It all goes to buyer beware now with him. I believe a correction was made, and we should move along now. Transparency has brought full disclosure, so the internet (rapid spread of information) has been good for this community in the name of honesty.
-
All For Sale threads must have a pic showing the knife being sold with written date listed, your username & Bladeforums or BFC to prevent photo harvesting from elsewhere - scammers hate this one trick! The rules for The Exchange can be found here. Please read and follow them. Stop using Paypal Friends & Family and follow our best practices to prevent getting ripped off or having a bad deal.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
People who blatantly and fraudulently sell knives as hand made when they are blanks..
- Thread starter GrizzlyBear
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2013
- Messages
- 32,479
Avirgil,
I use similar belts and and a KMG machine to do both Steel & Wood working in my shop.
So that doesn't mean anything in it self.
What does mean something is that Chris contacted me directly,
He was polite and asked me a few questions about the wording on his site verses mine. I told him that the main different is I don't claim or imply that I do any of the process that I don't do and his original statement of making each knife from blade to sheath was inaccurate by his own statements.
I looked at Chris williams site for a brief look later that day and I feel he has made steps in the right dirction concerning his auctual process of knife making.
I wish Chris and all other makers the best in sucess in all their endeavors!
Laurence
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2009
- Messages
- 7,310
Laurence,
I only put up the pictures because people were saying they did not see any.
I think it is good Mr. Williams is making the changes so people are informed on what he is selling.
I only put up the pictures because people were saying they did not see any.
I think it is good Mr. Williams is making the changes so people are informed on what he is selling.
Yeah, we should all just move on and leave this poor upright businessman alone... 
I mean, it's not like he came in here and threw a tantrum reporting countless posts that he didn't like, then threatened litigation against everyone and their mothers, then lied, then tried to fling some muck onto Spark's business to distract from his own, then opened a fake account to back up his BS, then lied some more...
He may have finally corrected the initial situation, which may or may not even have been intentionally malfeasant, but his actions in the interim have proved far more telling.
I mean, it's not like he came in here and threw a tantrum reporting countless posts that he didn't like, then threatened litigation against everyone and their mothers, then lied, then tried to fling some muck onto Spark's business to distract from his own, then opened a fake account to back up his BS, then lied some more...
He may have finally corrected the initial situation, which may or may not even have been intentionally malfeasant, but his actions in the interim have proved far more telling.
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Messages
- 23,039
A statement describing how the kit knife blanks are made, heavily implying he has control over their design, materials, and manufacture is just more slick talk to obscure the truth, and is designed to continue deceiving prospective customers.
Problem is, if he told the truth plainly, his business would evaporate, and any still interested wouldn't pay a fraction of his inflated prices.
He was pretending he grinds them himself, now he is pretending he has a state of the art manufacturing facility. Which is worse?
Caveat Emptor.
Problem is, if he told the truth plainly, his business would evaporate, and any still interested wouldn't pay a fraction of his inflated prices.
He was pretending he grinds them himself, now he is pretending he has a state of the art manufacturing facility. Which is worse?
Caveat Emptor.
Yeah, we should all just move on and leave this poor upright businessman alone...
I mean, it's not like he came in here and threw a tantrum reporting countless posts that he didn't like, then threatened litigation against everyone and their mothers, then lied, then tried to fling some muck onto Spark's business to distract from his own, then opened a fake account to back up his BS, then lied some more...
He may have finally corrected the initial situation, which may or may not even have been intentionally malfeasant, but his actions in the interim have proved far more telling.
An apt prècis; thank you.
~ P.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2005
- Messages
- 70
Recent 2/26/2013 Interview - Several pages deep into Google. The process is quite clear to me. Other than the wood coming from overseas, it's all US-made US-labor, and the CW Co. hand grinds bevels, sharpens edges, heat treat etc. What's fuzzy about that? That article will remain there for posterity.
Whatever. As an aside re ANY business, I'm always sensitive to the use of family in pushing/defending a product, whether for plumbing services, finance, politicians and photos. Egads, Seems unseemly. In any case, we can all agree or disagree on business processes. I wish Mr. Williams the very best success with his business goals and to his prior/new customers that the product be what it is and be the best it can be.
The interview is quite revealing about working elements of publicity to the maximum ("Q. What's special about your knives? A. I’m always careful answering that question, because I don’t want to come off as a braggart...") maintaining/expanding the image etc. I'm sure many will take issue with almost all of it in light of current clarifications. Apology for the run-on, but in the end result, the knives look good hopefully cut good hopefully last good hopefully make the customer feel good and hopefully make the knife maker feel good.
http://www.mademan.com/chris-williams-small-southern-town-big-time-blades/
Whatever. As an aside re ANY business, I'm always sensitive to the use of family in pushing/defending a product, whether for plumbing services, finance, politicians and photos. Egads, Seems unseemly. In any case, we can all agree or disagree on business processes. I wish Mr. Williams the very best success with his business goals and to his prior/new customers that the product be what it is and be the best it can be.
The interview is quite revealing about working elements of publicity to the maximum ("Q. What's special about your knives? A. I’m always careful answering that question, because I don’t want to come off as a braggart...") maintaining/expanding the image etc. I'm sure many will take issue with almost all of it in light of current clarifications. Apology for the run-on, but in the end result, the knives look good hopefully cut good hopefully last good hopefully make the customer feel good and hopefully make the knife maker feel good.
http://www.mademan.com/chris-williams-small-southern-town-big-time-blades/
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2012
- Messages
- 9,286
I do not believe that Chris Williams will ever be 100% transparent in his advertising.I just do not think it is in his nature. I will give him that he has taken 2 small steps forward in being a bit more truthful about the true nature of his business. His behavior on bladeforums I think is the most telling. In his email to me ,his attempt to use the greed of financial gain as the bait to get what he wanted . While I am still unsure what it was that he hoped to gain from that, I believe it is a glimpse into his true psyche. In my opinion Chris Williams is a business man rather than a artisan of his craft . A true artist does not need fancy words to sell his art and can care less about financial success or social acceptance. Once again this is just my opinion and should not be taken as fact.
The truth will set you free
The truth will set you free
Heh- this little disclaimer at the top of the article wasn't there a few days ago...
"DISCLAIMER: It has come to our attention that Chris Williams orders CNC blades and assembles, rather than hand-makes, some of the items in his inventory. These blades have not been designed by Williams but by third parties. He claims that the Edisto oyster knife design is his own, but he has made no comment as to whether it is hand- or machine-made."
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2012
- Messages
- 9,286
They must have got a call from a lawyer.
At least they are trying to stick to their guns. I still do not think any of the Williams knife Co. Blades are handmade by Chris. Chris, Can you please elaborate as to what percentage of Williams knife co.'s blades are handmade by you?
Last edited:
james terrio
Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2010
- Messages
- 22,618
I still find that entire approach to doing business deeply disturbing. No changes in "marketing" or "disclosure" or "Listen up, folks, THIS IS WHAT I ACTUALLY DO" were made until this cat was backed into a corner, and his bluffs were called. Quite frankly, to me it still reeks of side-stepping and misdirection.
I take all that as a personal and professional insult.
I am absolutely NOT impressed by a competitor of mine trying desperately to scrub the whole web clean of former claims. It makes me mad as a wet hen that some nitwit would employ such childish tactics as "suing" the owner of this forum to try to erase questions about his practices, and resort to the incredibly childish tactics of opening multiple accounts to shill himself.
I am frankly sickened by what I've seen here.
You want full-disclosure? You want to stand tall? You want to your work to stand on its own merits?
Share your client-list with me and every other knifemaker who's posted in this thread. Let's bid for those jobs.
I take all that as a personal and professional insult.
I am absolutely NOT impressed by a competitor of mine trying desperately to scrub the whole web clean of former claims. It makes me mad as a wet hen that some nitwit would employ such childish tactics as "suing" the owner of this forum to try to erase questions about his practices, and resort to the incredibly childish tactics of opening multiple accounts to shill himself.
I am frankly sickened by what I've seen here.
You want full-disclosure? You want to stand tall? You want to your work to stand on its own merits?
Share your client-list with me and every other knifemaker who's posted in this thread. Let's bid for those jobs.
Nobody goes to this much trouble to bury and manipulate information on the Internet if they don't have anything to hide. This guy is clearly trying to keep potential customers in the dark about the origin and process of his products. I will never consider doing any type of business with Williams knife company. Omission is dishonesty
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2013
- Messages
- 32,479
I fully agree that there is still lots of room for improvement with the wording and terminology used on mr williams site.
The world of knife making gets a little smaller everyday with the internet and You'd think it would be in his interest to apologize to all of the folks he threatened with lawsuits etc. especially the owner of BF's..
Laurence
The world of knife making gets a little smaller everyday with the internet and You'd think it would be in his interest to apologize to all of the folks he threatened with lawsuits etc. especially the owner of BF's..
Laurence
One of these days, Mr. Williams tactics will catch up with him.
He might be well advised to look up the definition of Countersuit or Counterclaim.
He worries so much about the effects of this thread possibly taking food from his childrens mouths, but has no problem taking food off the table for legal action. It might do his ethics some good to be brought before a court where his alleged practices could be fully brought to light.
He might be well advised to look up the definition of Countersuit or Counterclaim.
He worries so much about the effects of this thread possibly taking food from his childrens mouths, but has no problem taking food off the table for legal action. It might do his ethics some good to be brought before a court where his alleged practices could be fully brought to light.
It appears that Mr. Williams came here yesterday and removed all his content from his posts....
The content will be restored now. If it turns up missing again the user account will be removed.
Additional content to the end of post #113 that I could not restore in post:
Contents of post #280 as follows:
The content will be restored now. If it turns up missing again the user account will be removed.
Additional content to the end of post #113 that I could not restore in post:
Contents of post #280 as follows:
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 6, 2009
- Messages
- 2,914
Evidently he doesn't want full disclosure. The changes he made still don't clarify his methods. He will never fully disclose that he makes his knives from blanks/kit blades because he knows people wont pay extravagant prices for them. Anything other than full disclosure makes him a liar and when you lie to con people out of their money you are also a thief. Thats right Chris Williams, you are a liar and a thief. You should be ashamed of yourself but I'm pretty sure you aren't and thats the really sad part. Your day will come though.
Yeah, we should all just move on and leave this poor upright businessman alone...
I mean, it's not like he came in here and threw a tantrum reporting countless posts that he didn't like, then threatened litigation against everyone and their mothers, then lied, then tried to fling some muck onto Spark's business to distract from his own, then opened a fake account to back up his BS, then lied some more...
He may have finally corrected the initial situation, which may or may not even have been intentionally malfeasant, but his actions in the interim have proved far more telling.
They must have got a call from a lawyer.
Quoted for agreement.
Yeah, we should all just move on and leave this poor upright businessman alone...
I mean, it's not like he came in here and threw a tantrum reporting countless posts that he didn't like, then threatened litigation against everyone and their mothers, then lied, then tried to fling some muck onto Spark's business to distract from his own, then opened a fake account to back up his BS, then lied some more...
He may have finally corrected the initial situation, which may or may not even have been intentionally malfeasant, but his actions in the interim have proved far more telling.
LOL. That's just about exactly what I was thinking.
Well, I suppose there's also the little matter of coming to grips with how I feel about the practice of taking a $100 pre-ground, pre-heat treated, mass produced knife blank and then putting a $600 handle on it.
- Status