Questions for all knife makers

What would you tell someone that asked “why should I buy your knife instead of someone else's?”
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I don't make knives, but I can write editorial copy.

Every knife I make has a part of me in it, and is nurtured to perfection as I would nurture my own child. Every knife is made to the best of my ability, and is tested before it leaves my shop. My knives are made using traditional methods which have been proven throughout the ages before current buzzwords like 'cryo-quenching became fashionable. I don't receive complaints and I give a lifetime warranty against fair use. My knives will always be a collectors knife and will find true fame when I cast this mortal coil.

Print it out and stick it over your phone :)
 
I think it's sort of ironic that some folks automatically associate large-production knives with nerdy scientists and bubbling beakers.
It seems to me the hard science is mostly handled by the steel manufacturers that generate the alloys and deliver it to market complete with blueprints on what it is and how to handle it. The manufacturer's job is to choose the right material for an application and select appropriate processing---and to make sure everyone knows his is the best, of course.
 
Here's an update. The gentleman that called earlier, called me back this morning. He told me he had seen my post on here and was really impressed with all the feelings expressed. He told me to go ahead and make him the knife we had discussed.

So thank you all for taking the time to express you throughts and opinions, I figure there was probably several others that have come across this thread that might have a change of opinion and now have a better understanding of of knifemakers. :thumbup:

Bill
 
JCaswell said:
It seems to me the hard science is mostly handled by the steel manufacturers that generate the alloys and deliver it to market complete with blueprints on what it is and how to handle it.
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Right, but if a new steel or alloy will be excellent quality but very tough or expecive in production very few industry manufacturers will use it. So it is always a tradeoff between qualities of steel and its manufacturability.
So this "hard science" cares mostly to create well ballanced steel within price/quality/manufacturability variables. Unfortunately(or fortunately) industry and individuals have completely different ULTIMATE GOAL. Industry makes the best possible money. Individual makes the best possible knife or blade he can! That means the knifemakers are still in business. :rolleyes:
 
There is one thing you should add if it hasn't been written yet.
And that is that there is a much, much higher chance of getting a faulty heat treatment from a production company. Because they crank so many out, they cannot do individual testing. (There are higher priced exceptions, like Busse, William Henry, Chris Reeve, etc, but even these companies have the occasional oops.) IMO..... You're giving too much credit to standard knife companies as far as having "teams of mellalurgical experts" on hand to check the knives, steels, etc, MOSTLY because the "big companies" are the ones like Case and Buck that crank out knives with less than optimal steel, and the higher end companies, like benchmade, must keep costs low to be competitive, and probably have to rely on info given to them from the steel manufacturers than testing of individual knives.
I trust you guys more. :thumbup:
 
I'm not a maker, but as a buyer, the biggest reason I would buy a custom knife is because it would be one of kind. There's just something cool about knowing the knife I have in my hand is the only one of it's kind.

What I like even more is when the knife doesn't even have a name or model number, because the maker has never made one like it before.:thumbup:
 
Here's one from the consumer/forumite point of view.
B's potential customer is all caught up in the AAAA vs BBBB threads, which turn into controversies and have "expert" opinions splashed through out them.
He is trying to do research, but there is so much BS, posturing and brand worshipping going on, he is having trouble separating the wheat from the chaff.

There are so many experts on the forums that a newbie wouldn't know who to believe.
Especially when we throw in a huge dollop of back yard science.

When I found the forums, I couldn't believe anyone would pay over $200 for a knife. Thought it was nuts.
I read, I learned.
I filtered out the bs and came to shoptalk and sought out makers that the other makers were looking up to.
I learned how to 'read' a knife from one of the name purveyors.
I put in the time and effort.
B's prospective customer is just beginning. Possibly listening to the wrong voices. He can't see through the muddy waters, but should be commended for not being a sheep and following the herd.


Knifemakers aren't their own worst enemy.
The experts are the knifemaker's worst enemy.

Here's what you guys have to do.
(Just MHO)
Make the best knife that you possibly can, today.

If, in a year from now, the best knife you can possibly make then, is better that the one today...you are on the right track.
 
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