Knifemakers/ ABS guilds?

[Easyrider]

If this topic has been beat to death then please close the thread Blues. I have to wonder among knife colllectors, does a knife maker belonging to either the Knifemakers Guild or the ABS influence your knife purchases? I know there are many very good makers that don't belong to these groups and many that do, is it even a consideration when you go shopping for a new knife?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

To tell you the truth, it is not something I even ask about. I do not know if any of the makers that I have purchased knives from are members of either association. I am going to find the answers to this question very interesting. This could have some very interesting opinions by both makers and knife nuts.

I don't think that this subject has been beaten to death. As a matter of fact I don't remember seeing it brought up before. Of course that doesn't mean that it hasn't been, just that I haven't noticed it is all.

 

[Easyrider]

I'm waiting on my first custom to show up, I only have four more months to go. The individual who is making my knife happens to be a member of the Knifemakers Guild, now I didn't plan it that way, but it got me thinking about how other people buy knives. After reading some of the threads on "Custom vs. Handmade", "CNC vs. handtools" ect.
I can honestly say that I'm getting a handmade custom. There wasn't a feature or part on his standard model that we didn't discuss and changed. Standard Model is probably incorrect also, they are just a starting point really. I find it interesting to see what other people's knife purchasing criteria are.

 

[Bugs3x]

2 knives ordered isn't very much experience to draw upon. But, its all I have.

My first order will take years to fill. It is from a Master Smith. There are a lot of reasons I chose the maker to be the first custom I ordered. One of the chief reason is his determination to make every knife he makes at least a little better than the knife before, and his devotion to getting the most possible performance out of steel.

The second maker is also a member of the ABS. Though not so far along the path as the first, the maker is very serious about forging, and has a wide-ranging design ability.

Both knives ordered are fixed blades. Most of the knives I own thus far are folders, all manufactured.

I guess I see smiths as offering something that manufacturers and stock removers don't. I think it quite likely future custom purchases will also be from ABS members. That isn't to say tho that there aren't hundreds of custom folders and stock removal fixed blades I would love to own. If I were rich, theres no doubt in my mind that I would buy many folders and stock removal FBs. But, while my budget is as limited as it is, I think I'll go for forged knives.

 

[Brian_Turner]

Membership in professional organizations like the Guild or ABS show me that a maker or smith is serious enough about their craft to work toward it's advancement. Progression through the ranks of the ABS shows me that a maker is determined to grow personally, so determined that they will submit their work to panels of recognized, advanced practitioners for critique.

I care about knifemaking somewhat more than I care about the knives themselves. I support knifemaking through my membership (honorary/associate) in both organizations, and I almost expect that serious (not necessarily older or better) makers will participate. Active membership in these organizations shows me a dedication beyond just putting out knives.

I do not buy exclusively from Guild/ABS members, but I do place value on membership. And to me, the JS/MS stamps definitely add value.

 

[Ed Caffrey]

Whether a maker is a member of either the ABS or the Guild does not always give an assurance that the work will be top notch. It all boils down the the maker having a personal committment to quality. That being said, over the past several years, I have had many customers ask the question as to whether I was a member of the ABS or Guild. Many precieve membership as a mark of quality on the makers part. Which by all rights, it should.
Having been in the custom knife world for the last 17 years, I have come to understand that a good reputation can be a difficult thing to achieve, and a very easy thing to lose. My point being that a maker can spent years building a good reputation, and can destroy it with one shoddy knife! Those who enter the knifemaking world with the wrong ideas in their heads (making lots of money), are soon weeded out. Those who survive are the ones who are willing to put forth the effort and the time to create a truely outstanding product. Sacrafice is also a part of the game too. For example, when I tested for my ABS Mastersmith, I spent 7 months making nothing but the 5 knives that where to be judged. Orders where put on hold, and many things went undone in my life. I had a vision, and I had to work hard to make that vision come true. I believe that makers who are willing to put forth that type of effort, are ones who can be counted on to provide the customer with a top notch product.

 

[PhilL]

I buy handmade knives by the knife first, the maker second, titles or membership in an organization aren't a primary concern. Of the handmade knives I own I know I have four ABS Master smith knives. I know I own three knives by Guild members, but there could be more I'm just not sure. Mostly I stick with friends that are makers, for me that means a lot. My guess would be that some makers are joiners and some aren't, that's not going to reflect on my buying decision.