mutual respect

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Hahaha! The reason why I am laughing is because this is just a joke and you guys have not done your history lessons. Farid came on this forum, started a thread stirring up the pot, got everybody jumping in drinking the coolaid and then posted our correspondence. This isn't the first time a maker has used me as a spring board and this won't be the last.
So let me shed a little light on this from the very beginning: I have been making knives for 28 years and everyone that knows me knows that I don't cheat, lie or BS anybody; I also don't take other people's BS. About 5-6 years ago I was working on a new pivot that incorporated flats to reduce friction and trap oil and my friend Tim Wilson (fellow knifemaker) said why don't you add a retention screw to prevent the pivot screw from unscrewing. This is a very common mechanical retention device found in the machining industry. As a matter of fact I have 5 machines in my shop that use the exact same method to hold a screw in place. Also I think you can find these screws on MSC and McMaster-Carr. So Farid did not "invent" anything; he used something that was already in the industry. It is as stupid as saying the bronze washer is my idea! That is besides the fact.
So I had these pivots made for the both of use by Michael Sheffield (Sheffield Knife Supplies); as a matter of fact Darrel Ralph copied this and is selling them to Knifekits.com. So fast forward 5-6 years to present time; I get some freaking email from some knifemaker I didn't think was still in the industry, guns blazing, accusing me of stealing "his idea" and not caring about doing so. He had already made up his mind that I had intentionally stolen his idea and not giving him any credit.
Just to be clear I have ALWAYS given credit where it was due in my career. I have NEVER had to "steal" anything because I have a lot of creativity. As a matter of fact if anyone is getting ideas/concepts stolen, it is me. For example my Bolster-Lock, there are so many makers who are making them without giving me any credit; but you don't hear me crying about that! And now we have Farid, the guy that has called me in the past and Bud Nealy asking how much we make in a year; the guy that has made a career copying other people's work, showing up at Blade Show and NY telling people that if it is 40% changed it is a different design. Dude you have no class, so don't expect me to have some when I answer your accusatory emails.
 
Maybe some of that information could have been in your reply, instead of the "shortened more expressive " version.
Maybe then this post wouldn't have even appeared? Just thinking out load.
 
farid. said:
This is the currant version of my folders today.



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I just think it's funny that you posted a knock off Emerson to show how you where knocked off.

I think you started your conversation with Allen on a poor note.

I think it might have gone a lot better if you didn't start out assuming he stole from you, but just asked him like an adult.

I'd also point out that I also have 2 machines that use this system and my machines where made before we won ww2.

YMMV
 
I know Tim Wilson and he has bought knives from me on more than one occasion. The folders which he has bought from me in the past all had this system incorporated in to them, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that was where he got the idea from.
Allen I have gone to many shows (with my folders) at which you were in attendance. Please do not insult my intelligence by pretending you have never seen this system in use on my work.
The grub screw which locks down the ‘male’ screw on the inside may have been used in engineering machinery, but never in the knife industry, this system was first incorporated in to a folding knife by myself, no other maker in this industry back as far as 1998 used this system in their folders, You go ahead and convince yourself that it came from one of your machinery.
The simple fact is you keep a very close eye on the knife industry and look at other peoples work closely ‘from a distance’ , you took a look at this system years later and just took it, although you could see me using this system for many years you just could not keep your hands off it.

The thread system in the world of engineering have been around for a very long time, how it is used on a product to do a ‘certain job’ on a ‘certain product’ is where it becomes a unique feature. Many years ago I saw a Reeve folder which had a unique locking mechanism called Lock 45, doesn’t matter if the idea which I heard many years ago came from a part on a BMW motorcycle or a screw on a milling machine, forever that locking system will be known as a Reeve Lock 45, that’s the bottom line, even if a hundred makers started making that lock the ‘credit’ will always belong to Chris for making the first one in that style, that system, because that system was never used in the knife industry until he made the first.
These are the things which you do not understand Allen and you never will, I will leave others to form their own opinions and judge you by your actions.
 
Les George said:
I just think it's funny that you posted a knock off Emerson to show how you where knocked off.

I think you started your conversation with Allen on a poor note.

I think it might have gone a lot better if you didn't start out assuming he stole from you, but just asked him like an adult.

I'd also point out that I also have 2 machines that use this system and my machines where made before we won ww2.

YMMV
Click to expand...

I don't recall Farid ever mentioning theft, simply respect between makers.
It's easy to say there is no such thing as a new idea, but use in a new or different application can still make an idea unique.
Certainly unique enough to Warrent credit and maybe a little respect....
 
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