Maker's Mark Up or Down

[Patrice Lemée]

For a maker's mark located on the ricasso, I've always put it so you can read it with the point of the knife facing up. Seemed more natural to me. But I've noticed lately some makers putting it the other way, reading it point facing down.

How do you do it and what is the thought process behind your choice?

 

[jdm61]

Down, so the other guy knows who is sticking them.

 

[SBuzek]

UP...so I know who's sticking them.
I do mine up after looking at most all production knives and folders.
Stan

 

[S R Floyd]

For me it depends on the knife and where it looks best to me.

 

[raylaconico]

With the tip pointing up. For me, it doesn't look right the other way.

 

[Rick Marchand]

I put it in anyway it fits.

 

[drewfacehotm]

point on the left or near side, on the blade. othern side of the ricasso is for serial numbers, thats how i do it.

 

[RC Dobson]

I prefer it point down. That's the way it hangs on my hip, sticks in a tree stump, etc.

 

[PIndelicato]

I wondered too, Patrice. My take was that 'point up' makes it easier for the user to see who made the blade while holding it and 'point down' makes it easier for everyone else to see it and also makes it 'right side up' and legible in most photographs. I marked my first one 'point up' as it seemed this was what most other makers were doing, and my next three were 'point down'. I figured the guy/gal who owned and was using the knife knew who made it already, but to everyone else not holding the knife and those looking at the photos, perhaps in a 'for-sale' advertisement, ought to be able to easily read the maker's name.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

I put it in anyway it fits.

I am talking flipping it 180 degrees so it should fit either way I think.

Thanks for your input guys. It's interesting, like Ray, something doesn't quite look right for me point down. When I pick up a knife to look at it, I look at it mostly point up or horizontal, never point down. Maybe there is also the fact that I've seen more done point up and because preferred makers like Bruce Bump and Nick Wheeler just to name a few do it that way. That's also why I thought more people would answer point up.

Anywho, thanks again and feel free to jump in.

 

[butcher_block]

i think it has more to do how the knife is to be displayed

if you were mostly to display your knives verticaly then your mark might look silly upside down

 

[Rick Marchand]

I put it in anyway it fits.

I am talking flipping it 180 degrees so it should fit either way I think... /snip/

Really? She rarely lets me do that. There was this one time.... er, wait... what was this thread about again?

Rick

 

[NickWheeler]

The general, unwritten rule, is that a right handed person holding the knife will be able to look at the knife and read the name.

Of course, as with all unwritten rules, it's worth the paper it's written on

I think each guy should put it however it looks right to them, but personally, I do think it usually looks best that way.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

...personally, I do think it usually looks best that way.

Well I'll continue to put it the same way cause as you say, it looks right to me.
But now I'll also do it so I can say my knives have ONE thing in common with Nick's.