New logo idea...need feedback

Matt Shade

Matt Shade

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
Messages
4,981
I just got myself lined up with a knifemaker's membership since "hack job" and "rank amature" weren't options :D

I'm working my way up to selling some knives, and have been trying to work out a makers mark/logo.
I don't really want to etch it on, and I suck at engraving so I came up with this : http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=253572

I'm pretty happy with how its turned out on 2 fixed blades so far, haven't figured out how to incorporate it into a folder yet. Thinking of a full backspacer, but that doesn't work out all the time.
Let me know what you think, and thanks for looking.
 
Not sure I like that logo. With the letters being in two directions it is a little confusing. If you do keep it you should somehow carve out the middle of the D. What were you planning on doing with hidden tang knives?

I really like that paring knife. Not the work of a hack job or rank amateur at all.
 
Thanks for being honest. Its hard to know what people like if they won't tell you what they think :)
I really didn't want to turn the S and E sideways, but after about 3 hours of trying to do them upright I decided it wasn't possible. I did manage to make an S but the process for carving it in hacked up a good 3/8" of the tang on either side, too much to do the next letter :(
I'm still figurin on developing the D a little more. I sort of like it this way, hollowed out sounds good too. I need to get some better burrs for my dremel and see what I can come up with.

Whats the deal with askin about hidden tang knives...do you really think I would plan ahead that far? My motto is let it all hang out, no hidden tangs for me ;)

Glad you like the knife overall. Thanks for looking and for the feedback. I appreciate it.
 
Please do not do that, it's not aesthetically pleasing at all. Filework should enhance the beauty of the knife, not serve as your logo. I'd reccomend just using a scribe on the inside of the backbar with your initials and year, to start, that's more than adequate.
 
I am going to have to agree with marcangel on this one. First off, if you use that as your logo then that eliminates the possiblity of ever doing much if any nice filework like vinework or arrowhead just to name a few. Also using that as your logo would limit you to a certain style of knife as mentioned by Keith. Also I would imagine it takes a good bit of time to do. It is a good idea, just alittle time consuming and limiting.
 
I'm not sure I like it either. For a cheap maker's mark, you can get some cheap stamps at harbor freight and heat the tips up and burn your initials or name into the handle wood.

Another alternative is to have it machined engraved at a trophy shop. I had "Burchtree" put on a knife and it cost me all of $7.
 
Thanks guys
Its interesting how different the response has been here than in shop talk.

TheBadGuy, did you look at the other pictures of the knife? Theres vine filework all the way down the spine of the handle. I guess I should have framed the logo with vine filework too, but it was kind of difficult working on the curved sections. It only uses about 2" and there's about 12" of room on that knife overall. It is time consuming but if I wasn't doing that I would be getting into trouble somewhere :D

Burchtree
I'm not so much looking for a cheap makers mark as something different. Knifemaking wouldn't be any fun if you couldn't come up with new stuff. I figured I had something that was never done before and thought I would try it. Thanks for the ideas on the stamps though.

At this point I think I'll keep doing it, but I'll keep what you guys said in mind and try to make it look better. I did the majority of the work with a cut off wheel in a dremel,and it isn't quite as smooth as I would like. I'm going to get some better files and burrs and see how things go.
Thank you all for the feedback. I obviously have some work to do improving this,and you guys have given me some ideas on what direction to take it.
 
Yeah, I don't know if "filework" would be the way to go with a name. I like the idea of putting it on the edge of the tang, but treating it as filework makes for more work and a less visually appealing final product than if you were to use other methods.

People spend a large amount of time relief-carving wood and other materials, doing it on a narrow piece of steel is a fairly tall order to put your name on a knife. Considering you have closed letters (A and D), you need to find a decent way to stamp, chisel, or otherwise machine them out.

I think a non-obtrusive name on the tang framed with filework would be just fine and is in fact is a very neat idea, but executing it well is going to be very difficult unless you have a significant amount of time to dedicate to it or access to some precision equipment.

Just remember that the more time you spend putting your name on the knife, the less time you are spending on making it a better knife.

I say work with the idea until you find a good way of doing it and making it look good. I think with a name like "Shade" one could do it in very blocky squarish font, there would be fairly little "extra" recessed area around it, and it would be pretty unobtrusive.

Just my opinions though :D
 
Matt:

Good work. The filework idea I think is a great one, I personally don't find it too attractive though. To me, the letters look a bit too blocky.

As far as some letters being turned 90 deg from others, I don't see this as a problem, and could be a sort of trademark. Also, in your example, I knew that I was supposed to look at it and see "Shade," try showing to to someone who doesn't know your name, and see what they make of it. They Might see a squiggly line followed by symbols...

I think it would look cool to have smaller letters, all facing the same direction, and slightly italicized.

Hope this is constructive, as I do think that what you've done is pretty neat. Where are you going to try and sell your knives?
 
Thanks guys

Fiver,
I'll probably put one in the exchange forum under the knifemakers section now and then.


My main goal is just to cover some of the cost, as giving every single one away makes it an expensive hobby.
I'm not going to be full or even part time really, so time spent on each knife isn't an issue, although some of you guys seem to think I'm going to charge by the hour and want me to make it quick ;)
This particular knife definitely isn't the final template for all the rest. I have the basic idea down and will work on cleaning it up and coming up with a more appealing pattern. The orientation of the letters pretty much has to stay the way it is unless I switch to 1/4" stock though.
 
I agree it's too blocky, but I also think it's a pretty neat idea actually.. :)

Maybe scaling it down, or just using initials? Heck I don't know..., but I do think the concept has merit...
 
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