Possible Knife Give Away...What do you think?

silver_pilate

silver_pilate

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
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I finished this one up with the intention of selling it on the boards. However, upon finishing, I have some concerns that prevent me from selling it. This is the first time I've used G10, and the first I've used a jade colored material. As such, I learned a few things that normally aren't an issue. For liner material, I used a thin white vulcanized liner. When I was building the knife, I used a black sharpie to trace the outline. Then later, I shifted the position of the matieral, and the result is that there is a very small bit of black that shows on the front edge of the semi-translucent scale. Also, there is a very very small mark just in front of the left handle scale that didn't get taken care of in sanding. In addition to those things, to attach the scales, I drilled small holes through the liner and into the G10 to allow epoxy to fully engage all aspects of the handle. These holes in the liner appear through the translucent handle as ghostly dark spots. These issues would obviously keep me from selling the knife, and as I was thinking about it, I had a couple of options. I was considering keeping the knife for myself, or I could remove the scales, fix the liner and sanding issues, and put it up for sale.

My question is this. I have also thought about giving this knife away on the boards, but I'm concerned that the small blemishes on the knife could reflect poorly on me in the eyes of someone who didn't know it was a giveaway.

What would you do?

Here's the knife, BTW (no mark yet):

IMG_0564.jpg


IMG_0566.jpg


--nathan
 
If you send it my way, I PROMISE not to tell anyone where I got it!:D
I think it's a sweet blade... nuthin' to be ashamed of!
silver_pilate said:
I finished this one up with the intention of selling it on the boards. However, upon finishing, I have some concerns that prevent me from selling it. This is the first time I've used G10, and the first I've used a jade colored material. As such, I learned a few things that normally aren't an issue. For liner material, I used a thin white vulcanized liner. When I was building the knife, I used a black sharpie to trace the outline. Then later, I shifted the position of the matieral, and the result is that there is a very small bit of black that shows on the front edge of the semi-translucent scale. Also, there is a very very small mark just in front of the left handle scale that didn't get taken care of in sanding. In addition to those things, to attach the scales, I drilled small holes through the liner and into the G10 to allow epoxy to fully engage all aspects of the handle. These holes in the liner appear through the translucent handle as ghostly dark spots. These issues would obviously keep me from selling the knife, and as I was thinking about it, I had a couple of options. I was considering keeping the knife for myself, or I could remove the scales, fix the liner and sanding issues, and put it up for sale.

My question is this. I have also thought about giving this knife away on the boards, but I'm concerned that the small blemishes on the knife could reflect poorly on me in the eyes of someone who didn't know it was a giveaway.

What would you do?

Here's the knife, BTW (no mark yet):

IMG_0564.jpg


IMG_0566.jpg


--nathan
Click to expand...
 
its beautiful i cant wait till i can turn out something like that. almost seeems nit picky to a newbie, but i think i understand.

nice knife tho

jake
 
I'll throw in my 2 cents worth.
Its a very nice knife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think a maker that points out what HE considers mistakes is something to be admired.
I am not a knife maker! I'm just starting out trying to bang and file steel to make sharp things.
I think if you're going to give it away and telling why, whoever gets it will be extremely happy.
They will probably tell others folks "hey, I got this knife as a giveaway because the maker wasn't happy"
To be honest, they may generate business your way.
You could also sell it for a discount because of the "flaws" and it will at least give you something for your troubles.
I personally don't have knives laying around that I like to look at...I use mine!
Blood will/has been on all my knives and they may not get cleaned until the next day.
Again, thats a very fine knife you've made. You're always harder on yourself when you know where you could've done better.
I make arrows for folks and I'm always harder on myself then the folks that are shooting them!
A couple years ago I saw a guy with that blade style butcher a couple of hogs, he was deadly with it. Kinda suprised me because it didn't seem like a skinner to me, he must have had alot of practice!
BTW...if you don't put your mark on it and send it to me...I won't tell anybody who made it so it won't tarnish your good name! :)
 
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Hey I went by a gun and knife show today. There were only a couple knife booths. There were a couple blades I wouldn't sell that they were asking over $400 for. Amazing. If you give it away it is just that a gift and one someone would appreciate. IMHO Jim
 
Thanks for all the thoughts so far, as well as the compliments. They mean a great deal to any maker.

I'm really leaning towards a giveaway if I don't keep it, as this is the handle material I won in a giveaway a while back on this very forum. You know...keep the spirit of giving back going. BTW, the blade is O-1.

--nathan
 
I say give it to a friend, or do a giveaway. You can make it clear that you're not happy with the defects and that will not reflect poorly on you.
 
i say giveaway. it is a way to make it so that someone will get the knife and enjoy it, with no qualms about there being those tiny little things that bother you *and rightfully so*. Someone still gets what i would say is an excellent knife, and you dont have to worry about selling it with those "blems" on the brain. and on the plus side, you learned some things about the G-10 and how it works as a handle material, so the next time you use it, it will be alot easier to use.
 
It's a beautiful knife. I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to buy it. I would. :thumbup:
 
when i first started working with that kind of g10 i quickley learned that it is transparent and everything has to be spot on. one thing that looks good on that G10 is a bead blast finish. it will make it less see through. if you want i can blast it for you for free.
 
Dang, Nathan! That is a great looking knife! I need to hit the shop and see how to make those beautiful plunge cuts.
 
Sooooo you're going to start the "First Annual Surprise a Knifemaker in Deatsville, Alabama Named Will Leavitt With a Great Knife Giveaway" with that knife? :confused: Well gee, I sure do appreciate it :p

Looks great to me.. perhaps you could tell people that it's tigerstripe jade G10?
 
Will, you're too quick for me! :D

Nathan, I think a giveaway is a good idea too if you decide not to keep it. But I don't know why you don't just put it to work for yourself, personally. Unless you have too many of your own knives already! In which case - throw my name in the hat too! That's a beautiful knife.

Another option of course, is one you mentioned: Grind off the handle and do it over. That's such a nice blade you might think about that some more. I know how that feels though, and I understand why you might rather just give it away or use it.

Fantastic knife. Your next ones will be what you wanted. And you've short-cut my learning curve on jade G-10, for which I thank you. ;)
 
The knife looks very nice.You could give it away, but why not just fix it. Drill out the rivets , put in the oven at 200F for a short time,and pop off the scales. Re-do the handle with the corrections that are needed and then sell or give away a non-flawed knife.
Stacy
 
Nathan, keep it, put it somewhere so you will see it {2-3-4 times a day].
If your like me ,it wont take very long at all for you to get p'ed [and ashamed]
and then you will redo it and be proud of it. To nice of a blade to let a little set of scales rob you of master craftsmanship.
I've done that before, pick out some person to give it to,then at the last min. I say "I not giving that away in that condition--get out there and fix it ,then give it to them.
Just the way I am. Jerry
 
Why don't you try putting it into the hands of a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan? It's a beautiful knife, and I doubt any minor flaws you can see will matter to anyone in those circumstances.

PS I don't see your logo etched yet, and you could leave that off so that it doesn't end up making the rounds into someone's hands who you wouldn't want seeing your best work.
 
Very good looking knife. I understand your concerns and if you were to give it to me I would keep it and Cherise it for years never letting anyone know of it's flaws. lolololo You are to good of a knife maker to do that I say pull the scales off and redo it. Just my two cents worth. But If you are really looking to give it away, keep me in mind. hahaha

Keep up the good work
Because of makers like you I get the inspiration to step up every time I walk into my shop.

Todd
 
ib2v4u said:
Hey I went by a gun and knife show today. There were only a couple knife booths. There were a couple blades I wouldn't sell that they were asking over $400 for. Amazing. If you give it away it is just that a gift and one someone would appreciate. IMHO Jim
Click to expand...

I had almost the same experience yesterday. Two pretty well know makers knives and the work wasen't what I thought it should be. Now when I see their names, those knives are stuck in my head. I say rip the scales off and redo it until your happy with it, why send something out that you think is second rate, free or not.
 
Alright, the decision's been made. I'm going to pull the scales off, fix the problems, AND do the giveaway. Keep an eye out for it. It'll take me a little time to get it done (I'm short on shop time these days), but I'll post it here when it's ready.

It will still have the holes drilled in the liners into the scales to add strength to the knife. But I'll try and make them as uniform as possible to create a pattern through the scales.

Thanks for all the input!

--nathan
 
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