Makers Mark

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
3,415
I got a question on marking your blades. I sold a knife to this fella and he loved it and went on about how good the workmanship was on the knife. My head grew and I flipped up my shirt collar like elvis then saw some knives on here and all that went away quickly. Thats another story. Anyways this feller told me how he would like to see me start marking my knives. I put a tang stamp on my knives that have my first name initial and them my last name like this:

F.
AGUIRRE

It is a little faint but not invisibe. Could he have not seen it or is he talking more of a full name, city, state, and steel used? I am a little confused. I didn't want to sound clueless to a customer and ask what he meant. I am waiting for an etching machine to arrive and need to think about what stencil I want to get made for me. Thanks guys.

-frank
 
If you're marking them with your name, they're marked IMO. You've seen mine, just a simple acid etched FRY. I've pondered a stamp or etcher, but just haven't been able to swing it yet.
 
I think your stamp is sufficient. No need to clutter up the blade by adding a bunch of information. If you're happy with a stamp, then stick with it. My etch has my city and state, but a great many makers much more famous than I'll ever be just have first initial and last name.

--nathan
 
Thanks guys. Thats what i was figuring. I guess getting a good mark is what I need to work on. Something more visible but not to much as to look cheezy. Ahh nutz I guess there goes the picture of the meskin dude with a sombrero taking a nap stencil I wanted for my etch. Hehehe.
 
I got a stamp with just my 1st initial and last name back in March or April. I am just now getting to where I leave a good impression that you can still see after hand sanding the blade. I don't have a press just my hand and a hammer. It has taken some practice but the marks are looking better. I practice on the tang first and sometimes on scrap.
 
I have my stencils made (Ernie) and I am a pretty bummed that I have not been able to use one on a blade yet. It looks like a record year at work so no shop time for me as yet. Anyway here 'tis.

makers_mark.jpg
 
What program are you guys using to create the image you want on a stencil? I don't have photoshop or anything like that. I really wouldn't want to buy it just for drawing up a stencil. The paint program just doesn't cut it.
 
I used Word and then photoshop to make mine. I then sent it to Ernie who took it, tweaked it, and sent me some proofs to choose from.

I bet if you were to email Ernie a good drawing, or even an complete idea of your desired design, he would be willing to work up a couple of stencil proofs for you and email them to you. I hate to speak for him, but he's a good guy to work with and would probably be able to whip it up no problem. Basically, anything that can printed in black and white clearly with sharp edges can be made into a stencil. To make them, you actually print the design on transparency sheets and use it to photodevelop the stencil material. I've been meaning to get around to making my own light box for producing my own stencils, but Ernie is so good, I've just never got around to it.

--nathan
 
Hhmmmm, I think I will send Ernie an email tommorrowwith a hand drawing. Thanks
 
Pancho if you have Microsoft Office 2007 click on the insert tab on a blank document and look to the right and you will see a "WordArt" tab. You can go into there and play with all kinds of designs and fonts to give you an idea of what you want. Hope that helps some.
 
Thanks Wade. Ok I got these two made up. Simple, I can always get fancy later when my knives do. Which one do you guys like. These will be no more than 3/4 of an inch high.

picture.php
 
I dig the second one. Or, you could hop on your high horse and just go with only your name and where you live, and let the look of the knife be the seller instead of a badass etched name!:D Heh, I only use my first initial and full last name. Only problem is my knives are not that badass looking to put my opinion into action!!:D
 
I was thinking of just the first initial and the last name but it leaves the door open to cracking jokes. F. AGUIRRE See what I mean. I may just do the name with no pics and keep it simple.
 
I like the second one best Pancho. In fact I offer one other suggestion. Put just a plain Texas star in the middle instead of the paw print, but then I just like the Texas start too.
 
I like the rounded shape of the second one, but the star in the first one, and if you have the star, I'd leave out T E X A S because it'd probably be too small to see clearly.
 
Well it was a good idea! :D And I just think the letters for TEXAS would be too small, so I thought I'd point it out.
 
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