- Joined
- Jan 8, 2017
- Messages
- 503
So a few months ago, I asked in this forum if one could copy the design of a production knife. I was told it was allowed as long as no trademark logos were used and it wasn't passed off or sold as "the real thing". Well this was good for me, because I already had "the real thing", but "the real thing" aka Schrade Sharpfinger had an amazing shape, but really crappy steel for the skinning work I wanted to do with it. I inquired about how one would go about the process finding a craftsman to make them a knife and I was pointed towards the "Knifemaker Wanted" forum. So off I went, posting my little thread. I waited forever for somebody to respond and offer to take the job, I mean really like 2 hours is forever right 
especially considering I posted it at like 1am EST or some ridiculous hour like that.
My initial post laid out exactly what I was looking for in a new Sharpfinger and the maker who offered to take the job asked to swap email addresses for further communications. We did and he immediately sent me different steels he had available and why he thought they would be a good choice. He asked great questions trying to hammer out what I liked about the current design, any changes I might want...etc. After the first email, I went ahead and closed up my thread on the "wanted" forum because I knew I had found a quality guy. For those of you unfamiliar, this is the knife we are talking about (stock photo)
I think from start to finish the whole process took maybe 1.5 months, and the main delay was basically waiting on some stabilized wood to return. My maker was excellent about communication. He asked up front if I wanted updates along the way or just to know when the knife was done. I asked for updates and he was more then cool about it. Once a week, one of us would email the other, him to me if he had a question or just a new picture, or me to him just to see what the latest was. He was very meticulious in ensuring every little detail that I wanted in the knife was taken care of, from toughness and edge retention, to added jimping, to wood, plunge lines, handle shape, I mean everything he double and triple checked to make sure it was exactly like I wanted it. Sometimes I would want something very specific, other questions I would just tell him "do what you feel works" like when he asked about a choice for the liners. He asked if I even wanted one, what color...etc. I told him, do what you think looks good. Obviously the "cheapest" thing to do would have been to just not worry about a liner after-all I had no preference and let him decide. My knife got a liner. It's the little things.
So out I go to my mailbox today, knowing my journey to my first custom knife would be finished. I open the box, and the first thing I find is a certificate of authenticity along with all materials used and a note about sharpening and handle touchups if necessary. Wait what is that shiny thing, a custom bottle opener with his makers mark on it. I didn't pay for this, what the. Remember I said little things. So now I'm super excited as I haven't seen my new knife yet and it is wrapped in a paperwrap and tied off with some twine. I unroll it and find the knife, sitting in a sheath, I said at the beginning I didn't need a sheath for the knife and was told "good I like working with metal better then leather anyways". Well I got a sheath anyways. Remember I said the little things.
So who is this wonderful maker you might be wondering? You guys know him as Kuraki, but I better know him as John. One of the things John mentioned to me in the middle of our journey is that he enjoys making knives because of the satisfaction he gets when somebody gets their finished product. He did a lot of things he really didn't have to do and that I didn't pay for. He didn't do them because he had to or because they were requested. He did them because he felt it would improve the overall product out the door. How can you go wrong with that?
John, I'm sure one of these days you're not going to be just "a newer maker" anymore and you're going to have books filled with orders just like a lot of the rest of these guys. I'm very glad and proud I got in close to the beginning and I hope you never lose track of why you like doing what you do.
So who's ready for some porn?
I think I got myself a decent upgrade
especially considering I posted it at like 1am EST or some ridiculous hour like that.My initial post laid out exactly what I was looking for in a new Sharpfinger and the maker who offered to take the job asked to swap email addresses for further communications. We did and he immediately sent me different steels he had available and why he thought they would be a good choice. He asked great questions trying to hammer out what I liked about the current design, any changes I might want...etc. After the first email, I went ahead and closed up my thread on the "wanted" forum because I knew I had found a quality guy. For those of you unfamiliar, this is the knife we are talking about (stock photo)
I think from start to finish the whole process took maybe 1.5 months, and the main delay was basically waiting on some stabilized wood to return. My maker was excellent about communication. He asked up front if I wanted updates along the way or just to know when the knife was done. I asked for updates and he was more then cool about it. Once a week, one of us would email the other, him to me if he had a question or just a new picture, or me to him just to see what the latest was. He was very meticulious in ensuring every little detail that I wanted in the knife was taken care of, from toughness and edge retention, to added jimping, to wood, plunge lines, handle shape, I mean everything he double and triple checked to make sure it was exactly like I wanted it. Sometimes I would want something very specific, other questions I would just tell him "do what you feel works" like when he asked about a choice for the liners. He asked if I even wanted one, what color...etc. I told him, do what you think looks good. Obviously the "cheapest" thing to do would have been to just not worry about a liner after-all I had no preference and let him decide. My knife got a liner. It's the little things.
So out I go to my mailbox today, knowing my journey to my first custom knife would be finished. I open the box, and the first thing I find is a certificate of authenticity along with all materials used and a note about sharpening and handle touchups if necessary. Wait what is that shiny thing, a custom bottle opener with his makers mark on it. I didn't pay for this, what the. Remember I said little things. So now I'm super excited as I haven't seen my new knife yet and it is wrapped in a paperwrap and tied off with some twine. I unroll it and find the knife, sitting in a sheath, I said at the beginning I didn't need a sheath for the knife and was told "good I like working with metal better then leather anyways". Well I got a sheath anyways. Remember I said the little things.
So who is this wonderful maker you might be wondering? You guys know him as Kuraki, but I better know him as John. One of the things John mentioned to me in the middle of our journey is that he enjoys making knives because of the satisfaction he gets when somebody gets their finished product. He did a lot of things he really didn't have to do and that I didn't pay for. He didn't do them because he had to or because they were requested. He did them because he felt it would improve the overall product out the door. How can you go wrong with that?
John, I'm sure one of these days you're not going to be just "a newer maker" anymore and you're going to have books filled with orders just like a lot of the rest of these guys. I'm very glad and proud I got in close to the beginning and I hope you never lose track of why you like doing what you do.
So who's ready for some porn?
I think I got myself a decent upgrade
