name engraving on a Sebenza?

T

trueblade

Joined
Apr 29, 1999
Messages
22
Hi - I'm new here and would like to thank everyone for this great forum. Here goes the qt.: I have a large decorated Sebenza on the way and am considering having my name engraved on the handle. I'm not sure of how it would look though, from an aesthetic point of view. Anne Reeve recommended engraving the name on the back. Any suggestions?
Also, I was wondering which is your favourite book on making knives.
Thanks--



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Be like a good knife: strong, sharp, trustworthy, inspiring.
 
Welcome trueblade. The engraving might look good if done properly. I lot of that depends on how you want it done, and what embellishment is already on there. Also, what type of material you want to be engraved is important. Titanium can be tricky for hand engraving, but its do-able within certain parameters. I offer engraving services so call (870)304-3005 or e-mail if you need to discuss your options further.

Concerning books, I think David Boye's manual, "Step by Step Knifemaking," is the best overall, even though it's a bit dated. It has a lot of pictures and diagrams, and he explains the process extensively. A close second is "Custom Knifemaking" by Tim McCreight. This book is a great reference for several different types of projects. This one is great for beginners because it shows how to build knives without all of the expensive equipment we wish we had (grinders, mills, lathes, etc). I try to buy every how-to book I find because they all offer different perspectives and methods.
 
fenixforge, those are good books. What type of engraving eq. do you use, GRS, or some other eq.
Chris, Top of Texas Knives
www.toptexknives.com

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I use a GRS Magnablock to hold the work and everything else is done the old way -hammer/chisle or push tool. I don't have anything against the pneumatic engraving tools they offer (Gravermax, etc), I just can't justify the cost when doing it the old way is nearly as fast. Most of what I am doing now is simple line engraving that I can put out quickly with the traditional tools. I can do relief work and inlays, but there is a slim market for this type of high end work. Many collectors don't want to spend the big bucks it takes to do this type of work. In the future, I will probably purchase a pneumatic engraver for background removal (high relief stuff) when I get more business in this area.
 
fenixforge - thanks for your reply, I'll certainly check out those books. Also, if I decide to have my name engraved, I will consider your offer.
Have a good one!
 
Thanks for the reply. I think engraving is so amazing. The fact that you do it the old way is facinating. I have the hole GRS set up, but I don't practice enough. I got the equipment so I could engrave my knives I make. There is just so little time in a day. I have a hard time trying to find the time to make knives, let alone engrave them. Do you have any scans of your work that we could see.
Chris, Top of Texas Knives
www.toptexknives.com

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Trueblade:

Before you engrave your name on it why don't you keep it for a few months. That way you will find out if you really want to keep it forever.
 
TOT, I am in the process of taking new photos of my work and developing a web page.
When everything is ready I'll let you know.

Finding time to do everything you want to do is tough. I also find it difficult to balance knifemaking with engraving and other things. I end up concentrating on one thing for a while, then moving on to something else when I get bored. My wife thinks I have attention deficit disorder or some other kind of grave mental problem. What can I say, men are from Mars...
 
Big Dave - sound advice; it's just that after handling it for a while I felt there was something special about the knife, and that I'd never part from it, thus the idea to engrave my name...(sound too sentimental?)
 
I look foward to seeing your web site. Catch you later on Mars.
Chris,
www.toptexknives.com

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Trueblade,

Reeve's knives can be sent back for engraving for a nominal fee. They do outstanding work and won't screw up your beautiful knife. Please make sure that whoever does the engraving has done a knife with titanium before.

Personally, I would send it back to Idaho for engraving and a quick turnaround time.

Daniel
 
Trueblade:

Never say Never Dude. Ha Ha Ha. I sound like a real pro with all that great advice.

The reality is that I'm still a novice at this stuff.

Whatever makes you happy. I have a small Sebenza (engraved) and a large (not engraved). Chris Reeve's shop did a fine job at the engraving and they said that more fonts would be availble soon.

Guess my point is that I passed on having the large one engraved and I'm happy that I did. It has such a great resale value -still lose money
wink.gif
though.

Anyway, you get the point right? If you collect knives you lose money!

It's late.

Dave
 
TrueBlade . . . can I be the one to upset the party ?!

Why engrave your name on the knife? Do you forget it often? Do you get lost now and then and need help? Only joking . . !!!

I'm presuming that you've got a decorated Sebenza, if not, rather spend some extra bucks getting it "upgraded" to a decorated state. Engraving your name on a knife does nothing for it. If it gets lost it won't come back, and anyone stealing it will buff it off in no time.

I'm a scrimshander and dozens of folk ask me to scrim their names onto knife handles (with all the fancy scroll work, etc). I turn them down everytime. It's a terrible waste of a perfectly good handle . . !!

Regards, HILTON
 
Hilton - I hear what you're saying, and you certainly have a point there. Big Dave - My question is: I would never consider selling one of my quality knives for the simple reason that each buy is "meaningful" to me in some way, which means I usually go through great pains to get exactly the knife I want; after that, I find it becomes a part of me. Asking me to sell one of my knives is like asking me to sell one of my fingers, if you know what I mean.
What can I do? I love the things!
 
I have a large non-decorated Sebenza, and will probably get my name engraved on it at some point. I think there are a few reasons why this makes some sense:
<ol>
[*] Personalizing the knife in this way makes it a little extra special. It's not quite the same as getting a custom knife built to your specifications, but it's a step in that direction.
[*] I don't want to sell the knife ever, and getting it engraved would pretty much eliminate any temptation.
smile.gif

[*] Engraving your name makes the knife more valuable to you than to anyone else (except people with the same name), so the chance of it getting "borrowed" is somewhat less. Sure, your name could be buffed out, but I suspect this would permanently scar the knife.
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Some of the decorated Sebenza's I've seen look pretty nice, but I have to admit that most of the patterns I have seen just don't float my boat.

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brett@rahul.net
www.rahul.net/brett
 
I agree w/ Brett,

My Sebenza as well as most of my knives are signed by me w/ an engraver or dremmel. Some are signed by my dad or father in law (hand me down gifts)...it's kind of neat having a relative's handwriting on a knife...kind of like a heirloom. Anyways, I hope that's how my sons view them when they're packing them.

Later,

John
 
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