Makers delivery times

I received an email from the maker this evening. I'm not sure at this point how things are going to work out. I really want a knife from this maker, but I also don't want to be in the same position I am in now, two years from now. Hopefully the maker and I can come up with some kind of a plan.
 
Keith, it seems you have been more than patience in dealing with this situation. I hope it works out.
Communication is always best in these situations preferably by phone.
 
I'm not quite building the reputation I had hoped for! :o

While I appreciate Keith's respect for me and keeping my name out of this, most of you that know me also realize I'm not one to NOT stand up and raise my hand if I am in question.

I also am glad that he left it out as it gave people a better chance to give him an honest appraisal and not with any bias based on their friendship or lack thereof with me :)

Keith is right, I told him I'd send him sketches and I just plain forgot. :o

As far as not responding to his email, I got his first one included when he sent the second one saying he hoped he hadn't made me angry. I never did get the first one other than that, and I certainly wasn't dogging him or avoiding him. His concerns are all understandable and I have no room to be angry at all!!! But I do not feel to be backed into a corner either.

I have come to a point in my knifemaking that I finally realized I have an insatiable need to be considered one of the best with my fit/finish (and hopefully design at some point as well) yet withOUT an inherent ability to do things right the first time. Factor in my ADD and it's an awful combination as far as producing knives go.

I let Keith know that I really am not sure of when I could get to the knife and I will not promise a delivery date when I have not figured out how to back them up. I also let him know he can cancel and I would understand completely.

This is NOT to say I do not appreciate his interest!

I got too excited with people's response to my work and took too many orders and made commitments I just couldn't keep up with. Keith's order is the very last one that I took, and I am still about 10 knives out from being caught up. That doesn't sound like very many, but when you have ADD as bad as I do and not a lot of time in the shop, it equates to a long time.

I am working as best I can to deliver on all of my promises... it's just slow going.

Of course this is going to come off as yet another verbose Wheeler apology thread, but I wanted to own up to it and explain. So I suppose you will take it as you will.

Just to be even more open about it... these are the knives:

Jim Cooper- Integral
Mitch Lum- Hunter and Fighter
Joss- Integral
Peter- Danbo's doom
Roger/Stephen- FP camp/hunter set
STeven- dagger

So there you have it... No secrets, no amazing stories of how the tooth fairy stole the knives out of the mail ;) Just the way it is.
 
NickWheeler said:
I'm not quite building the reputation I had hoped for! :o

While I appreciate Keith's respect for me and keeping my name out of this, most of you that know me also realize I'm not one to NOT stand up and raise my hand if I am in question.

I also am glad that he left it out as it gave people a better chance to give him an honest appraisal and not with any bias based on their friendship or lack thereof with me :)

Keith is right, I told him I'd send him sketches and I just plain forgot. :o

....So there you have it... No secrets, no amazing stories of how the tooth fairy stole the knives out of the mail ;) Just the way it is.
Click to expand...

Nick, I HAVE my two Wheeler knives for the collection...and I love them...but I do want my dagger......someday.:D

You gave your word to Keith that you would get out the sketches....so do it...you are an honorable man...but easily distracted...set some time as a due date....and here is the kicker....meet it...it is a a start..and nothing more or less........but, you will have kept your word.

Best Rgards,

STeven Garsson
 
NickWheeler said:
Just to be even more open about it... these are the knives:

Jim Cooper- Integral
Mitch Lum- Hunter and Fighter
Joss- Integral
Peter- Danbo's doom
Roger/Stephen- FP camp/hunter set
STeven- dagger

So there you have it... No secrets, no amazing stories of how the tooth fairy stole the knives out of the mail ;) Just the way it is.
Click to expand...


Nick - please contact me before starting my knife. My goals might have changed in the last few years. :D

Eidted to say: What I really mean to say is that given the time it takes for my slot to come up, I'd like to modify the order to cover everything from a slip joint to a 2-handed sword, including a Morning Star and a full suite of armor. Thanks!
 
Hi Nick,

Nicely said. You remain honest and humble, if not productive. Fine.

Funny, I just looked at your website. There is an 'Available Knives' menu. Ahhh, those were ambitious days, eh...??! :p

Coop
 
Thanks guys :)



Joss, and anybody else on that list, you are welcome to cancel if you want. I get impatient if my ebay tool purchases don't get here within a couple weeks ;)... so I CAN empathize with your side of this :o

And also, Joss, I've started your knife about three times and never liked what I had going. I'll make sure we work the details out again if you're still interested :)

That's my other problem... I see knives like the ones that PTGDVC and Coop posted, made by Jason Knight. They look so perfect in line and execution. When I'm in my shop, everything I'm working on always looks wrong. It makes it NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to move forward. I have about 6 drawers full of blades that were started but don't look right to me.

Sometimes I think I'm like the anorexic girl that think she looks fat, other times I think the knives just plain, REALLY, don't look right. Well, as an example, EVERY SINGLE knife order I listed in my post has AT LEAST one blade forged out for it that just didn't set well with my gut.

I guess besides squatting 365 for 20 reps in 2008, my other goal should be to get that list completed :) ;)

Thanks again to everyone for the appreciation in my work and their friendship/understanding even knowing my quirks :)
 
Waiting lists are a two edged sword for most makers. Especially part timers. Life sometimes sits on you and before you know it, you're so far behind it's discouraging. All you can do is communicate, and chip away at the boulder.

Nick and I talked about a collaboration years ago, we are still waiting on each other to start! :D

Great thread!

Brett
 
I really appreciate the situation that Nick is in. The email that he sent out about his ADD never got to me, and it would have made a difference in my expectations. Along with that, it took some backbone to come here and let everyone know that it was him that was being discussed.

There is no way that I would expect my knife to be made before the others that are ahead of me. Although, if Joss orders a morning star and a suit og armour, I just might have to hunt him down and kill him.
 
Damn it, I saw John White's name on the page here and remembered he ordered a hunter from me when I was like 12! ;)

He can make a better one himself... so I'm not sure what that all adds up to now! LOL
 
Woops, didn't see your post Keith!

As STeven has said often, you're only as good as your word and the actions you make to back it up. He may be abrasive but he's solid, and my friend, and holds himself and those close to him to high standards :)

We'll discuss this on the phone like you wanted Keith :)

Oh, and if Joss orders a full set of armor I will just hire Jason Knight to make it ;) :D
 
NickWheeler said:
Thanks guys :)



Joss, and anybody else on that list, you are welcome to cancel if you want. I get impatient if my ebay tool purchases don't get here within a couple weeks ;)... so I CAN empathize with your side of this :o

And also, Joss, I've started your knife about three times and never liked what I had going. I'll make sure we work the details out again if you're still interested :)

That's my other problem... I see knives like the ones that PTGDVC and Coop posted, made by Jason Knight. They look so perfect in line and execution. When I'm in my shop, everything I'm working on always looks wrong. It makes it NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to move forward. I have about 6 drawers full of blades that were started but don't look right to me.

Sometimes I think I'm like the anorexic girl that think she looks fat, other times I think the knives just plain, REALLY, don't look right. Well, as an example, EVERY SINGLE knife order I listed in my post has AT LEAST one blade forged out for it that just didn't set well with my gut.

I guess besides squatting 365 for 20 reps in 2008, my other goal should be to get that list completed :) ;)

Thanks again to everyone for the appreciation in my work and their friendship/understanding even knowing my quirks :)
Click to expand...

Nick,
Very well said! Impressive and humble...
Good guy!

Once described as "precocious" ??? ;)
David
 
Yay Nick! Salt o the earth buddy, nice work! If everyone were as willing to be upfront and honest as you've shown yourself to be here in this thread, the world would be better for it.
:thumbup:
 
OK, Nick, you caught me. I was just sitting here chuckling over that little 3 3/4 inch hunter with temper line I ordered from you in 2003. Oh, yes, natural handle material. And what was the price?
Seriously, folks, I had been making knives for nine months when I saw this guy even I could tell had "it".
I'll get a Nick Wheeler someday, and I'll be tickled pink. (Just came in from putting a "Pink Ivory" handle on a hunter)
Meanwhile, pump up, Nick, and make a knife or two when you can, you're OK.
John
 
When you really think about it, for a maker to stop taking orders is a BIG step.

Basically, he/she is telling paying customers I can't sell you a knife unless you travel to a show and even then there's no guarantee.

But when they get to a certain point, it's the right business decision and a gutsy one at that.
 
Some makers should never take orders to begin with as lots of makers make much better knives when left to their own devices. The worst knives I have ever seen from great makers are those that are made "under the gun".
 
Several years back, I read an article in Blade about a maker that made some knives I really liked. I had casually participated on the Forums here and didn't really have much of an awareness of typical collector/maker relations such as lead times, expectations etc.

I used the contact information, called and spoke with the maker and he seemed VERY honest and sincere and said he would be happy to make me a knife, but it would take some time. He suggested I call him in 3 months. I called again in 3 months and received a similar response....call in 3 months.

In the meantime, another dealer I know that sells knives to this maker (the maker has a successful business selling a wide range of knives, axes, memorabilia) suggested I mention his name, which I did, after waiting the second 3 months. The maker was VERY receptive to hearing the dealers name and even said essentially "I owe him a lot and will be making him some VERY SPECIAL knives". Again the maker said he would be happy to make me a knife.

After over a year, the maker NEVER even sent any additional knives to the dealer, nor did he make one for me. My final correspondance to the maker was that I politely said I was dissappointed in his lack of keeping his word and would NOT contact him again. I never contacted him nor did he bother to contact me.

Over time I have seen more publicity in Blade about him and of his charitable acts, making knives for his hunting buddies, etc. In my opinion, he his NOT a man that can be taken at his word. To some, and perhaps him, that is of little significance but WHY tell me to keep contacting him and WHY make promises? He could have simply said...I have a backlog that will take ....however long to catch up.

Peter
 
NickWheeler said:
Thanks guys :)

Joss, and anybody else on that list, you are welcome to cancel if you want. I get impatient if my ebay tool purchases don't get here within a couple weeks ;)... so I CAN empathize with your side of this :o
Click to expand...

And if anyone does, please let ME know - I'd be only too happy to take over your spot. ;)


NickWheeler said:
That's my other problem... I see knives like the ones that PTGDVC and Coop posted, made by Jason Knight. They look so perfect in line and execution. When I'm in my shop, everything I'm working on always looks wrong. It makes it NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to move forward.
Click to expand...

That sounds like the ADD and maybe a pinch of OCD at work. I remember when you were refinishing the two JS test knives and kept thinking they weren't quite good enough. I know you STILL felt that way when you finally shipped them. And yet they are as perfect as any knives I have ever owned by any maker and far ahead of most.

NickWheeler said:
Sometimes I think I'm like the anorexic girl that think she looks fat...
Click to expand...

I suspect it's a lot like that - but if you are aware of the mis-perception, that's likely a strong step in the direction of breaking free of it. You're NOT fat - those knives are NOT horribly flawed, so go have a cheesburger and get 'em finished. :D

Roger
 
Thanks guys... :)

Thanks Roger! :D

I had a nice chat with Keith on the phone... just a genuinely nice and easy going fella. Hope I didn't run up his phone bill too much! :o

One thing that occurred to me is how much Keith stuck his neck out... It really clicked when I looked at the "do we need shows" thread. Like Grapevine pointed out, you can't get the true feel and critique of a knife just by pictures. Keith has not met me in person, nor has he handled my knives, so as opposed to someone like PTGDVC who knows what my handles feel like, and how freakishly anal I am about f&f... Keith only had pictures and information from the forums to go off of.

That speaks volumes for the faith he put in me actually being able to make a quality knife. Thank you for that Keith! :) :cool: :thumbup:

I think this should also be a lesson to makers that you have to mind all your p's and q's... cross all your t's and dot all your i's. I can make a good knife, but haven't gotten a solid grip on super reliability yet. If you want to be REALLY respected in this field you gotta have it all. Guys like Burt Foster are shining examples of this and give me something to aspire to and work towards.

Okay... I'm following the advice I garnered from a TV commercial the other day... "Stop Talking.... Start DOING." Back to the shop! :D

:D


Thanks again everyone!!! :)
 
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