Knifemakers Christmas season gift exchange!

Matt,
When I said that it was the Best Knife I had ever made, I was referring to the fit and finish. I've had some help recently from Tom Kernan and Matt Pinoy, with pointers on grinding, fitting guards and handles, etc. This help has allowed me to get very good fit and finish of the joints now, that I couldn't achieve about 6 months ago.
 
Matt, The folks here are just plain glad to make knives. If it was all about money they wouldn't be giving them away to start with.
There was a knife in the hat (KITH) exchange a few years ago. All types of makers joined in. The knife I made was one I was proud to send to a fellow maker .It was up to the skill level I possessed. The one I received was one that its maker was proud to make and sent to me.I believe it was the best knife he had made at that point in time. Were the equal -NO, did it matter to me DEFINITELY NOT !!!. I was happy to receive it and still own it.
Stacy
 
Stacy,
With all due respect, I couldn't give two pinches of shit about what knife I receive, or if I even receive one at all. My ONLY concern was that the person on the receiving end of my present would feel slighted because the knife he or she receives from me truly will be something they can carry everyday.
And then you must also consider that there are other makers in the project that could not possibly make a knife anywhere close to as nice as what other more experienced makers in the project may be able to make. If all knives given were indeed "simple everyday carry type of knives" the younger makers that were VERY hesitant(reread the first couple of pages) to even join this project in the beginning would feel a lot better about showcasing their work as well. I just don't see the benefit of possibly turning this into a contest of who can give away the nicest knife, when there are young makers involved here that haven't the experience to produce them yet.
Matt
 
Matt,

I feel IMO that you are taking this the wrong way. Scott and some of the others who have posted the pics are posting because they are proud of what they have created, not to "show off" or win a contest. If you wish to back out for whatever reason, please email me your person and I will send a second knife out to them from the batch I just got heat treated. I have no issue with this at all and just like the fact that someone will be getting a good (and yes, some will get a great) knife in this. Email if this is your wish.
 
Eric
You're probably right i may be overreacting, but as I said I just don't want the receiver to feel slighted.
I do not wish to back out at all. I quite enjoy the idea of this project and hope the recever carries it at all times and perhaps even uses it to slay a Bigfoot just to prove to us all that they truly exist:D
My feelings are very few and don't get hurt easily or often, my concern was geared soley to the feelings of others here involved.
Matt
 
I understand and honestly I have slowed to a crawl on my progress for the same reasons, to make it to the best of my ability. With that said, and not to compare you to a 10 year old, but I just had a conversation with my daughter about how it doesn't matter what you give as much as the time or thought you put into it (the bad tie conversation). Now, was I disappointed when I heard the hawk was received by someone else? Yea, just a bit...I read it and said to my girlfriend "Aw, man, I didn't get the hawk" :D But hey, if you think about it this way, if Scott, Stacy or any of the other more experienced makers wanted a show knife, they'd just make it for themselves. We all get what we get and as long as the maker put his time and energy into it, I don't care if it's a barely sharp chunk of steel with a pine slab stuck on the end. I would treasure it as another life memory and next year I hope we can organize this again.
 
I'm glad to hear everyone isn't expecting a museum piece, because what I made isn't. I do think I was thinking differently than some others when I made my knife. I really was trying to make something that someone could wear on a belt daily for "chores."

Since this was the first knife I have sent to someone else I kind of went through a strange range of emotions. I was concerned about what someone else would think of the knife. I was worried that my work would be acceptable, especially to a knifemaker. Then there was a little bit of me that wanted to keep it too. But in the end I really hope that the recipient enjoys it.

On a side note. When I made my knife, I also finished up another one. I had shown it to a couple of friends to see what they thought of them. Well, one of those guys called me yesterday and asked me if I still had that other knife and if it was spoken for. I did still have it, and no, no one had asked for it. He wanted to buy it for his son for Christmas. I SOLD MY FIRST KNIFE! Now I realize it was to a friend but I was ecstatic that someone thought it was good enough to give to their son for Christmas.

Figuring out pricing is tough too......but that's a topic for another thread.

Merry Christmas everyone.
 
mine is in the mail, final photos once my wife is done with whatever she does when i take pictures...

I feel some of what Matt is talking about- I mean, a simple EDC is about my speed right now (well, the forged throwers and nessmuks are pretty fine, but my finish work is....workmalike)- I've only been doing this since march, not counting a few abortive attempts and kit knives.

Some of these knives are .... well, there's a LOT coming out here that would make a fine blade "xmas special" shoot, yknow?

I put out a good knife, in a pattern and handle material that should matter to the person receiving it as authentic "murkkin" - but it sure isn't ivory :)

every time i put a knife in the mail it drives me crazy because i KNOW it's not perfect. But I guess that's what drives us to get better.

What i did this year i'll be able to do twice as presentably next year, right?
 
All I was trying to do with this little project was to see how many smiles we could put on peoples faces when a package arrived in the mail.
 
the way i look at it is like this. i want to make the best i can with the skills i have learned over the many years in knifemaking. my defanation of EDC is a quality knife that someone can use knowing that i did the best i could. my knives have gotten better year after and i use my most up to date skils. i think every one hear is doing the same. every one is at a diffrent point in there skils and i know everyone is doing there best. and knowing that means that the knife i get cant be compared to another.:)
 
exactly, Ickie. The whole thing makes me smile every day, and especially every time someone posts photos- EVERY knife i've seen has been great! It can be a bit .. humbling sometimes, but we all start from somewhere and do our best. This is a fantastic way to hone our community spirit.

Personally, aside from my previously remarked misgivings every time i mail a knife (nerves)- it's been a blast so far. I definitely hope ********** likes it when he gets it :)
 
Personally, aside from my previously remarked misgivings every time i mail a knife (nerves)

Don't expect that to go away any time soon i still worry about whether the person recieving every knife i send out will like it. That is just a sign that you care. I think it is great that everyone is having fun with this. Its about a gift and the joy of giving!
 
Let just not worry about this so much. I went out to my shop and took a good piece of steel and made a knife with it to near the best of my abilities. It wasn't fancy but, I picked out a nice piece of wood and some horn to help set it off. Added a bit of file work to make me a bit happier as well as the receiver. I enjoyed it. From His posts I know it was well received. I am happy and so is he. Thats great and what its all about. I could have used a piece of stainless damascus I have and some high dollar dyed and stabilized maple burl, But that wasn't nessecary or the spirit. If some one gets involved in this and isn't happy with the knife he receives the problem isn't with the maker. It is with the reliever. Some people are never happy, I doubt though those type are going to get involved in this type of deal.

I guess if I had slammed a edge on a piece or flat stock and pop riveted on a couple hunks of wood on it the receiver would have a right to be pissed cause that is not a knife by MY standards. I would not be happy with myself either.
 
scottickes said:
All I was trying to do with this little project was to see how many smiles we could put on peoples faces when a package arrived in the mail.
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Hear, hear! I've been making knives a little while now, but I still like to swap production blades on the exchange just because I LOVE GETTING A KNIFE IN THE MAIL. :D I mean, I really love it. What could be better?
 
"All I was trying to do with this little project was to see how many smiles we could put on peoples faces when a package arrived in the mail."

And you succeeded.:D
 
ib2v4u said:
Let just not worry about this so much. I went out to my shop and took a good piece of steel and made a knife with it to near the best of my abilities. It wasn't fancy but, I picked out a nice piece of wood and some horn to help set it off. Added a bit of file work to make me a bit happier as well as the receiver. I enjoyed it. From His posts I know it was well received. I am happy and so is he. Thats great and what its all about. I could have used a piece of stainless damascus I have and some high dollar dyed and stabilized maple burl, But that wasn't nessecary or the spirit. If some one gets involved in this and isn't happy with the knife he receives the problem isn't with the maker. It is with the reliever. Some people are never happy, I doubt though those type are going to get involved in this type of deal.

I guess if I had slammed a edge on a piece or flat stock and pop riveted on a couple hunks of wood on it the receiver would have a right to be pissed cause that is not a knife by MY standards. I would not be happy with myself either.
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WHAT,I could have had stainless damascus and burl:eek:Jus kidding Jim,I'm happy as can be with my knife,but glad you didn't do the last paragraph-and would have been happy receiving one from anyone on this forum.and that's the truth--Butch:thumbup::thumbup::D
 
and scotch tape :P but seriously, i will be glad to receive anything someone has put time and energy into making for me. there is no greater gift. the level of craftsmanship is not the issue. i know mine is still sub par for selling amung such high end pieces, but i know it is functional in all accounts and will be a good knife to the best of my ability. and on that note, it is finished and sheathed, i gave it a test drive and wore it all day yesterday. i will be making a box and shipping it asap. and iv started checking for mail every day like Ralphie waiting for his Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Ring. :)
-Lou
 
dlpierson said:
I've already praised Justin's in the other thread, but again: you did great Justin!
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Well what a surprise, it just arrived here today! :)

It's every bit as cool as it looked in the pictures you took of it.
I'll post a pic or two of it here this weekend when I have some
light.

It's very light and comfortable in the hand. I'm especially fond of integrals too! :D
 
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