Recommendation? My makers mark

NickHFSS

NickHFSS

Joined
Jun 26, 2020
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Hello , I’ve sold about 150+ Knives , I think it’s about the time to make my makers mark , can you give me any advices ?
Here are some practices and also where I am now , at first I was thinking my initials , either in English , in Georgian or old Georgian , my full name is Nikoloz , all call me Koka and Dundua is surname so it can be ND or KD

in the end I am thinking about my surname in Georgian with ND on top like in last picture , any advice is welcome and thoughts , thanks

sorry for some reason the picture is on the side while original is not , strange...

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I like this last one because since all my customers are from abroad it’s good to have in English ND and also I like the Georgian touch with my surname on bottom

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ND as you show, as the MARK on the knife - otherwise the entire signature can be used on your paperwork or media pages.

I think a simple maker's mark is more effective - why I vote for just the initials.
 
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RayseM said:
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ND as you show, as the MARK on the knife - otherwise the entire signature can be used on your paperwork or media pages.

I think a simple maker's mark is more effective - why I vote for just the initials.
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I was thinking the same but then I saw guys like Nick Wheeler and Kyle Royer and they just put their last names very boldly , of course I’m 20 years behind them but still there on top pretty much and have that kind of bold thing
 
My avatar is a maker mark I used to use, but it's been a while since I've put it on a knife. That said, I always put A.Riley on every knife regardless. In my opinion (which has changed a bit over the years), a maker's mark isn't much good if it can't be used to identify the maker. I can't tell you how many threads I've seen started with "Does anyone know who made this knife?", and it's usually some fancy looking squiggle, or symbol, or who knows what, that's almost impossible to trace.
There's a post in the Mark of the Maker facebook group right now that's still waiting for an answer on a push dagger. The mark looks cool and unique and all, but there's no way to tell what it is or who it represents. Might be an "A", might be a "4" might be an upside down "f", or a "v", or who knows...

Nikoloz Dundua is a probably a fairly unique name, at least as far as the knife making community goes, so I'd use that. Just make sure you use a legible font. :D
 
What do you hope to achieve with that makers mark?
 
Drew Riley said:
Nikoloz Dundua is a probably a fairly unique name, at least as far as the knife making community goes, so I'd use that. Just make sure you use a legible font. :D
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^ This is key no matter what you do - IF - you want your name known. If you just want a recognizable (overtime) maker's mark - any good graphic scribble, or more exact script, will do. However that will just be a mark that your followers will instantly recognize. You will be in the territory noted by Drew Riley Drew Riley of "Does anyone know who made this knife?", and it's usually some fancy looking squiggle, or symbol, or who knows what, that's almost impossible to trace.

So to the question posed above by AVigil AVigil ...
 
None of those

Use a symbol if you want, but be sure to use your real name, in normal easy to etch and read font, not script that anyone with a western keyboard can type into the google.

Plus maybe your country, or country and state, or state and city


Somebody see's a knife, likes it, types your name in, finds your website and buys another from you.
 
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What if I put that signature of mine on one side and on another side with clear small font my name or how they can search me?
 
At the end of the day, you can do whatever you want. They're your knives. Personally, I prefer clean and simple. Other makers have much more elaborate or multiple marks. As long as you're happy with the end product, go for whatever floats your boat.
You could always put your signature on a certificate of authenticity, or get a stamp made for your sheaths, or put it on a card and include that with the knife, or engrave it on the inside of the handle scales or liners, or blade tang.
 
I'm with Drew. Do what you like. You can always change it later. But consider the opinions above of experienced folks who have been in and around this business for a long time. Your knife is a salesman sample or business card. You are hoping to get sales from this advertisement of your work. Don't make it hard on potential customers to locate you and contact you. Save the fancy stuff for your "case candy". That is your brochures, warranty, business card, C of A, etc. Have a website of your work and make sure you fill in all the SEO information (search engine optimization). I don't think having your location on your blades is critical if you are easily searchable but your name should be simple and legible.
 
i4Marc said:
I'm with Drew. Do what you like. You can always change it later.

But consider the opinions above of experienced folks who have been in and around this business for a long time.

Your knife is a salesman sample or business card. You are hoping to get sales from this advertisement of your work. Don't make it hard on potential customers to locate you and contact you. Save the fancy stuff for your "case candy". That is your brochures, warranty, business card, C of A, etc. Have a website of your work and make sure you fill in all the SEO information (search engine optimization). I don't think having your location on your blades is critical if you are easily searchable but your name should be simple and legible.
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My advice isn't even really my own idea, It's said by Bob Loveless on video somewhere (minus the google part)

Back in his day the city and state were even more crucial, since they had to use a phone book or directory service to find you.

It's still relevant to weed out the multiple folks with the same common names.
 
Way too complicated. Unless you become superfamous, nobody will recognize that maker's mark or remember who it repsents when they see it.

Simple is better, agree just your name if unique is effective.
 
I took in account all the advices here and have my mind set , the most known way and easiest to find me is by the youtube channel name so it will be HF Survival School on top and that surname of mine with smaller font on bottom.
 
HF = Harbour Freight ?
I wouldn't use that. Just use your name.
Youtube could close tomorrow, or ten years from now.
Base your branding on what you can control.
 
Do what you want with your branding, but people should be able to find your YouTube and other social media pages from your name alone.
 
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Here’s mine, I like to keep it simple. My first name initial, ampersand, and my wife’s first name initial.
 
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