Making Changes

LongRifle

LongRifle

Joined
Apr 5, 2000
Messages
2,018
Is it ok to make changes to a knife design that was already agreed upon? I do this and feel awful. I have a folder on order, that hasn't been started yet, I emailed the maker asking him to change the blade to a lock back instead of a slip joint. The price was changed, but I still feel bad for being a fickle customer. Is changing the design ok? Is there a proper way I should go about doing this? On a side note, the new design was the design we originally discussed, after we made some changes (and waited about 6 months) I am reverting back.

Matthew
 
Well, im usually willing to change a knife order up until i start the knife. Once i start a knife i become very reluctant to deviate from the agreed design; finish and handle material are all that i will change once i start. If the maker agreed to teh changes then you shouldnt worry about it, if the maker had a problem with the changes, he should have told you. If he didnt say anything then dont worry about it.
 
As long as the knife is not started I see no problem.....a good idea is to email the final decisions to the maker if you have gone over several emails discussing it....that way there is no doubt what you want and what price was agreed upon
 
In my opinion it never hurts to ask. If the maker agrees then you have managed to get what you want. The only time I can see it being a problem is when the customer isn't clear about what they want and a knife is made that doesn't meet the unclear expectation. In your case it just sounds like a change in design.
 
This hits a little close to home for me. I ordered my first custom knife from a guy here in town by the name of Keith Coleman. Well a couple of months ago I changed the blade length a little bit, with out any problems. Of course I headed over to his place last week with a buddy of mine who wanted to order a stag handled fix blade from Keith; while there he showed me the beginnings of my knife(:D ). Well we got talking about my knife and I mentioned that, although I wanted to leave the choice of Cocobolo wood up to him, I was partial to having the wood grain going vertical instead of horizontal. Well Keith then grabs some cocobolo off of the shelf and we decide on a new
handle configuration. I feel kinda of bad, but Keith seemed to have no problem with it, and he seemed to enjoy the creative process. I can wait for this knife, it is going to be beautiful! :D I would think that if the knifemaker doesn't have a problem with making changes, then I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
 
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