Maker's marks

[bandaidman]

I was looking at a well made custom slip joint recently and would have bought it except the marks' mark was unattractive

Some marks are visually appealing , like Don Hansens sunfish mark. Other are way too busy and clash with the flow of the knife. Proper geometry is also important. Weird angles on some folding knives are a big turn off to me

I think simple and clean is best. I prefer the artists name and not a symbol usually. There are exceptions of course (i.e. the sunfish). I like stamped vs etched but am open to both as long as the etch is very clean and sharp.

This is a relatively minor part of the assembly of a knife but if done wrong can adversely affect the appeal of the piece, at least to me. I don't mind an ID code or serial number but find dates to be a negative unless it signifies some significant event.

Thoughts? Is this an area that deserves more attention?

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

I was looking at a well made custom slip joint recently and would have bought it except the marks' mark was unattractive

Some marks are visually appealing , like Don Hansens sunfish mark. Other are way too busy and clash with the flow of the knife. Proper geometry is also important. Weird angles on some folding knives are a big turn off to me

I think simple and clean is best. I prefer the artists name and not a symbol usually. There are exceptions of course (i.e. the sunfish). I like stamped vs etched but am open to both as long as the etch is very clean and sharp.

This is a relatively minor part of the assembly of a knife but if done wrong can adversely affect the appeal of the piece, at least to me. I don't mind an ID code or serial number but find dates to be a negative unless it signifies some significant event.

Thoughts? Is this an area that deserves more attention?

I agree with a lot of what you said. Small and clean. Stamped > etched. Name > symbol.

Smaller and discrete are better than bigger and gaudy. Location also matters. I do not like marks on the major surfaces of the blade. Much better inside the handle of a folder or on the spine or ricasso of a fixed blade.

 

[BenR.T.]

Good subject! A mark can make or break the look of a knife. I get asked quite often, what does "Tendick" mean.

 

[Kevin Jones]

IMO, a good maker's mark is easily found but should not draw one's eye from the overall knife at a glance.

There are some exceptions where a maker's is so good or so iconic that's it's practically considered a design element in addition to identifying the maker. A couple examples would be the Bob Loveless 'double nude' mark and Bruce Bump's
'Football' mark.

 

[i4Marc]

Good subject! A mark can make or break the look of a knife. I get asked quite often, what does "Tendick" mean.

It means you're popular with the ladies.



Seriously though, I like just a simple last name in a legible font. Simple and dignified. I'm also not fan of the maker's mark on the blade bevels.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I was looking at a well made custom slip joint recently and would have bought it except the marks' mark was unattractive

Some marks are visually appealing , like Don Hansens sunfish mark. Other are way too busy and clash with the flow of the knife. Proper geometry is also important. Weird angles on some folding knives are a big turn off to me

I think simple and clean is best. I prefer the artists name and not a symbol usually. There are exceptions of course (i.e. the sunfish). I like stamped vs etched but am open to both as long as the etch is very clean and sharp.

This is a relatively minor part of the assembly of a knife but if done wrong can adversely affect the appeal of the piece, at least to me. I don't mind an ID code or serial number but find dates to be a negative unless it signifies some significant event.

Thoughts? Is this an area that deserves more attention?

Thank you!

 

[irbailey]

I've always found this an interesting subject.
My preference is for a small mark on the ricasso, although I agree with Kevin Jones when he mentions the marks of Loveless and a few others.
In the past I've been 'pulled up' by another UK maker for putting my mark on the 'wrong way'...by that I mean with my name the right way up when the knife is viewed tip down. My main argument regarding this is that if it was good enough for Bill Moran, then it's good enough for me!
Any thoughts on this?
My main reason for preferring a stamp on the ricasso, rather than an etch on the blade is that if a blade ever needs re-grinding or some harsh cleaning (in the case of an old non-stainless steel blade) the mark remains.
I'm also not keen on marks being too 'busy'. Names, logos, serial numbers, steel types, dates, etc.
To me, a nice looking knife is a nice looking knife. It doesn't need any extra 'window dressing' .

Ian.

 

[Kohai999]

IMO, a good maker's mark is easily found but should not draw one's eye from the overall knife at a glance.

There are some exceptions where a maker's is so good or so iconic that's it's practically considered a design element in addition to identifying the maker. A couple examples would be the Bob Loveless 'double nude' mark and Bruce Bump's 'Football' mark.

I have a Bruce Bump chute that is awesome in every way except the oval around his logo made it's way from the flat to the blade bevel.....killed the whole look and made it appear as if an amateur made the knife....I keep it to remind me that even the "greats" are completely capable of doing boneheaded things.....which I have paid for...makes me a bonehead too!

Good subject! A mark can make or break the look of a knife. I get asked quite often, what does "Tendick" mean.

Which is why I like your BRT logo much more!!!!





I will put an otherwise wonderful knife down and walk away if I don't like the orientation, style or size of the maker's mark.

Will no longer buy a knife if it does not have a maker's mark.....and you shouldn't either!!!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Doug C]

Fan of your mark, Ben. :thumbup:

Edit: As well as your great blades.

DC

 

[AVigil]

Good subject! A mark can make or break the look of a knife. I get asked quite often, what does "Tendick" mean.

It is one better then "Nine" dick

 

[canineforge]

Look away as soon as I see a large maker's mark. That is my main complaint.

Don't need the neon lights.

- Joe

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Good subject! A mark can make or break the look of a knife. I get asked quite often, what does "Tendick" mean.

I thought it meant "The Fat" in Dutch.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I have a Bruce Bump chute that is awesome in every way except the oval around his logo made it's way from the flat to the blade bevel.....killed the whole look and made it appear as if an amateur made the knife

Yep, doesn't matter how good the maker's mark design, unless it's applied correctly you've pretty much ruined the looks of the knife.

Will no longer buy a knife if it does not have a maker's mark.....and you shouldn't either!!!
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson

Quite frankly, I'm really surprised you ever purchased a knife without a mark.

 

[Kohai999]

Yep, doesn't matter how good the maker's mark design, unless it's applied correctly you've pretty much ruined the looks of the knife.

It's a damn shame, too!

Quite frankly, I'm really surprised you ever purchased a knife without a mark.

I did it a few times.....first time was J.W. Townsend, who was "gonna order new stencils asap"...then he quit making knives, and then he died. I gave the knife to his son, who couldn't have been happier. It was a real nice piece, J.W. called it the "Rattler", Devin Thomas ladder pattern damascus, red bone scales, sharkskin sheath....

Next Phillip Baldwin sent me a knife without a maker's mark, and I got some prototypes from Matt Diskin over the years that didn't have marks, but that has all been fixed up now.

The last time I didn't KNOW that there was no makers mark, and have been ragging on the maker since then to mark his work. Who knows if he ever will? "Attributed to" does not really work in the knife community....unless it's for a hardcore user that is gonna get fubar'd in the process.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Don Hanson III]

Look away as soon as I see a large maker's mark. That is my main complaint.

Don't need the neon lights.

- Joe

^^^Yep!^^^

 

[v8r]

Do you guys typically dislike the steel type being indicated on the blade Somewhere. I would actually like for more makers to indicate what steel it is as long as it's tasteful.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Do you guys typically dislike the steel type being indicated on the blade Somewhere. I would actually like for more makers to indicate what steel it is as long as it's tasteful.

I like it. Long as it's small... & the right steel.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Some marks are visually appealing , like Don Hansens sunfish mark. Other are way too busy and clash with the flow of the knife.
I think simple and clean is best. I prefer the artists name and not a symbol usually. There are exceptions of course (i.e. the sunfish).

Don's "sunfish" is certainly considered one of the better marks and Don's fame and recognition allow him to pull it off without knife enthusiasts wondering who made his knives.
I would recommend that new knifemakers try to include their names in some fashion into their mark as if you are good you want folks to easily associate your knives with you rather than having to try figure out it out by some symbol.

I currently have four of Don's knives and one has both sunfish and his name. Perhaps the best if done tastefully.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Do you guys typically dislike the steel type being indicated on the blade Somewhere. I would actually like for more makers to indicate what steel it is as long as it's tasteful.

I don't mind as long as it's real small .

I like how Tim Hancock incorporates the year knife was made into his "MS" stamp on the off-side.

 

[Russ Andrews]

Our aim should be to create works so finely crafted, so unique yet functional that
the learned will instantly recognize them, even with the mark side down.

A unique but modest mark may enhance that, but should never be used as a
substitute for it.

Henry.....Fogg....TMD.....