Opinion On Serial Numbers

i4Marc

i4Marc

Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
5,034
A while back I spoke with a well-known dealer at a knife show. He showed honest interest in my knives and generously spent quite some time speaking with me and offering advice. I was very appreciative and listened to what he had to say. One subject we discussed was the serial numbers I had on my knives. He wondered why I added them. I mentioned that it's a way of keeping track of my knives and when I made them, as well as allowing me to serial number my sheaths to the knives for which they were created. He suggested I keep a notebook (which I do already). He seems to like the cleaner look of just the maker's mark and maybe the steel type someplace inconspicuous.

While I value the gentleman's opinion, I would like a larger sample of opinions to consider. I'd like to get the opinions of makers, collectors and dealers on whether or not you like/don't like/don't care if a knife has a serial number on it. Do you think it adds anything to the knife? Do you think it clutters up the look of the knife and is unnecessary?
 
I don't mind serial numbers and, as a matter of fact, have collected many knives from different Makers with the same serial number.

I have found that very few Makers ever kept up with their numbers, let alone dates, style, materials, etc.....it's nice but I'm sure quite a chore in the long run.

I can appreciate numbering your sheaths to your knives as I have a friend that sold a knife with the wrong sheath and didn't realize it until successive knives had been sold.
 
I have serialized a few runs of my knives back when I made my hunter and camp blades.

I make mostly Culinary and haven't done it for about 10years.

Two questions please before I give you my two cents on this issue.

What kind of knives do you make?

Did this Gent order anything from you?
 
I wouldn't bother doing serial numbers unless I was doing a run of a very special knife, i.e., special steel, handle material, design, etc. Just my 2 cents though:)
 
I don't see much benefit from the collector's perspective.
It can be difficult enough tastefully fitting a maker's mark and a JS/MS stamp where applicable without
also placing a serial #.
 
Take a picture of the knife and put on the details and date. Include it in your files and give to the customer.
 
Laurence,

The answers to your query are as follows. The gentleman did not order anything. He was primarily interested in forged knives I think. I explained to him that while I do forge, I had been doing stock removal for the last two years. I also mentioned that I planned on getting back into forging this spring. He asked me to keep in touch and let him know when I had some forged knives. He has also followed up with me once since we spoke. The links below will give you an idea as to the kinds of knives I make. A bit all over the map. I've made a few kitchen pieces but mostly hunters, bowies and other sporting knives.


https://www.instagram.com/aldrich_knife/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aldrich-Knife-Tool/926338014077160
 
If I may inject, my wife really likes the kitchen knife I got from you. Uses it often. Dozier


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
i like the idea. when i noticed RWL did it, it seemed like i should do it too. i tried the electric vibrating pencil like he used, i did not like the way it looked. my pennmanship is horrible. then i tried the number stamps. i could not get them to come out straight and even everytime. it didnt look good. then i noticed almost no one else was doing it, so i stopped. by the way, that gray handled subhilt on your instagram is very nice looking !
 
John,

The neatness of the number stamping has been something I've struggled with a bit at times. I'll probably build a jig for that. On vintage knives, the slight sloppiness of the stamping might be in line with the hand made nature of the work of that time. I don't necessarily mind that. But today, we've become so accustomed to seeing such precise and flawless work by so many talented makers, that the sloppier work really stands out.

The sub-hilt will be presented to its new owner as soon as I can get the sheath done. Thanks.
 
I used to serialize my knives, but it just got too hard to keep track of things. What with spec knives versus orders, plus knives that ended up not getting made. Confusion!
 
IMO, Tom Maringer did a fine job of numbering and keeping track of ALL of his knives.....serial number, year, knife model, handle material, steel, and blade length.....kept track of each blade for almost 40 years and made a special notation for each sword. A sword to Tom had to have a blade of more than 18" to qualify.

Oh, yes, he numbered each sheath to the particular knife.....since most were thermally-formed Kydex, which he was the Originator of in 1981.

My latest Maringer....500th blade, 50th sword.

standard.jpg


Tom's List is >>HERE<< for any Makers interested in their knives serial numbered and listed in order. ;)
 
very cool dudley. i wish i had some kind of laser metal etcher. all the info on the spine in miniature including blade steel you would need a magnifying glass to see.
 
I have been serializing almost from the start. For me it is a way to link the Certificate of Authenticity to the knife. I don't make "models" of knives, every knife I make is a one of a kind, but you can't help making similar knives so the serial number identifies individual knives.

From time to time my knives have shown up on the secondary market, when the prospective buyer contacts me to ask about the knife I can tell him exactly when it was made, who it was sold to, and the original price paid.

In one case one of my knives had been bought at a garage sale, the new owner called me up to see if what she bought was special in any way. I asked for the serial number and through that, I was able to contact the original owner of the knife on ask how it happened to end up in a garage sale. You guessed it, the knife had been stolen. The police were called and the culprits brought to justice. I realize this may be an extreme case but without a serial number, it would have been almost impossible for me to know witch knife the garage sale buyer had in her hand. The original knife was sold for $1,200.00, the garage sale price, $15.00. (the woman was reimbursed for her garage sale find).
 
I work very much the way you do Mark. I haven't done "models". Each knife I make has been pretty much a one-off (although I may change that soon). I have had requests to make knives similar to ones I have shown publicly and in those cases I make a close copy to the original. As you note, the serial number is a good way to tie together the knife, any related accessories (like a sheath), the certificate/warranty and any accounting/sales records. I like the idea but I wanted to get some additional perspectives in case the predominant opinion was that it was unnecessary or cluttered.
 
i4Marc said:
I work very much the way you do Mark. I haven't done "models". Each knife I make has been pretty much a one-off (although I may change that soon). I have had requests to make knives similar to ones I have shown publicly and in those cases I make a close copy to the original. As you note, the serial number is a good way to tie together the knife, any related accessories (like a sheath), the certificate/warranty and any accounting/sales records. I like the idea but I wanted to get some additional perspectives in case the predominant opinion was that it was unnecessary or cluttered.
Click to expand...

I do my makers mark and serial number with a pantogragh engraver, I can make it as small as I want to so the issues of neatness and professionalism are not a problem.

I have never heard a customer wish there wasn't a number on there. It's impossible to know if the numbers have cost me sales but with a five year back log it's a non-issue for me.

It comes down to a matter of personal preference really, it works well for some makers and not so well for others.

It has made my logistics a lot easier, I know without question which knife goes to which customer when it ships, and I can know in a minute anything I need to know about the knife years later if I need too.

Good luck in your endeavors, have fun.
 
I follow the reseasoning for serializing knives, Mark made a number of valid points.....though I prefer not to see them if they're on the knife........the markings are a distraction and take away from the esthetics when TO LARGE
 
Boggs said:
I follow the reseasoning for serializing knives, Mark made a number of valid points.....though I prefer not to see them if they're on the knife........the markings are a distraction and take away from the esthetics when TO LARGE
Click to expand...

I agree. Less is better. I would prefer a maker use a numbering system for steel rather that # out of the shop, like Ken Erickson (and others) on his custom folders.

Large maker marks are a turn off, too, I believe.


- Joe
 
Last edited:
Serialization can work for, or against.
I serialized hunters in the 70s and 80's.....and folders till the mid 90's.

At present, I sign and date sheaths...only on request.
standard.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top