Question about maker’s mark

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

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Aug 13, 2002
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I hope that in a not too distant future I’ll be able to make knives good enough that I feel comfortable putting my mark on them.

So my question is: Is it better to go with name or logo? Or maybe both?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Pad
 
Padrig said:
I hope that in a not too distant future I’ll be able to make knives good enough that I feel comfortable putting my mark on them.

So my question is: Is it better to go with name or logo? Or maybe both?
Click to expand...

Pad, after a long time considering this question, AND researching history, this is my take:

Historians love to trace an object back to it's maker, whether it's a beauty or a beast. It kind of defines the times. They don't care how great it is, just about when, by whom, and for what.

Collectors do it too. For different reasons, but the same questions.

For a long time, I didn't put on a mark, for the same reasons you are concerned with. I've since decided that that view is too, well, too selfish for want of a better term. I take up space in this world till I'm gone, then someone fills my place. It would be arrogant of me to think I am the only one that could fill my space.

It's also narrow minded to wait till you are "famous" or "discovered" to make your mark on your work. You may never be famous, nor even worthy of any recognition at all.

I have some books. Some first editions, signed by the author. They were just starting out. Some are still alive, even. My Stephen King collection comes to mind. Some are worth, well many thousands..........and the writing is terrible!
But, it's his FIRST stab at his craft, and it yeilds a lot for a researcher. It's history in our life time, if you know what I mean.

So, I think you owe it to mankind to mark your work, maybe not for you, maybe not for any benefit to you whatsoever, but it may just be the clue somebody needs to identify our existence a few hundred years down the road.

So, your name or your mark or both should be the norm for all of us. Just leave enough clues so that others may find who made the thing in question.
And, besides, you "may" become famous, and your early work will be worth a ton!

HTH.
 
Your name is important. No one may be able to figure out who "daggerP" (logo) is, but it wouldn't be hard to find "Padrig Knives", or "J.Padrig" A logo looks cool to you, but may be of no interest (or help finding you) to a person who doesn't know you. Using both name and logo is fine, as long as there is a name.
Stacy
 
I've heard from a number of people that it's a good idea to use your name AND city/state. That way, those who see the knife don't just know who made it, they know how to find you and get one for themselves :)

I'll be doing this as soon as the wife and I buy a house... wouldn't want a stamp that says "Rives Junction" if we live in Jackson, Albion, etc

Mike
 
MSCantrell said:
I've heard from a number of people that it's a good idea to use your name AND city/state. That way, those who see the knife don't just know who made it, they know how to find you and get one for themselves :)

I'll be doing this as soon as the wife and I buy a house... wouldn't want a stamp that says "Rives Junction" if we live in Jackson, Albion, etc

Mike
Click to expand...

Don't forget the added benefit of the tax dollars you would save the IRS. They will be able to find you so much easier when you start bringin down those huge knifemaker bucks. :D
 
I got a handstamp made with my initials in the microsoft Wizzard font, looks pretty cool. But in hindsight I shouldve gotten first initial full last name. I was worried about finding room for a handstamp that size on the ricasso. The ironic thing is that the handstamp fits perfectly into a 1/2" drive socket, so that is what I use to secure the handstamp in my arbor press. Even if you think your knives suck, still mark em. I marked my first, and will mark every blade that gets handles and a sharp edge. Besides, I can see if a knife is gonna come out as a beater, so I wont put expensive wood on it. That does not hurt so bad as compared to THINKING you have all the bugs worked out on a specific blade, then get your feelings hurt when you see a jacked blade with expensive wood on it.
 
Thanks for all the replies especially bodfish. I had never thought about it like that.

I will go with my name then and maybe a small logo, not sure.

A good or bad thing is that this narrows the choices for application. I have to go with something clean for the name to show well.

Thanks again.

Pad
 
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