Knifemakers; What do you want from your customers?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
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Just for once, I thought maybe we should give the knifemakers the mike and ask them what are the things you would like to get from your customers.

To put it simply, what type of client would strike you as ideal?

Of course, the guy who pays up in full before he gets the knife would count as one of the best, but what about the rest?

Some people ask for too many things that may not be so feasible. A lot ask for things you may not have.

One or two may be too pushy. Others too impatient and a minority can never be satisfied.

So who, in your mind, constitutes the best customer?
 
My ideal customer doesn't have too much to add to a knife,if that sounds right. Someone who says" make me a Bowie with a 9-10 inch bade with a guard and handle" Then allows me to make the knife as I see it. I relly enjoy it when a customer trusts me enough to let me design their knife:)
 
the client that has seen your work and say's i want a 10" chisel grind sashmi knife and i am left handed and i like that handle material. its great when you have that trust.
 
I know a few makers like orders plain and simple.
Make me a scagel.
Make me a loveless.
Make me something BIG BAD AND SCARY.


So...Im starting to place orders like that :D
 
Well, I am not a knife-maker. Don't even play one on TV. (Mo doesn't either :))

One thing that always amazes me when I talk to some (not all) very talented makers is that on occasions they get a little tired of making the same old thing or things. Some of these folks have orders for say 30 hunters. Don't get me wrong, they are thankful for those orders and each will be a fantastic knife. At the same time, I always hear comments from friends who say they would love to just be able to make a knife that they want to make. A lot of these folks will not admit it, but they are artists. After all they are taking some pretty non functional raw materials and making a knife out of it.

Taking all that into account, My thoughts are that in general it is best to let the artist do their thing, when I have done that I usually end up with a closer friend and a knife that is beyond my expectations.
Like RHINO said "its great when you have that trust". (It is also turns out to be great for the customer.)
 
If it is a working or using knife, I would like for them to use it and let me know how it performs for them. Feed back is the best thing for business and customer relations that I know of. I like happy customers that are glad they bought mine.
If it is pretty, it will still be able to perform if the need arises. This is what I strive to achieve in knife making and it takes customers that use them to let you know how it holds up for them.
Since I am not a full time maker until June 1, 2004, I try to schedule knives so that I can make one for me every so often. This takes care of any repetition that I might have (haven't had very much so far). Sometimes, when a customer sends a drawing, it is a challenge to get it real close to the drawing. The mistakes are Mine :). It is also a learning tool to see if you can do it.
 
The client that impressed me the most stated her order as follows. "My husband loves your knives, he wants a Bowie, about --- inches long. I want you to challenge your self, make your best knife, expense is no object, I want your best for you and him both."

I thought about the knife for a few days, then went to work on it full time, long days and nights. When I put the finishing toutches on it, my pulse was 120. I enjoyed making the knife so much, I cut 1/4 off of the price. She, through her order, took me to a realm I did not feel I would ever reach. I believe that I was more excited over the knife than either she or her husband could have been. I could not wait for the phone call Christmas morning to hear what they thought. The knife was a success all the way around.
 
One that orders a knife the way I want to make it.
Upon receipt says, "oh my, this knife is so beautifull, I'm going to send you an additional $500.00-1000.00, so I can sleep at night".
And then asks what I can make him next, when I have time.
Sh1t, then I woke up. ;) :D
 
One that orders a knife the way I want to make it.
Upon receipt says, "oh my, this knife is so beautifull, I'm going to send you an additional $500.00-1000.00, so I can sleep at night".


(I must be a fool :D, been there done that as a customer.)
 
She took me to a realm I did not feel I would ever reach. I believe that I was more excited over it than either she or her husband could have been.
Click to expand...

Dont let angie hear that :p ;) :D
ok,so i did edit the quote just a hair
 
I have been fortunate to have several customers make my day.One ordered a hunting knife and just gave approximate dimensions,everything else was up to me.He called back a month after receiving it and told me about killing a 350 lb wild boar with it,he was very happy and so was I.Another just wanted a big bowie,just make it he said, no other instructions other than big.I figured that this knife would never see action,but the customer picked up his knife,was thrilled and took it home and cut half his backyard down.Then called back and ordered two more knives.You just gotta love it sometimes.Dave:D
 
Last knife I bought, the dealer said he had made one I'd like. It wasn't the dagger we had been talking about, but I trusted his judgement.

This is what he sent.

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It pays to trust your knifemaker.
:D :D :D
 
I will just give a quick example of my experience as a Customer. (I am a knifemaker)

I have my sheaths made for me because I just don't have the time. When I first started having Jim Augustson make my sheaths I was very specific as to what I wanted. I then started looking around his shop and started to see just how talented he actually is. I mean a completely hand tooled hand stitched Custom made saddle that was georgous!

Right then I decided to let him make the sheaths to the knife. Rather than me doing the directing.
I told him just make what you like and whatever
you think fits the knife!

The results were amazing:D
The sheaths went from wow to Fantastic overnight!
My customers love em.
If you click on the link you can see just a glimpse of his artistry. There are even more pics at the Exchange: Knifemaker Fixed Blades
 
I called a customer in New York last week; I hadn't spoken to him in over a year. I described a knife I had just finished, told him it made me think of him, and asked him if I could send him a picture of it. He said, "No, just send me the knife." He called yesterday to say he was delighted with it.:)
 
It'd be a real leap of faith to let a maker loose on any idea he chooses. For me, anyway. I'd feel more comfortable with at least getting a sketch of the intended direction.

As to materials and what goes good with what, again, at least see some photos of the materials laid together.

In both of the above, this is designed by and completely generated by the knife maker.

You would still get the custom idea that is the maker's, but any surprises would then be happy ones as to how well it all came together.
 
well.....one of the good once was a customer and friend who just recieved 2 of my knives and then ordered a folder....make it like it was for you.....so now I am planning TWO knives...one for him and one for me :)
 
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