Makers Mark or Monogram?

timos-

timos-

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
2,164
Hi All,

I really need a new logo/ makers mark.
Here is my makers mark:
TIMJOHNSONmakersmark.jpg


I have not been putting mine on my blades because well, I hate how it looks! I have a 210mm gyuto that I am finishing up and I just cant bare to put this on the blade. The only time I might use the makers mark I have is if I was doing a Loveless type knife.

I appreciate the look of makers marks in cursive and like the clever monogram type designs. I have been using this little monogram on my drawings and other stuff since I was a kid. It is just a T connected to a J with the negative space in between representing an A. How do you think it would work for knives and other tools? edit: i realize this one here is sloppy, just a 1 minute sketch in paint, you get the idea though.
TAJMonogram.png



I have been working with alot of Japanese kitchen knives lately and appreciate how the marking and symbols actually add to the overall aesthetic even though I dont know what they mean.

I like the use of symbols (Don Hanson's Sunfish for example) and wonder how does a maker go about claiming one as his own? I imagine most of the stamps/ symbols I see custom makers using are not trade marked.

Thanks for any opinions and feedback you would like to share.

Also came across a cool video that anyone interested in this topic will like.
http://vimeo.com/lyndavimeo/aaron-draplin
 
Pretty cool video.

I too am at the exact spot you're at with this whole thing. I have an Personalizer etcher, I just haven't taken the time to iron it out and get the design over to TusTech for stencils. I really like the idea of using a interesting symbol that has significance to my design but I don't want to get too abstract with things either. Something simple and not distracting.
 
Tim, I am in a similar position about wanting to change my mark. However, I am coming from the opposite side. What I am currently using is a monogram of my initials CAJ to make a horse head profile.
5ZFRLlD.jpg


I've used that monogram for years, much longer than I have been trying to make knives. My friends all recognize it and know what name goes with it. Do you? I've found that less than half the people I meet even know that it is my initials just by looking. So if I am to continue getting better and continue to make knives I feel I need more. How will someone that sees one of my knives know who I am or how to find me? Google search won't even work. I am thinking of changing mine to the monogram followed by the rest of the letters in my last name, to make it a monogrammed (CAJ)ones. Not sure if this will resolve all my concerns but it is a start.

With yours, maybe put the monogram or some other symbol to identify your work in the center instead of "maker". Personally I would stay away from a pure monogram makers mark, but that ultimately is your choice.

My apologies for going off on my own tangent. Good luck,
Chris
 
Guys, if you want to just make a few and sell to friends a curved Character chop is fine. If you want people to be able to contact you to order a knife because let's face it, most folks can't remember S*%T.

I combined a logo, my name and town in my stencil and have stayed with that same one for about 17 years and have had a few knives turn up all over the country and several people contact me to order knives as well. I'm not any giant in our industry but I suggest you guys put your name & town in a legible fashion.

My Avatar up here in the top left corner in my makers mark and it has serviced me well
 
I agree with Karl and Laurence...completely.
 
I hear where you guys are coming from, that is why I chose my makers mark in the first place. My name is so generic though I think that is why I dont like it. In fact there is another Tim Johnson in CT and people get us confused all the time. Ive had people order knives/services only to find out I was not the guy they were looking for come delivery time. It is pretty frustrating , you would think people notice my location is different than the other guy but they dont. Its happened on at least 4 orders this past year. Id like to move away from my name as my only identifier for these reasons. It is nice to know that people can find me based off only seeing my mark on a knife in the field or what not but so far all my orders have been from my activity on the net and my email/ website. Laurence, that is a good thought to combine the two, I think I will have to figure a way to put my name and location together in a somehow aesthetically pleasing way.
 
I like your mark, but what is that thing at the bottom? ;) But seriously, how many threads have you seen where even a knife with someone's last name on it is not easily identifiable because there are a number of knifemakers past and present with the same last name??
 
Why not both? A stylish character/logo on one side and a smaller name/location on the other.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top