- Joined
- Aug 12, 2002
- Messages
- 2,259
rather vague thread title, but I couldn't quite figure out how to label this one.
I've only sold one knife so far, just a little(like 4 inch or so) one to a friend for gutting trout. I had a neck knife from Scott Fulford that best friend really liked, and thoughtt it would make a good gutting knife. So I made him a copy, with a few modifications, and sold it to him, and that's first and only one I've sold so far(even did the cheesy bit of taking a dollar from the sale and have it tacked on wall above grinder).
Anywyas, I've learned a bunch since then, and can see all kinds of problems with it. The grind was ugly. The finish I used isn't as durable as I'd like(used header paint I described in other thread, and I'm just about convinced that I'll use something else for all of thosein future). But most important is that the sheath is really ugly, and won't last long(which I know is a peeve of Wild rose), and the heat treat was bad. I can just about guarantee that I got it noticably too hot and probalby have a horribly corase grain on it, at least judging from two other knives I made around same time. So I really don't like idea that I sold him this knife, with these problems. Even though it doesn't have my name on it , as I haven't started doing that, it's still an example of my work.
We're both graduating in May(fingers are crossed there), and first thing he's doing is to take two weeks or so and go home to CO to do some fishing. Best of my knowledge is that he plans to take this knife along. What I was thinking is that I'd offer to remake the knife for him, with any changes he has in mind, plus changes I have in mind(slightly thinner stock, cleaner grind, change from paper to canvas micarta for a better grip, or even a wood, possibly go with a hand rubbed finish instead of the black, or if he still wants black, go with my teflon Moly, and instead of that horribly ugly sheath, send it off to a real maker to have a nicer sheath made). I was thinking of offering this free of charge, just becuase with quality of knives I'm making now(still a LONG way to go before I reach level of Mr. Fowler or Carson, but they are good enough now that I have some pride in them), I'm ashamed to have that old one out there.
Anyone think there's anything wrong with offering to copmletely replace/redo this one free of charge:? Plan on telling him he can still keep first one if he wants(though wouldnt' mind gettin git back myself. Kind of neat to have back first knife I sold, to keep next to first I ever made, even though they're both ugly). I don't think there's anything wrong with this idea, but maybe I'm missing something important. Would appreciate any input.
I've only sold one knife so far, just a little(like 4 inch or so) one to a friend for gutting trout. I had a neck knife from Scott Fulford that best friend really liked, and thoughtt it would make a good gutting knife. So I made him a copy, with a few modifications, and sold it to him, and that's first and only one I've sold so far(even did the cheesy bit of taking a dollar from the sale and have it tacked on wall above grinder).
Anywyas, I've learned a bunch since then, and can see all kinds of problems with it. The grind was ugly. The finish I used isn't as durable as I'd like(used header paint I described in other thread, and I'm just about convinced that I'll use something else for all of thosein future). But most important is that the sheath is really ugly, and won't last long(which I know is a peeve of Wild rose), and the heat treat was bad. I can just about guarantee that I got it noticably too hot and probalby have a horribly corase grain on it, at least judging from two other knives I made around same time. So I really don't like idea that I sold him this knife, with these problems. Even though it doesn't have my name on it , as I haven't started doing that, it's still an example of my work.
We're both graduating in May(fingers are crossed there), and first thing he's doing is to take two weeks or so and go home to CO to do some fishing. Best of my knowledge is that he plans to take this knife along. What I was thinking is that I'd offer to remake the knife for him, with any changes he has in mind, plus changes I have in mind(slightly thinner stock, cleaner grind, change from paper to canvas micarta for a better grip, or even a wood, possibly go with a hand rubbed finish instead of the black, or if he still wants black, go with my teflon Moly, and instead of that horribly ugly sheath, send it off to a real maker to have a nicer sheath made). I was thinking of offering this free of charge, just becuase with quality of knives I'm making now(still a LONG way to go before I reach level of Mr. Fowler or Carson, but they are good enough now that I have some pride in them), I'm ashamed to have that old one out there.
Anyone think there's anything wrong with offering to copmletely replace/redo this one free of charge:? Plan on telling him he can still keep first one if he wants(though wouldnt' mind gettin git back myself. Kind of neat to have back first knife I sold, to keep next to first I ever made, even though they're both ugly). I don't think there's anything wrong with this idea, but maybe I'm missing something important. Would appreciate any input.
