Sorry to bump this again but there were a few knife makers at the gun show today in Myrtle Beach discussin this. I talked to one of them extensively about it an he is upset about it as well and invited me to his shop to learn more about making knives. Something I highly doubt Chris Willams in Charleston would do.
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People who blatantly and fraudulently sell knives as hand made when they are blanks..
- Thread starter GrizzlyBear
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Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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It isn't dead if he is still riding it with money to his bank.
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How about the "unique" "custom" knives sold on eBay and other Internet sites that are available from Alibaba in the 1000's? Search Google or eBay for "Bob Wilbert." Whatever else is true about these knives, they are neither "unique" nor "custom."
Is it really our place to out people who aren't being truthful or deceptive? Like if I suspected someone. Should I investigate them like the OP did. Which I am appreciative of. Although I am not buying a handmade knife unless I know the maker personally and know his business anyhow. I am not at risk myself. Personally if a maker hasn't taken the time to do a WIP .I wouldn't even consider it. I myself would imagine a skilled craftsman would want people to know and see his abilities. There are enough great makers out there who have given enormous amounts of time sharing their work. Why take a chance your maker is a dud and lack of detail is just part of the con. Where is it heading? If people are stupid then let them be? Have we passed the pinnacle of the craft?. Should we just go with the flow?
James
James
Well at least Chris Williams hasn't changed the Williams Knife Co website back to saying he makes the knives all by himself. There's lots of fancy verbiage to obscure it, but at least now he admits to using knife blanks and being primarily a handle maker. And luckily this thread is still the second google result for his business, right under the link to his website.
Well , I think that is a pretty awesome result. To bad he didn't care what he thought of himself. I honestly don't get selling yourself out. I would rather die the poorest obscure knife maker , than the worlds richest fraud. Maybe someday they will get played the same way. To bad , cause 2 wrongs really won't make it right.
James
James
Just looked at his sight. Still a scammer , obscure verbage to say the least. He thinks so highly of himself. Gosh darnit, why couldn't I have been born with his ability to deceive and no conscience to suppress.
Well in this day and age it seems, When we talk about whats wrong with the world. We normally don't have to look far. I'm conscious of my short coming , but being deceptive isn't one. My Mom cure me of that BS early on in life.
Grizzlybear , you should be commended for what you have uncovered. Truly ,you have saved a lot of people the grief of being conned.
Chris Williams, I know people like you , seem like the greatest guy in the world , someone to be envied , YOUR NOT. Every time you get a compliment. You should seriously consider that compliment coming from an uneducated person or bias person. Because that is what they are. They truly don't know you. YOU KNOW THAT!
You should not be given a pass , there are people who have give their lives for this country through many selfless acts. You sir don't deserve that freedom to be a crooked man. It truly pisses me Off. I'm like a knife that didn't get the proper temper . I don't bend well.
Well in this day and age it seems, When we talk about whats wrong with the world. We normally don't have to look far. I'm conscious of my short coming , but being deceptive isn't one. My Mom cure me of that BS early on in life. Grizzlybear , you should be commended for what you have uncovered. Truly ,you have saved a lot of people the grief of being conned.
Chris Williams, I know people like you , seem like the greatest guy in the world , someone to be envied , YOUR NOT. Every time you get a compliment. You should seriously consider that compliment coming from an uneducated person or bias person. Because that is what they are. They truly don't know you. YOU KNOW THAT!
You should not be given a pass , there are people who have give their lives for this country through many selfless acts. You sir don't deserve that freedom to be a crooked man. It truly pisses me Off. I'm like a knife that didn't get the proper temper . I don't bend well.
The guy plays the "Hard Working Blue Collar Southern Man" character, but in one of the articles about him it reveals he made his money being a "corporate investor" (whatever the heck that means) and investment banker before opening his knife handle business. He is in the business of maximizing profits, plain and simple.
james terrio
Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
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I am not shocked by this revelation. I'm not entirely sure what it means, but one more layer of BS doesn't surprise me at this point.
I guess I could call myself a former "corporate investor" too, since I used to have a 401K plan... that was invested in corporations... Think that would make my website/resume' look more impressive?
My opinion, if you are a knife maker and you have no trade secrets you should have No problem sharing with your customers and potential customers how you make a knife. It is that simple. Give them the truth. That to me is what makes a great knife maker. Let the consumer make a knowledgeable investment in the maker and their products. If they don't. IMHO they are trying to maximize profits , while minimizing their customers knowledge to their true abilities.
This horse will never die . If you have time to sell online and in forums . You take pics of your knives. Just Once you should be able to show. Shaping of pattern, or forging. Lets see your forge! Lets See it. Maybe I missed something but those I admire have shared more than they needed to. They actually love the Craft enough to share what they can. If you put a handle on a blank who cares. Knives need handles. Pimpers are praised. Nothing wrong with any of that. Just be honest or you should be exposed.(period)
Some may wonder why so concerned. Maybe I feel the investment a honest knifemaker puts in to his trade . Is being minimized by the lack of integrity of those who aren't being truthful or open. If you go beyond your own doors with nonsense. You have made it peoples business.
something or someone has gotten under my skin. I am treading lightly.
I don't accept its just how things are.
James
This horse will never die . If you have time to sell online and in forums . You take pics of your knives. Just Once you should be able to show. Shaping of pattern, or forging. Lets see your forge! Lets See it. Maybe I missed something but those I admire have shared more than they needed to. They actually love the Craft enough to share what they can. If you put a handle on a blank who cares. Knives need handles. Pimpers are praised. Nothing wrong with any of that. Just be honest or you should be exposed.(period)
Some may wonder why so concerned. Maybe I feel the investment a honest knifemaker puts in to his trade . Is being minimized by the lack of integrity of those who aren't being truthful or open. If you go beyond your own doors with nonsense. You have made it peoples business.
something or someone has gotten under my skin. I am treading lightly.
I don't accept its just how things are.
James
The problem that I have with Mr Williams reconstruction of his process (page 14) is that he is still leading the public to believe that he and/or his employees are producing the blade blanks to his rigorous standards thru the use of whatever equipment needed. Further, has there been a clarification of the blade material actually used? Just making an observation.
GrizzlyBear You have probably ( definitely ) put money in the hands of descent honest knife makers because of it. As a future wannabe/knife maker. I thank you.
I'm sure there are many more Mr Williams. People should definitely take the time to learn so they really get what they pay for. I know this thread helps if anything does.
James
I'm sure there are many more Mr Williams. People should definitely take the time to learn so they really get what they pay for. I know this thread helps if anything does.
James
This is the reason I started making knives. I seen some joker at the local farmers market with a big sign that said "handmade custom knives". After inspection I asked what supply house did you buy the blanks from and he told me Jantz and Knifekits. I reacted quickly (oops my bad) and called the a f'in joke and told him he should at least try to contour the handles before he sells the knife as "handmade".
But hey 100 knives later, I worked thru the mistakes and the frustration of learning how to grind. I'm planning on bringing my knives to that farmers market just to show off. I know that no one will buy them, but it will be good to get the word out for my sharpening business.
But hey 100 knives later, I worked thru the mistakes and the frustration of learning how to grind. I'm planning on bringing my knives to that farmers market just to show off. I know that no one will buy them, but it will be good to get the word out for my sharpening business.
I just saw his latest knife, a "hammered skinner", on his website and in G&G for $500. The blank is offered at Texas knife makers for $39.95. This guy is a total scammer and is an insult to the true custom knife makers. On the flip side of the coin, anyone that purchases a knife from him must really be a sucker. CAVEAT EMPTOR.
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Anyone look at "CFK Cutlery" (AKA "CFK USA"), a big ePrey seller.
"CFK" is said to stand for customer forged knives.
Knives come with a certificate of authenticity.
Uses knock-off of MAC SOG logo as business logo.
Seems to also dba, at least on ePrey, as "A FISHCREEK CUTLERY CO."
"Our" is he, and he seems to operate out of his home, a 2400 ft single family dwelling.
"CFK" is said to stand for customer forged knives.
Knives come with a certificate of authenticity.
Uses knock-off of MAC SOG logo as business logo.
Seems to also dba, at least on ePrey, as "A FISHCREEK CUTLERY CO."
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james terrio
Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
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Wow... if even half of that is true, it's pretty damning.
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