My customer satisfaction

[galadduin]

One of my customers is a serious hunter who bought these :

Today he sent an email of photos his hunter buddies took. He goes almost every week to different places and he used my knives at the fist time. He is delighted the performance of that kukri, he skinned 3 boars with it. This is my first hunter customer feedback, this knife was not designed for skinning but he used it for that and he is very satisfied with the blade type. He says the recurved geometry eases the cutting from anus and emptying the organs. I don't know if this is OK, but I'm really happy to hear from a satisfied customer...

 

[dalee100]

Hi,

It's always good to hear back. Isn't amazing how a customer finds a different use for something than you thought it was for.

Those two knives are some fine looking work, so I'm not surprised at his satisfaction with them.

dalee

 

[James_Terrio]

Beautiful! Did you forge the fullers or grind them in?

 

[bindlestitch]

That's great! It's always nice to get feed back from customers.
Quick question: Did he skin the hogs with the kukri or did he field dress them with it? I can see field dressing with one but skinning with one would be awkward for me.
Later,
Iz

 

[ddavelarsen]

That's good feedback Emre! You gotta love customers like this. Beautiful knives he bought too - he must have good taste.

I made a couple hunters for a guy at work, using antlers from a deer he'd taken for the handles. I sharpen them for him every couple of years, and he gives me a bagful of .45 ammo. He's a great customer, the knives always look like new when he sends them home with me for sharpening. Makes me feel good that he takes such good care of them (you should see his guns - Wow!). I too have some pics of the knives in action. I bet lots of us do. Customer feedback is really crucial if we're making working knives.

 

[galadduin]

Thanks friends!

I have also reed makers' for oboe and house wives' good feedbacks, but they dont take pictures of sliced tomatoes' or scraped reeds' photos It's good to have a hunter customer...

James, I ground the fullers with a chisel jig...

Iz, you're right he field dressed them not skinned actually. I suspect it is suitable for skinning after all..

Dave, I actually have been a good friend of him during I was making those blades of his. He has a good collection of pistols and rifles also. He has been a sniper during his military service at the border. Also he is a grandson of a known Zeibek of this region. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeibeks). These characters are very lively, like to enjoy wild life and good company of men who hunt and drink . I guess you know what I mean.

 

[indian george]

Cool!!! Thanks for sharing.:thumbup:

 

[JasonSCarter]

Emre those are Awesome! I'm a gun nut so I have to ask. is that a double rifle or is it a double shotgun? Loved the article on the Zeibeks. They sounded intresting. Kind of a cross between a judge, a cop and a union steward, all rolled into one...for lack of a better analogy that is.

Jason

 

[galadduin]

Jason, I didn't ask him what that gun is but I assume it is a twin barrel rifle not a shotgun as he is very rich, a sniper and he has some photos with that rifle a scope installed. I'll ask him to confirm that though...

 

[ddavelarsen]

+1 on the Zeibek article, Emre. Those guys were very interesting characters - I particularly appreciate the service of keeping tax collectors at bay. The article didn't say so I assume not, but are there still organizations similar to them now? What happened to them? The picture of the guy from 1880s is very cool - those guys knew how to dress up. Lots of blades. It would be an honor be be descended from a Zeibek. Cool stuff, thanks for sharing that.

 

[calharkins]

The knives are fantastic. The history of Zeibeks was informing. As a boar hunter myself, I appreciate the pictures of the hunter and his kill.

 

[galadduin]

+1 on the Zeibek article, Emre. Those guys were very interesting characters - I particularly appreciate the service of keeping tax collectors at bay. The article didn't say so I assume not, but are there still organizations similar to them now? What happened to them? The picture of the guy from 1880s is very cool - those guys knew how to dress up. Lots of blades. It would be an honor be be descended from a Zeibek. Cool stuff, thanks for sharing that.

Thanks for interest Dave. Their legacy lived until today and the grandsons of Zeibeks are really proud people just like their ancestors. Actually the organization (Efe's) was first established about 800 - 1000 years ago in Seljug Empire in Anatolia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seljuks. They were an official military group. After the collapse of the Empire around 1200 they didn't give up the service, after the corruption of Ottoman Empire they acted as outlaws but protecting people of Aegean Region. The served greatly in our Independence War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_War_of_Independence) defending villages from Greek Military raids and with guerrilla tactics they aided the Turkish Army newly founded in Central Anatolia by preventing the enemy army's move to Central Anatolia. Most of the Zeibek groups joined the Army at the late stages of the war. After Victory and the Turkish Republic is founded most of them lived rest of their lives in peace returning to their villages. Some of them stayed as Army officers. Having a democracy and free country they became obsolete...
One side note: After their time no group used yatagans hence the production of yatagan swords has become history...
Side note #2: Note the instrument attached on that Efe's belt. Most of them also poets and musicians as well as they were perfect fighters...