Rant - Makers Marks and Overdone Embellishment

[Don Nguyen]

A lot of the really highly established and respected makers put out work that's like a Ferrari, or a '62 Corvette, or a '69 SS Camaro, or '69 Mustang, etc. They just look "right" even if they were rattle can painted with flat black BBQ paint.... they would still look good IMHO.

I think a lot of guys trying to get placed in the big leagues think that adding a whole bunch of fluff and stuff is going to get them there faster.... but instead they end up making a '84 Honda hatchback with a 6' tall fin, neon ground lights, and a green fuzzy dash-board.

Of course, this is just my opinion and you know what they say about those....

This is such a fantastic analogy. That's a great point about the cheap paint cover up too.

 

[Frank Niro]

If there was just one type of knife maker and just one buyer of knives --- well then, but there are many of each, and isn't that what it's all about --- thank God !!!! Frank

 

[fumbler]

A little bit can be good, but too much is too much.
I am talking about excessive filework, multiple mosaic pins and clashing handle materials. Makes me think of third world made flea market knives.
These all require extra work and expense, and in my opinion can severely limit the market for the sellability of the knife.

I completely agree with that especially when the overall quality isn't that impressive. File work and high polishes on a knife that has an uneven finish , ugly grinds, etc, only makes the knife look worse. It's like like they're trying to compensate for poor quality in the basic skills of knifemaking.
I'm most impressed by even grinds, nice crisp grind lines/plunge lines, a good sense of proportion, and designs where different features flow well into a cohesive overall design.

 

[stevewest]

I will admit that I am somewhat conservative. That would more than likely be the reason that I pass on a number of custom makers because of the extravagance of their makes mark, or excessive file work and to some extent handles with multiple materials/pins. I majored in art education with a concentration in ceramics way back when, many years in the past. I was a functional potter. My ultimate goal was to produce ware that did what it was supposed to and no more than that. Form follows function. That is what I look for in knives. I would not consider myself an expert in any way, shape or form but I think I have a fairly discerning eye. I was lucky enough to discover Ray Laconico before his work became so very hard to obtain and fell in love with his offerings. Very functional work pared down to its simplest elements, very well crafted, with no ostentatious details to detract from the beauty of his designs. I love Dan Graves work - his materials are a little more complex - damascus, wonderful stag and the silver hardware that has been lately making an appearance in his work. While those materials are very rich, he lets them stand on their own merits without having to to push them to garner attention or detract from his graceful designs. Dans makers mark isn't exactly discreet, however, it is scaled to the work and with his use of heavy use of damascus, it often disappears on the blade. Just my observations as a buyer - maybe not the most sophisticated or experienced, but willing to offer a voice in what makes someone like me want to purchase custom knives.

 

[Dixieblade57]

Guys, to me it's kinda like this for me.

When a woman shows just enough to attract my eye she is much more sexy than the one walking around with a ton of perfume, painted up like a back street hooker and everything but the color hanging out!

In the words of Jeff Foxworthy, just because you can still get into the shorts you wore in high school, after age 45 you probably shouldn't!


Logo's to busy and too large don't do a thing to embellish a knife! IMHO And why we are speaking of embellishment a little file work looks great but too much well it's like the ton of perfume!

I saw a knife the other day that had four different components to the handle, it was nickel, then wood and then another kind of wood, and then antler! The shape of the handle was appealing and maybe a transition of one component and finishing with the antler would have looked good or just one of those components making up the entire handle would have looked good but, the four different components together looked like the maker just couldn't make up his mind which to use so he threw all of them in there! Gaudy is the word that comes to mind!

It kind of goes to that old says "less is more"!

 

[Joe Calton]

I just went through this line of thought a month ago when i got set up to etch my mark instead of using a dremel to sign my name. I ended up with just my last name. And found that if i etch it in, and then etch in ferric, that for me it is about perfect.

Its unobtrusive enough that it doesnt take away from the knife, yet when you look for it, its there. Personally i still prefer my dremel tool, as that was my last step to sign each blade as in " there, its finished and it meets my expectations, so it gets my signature".

 

[Redmeadow Knives]

One thing that definitely makes me pass on any piece of equipment is if the logo is full of two or more of the following: dragons, snakes, flames, ninjas, zombies, and wizards. One is ok in a logo if you're into that, but is it just me or do crossed ninjas belching flaming dragons surrounded by wizards turn you guys off? I'm with you Dixie, less is more.

 

[AVigil]

If there was just one type of knife maker and just one buyer of knives --- well then, but there are many of each, and isn't that what it's all about --- thank God !!!! Frank

+1 Hard to believe people are complaining there is to much variety in knifemaking

 

[Frank Niro]

Amen, brother !!! Frank

 

[Fred.Rowe]

No amount of embellishment can rescue a poorly conceived knife and the oversized logo only points out who the maker of the poorly conceived knife is.

A similar situation took place during the rein of Louis the 15th; the furniture was covered with so much embellishment it was hard to see the furniture itself.

Good post Mark.

 

[erik markman]

OK.....I am just ranting here. Please just take this as my opinions and maybe food for thought.

I have seen a number of good looking knives where I was annoyed by an oversized makers mark.
My first thought was that looks like a Nascar logo.
When I look at the bigger name makers I see their makers marks are smaller and more conservative.

As for embellishment.
A little bit can be good, but too much is too much.
I am talking about excessive filework, multiple mosaic pins and clashing handle materials. Makes me think of third world made flea market knives.
These all require extra work and expense, and in my opinion can severely limit the market for the sellability of the knife.

My thought is that a well made, clean and semi conservative knife will always be a better seller.
It takes a lot of little things to make a knife look really good.
But just one little thing can make it look bad.

Agreed! I can't even stand mosaicpins. So that makes me conservative and I like it....

 

[Erin Burke]

...but is it just me or do crossed ninjas belching flaming dragons surrounded by wizards turn you guys off?

Oh man!.!... I think I've found my new logo. Aweswerm!!!

{NOTE: Had to take liberties with the crossed-ninjas... BAM!}

 

[Brett Mathews]

Wow Mark, You elitist prick look what you have done now.

 

[Burl Source]

Wow Mark, You elitist prick look what you have done now.

Brett, does your wife know you are giving away walrus **** bones to other men's wives?

I am really not trying to say that only conservative knives look good.
More like thinking "does doing **** add to the good looks of the knife?"
I do think that multiple materials can look good if thought out and coordinated. Example would be some of Mark Knapp's knives.
I am not trying to say anything like "do it like this or you are wrong".
Just pointing out some personal opinions about what I like in a knife.

In the end I respect any knife maker who develops their skills and takes the time to do the best quality work that they are able to do.
Even if I don't like the style, materials or whatever, I can still admire and respect the workmanship.

 

[Phil Dwyer]

Have you guys seen some of the cooky over-the-top wild wood work at Mark's place?! I think his eyes just might need a rest sometimes.

 

[JCaswell]

... Even the Loveless logo, with the lady, was sized in a way that it didn't distract ...

Yup ... nothing "distracting" about that logo at all!


IMO, Bob INVENTED the oversized, "distracting" knife logo!--and did it in reverse on the backside, just in case you missed it!

 

[aread]

.....
I often think a lot of guys would be better off if they were reminded, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
....

I agree with this! :thumbup:

However, I also think that every knifemaker should do at least one where he takes it to the gaudy limit of his skill. If nothing else, to get it out of his system.

Generall, the better a product is made, the less it needs a logo shouting out who made it. The ultimate would be to not need a logo for people to recognize who made a knife. While most of the knifemakers here would instantly recognize the work of the top guys without looking for a logo, the less well informed still need written instructions (logo) to know if it's good work or not. And that group represents the bulk of the custom knife sales. So IMO you still need a logo, but the better quality the maker, the smaller the logo.

JMHO,
Allen

 

[Salem Straub]

I do like that logo of Bob's.
I designed and bought the same logo in two sizes from Ernie- but I find myself using the big one less and less.

 

[9blades]

You're right IMO a little well placed well thought out embellishment goes a long way.

 

[J. Hoffman]