Need advice Please!!!!

Bruce Evans

Bruce Evans

Joined
Sep 26, 1999
Messages
4,486
I have been approached by a guy localy that wants Traditional Sheffield handles put on some Blades that he has,Money is not an object to him.Here is the question----The Blades are obvious(?)fakes,The makers markes are on the wrong side of Blade,The maker is a Known maker-they are stamped Sheffield England-The opposite side of the Blade has a ground spot where it looks to have had another stamp(parts of it are visiable on some Blades)-some Blades even have a crown stamped on them-The tangs show marks that look like the Blade has been punch cut out-The blades are slightly rusty,Warped,and a dull file will cut the edge....I have told the man that in my opinion the Blades were poor quality ripoff's and were not heattreated and that In my opinion they were not even worth putting a piece of Stag on for a cowboy costume.He said that he just wants them for himself and that they will never get used,andthat he is willing to pay for the Ivory,silver,Mother of pearl,etc,and my fee which I told him could be from $100.00 to $200.00.The price was given before I had seen the Blades.....He has now sent them to me and I dont think it wise to do the job even though I could use the money,as I am afraid that they will be let out as authentic to a unsuspecting person and that would Kill any reputation that I have....Does anybody have any suggestions or Ideas as I had agreed to the job before seeing the Blades and dont want to loose a customer or have him tell others that I dont keep my word which could hurt buisness for me.HELP!!!!!!

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223

[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 06-21-2000).]
 
I have a picture of one of the Blades if any one is curious,let me know and I will post it.He has a dozen blades,and he said they came from an estate sale.Thanks Bruce

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223

[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 06-21-2000).]
 
You said the maker was "known". Can you contact the maker to check origin?
If they are in fact fakes does it realy matter, after all you are just putting handles on them and I hope that you are not remarking them. People are often coming to me to rehandle or regrind the bevels on there old favoret knife once the edge gets to thick from repetitive sharpening. These knives are often of questionable quality and origin. I see nothing wrong with it and consider it "restoration". But I never remark anything.
I do these jobs on a when and if my time allows.

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Robert
Flat Land Knife Works
rdblad@telusplanet.net
http://members.tripod.com/knifeworks/index.html
 
By Known maker I meant that it was an old sheffield name. No I am not supposed to do anything to the Blades except a quick buff.This is what bothers me as they could be passed off as originals which would make them worth alot of money if somebody wasnt paying attention....Bruce

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223
 
I don't think it's your credibility that is at stake here. Your mark won't be on the knives and the purpose that the customer is stating is honorable.

If someone brings a $35 "Rolex" watch to a jeweller for a new band, do you think the jeweller should feel guilty that maybe it will get passed on as the real thing? Of course not! It's only a new band - and it's only replacement handles.

Put the scales on, earn your fee and include a *written* note to the customer that, as discussed, the knives are of low quality. They are now low quality knives with high quality handles and you hope that they bring him as much pleasure as you experienced watching the transformation.

Accept that maybe he is sincere in his desire for beautiful looking knives for his own 'use'. If there is evil, it is not in you.

My $0.02 (Canadian)

 
Thanks for the advice,I guess that I could make sure that It is stated about my feelings about these knives on my receipt for the work to be done that way he cant use it to cheat someone or make them think they are restored originals.....Bruce

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223
 
"In my opinion you'll come out of that situation keeping your dignity and
respectability intact by not making yourself an accessory to a potential
propagation of fakes.

That customer doesn't have any idea how you as a knifemaker is look upon
with high regard and respect by forum member and knife collector like me".......I recieved this opinion in my e-mail,and it is the type of thinking that I was thinking! stuck between a rock and a hard spot.It would not be so difficult if it meant food in my kids mouth but it doesnt......Thanks again for the advice everyone,Bruce

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223

[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 06-21-2000).]
 
Bruce,

If he were smart, he'd ante up a little more and get a real blade, perhaps a repro, from you rather throwing money at something already wasted, unless a "forgery" is worth something to something.

sing

ATKI #A000356
 
Bruce- I, personally, wouldn't want to have even the smallest part in someone being ripped off. Go with your gut feeling.
 
A good rule of thumb here is that if you have any dought dont do it ,I have done this type of work before on expencive Case Remington and Winchester knives for 2 people I know and both have kept the utmost respect to knifebuyers and I trust them to tell the truth when I work on a knife for them that has handles busted of or what ever but if you think this fellow in question is Dishonest dont do the work I would never work on a knife that I thought even for a second would be mistaken for Mint original ,
 
I have also done stuff like this when I was just starting,only thing was that The original pakistan stamp was there and I didnt put traditional a traditional handle on it so it is what it is and there can be no question.As for this man I have only met him once at a local gun show when he first asked me about doing the handles,and the rest was done over the phone or mostly e-mail,so I dont know what kind of person he is.......Bruce

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223
 
Here are a couple of pictures so you will know where I am coming from.One is the tang stamp put on the proper side and one of the handle choices he has.Here is the address for more pictures of this blade and the other handle he wants,and the other side of the blade....http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=743108&a=6867208
View
View
the maker stamp name is Joseph Allen Sheffield........The other Blade only has the stamp on the revers side of the Blade and a ground off spot on the proper side..

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223



[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 06-21-2000).]
 
Hi beknives

Ship them back and clear your conscience. If it is going to affect your gut like that move on and chalk it up to experience.

It is ok to say no thank you. Nobody will get hurt and nothing lost. Don't compromise your values.
Just my opinion

Scott

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Scott Jones
Heck yea I invented it ...What is it???
I only do what the voices in my wifes head tell me to do.
It's kinda like hangin, you never get used to it.
 
Beknives,

Who is getting abused? You or the customer who gets ripped off? I would rehandle those knives, collect the fee, don't do it again and start your own war against fake knives. If the customer of the dude who lets you make the fake handles comes to you for identification, tell him the truth. In fact, try to let every possible buyer know that you rehandled a fake one.
I doubt anyone here has never done anything he is not proud off, maybe even downright evil. The fact that you complain about it is the best thing that could plee for you. It kinda proves your trustworthyness. For me it does. And, I usually only trust people on sight, if you know what I mean. Not by reputation, because sometimes a reputation can be damaged by the smallest misstake which get's blow up to hirosjima-proportions.

To be practical, I see 3 solutions: 1. you don't rehandle the knives, and piss off a maybe good-willing customer. If you can get certainty somewhere he will abuse your skills, I would do this.
2. You rehandle them, but leave a mark on them that says "fake" and spread the word. Again, you risk pissing off your customer.
3. You rehandle them good, and close your eyes for once . You risk leaving yourself with a bad feeling, and maybe an unknown buyer of the knives.

Your reputation does not get damaged in either one. You just piss people off. Take your pick who you want to piss off. Or who you won't want to piss off.

Don't mind. You're doing nothing wrong, and if it makes you feel better, I did far worse things in my short life as a psychology student.
 
Thanks for all the advice.I talked to the man tonight and we came to a compromise.I will do the handles as I had promised,only they will be like the original handle in shape and look but not true to every detail,also I will use synthetic pearl and smoothed off pins not domed.This way years from now they still cant be sold as originals.I belive this will be OK.clears my Bad feelings at least.Again thanks,Bruce

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The Soul of the Knife begins in the FIRE !!!! Akti # A000223
 
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