only need 2 folks up for it for it to be a success!
 
I am all in favor of any project that builds excitement in knife making. Things like this make hard work fun.

FWIW, a KITH is a "Knife in the Hat".
The name comes from the days of the depression, when out of work men would sit around and whittle to pass the time. No one had money for a new knife, so every now and then, they would set a hat on the ground, and anyone who wanted to would toss their pocket knife in the hat. The hat would be covered up with a bandana, and they would then take turns drawing a knife out - whatever knife you drew was your "new" knife.

It by definition is blind ,secretive, and a surprise. ,many KITH projects are builds where there is a theme, but the recipients are usually determined by some sort of drawing. When a theme knife is made by all in a project and the resulting knives are sent to a charity, auctioned, or otherwise donated, it is usually called a "Group Build".
 
ok, here are some ideas how to approach this thing...

I draw up three different designs.
They will be different genres, and we'll do a poll to determine which one of them will be used.

Whomever wants to take part, will be mailed a photocopy of the design.
Construction method and materials will be at the participants' discretion.

There will be a timeframe. Once all the knives are made, forumites will vote on their favourite and the winning maker will receive kudos! This could occur in many different forums, in order to help build exposure for all those who want to participate in this.

Perhaps we could get a knife photographer involved who would be willing to take delivery of all the knives and provide their photography services free of charge, in order to give everyone a fair shake.

Each maker could then sell their knife, keeping a certain % to cover costs, and the rest goes to a mutually agreed upon charity. Or, something like that...

I'll put my money where my mouth is, and post three designs specifically for this 'event' within the next two weeks, in this forum. Voting in the poll will be open to everyone, and makers can decide once the voting concludes, whether they want to be involved or not.

I dunno, does it sound interesting?
 
I'm very interested, can't wait to see your designs.
What about having a choice of the three to make instead of just one?
 
I think i might be interested, depending on the type of knife. I am a stock removal guy so obviously i wouldn't be interested in doing something like a forged bowie, etc.
 
ok, sweet, no need to choose the same design for everyone, and this doesn't need to be competitive.
I'll do three designs, post em up, they'll all be around 10" oa and whoever wants a particular design will receive a copy of it, and then the countdown begins.
How long do you think you'd need to do a good job of making something, coupla weeks or so? Don't want it to go on too long, this thing should be of interest to spectators so don't wanna push their patience too far
 
Lorien,
I am speaking as moderator here, not as Stacy. I just want to make sure that any "Shop Talk" group project gets off well and doesn't fall apart.

I can't seem to find any recent posts of a knife you made. In the 6000+ posts, I can only find the year long WIP on your first knife...last year. Your web site only sells knives made by others. Do you have any design or knife building experience to set up this build project? All your profile tells us is that you are a skateboarder and bike rider.

If I missed some photos of your knives, and my assumptions are wrong, please accept my apologies, as this post is not meant to impugn you. I am just trying to avoid a problem with a group project.
 
If it's only a couple of weeks, I'm out, I don't always get enough time in the shop to get anything done quickly.
 
bladsmth said:
Lorien,
I am speaking as moderator here, not as Stacy. I just want to make sure that any "Shop Talk" group project gets off well and doesn't fall apart.

I can't seem to find any recent posts of a knife you made. In the 6000+ posts, I can only find the year long WIP on your first knife...last year. Your web site only sells knives made by others. Do you have any design or knife building experience to set up this build project? All your profile tells us is that you are a skateboarder and bike rider.

If I missed some photos of your knives, and my assumptions are wrong, please accept my apologies, as this post is not meant to impugn you. I am just trying to avoid a problem with a group project.
Click to expand...

Stacy, I may have read this wrong but I think he has designed many knives and would like to see makers do a KITH with his Designs. He will not be involved in the "Making"
 
Stacy, don't worry, I'm definitely NOT a skateboarder, (although I admit I know more than a few...)

I'm pretty new to this forum as a participant, (long time lurker), spending most of my time in the custom/handmade forum. For a little background on me; I've completed 3 knives, start to finish, handled a Nick Wheeler and a Ray Richard blank, designed 7 knives which got made very close to spec by Seth Burton, Jason Knight, Nick Wheeler, Tad Lynch and Magnus Axelson. I've made maybe 20-30 sheaths. I attended/observed/wrote and article on Dave Lisch's knife making school which was taught by Jason Knight, which hopefully will be printed in Blade once they can fit it into their schedule.

I don't have a ton of experience in the cutlery world, but what I lack in experience, I guess you could say I make up for in enthusiasm:). Follow-through is something that I endeavour toward with everything that I do.

I own a bicycle shop, www.sookemountaincycle.com, and have done for 7 years. I have a 6 year old daughter and an amazing wife. I started Bladeworks about 6 years ago as a way to be able to buy and sell, (production, for the time being) knives so that I could afford to purchase custom knives. And so I could justify to my wife my newfound/old passion for knives.

I totally appreciate where you're coming from Stacy, and it's with gratitude that I thank you for your efforts as a moderator. It's not a job I'd be able to do well, and you guys keep this all together really well.

Ryan's post there pretty much sums it up. Now with that being said, if this plan is gonna fly, it would be great to have someone's help with it. Provided of course that it's ok for me to proceed with this, and I leave that up to the moderators, no hard feelings if it gets the kibosh. I thought it might be fun, and a good way to get feedback on my design work.
 
I would be very curious to see how it goes and what can come out of that sort of project.
I think that sort of thing would generate huge interest.

If there is a giveaway, organize it well as Stacy did in the past so it goes smoothly.

Lets see the designs - Post them instead of email - it will create more interest.

I think the more flexibility you can build into it the better chance of it succeeding.

Lorien said:
How long do you think you'd need to do a good job of making something, coupla weeks or so? Don't want it to go on too long, this thing should be of interest to spectators so don't wanna push their patience too far
Click to expand...


2 weeks ? I think that's ridiculous -Make it at least a few months,
If people needed to order supplies, work around other orders, or shift work, that doesn't give them a chance.

Have a look at the WIP threads, the longer you stretch it out while having updates, the more interest builds.
 
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12345678910 said:
2 weeks ? I think that's ridiculous -Make it at least a few months,
If people needed to order supplies, work around other orders, or shift work, that doesn't give them a chance.
Click to expand...


Ditto. It would have to be 60 days minimum for me to even consider it.
 
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