- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 28,373
I started a thread in Shoptalk back in March of this year, and a link to it can be found here;http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/835941-First-Annual-Pay-It-Forward-Buildoff
The idea started from my interest in designing knives. I have all these designs in my head and on paper that I would love to see turn into a real, actual knives, but lack the funds to have them made, and the set up and time to make them myself. So, I cast around for ideas about how to have some designs made, not because I want to own them myself, but really just to see how well what I put on paper would translate into steel.
A concept for some kind of contest was born. To help motivate involvement, it was suggested that the target for this contest be charitable. That jives with me, however, I did not want to dictate which charity, nor coordinate payment to a charity. So, we left that alone and said "just make a knife, and either sell it or give it away, the only thing I want to see is that someone benefits from your effort". In short, make a knife, and Pay it Forward.
I supplied three designs, and each knife maker could pick one. I mailed a copy of each maker's chosen design to him, and it was made clear from the outset that the makers had complete freedom to either stick with the design as is, or interpret it in whatever way they so chose. Again, this build off was not about dictating rules or anything like that, it was about Paying it Forward. My designs were my contribution, and it so happens that at least one maker has made multiple versions of one my designs, which has certainly helped him with sales, and that is an outcome which I am very pleased occurred. It's my hope that all participants treat the design I sent them as their own, and feel free to reuse it any time.
Here are the three designs for the first annual, 2011 Pay it Forward Build Off;
Over the course of this month, I will be posting photos of each knife maker's version of their chosen design. There were about 14 participants, and there is an interesting and fresh diversity of knives which all share a common root, but all of which necessarily diverged and grew through the efforts of those artisans who stepped up to the plate in order to Pay it Forward.
I'd like to start this thread with a huge Thank You to all the maker's who took part in the very first of what I hope will become an annual Bladeforums event. This is a giving bunch of guys, many of whom helped each other out during this process, and displayed the sense of brotherhood and sharing which makes the custom knife world such an awesome one.
The idea started from my interest in designing knives. I have all these designs in my head and on paper that I would love to see turn into a real, actual knives, but lack the funds to have them made, and the set up and time to make them myself. So, I cast around for ideas about how to have some designs made, not because I want to own them myself, but really just to see how well what I put on paper would translate into steel.
A concept for some kind of contest was born. To help motivate involvement, it was suggested that the target for this contest be charitable. That jives with me, however, I did not want to dictate which charity, nor coordinate payment to a charity. So, we left that alone and said "just make a knife, and either sell it or give it away, the only thing I want to see is that someone benefits from your effort". In short, make a knife, and Pay it Forward.
I supplied three designs, and each knife maker could pick one. I mailed a copy of each maker's chosen design to him, and it was made clear from the outset that the makers had complete freedom to either stick with the design as is, or interpret it in whatever way they so chose. Again, this build off was not about dictating rules or anything like that, it was about Paying it Forward. My designs were my contribution, and it so happens that at least one maker has made multiple versions of one my designs, which has certainly helped him with sales, and that is an outcome which I am very pleased occurred. It's my hope that all participants treat the design I sent them as their own, and feel free to reuse it any time.
Here are the three designs for the first annual, 2011 Pay it Forward Build Off;
Over the course of this month, I will be posting photos of each knife maker's version of their chosen design. There were about 14 participants, and there is an interesting and fresh diversity of knives which all share a common root, but all of which necessarily diverged and grew through the efforts of those artisans who stepped up to the plate in order to Pay it Forward.
I'd like to start this thread with a huge Thank You to all the maker's who took part in the very first of what I hope will become an annual Bladeforums event. This is a giving bunch of guys, many of whom helped each other out during this process, and displayed the sense of brotherhood and sharing which makes the custom knife world such an awesome one.
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:thumbup:.
