Question in etiquette

corwise

corwise

Joined
Nov 10, 2006
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This might be a stupid question, and if so I apologize. I'd like to have a custom knife made. I know a maker who makes some great stuff, but not 'exactly' what I'm looking for. Is it rude or a breech of protocol to send him a picture of a knife I found online and ask him to "make me something like this one, with your steel and your handle?"
Its not that I don't think he makes great knives, he makes many that are close to the one I want, but this one just has better lines. I was wondering if he might find that offensive. Thanks much.
 
That not a problem at all from what I've seen. You could have your own design and send him that and he'd still make it. Just send him the pic and ask him to make the changes you want and see what you get. If you can make a sketch, that would be better.

You won't offend anybody. Unless he's a real douche, in which case, it won't matter. (I've run into a couple of them.) But a decent human being would be more than happy to make the knife for you.
 
Many makers will rightly be reticent to "copy" exactly another maker's design. You would be better off drawing your own sketch and asking him if he would be willing to create a knife from your design. You could even post your drawing here for comments and feedback from experience makers and collectors. It could be a fun process :)
 
xaman said:
Many makers will rightly be reticent to "copy" exactly another maker's design. You would be better off drawing your own sketch and asking him if he would be willing to create a knife from your design. You could even post your drawing here for comments and feedback from experience makers and collectors. It could be a fun process :)
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Same page here. Make it a process. But once decided, leave it alone, and don't be a PIA. Most makers I've dealt with don't like to be micromanaged and NEED their own artistic license. WD
 
Some makers prefer not to build other makers' patterns at all, whether because they don't want to be seen as copying someone else's work or simply because they prefer to work solely from their own inspiration. Why not contact the maker with the proposal much the way you phrase it above, i.e., "I'm a great admirer of your work. If it would not offend you, I'd like to send you a (photo, sketch, etc.) to see if it's something you would be interested in making for me."

Even if the maker is reticent to accept another's exact design, you may find this an effective icebreaker that will lead to a conversation and some kind of accommodation of your desired design elements in the future.
 
wdtorque said:
Same page here. Make it a process. But once decided, leave it alone, and don't be a PIA. Most makers I've dealt with don't like to be micromanaged and NEED their own artistic license. WD
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Yes as a maker Some custmores can be a pain, but I do like contact with my custmores SOMETIMES:D:D lol
 
I get alot of requests similar to yours, and I dont take offense at all, my standard answer is " I will make you MY version of that knife".
 
Don't see a problem with it. It's a good way to try to give a maker an idea of the type of knife you are looking for. Most I know won't want to make the same knife, but will add their own twists and style. Hell...if I was worth a damn at drawing pictures I might try that...but I'm not and so I don't. Just my 2 cents...I've done it and the makers didn't seem to have a problem with it.
 
RMLamey said:
I get alot of requests similar to yours, and I dont take offense at all, my standard answer is " I will make you MY version of that knife".
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Exactly. I generally won't ask a maker to produce an exact copy of another maker's work, but there's nothing wrong with pointing to design elements of known knives as a means of communicating what you want. If you're both looking at the same picture, there's little chance of confusion. Besides, I suck at sketching, and nothing I sketched would be as accurate as a good photo anyway.

On a current camp knife project I asked a maker to produce a knife similar to one of his own designs, but with a "gentle recurve" for the cutting edge. He wanted to be sure what I meant by that term, so I sent him photos of knives by David Broadwell, Dan Farr and Matt Lamey. Now he knows exactly what I meant. :)

Roger
 
RogerP said:
On a current camp knife project I asked a maker to produce a knife similar to one of his own designs, but with a "gentle recurve" for the cutting edge. He wanted to be sure what I meant by that term, so I sent him photos of knives by David Broadwell, Dan Farr and Matt Lamey. Now he knows exactly what I meant. :)

Roger
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Somebody's going to be copying my gentle recurve edges? :eek:

Over the years a few people have send me pictures of other's work and asked me to copy it. Usually they think they can get that knife at a cheaper price! I really don't like to make copies unless it's an historical piece, and I very rarely make that type of knife. However, I have had people show me pictures of certain elements as a reference, just as Roger did, and I have no problem with that. Individual elements are just that. It's the way a group of them are arranged that it can become a copy or become unique.

So to answer the original question, it shouldn't be a problem. Send the picture to your maker and point out the elements you like, but emphasize that you aren't looking for a copy.

David
 
As a maker it is sometimes hard to understand exactly what a customer wants in a knife, especially over the phone or using e-mail. Using pictures is a great way to help this problem.

There is not much out there in the way of blade shape (that is worth making IMHO) that can be attributed solely to one maker. The same is true for handles. On the other hand, the combinations of blade shape, handle shape, materials, decoration and finish can make a distinctive looking knife that is recognizable as one makers work. Making a knife that purposely looks like another maker's knife is not something Charlie and I will do. I'm not saying that it is unethical, just a choice that we've made. Other makers make other choices.

A satisfied customer is one of the best advertising tools you could ask for. If the customer is not happy with the design, the knife sits in a drawer and the customer doesn't show it off, the maker is missing out. It could be because of a miscommunication at the time the order was placed. That is why we have a policy that the customer is under no obligation to keep the knife if he is unhappy. He can return it for a full refund or another knife. His choice. A picture up front can help eliminate many problems down the line.
 
Nothing at all wrong with asking a maker to build a knife "something like" another's knife.
A photo is a great way to communicate what you are looking for.
 
Almost all of the custom Bowies I own or have owned were not the makers catalog models. I have always requested changes modifications. I have never had any issues with the makers. Most of them welcom the challenge or change of pace from the norm.


In short the modifications and changes you request is what makes it a custom and unique piece. It also give you a added connection to the knife as you were in some way involved with the design.

Don't be afraid to ask, because if you don't ask you'll never know.

Also most makers will take in your ideas and let you know thier toughts on it and you will find a happy mediam

I do see where a maker would have an issue being asked to make and exact copy of another living makers work.
 
I was glad to see someone post this question as I would be in the same boat. I have simple taste but want the knife to just "ooze" with quality. Any design I would want would probably be something that has been done a hundred times over so it would not be a "speciman" piece. But it would be an heirloom to proudly pass down through the generations.
 
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