Re-Blading Legality

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Ten_Mile_Knives

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Feb 9, 2018
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Recently a friend asked if I could make him an M-390 blade for his M-tech USMC folder (I think as a joke). My question is what is the Legality of reproducing blades from other companies in different stepss, and selling them as after-market mods? If I want to make a whole like of exotic steels for the Delica say, could Spyderco sue me?
 
If you can do this you can sell your own complete knives at twice the profit and one tenth of the headache.
 
Ten_Mile_Knives said:
Recently a friend asked if I could make him an M-390 blade for his M-tech USMC folder (I think as a joke). My question is what is the Legality of reproducing blades from other companies in different stepss, and selling them as after-market mods? If I want to make a whole like of exotic steels for the Delica say, could Spyderco sue me?
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Not a lawyer.

I don't think so except possibly in the case of you reproducing a trademark such as Spyderco's "Round Hole," Busse's talon hole, or Emerson's wave opener.
 
Danke42 said:
If you can do this you can sell your own complete knives at twice the profit and one tenth of the headache.
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This! I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole. If you have the skilled trade to make precision blades, why not make your own brand of knives?
 
Danke42 said:
If you can do this you can sell your own complete knives at twice the profit and one tenth of the headache.
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That's a good point, I guess I'll see what kind of struggle I go through to make my friend's blade .

SpySmasher said:
Not a lawyer.

I don't think so except possibly in the case of you reproducing a trademark such as Spyderco's "Round Hole," Busse's talon hole, or Emerson's wave opener.
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That certainly makes sense, outside of those, and patents on locks though I don't see many knife trademarks. Certainly not on blade shape/ construction.

91bravo said:
10-Mile Knives. Has a nice ring to it.
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Thank you! It's named after the street in Warren MI that I started making knives on.
 
Ten_Mile_Knives said:
That's a good point, I guess I'll see what kind of struggle I go through to make my friend's blade .



That certainly makes sense, outside of those, and patents on locks though I don't see many knife trademarks. Certainly not on blade shape/ construction.



Thank you! It's named after the street in Warren MI that I started making knives on.
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Any significance to Eminem’s 8-mile?
 
The spyderhole is trademarked.

Other than that, if the price is in line with the quality, I'd think you'd suffer no shortage of business. Think of all the SAK knives for which people would want a blade of M390. Or all of the Opinels where people would want a 10V blade. Or better yet, all of the spyderco militaries people would want in 15V.

Moneymaker if you can pull off correct lock face geometry. Just don't make the hole all the way through the blade, or make an oval like everyone else.

If you ever end up doing it, let me know. I'll be asking for an Opinel blade made of 4V heat treated by Peters.
 
91bravo said:
Any significance to Eminem’s 8-mile?
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All of the North-South streets in the Detroit area go by miles and half miles rather than by names. So Ten Mile Rd. Is just the street parallel and two miles north of 8 Mile Rd. But I did have the same Middle school social studies teacher as Eminem if that helps my street-cred .

Someone1 said:
The spyderhole is trademarked.

Other than that, if the price is in line with the quality, I'd think you'd suffer no shortage of business. Think of all the SAK knives for which people would want a blade of M390. Or all of the Opinels where people would want a 10V blade. Or better yet, all of the spyderco militaries people would want in 15V.

Moneymaker if you can pull off correct lock face geometry. Just don't make the hole all the way through the blade, or make an oval like everyone else.

If you ever end up doing it, let me know. I'll be asking for an Opinel blade made of 4V heat treated by Peters.
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I didn't even think of Opinel, I'll have to try that. I like the idea of starting with Axis locks, slipjoints, and Opinels because there aren't any critical multi-axis cuts like in a liner/frame lock.

I don't have a paid membership so I don't think I can discuss selling blades if I pursue this but I've got an Instagram. If I can get this to work I'll post some pictures of it here and on Instagram.

Thanks guys!
 
People have done it before, both with blades and handles. Outside of trademarked or patented feature, you shouldn't have a problem. That being said, there might be some ill will from makers. Some guys and companies don't care, others get a bit scrunchy faced.
 
An m390 blade in an mtech isn't going to help it or make it any better. I also don't think it's worth doing it.

I think as long as your not advertising the copying of a patented or trademarked styles you should be fine.
 
tltt said:
People have done it before, both with blades and handles. Outside of trademarked or patented feature, you shouldn't have a problem. That being said, there might be some ill will from makers. Some guys and companies don't care, others get a bit scrunchy faced.
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Do you think you could point me towards anyone who's doning this, I'd like to see what kind of obstacles they have had to deal other than what has already been mentioned here.

Mo2 said:
An m390 blade in an mtech isn't going to help it or make it any better. I also don't think it's worth doing it.

I think as long as your not advertising the copying of a patented or trademarked styles you should be fine.
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For sure, but anything is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. It's like getting custom rims on an old rusted sedan. People do it but maybe that's just a Michigan thing?
 
Ten_Mile_Knives said:
Do you think you could point me towards anyone who's doning this, I'd like to see what kind of obstacles they have had to deal other than what has already been mentioned here.



For sure, but anything is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. It's like getting custom rims on an old rusted sedan. People do it but maybe that's just a Michigan thing?
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I value my time and would rather see my work be put on a good handle. Just sayin. I don't make knives but yea. I don't see eye to eye on that but everyone's different.
 
I have been wanting a new blade for my cold steel American lawman in a better steel, so I understand the appeal. Cost to profit on a delica like blade would be a hard one. If you didn't advertise and didn't manufacture I don't think knife companies would care too much. Besides your customer would still have to buy the knife from them first. Like rims on a car/truck it would just be an accessory.
 
Ten_Mile_Knives said:
I don't have a paid membership so I don't think I can discuss selling blades if I pursue this but I've got an Instagram. If I can get this to work I'll post some pictures of it here and on Instagram.
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Be careful - per the rules, you should have a knifemaker/craftsman membership to display such efforts... and, at that point, you might as well sell here :thumbsup:
*The only members who may promote or display their personally built knives, their products, or services in the discussion threads, signature, home page listing or their user profile are "Manufacturers", "Dealers", and "Knifemaker/Craftsman/Service Provider".*
 
There is a massive aftermarket for a lot of knives. Almost anything on a Becker is replaceable and there are tons of aftermarket scales and regrind options for spyderco and BM. I cant see why you would have problems so long as you don't misrepresent.
 
Ummmm err, uhhhh I wouldn't mind a new blade for a worn out Al Mar Falcon, maybe out of AEB-L.That'd be a worthwhile save. Or a Lonewolf City knife out of SV30. I know I chucked those in the back of the drawer for a reason.

Yup yup yup those'd work great.

Any takers? Drop me a line at cdgimbel@att.net

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel
 
Yeah you can do it without too many problems as long as you aren't violating any patents or trademarks... Spyderco will sell use of their spydie hole for up to 50 blades a year if you want to use it. I've made several reblades now but it takes a lot of time and I charge $400+ per blade.

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