Money or Art

[TomW]

What has the strongest influence in a knife design?
The market or artistic expression?
How do you find the balance to satisfy both?
Some knifemakers just seem lucky to do what they like and it sells.
Maybe it's not as much luck as it seems.

 

[mikeS]

I quess the question to answer your question would be.

What do you want Money or ART?

Is it better to sell 50, $100.00 knifes or 1, $5,000.00 knife ?

Do want to be known as an Artiste?

Luck has nothing to do with it

 

[ddavelarsen]

I suspect any maker who caters strictly to the market without giving his muse a voice will produce objects with no life in them. But when the same maker gives his imagination rein even occasionally all his work would benefit. So it might follow that the most fiscally successful makers also follow their instincts more than they follow market analysis. I think this is why so many businesses seem to have lost their soul; they're over-managed. Just my 2c or less.

Dave

 

[Reg ELLERY]

I make a cheap knife/leter opener for the tourist market. I have sold
220 of them over the past 4 years I make about $20 each. I am just about sick of making them, except when I make them for people I like.

I made a nice litle fixed blade for a customer $140 I was excited the whole time.

It was not the money I liked it was the something different. It was fun. I made 2 just because I was not happy with the pattern in the damascus. It was still more fun.

 

[Bruce Bump]

About 50% of the knives sold are hunter/utility style and price range. I like to make them but dont like people telling me what they should look like. I want them to reflect my ideas and expressions. If you put your heart into them they will more than likely sell but they better cut and hold an edge first. A well made hunting knife will be used and give the owner bragging rights if it is also drop-dead gorgeous. Get the basics down first. I can sell anything if it was heat-treated by Paul Bos but I fell in love with damascus and seldom make stainless blades any more. Damascus requires higher prices because of the extra time it takes to learn and perfect including the heat-treating process which is the most important selling feature. Making knives is for the enjoyment of the maker so be sure to make them your way and they will sell.

BTY my $5000 pistol/folder isnt sold yet. That should tell me something. The art market is very small because of the price.