Numbering knives?????? Who does it? Why?

[T.A.DAVISON]

Folks here know that I stamp my knives with a number.
I was curious who else numbers their knives?.... Who was the first to do it?..... Why? .....

Do you guys know?

Post your answers here - or any photos? ---- Thanks!



Here is one of mine enjoy.



Folder - #715

Golden Root Jig Bone
ATS34
Closed - 4''

Thanks for the looks.

Todd

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[Kevin Jones]

I believe a maker numbering their knives can be beneficial if done subtlety and the #'s actually mean something or have a purpose.

For example, many Loveless knives have a hand scribed 3 digit shop #, which most Loveless knife experts will say the # doesn't really mean much, or more doesn't mean much outside the Loveless shop.
Those same 3 numbers could have been used to identify which maker (Bob Loveless, Steve Johnson, Jim Merritt etc) actually made the particular knife and the month and year the knife was made.

That would be very worthwhile information to have now and even more so in the future.

 

[T.A.DAVISON]

I believe a maker numbering their knives can be beneficial if done subtlety and the #'s actually mean something or have a purpose.
For example, many Loveless knives have a hand scribed 3 digit shop #, which most Loveless knife experts will say the # doesn't really mean much, or more doesn't mean much outside the Loveless shop.
Those same 3 numbers could have been used to identify which maker (Bob Loveless, Steve Johnson, Jim Merritt etc) actually made the particular knife and the month and year the knife was made.

That would be very worthwhile information to have now and even more so in the future.

The other day a guy calls me, says he picked up one of my knives number such an such??
I turned and looked in my note book and told him it had Iron Wood scales, double bolsters and when it was made....
Kinda blew his mind. :thumbup:

Sad thing is - I may have lost my book with my first 180 knives in it?

Thanks Kevin for that info.

Todd



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[rbmcmjr]

Jens Anso (a Danish maker) numbers his folders with a compound number. My example from him is marked "0551" which denotes the 5th example of the model and the 51st knife made by him overall.

 

[Dawkind]

Tom Maringer and Steve Brooks always numbered their knives....

Tom has his listed on his website going back to 1975.

 

[RogerP]

Sad thing is - I may have lost my book with my first 180 knives in it

Consider backing up that info electronically.

Roger

 

[T.A.DAVISON]

Consider backing up that info electronically.

Roger

Ya I do now. . I moved my shop, I still may have it some were.

I have a lot of photos of them, not all though. And the knives are still numbered - so if you got one, you have some idea when it was made?:thumbup:

Todd




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[betzner]

I believe a maker numbering their knives can be beneficial if done subtlety and the #'s actually mean something or have a purpose.

For example, many Loveless knives have a hand scribed 3 digit shop #, which most Loveless knife experts will say the # doesn't really mean much, or more doesn't mean much outside the Loveless shop.
Those same 3 numbers could have been used to identify which maker (Bob Loveless, Steve Johnson, Jim Merritt etc) actually made the particular knife and the month and year the knife was made.

That would be very worthwhile information to have now and even more so in the future.

On the other hand, it could perhaps hurt a maker's sales in the secondary market if the maker numbered knives and someone purchased a very old knife - if the age of the knife, at that point in time, were to be part of the value equation.

One never knows what the future holds, so I suppose what I am saying is there could be a negative aspect to numbering knives that one doesn't consider until it's brought into question.

However, in general, I kinda like a numbering system, too, if it has any useful purpose and won't cause grief for the maker.

Best,

Bob

 

[ScottRoush]

I can never think of a name so I just use a random number generator.

 

[brandon]

Numbered knives make it easy to date a piece, which adds a lot to the history of the knife. It may not seem like a big deal to a new maker, but 10 years down the road I expect it's a nice tool to have for reference purposes.

 

[Kevin Jones]

On the other hand, it could perhaps hurt a maker's sales in the secondary market if the maker numbered knives and someone purchased a very old knife - if the age of the knife, at that point in time, were to be part of the value equation.

One never knows what the future holds, so I suppose what I am saying is there could be a negative aspect to numbering knives that one doesn't consider until it's brought into question.
However, in general, I kinda like a numbering system, too, if it has any useful purpose and won't cause grief for the maker.

Best,

Bob

I agree Bob, as most anything we do can have both positive and negative ramifications.

My point is that if a knife is going to be marked with a # then I suggest making it look good and have a substantial purpose or reason for marking it.

 

[Mark Knapp]

I do it so that the owner and I have a permanent record of the knife. The number on the knife is also on the Certificate of authenticity, the certificate gives all the pertinent data of the knife; who it was made for, when it was completed, who made it, and the materials used in the blade and the handle. The number itself has some significance, a knife with the number 51106 was made in May of 2011 and it was the 6th knife I made that month. I started doing it so that I would not have to write "The custom drop point hunter with blue mammoth ivory grips was made for..." on the certificate. Instead I write “The custom drop point hunter with serial number...". It positively identifies which knife we are talking about.

 

[T.A.DAVISON]

When I made fix blade knives for years, I never numbered them, made thousands.
And I think on those why I did not is - one never started and two didn't want to clutter the blade with more than I had too?

But when I started folders - I could hide it inside, so why not?

Some good stuff here guys - Thanks

Todd


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[Trent Rock]

Wouldn't knife #1 be more desirable to some collectors?

You could add a P for "prototype" and get a higher price?

Numbering also is used for quality control?
Not so much a factor with custom knives I would think
For example, if you had a bad batch of steel?
You could identify which ones contained the bad steel?

LOL..Is there such a thing as a bad batch of steel??

 

[Win Heger]

I've always loved the mystique of the Loveless numbering system. Jim recently told me the main purpose of the number was to keep it with the correct sheath.
Makes sense since the sheaths do have a matching number. The actual number means nothing and could have just been a license plate Bob saw.

Bill Pease uses a serial number that identifies the model, steel and how many of that model were made. IE: SWM20 SW = Swinger M = ATS34 20th knife of that model.

Win

 

[T.A.DAVISON]

Wouldn't knife #1 be more desirable to some collectors?

You could add a P for "prototype" and get a higher price?

Numbering also is used for quality control?
Not so much a factor with custom knives I would think
For example, if you had a bad batch of steel?
You could identify which ones contained the bad steel?

LOL..Is there such a thing as a bad batch of steel??

You have to think about it like this though?? Trent

My first folder was a piece of junk.
And my first fix blade was no show winner.

And I don't think any makers first are their best pieces?

So you would have to get pretty famous for a collector to get much out of your first? right?

Todd


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[SharpByCoop]

Back around 2008, I decided to use a dating system for my Portfolio photography (Studio and Shows).

Makersname_110208A.jpg = Name_Year/Month/Day/sequential image

This is easy on the filing, as multiples are successive in sort order. All shows have the same date.

I'd always had a numerical listing for website dealers:

Makersname_WD67.jpg = Name_Website Dealer's Acronym/numerical order

This is irrelevant to the post's actual query, but it's an example of logical bookkeeping. At a glance there is credible information.

Coop

 

[tleav61]

You have to think about it like this though?? Trent

My first folder was a piece of junk.
And my first fix blade was no show winner.

And I don't think any makers first are their best pieces?

So you would have to get pretty famous for a collector to get much out of your first? right?

Todd


.

And you Todd, already are a Famous knife maker, according to me and all reports on my end. So, if you want, I would love to take your first, second, third, etc, folder/knife off your hands. My phone number is.........

 

[Bruce Bump]

I only number my slip joint pocket knives. Never have numbered fixed blades. I have 4 journals full of early knives but being too lazy to keep good records most knives arent even in those. Heck, I lost my JS stamp and never did mark one with it. The reason I number the slippies is to try to keep a record of them although I'm already behind and only at #23. Todd is organized and even has each one photoed I bet. Some people were blessed with the organization gene and some werent.

 

[T.A.DAVISON]

Back around 2008, I decided to use a dating system for my Portfolio photography (Studio and Shows).

Makersname_110208A.jpg = Name_Year/Month/Day/sequential image

This is easy on the filing, as multiples are successive in sort order. All shows have the same date.

I'd always had a numerical listing for website dealers:

Makersname_WD67.jpg = Name_Website Dealer's Acronym/numerical order

This is irrelevant to the post's actual query, but it's an example of logical bookkeeping. At a glance there is credible information.

Coop

You think of all people, coop would have a list of makers who number their knives?

And you Todd, already are a Famous knife maker, according to me and all reports on my end. So, if you want, I would love to take your first, second, third, etc, folder/knife off your hands. My phone number is.........

Thanks Todd - Todd

I only number my slip joint pocket knives. Never have numbered fixed blades. I have 4 journals full of early knives but being too lazy to keep good records most knives arent even in those. Heck, I lost my JS stamp and never did mark one with it. The reason I number the slippies is to try to keep a record of them although I'm already behind and only at #23. Todd is organized and even has each one photoed I bet. Some people were blessed with the organization gene and some werent.

ORGANIZED!
Who you calling organized?

Hey Bruce I'll race you to a thousand slip joints - GO!

Todd



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