Maker's Mark Help (for real)

T

tr3yanderson

Joined
Mar 6, 2017
Messages
72
Hey everyone,

I Need some of your creative juices to help me out with my maker's mark. I've read through a few threads here and it seems that putting a variation of your name is highly favored. I have a few ideas and want to know your thoughts.

The first one is just a stylized "T" for my first name then my last name
However, I am the third and would like to try and incorporate that into my makers mark, so I added it in the second option but I don't really like it, just seems too busy and long.

So then I took out my last name and left the T and the III which I kind of like since it is shorter and simpler. Plus Henderson just isn't a very cool last name... and I have a second variation of this in the fourth option.

So which ones do you all like? or what would you change? I'm not 100% set on anything so your opinions won't hurt my feelings :). Thanks

#1
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#2
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#3
punAv0e.png

#4
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I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but I don't see any reason to put USA on it unless you deal in an international knife market. I like #1 for clarity.
 
The first one for sure over the other, and perhaps replace USA with name of your city & state to make it easier for folks to find you. I didn't realize that first character was a "T" until you mentioned.

The general rule for maker's mark is simple, and can find with an internet search.
 
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I agree with Ken H, having a mark that someone can look at and be able to run a search and figure out who who are is what you want.
 
the ones with usa on look like the kind of logos the Chinese use to fake the origin

i think the hollowed out T will give you problems with etching -
Also - I don't recognize it as a T until you explained it.

I'd just go with first initial and last name in a sans serif fone- check the knives annual to see if anyone else has that name.
 
I was fotunate to see the late Bob Loveless a few times in his shop where he had anyone that wanted to make knives stop by on Saturdays. When I asked him about this. His comments where.——————————————- Whatever you do! Have Your name & Town. So folks can find you! My avatar is my logo. Keep it simple with bold lines so it etchs well into the steel. Stay safe, have fun!
 
#1. Will be easy to read on small blade and is easy for customers to repeat to friends to sell more knives.
 
I don't recognice that as a T.
If you wouldn't have explained I would have guessed a bird, a mask/face or a bodypart
 
I agree the "T" looks cool but it doesn't really look like a T. You think your name isn't cool but that is OK at least most can spell and pronounce your last name. Mine has been butchered in more ways that I can count. Make it as easy as you can for someone who likes your knives and has no idea who you are to be able to find you.
 
Yep, a simple "Henderson" on first line, with "City Name, TX" on second line. Just how many Hendersons will be in your town making knives? You could also use "T. Henderson" on first line with the "T" actually looking like a "T". While it's tempting to use "Henderson Knives" on first line, everybody will know it's Henderson knives since they are holding a knife in hand. Keep the logo as simple as possible to best etching, or stamp, depending on method of applying logo.
 
Wow thanks for all the replies, a lot of good tips. seems #1 is getting the most love right now. based on the tips so far I've made some changes and some other ideas. Good observation AVigil AVigil , as the Stylized "T" is in fact an adaptation of the negative space of a spartan helmet. Which was a part of a logo from a previous business I had. So I was trying to incorporate it into my makers mark.

I see what others were saying about the "T" not looking much like a "T" so I made a couple of changes to hopefully make the "T" more noticeable. Better? Worse? So #5 now is an edit of my original #1. #6 I added "Knife and Tool" which doesn't look to bad. #7 now is just abbreviation of T Henderson Knife & Tool. Then #8 is further shortened for smaller spaces indicating Henderson Knife & Tool.

What do you all think of the new ones?

#5
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#6
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#7
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#8
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A few comments - because you ask ;)

• Your T looks like a screw profile to this woodworker. If you could change the bottom leg to evoke a blade (dagger or otherwise) and lose the slot in the t0p cross piece :thumbsup:

• I especially like the simplicity of the TIII (T3)

• Agree that the USA adds no value - though I might add your state. I like knowing that about
custom knives.

• # 6 is great for a letterhead but I don't think would scale very well to a blade stamp.

• I know lots of folks use their full names or long company names but - speaking for myself - I always prefer a simple logo that formats well to any media. You can always make up bigger signage for letterheads or T shirts but it's the simple graphic that will carry the weight of recognition.

Good luck. You are getting there.

Ray
 
Over the years I've seen a number of threads over in the Custom subforum with guys asking people to help ID a logo of name on their knives. Here is a recent example from December of a knife that is still yet to be identified, I even researched myself out of curiosity and couldn't find anything close:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=Y0dkbllNY3prOXotZC1NTWw5OHVMc2xjZHZWSzdB

...and the backside:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=RUJWZUx0S29UNzBnMXZETTNCcWNLRWNuRXFMYjB3

Now, even with all of those initials on the blade with two separate and pretty distinct looking logos, it still could not be identified. My point is that you should at least have your last name spelled out as you do in some of your samples. Ones like #3, 4, 7, & 8, while simple, smart, clever, and cool (I like them), are probably not going to be able to be identified unless you become a famous maker. You can always use one of those logos as a sheath stamp, or even on the opposite side of the blade if you wanted to, or as stickers or shirts and so on as Ray suggested, but at least have a clear first initial and full last name. Just my $.02

~Paul
My Youtube Channel
... (Just some older videos of some older knives I've made in the past)
 
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