Noob with a few questions (pictures added...then fixed)

[shavesharp]

Hello,
I've been into knives and DIY for some time now, and like some of you, need to find a way to financially justify my hobby. I was wondering if there is much of a market for custom micarta/wood/g10 scales for production knives. I have made a few sets of scales in my day, and I think they have turned out quite nicely. I'm not looking to make a killing, just enough to justify purchasing new knives.

The plan is to buy a production folder (I would take recommendations, but am thinking i will start with a popular budget knife such as the skyline, tenacious...) and make a few sets of custom scales. I would only look to make $10-15 per set (so about $25 shipped, depending on material). Once I have recouped my knife investment I could justify purchase of another knife.

I understand that I need to upgrade my membership in order to sell, but I'm pretty poor and would like some advice as to whether or not a market exists for this.

thanks,
ShaveSharp

 

[9blades]

A market does exists! if you look in the knife makers for sale section, the custom shop has a couple people offering to do scales, and so you know, $15 per set would be a very low price, depending on the quality of your work of course. Hope that helps...good luck and welcome to our board.

Kirby

 

[shavesharp]

9blades, thanks for the reply and info.

Profit would be $10-15, I would charge $20-25. Wood would probably be more since I use waterlox marine as a finish, and it is the best (in my opinion) but a wicked pain to work with (and $30 a quart).

 

[shavesharp]

Here are a few pictures of my work, so please give me any criticism or feedback you can think of. I would love to be able to sell 3-4 sets of scales to pay for the inevitable "next knife".
These posts are not to be construed as for sale posts, just examples of my work to see if it is the quality that would sell around here.

The first set of pictures is a knife I bought a while back before I knew anything. It is a Schrade and looks like it was trying to be a tenacious. I put some new scales on it and made a fitted leather sheath.

Brown canvas micarta, I go for a "vintage" look with most of my stuff so I'm not angry if I scuff it later.

Here is the cocobolo scales I made for my wife's Beretta Airweight. I also acid etched and stonewashed the blade.

What do you guys think? Would people around here pay $20-30 for scales like these?