questionable workmanship question

B

badpenny

Joined
Oct 12, 1999
Messages
99
If you just purchased a $400 dollar knife from a reputable custom maker that had rough edges around the oversized screw holes in the micarta handles would you send it back for replacement/repair?

Tony

>This post is definitely NOT meant as a pointing of fingers, just a plea for advise on a situation I feel kind of bad about. I would never attempt to defame or embarrass anyone, and like I said later in this thread, I have a lot of respect for the knife maker and really like his work (and have told him so) Didn't mean to rant, just clarify in case I gave the wrong impression
smile.gif


[This message has been edited by badpenny (edited 03-10-2000).]
 
Yes. I've sent them back for less. If nothing else, you are reminding the maker about small touches that make a big difference to the buyer.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"That which does not kill me just postpones the inevitable."
 
I would send it back. $400 is too much to pay for obvious flaws. I say this as a customer and a maker, i would want any knife back that i let get out that would not represent my ability to its best degree.
 
Yup, definitely send it back. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was send a folder back to a maker... it felt like I was insulting him. But, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten any enjoyment out of the knife; every time I looked at it I would have regretted not having sent it back.

Ryan

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
I posted this question because I felt much like Ryan did about insulting the maker who's work I have a lot of respect for. It may only be a small cosmetic flaw but the price I paid for the knife and the reputation of the maker make me feel like I should get alot of knife for my money. I have contacted him and was told to send it back and he'd make it right.
So there's no problem with the maker and I'd buy his whole line if I could afford it, just wish I'd gotten $400 worth of craftmanship.

Thanks for the encouragement.
Tony
 
As a maker, I would rather have my customers proud of their knives and be able to enjoy showing them off. This is not likely to happen if there is a flaw on the knife that is obvious and makes its owner unhappy! If I were to let something go with a flaw on it, I would SURE want to know about it!
I encourage customers to return knives for just a "tune up". This usually includes removing scratches, sharpening and sometimes a Kydex sheath adjustment. I only ask for return postage. It makes my happy to see my knives being USED, especially the Hunters!
Neil

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Blackwood Knives
More knives in stock! New Talonite models soon!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 03-07-2000).]
 
wow...i just sent a knife that was that exact amount off to virginia...and the guy called and said one of the screws was a little high (it was a big combat knife with screwed on micarta handles)..i told him to try and screw it tighter...and if that didnt work, send it back....I certainly want EVERY customer to be delighted with the knife i send him....but sometimes there is a difference in expectations...I made surfboards for 22 years..and have been making knives for about 18. Micarta is sometimes hard to get super smooth when you countersink it because the linen and or canvas doesnt cut cleanly...its not hard like aluminum or ti....i have run into this problem a lot....guess i need to get some kind of smooth stone to go into those countersink holes and clean up the fuzz from the micarta...but back to the original question....you need to be satisfied, even if the knifemaker thinks you are being too picky....had this problem in the surfboard biz a lot....prima donna surf stars think they are the president or something...but some people ARE too picky...I stopped making surfboards for them...let someone else deal with their psychosis.....good luck...

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
HAH!! Tom Mayo! I KNEW your so-called 'workmanship' would eventually get you in trouble! I will NEVER forget the first knife I got from you. For those of you with strong stomachs, click here to see it: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=306668&a=2279510&p=17543980

If I have done the Photo Point thing right, what you should have seen is a roughly formed blade of rusted hacksaw blade material, with 'scales' of a roughly split section of tree branch held together with twine. Tom had absolutely nothing to do with this 'knife.' It was a gag by Rob Simonich; when he sent me my (actually the world's first) Talonite (r) Cetan, he put this gag knife on the top inside the package, so I would see it first. I did, and howled with laughter. I still think the gag is funny, so use it here again, with attribution to the perpertrator.

Tom Mayo's craftsmanship is superlative. I have purchased two knives from him, and have him building two more. He is also a gentleman, and is one of the most consumer driven craftsman I have ever met. He is willing to do something completely against his ideas of what is right, if that is what the customer wants.

Here is (again, if I did the Photo thing right) a picture of one of the two knives I bought from Tom; blade is Talonite (r), scales are ebony. I sent this knife to my daughter ('Dark Mistress' here on the forum), and she was, and still is, ecstatic about her new knife. I might mention that she already owned a Simonich Wambli, four Mad Dogs, and a Kit Carson #18 folder with Talonite (r) blade, so she has encountered high quality blades in the past.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=306668&a=2279510&p=17543981

Besides, Tom, the poster with the bad knife was from AL, and you sent your knife to VA. So, stop worrying!! Walt
 
Since knives are made by human hands I believe that it is inevitable that every knife has some flaw.

If you notice a flaw as a customer I believe that you owe it to yourself and the Maker (Custom or Production) to give that Maker an opportunity to correct the flaw. If the flaw is corrected promptly and courteously I would say that the Maker deserves your continued respect.

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AKTI Member No. A000370
 
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