Question for the makers out there.

weo

weo

Joined
Sep 21, 2014
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Hello all. I'm wondering if the makers who do this for a living, when you were a newbie trying to make a buck, would you market/sell a knife that has flaws for a reduced price with full disclosure on the defects?
The specific knives I'm thinking of are: a) 2 San Mai (or 3 layer, which is more correct?) chef's knives where it's obvious that (to a smith, anyway) I got a little off center on my forging/grinding because one side looks great with the 15N20 on the top 1/3, but n the other side goes almost all the way down to the bottom. and b) a smaller vegetable knife in a feather pattern where, at the heel, there's a small spot where there is a poor forge weld. IMO, both of these are cosmetic (although the vegetable knife probably needs a bit more care to prevent rust from starting at the crack).

Thanks all. Have a great Father's day all you fathers out there.
 
Best not to sell either one.

It will be resold at some point, even if they swear not to, and sold as premium stock. You wil be forever plagued as these will haunt you untill you pay twice as much to get them off of the secondary market.

I have seen makers do this at knife shows and watch the new owner sell the devalued piece for full price ten minutes after purchase even though they promised not to sell it.

Knives like these tend to get sold or traded over and over until your reputation suffers.

Hoss
 
What Hoss said...

Been there, done that, don't do it.

I have even sent blems out to other makers just for them to fool around with with the understanding they would be destroyed and discarded. I've regretted that also.

Don't send junk out of your shop. Ever.
 
Here's what I say to all new makers who ask me about selling their early "unrefined" knives; "When you get to the level that you are working so hard to attain, will you want these knives out there?"

Bob
 
I always keep the blemished knives for myself. Even if its just something cosmetic like a mosiac pin not clocked in, it's better to keep these knives instead of sending them out.
 
Its either the very best you can do or it doesn't leave your shop.
 
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