Real money making/selling custom knives?

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

J jaymeister99 , It's been eight years since your question You can now answer that question yourself .......So what do you think , what is a realistic income

Well, from his posting history, it seems he found out it wasn't worthwhile. He apparently gave up after his initial inquiry. Three years later he tried to make knives again and that didn't last long. He didn't post for three more years, and his las post was almost a year ago about NY knife laws … so I think he found out what most of us already know … it isn't a practical way to earn a living, but makes a great hobby to pour money into.

 

[Kevin Kf knives]

I have a farmer friend that has a u-pick fruit stand in the fall/winter kn south Florida, he grows tomatoes, onions, and corn in his big fields, but the strawberries are for what he calls pocket money. Knives are my pocket money.

 

[Randydb]

I have a farmer friend that has a u-pick fruit stand in the fall/winter kn south Florida, he grows tomatoes, onions, and corn in his big fields, but the strawberries are for what he calls pocket money. Knives are my pocket money.

I like this idea....it makes for a little bit of fun on the side but isn't going to be my main income.

 

[navman]

Absolutely a hobby. Someone once said that in order to make a million dollars as a knifemaker, start with 2 million. I make knives as a hobby, allowing me to try design elements that I do not find on commercial knives and steels that are not widely used. I have auctioned a few for EOD Warrior foundation, donated a few as awards for Service member of the Quarter/year, and given some as gifts for friends and as retirement presents. I sell some to cover material cost, but in no way make any money. On a good year I may have enough to full fund a trip to blade show.

The most satisfaction I get is when a fellow service member, hunter, etc, carries a knife I made and uses the crap out of it.

 

[JTknives]

I have tryied to go full time twice. Both times when I was single so “for better or worse” was not on the table lol. But yes it becomes a job and if your not dedicated and self motivated you will fail. Back then I was both of thoes things. I did learn a ton from my past so it wasn’t a total loss. One thing I quickly learned is there is a world of difference between making knives and selling Knives. When I started way back when you could sell just about anything. Yeah you would have to drop the price or come in with a steal of a deal. But things would allways sell and quickly. Now there are so many people trying to make knives that the buyers are now deluted by this drastic increase. I see knives listed for good prices just sit and sit and never sell. So it’s not the making you have to be woried about, it’s the selling.

One thing that I was fighting and finely gave up on is direction. I thought I knew where the shop should go direction wise. But I learned to let the shop grow naturally and don’t stop it from fallowing the money. I was able to drop into a niche that I was setup to fill. Some people might call this luck but I say that luck is the result of when opportunity meets preparedness. My shop has grown in a direction I could not have foreseen even a year ago. I now have a really nice cnc plasma cutter in the shop and it’s completly paid for by the shop. The shop supports its self and all upgrades and quite a bit more. But this was not always the case. It was a hobby I was addicted to. And just shear obsession kept it going. If I did this only for money I would have given up along time ago. I am very happy with the direction the shop went. It took pressure off the knife making side so it is still fun to make knives. But if anyone tells you it’s easy then thy are lying.

If you ask my wife she will tell you one thing, “he works to much”. I have a full time day job and do this on the side. I spend almost every waking hr that I’m not at my job in the shop. The last 5 months was really rough. I was trying to keep up with all the heat treating and build a cnc plasma cutter. But the long nights and weekends where completly worth it. One thing we have done in our shop is make a list in order of what takes the longest time to do. Then focus on the top item and do what you need to get that to the bottom of the list. At the top of the list was cutting metal orders. Time is money so focus on improving the items that take the most time to do.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Jarod has it figured out.

Find your niche, develop it, and do it better than anyone else. If that's making corkscrews, then make the best, most unique corkscrews in the world.
Publicize yourself. Be a presence in all the online media. Become the corkscrew expert. Know as much as you can about corkscrews.

Don't overload yourself to the point it becomes depressing. Only accept as much work as you can comfortably accomplish. Having a year's worth of orders backed up is good for the ego, but it's bad business. Try to get to the point where you can sell what you want to make, and at that point-only make what you want.

It helps if you have income, so that your work doesn't put too much pressure on you.

There are a thousand guys "making knives" out there. Figure something different-that sets you apart, and capitalize on it.

I have always repaired knives and made a few knives here and there. My business built itself over the years. I just followed the money. I would never have thought it could be so lucrative, and I consider myself very fortunate

 

[Russ Andrews]

Jarod has it figured out.

Find your niche, develop it, and do it better than anyone else. If that's making corkscrews, then make the best, most unique corkscrews in the world.
Publicize yourself. Be a presence in all the online media. Become the corkscrew expert. Know as much as you can about corkscrews.

Don't overload yourself to the point it becomes depressing. Only accept as much work as you can comfortably accomplish. Having a year's worth of orders backed up is good for the ego, but it's bad business. Try to get to the point where you can sell what you want to make, and at that point-only make what you want.

It helps if you have income, so that your work doesn't put too much pressure on you.

There are a thousand guys "making knives" out there. Figure something different-that sets you apart, and capitalize on it.

I have always repaired knives and made a few knives here and there. My business built itself over the years. I just followed the money. I would never have thought it could be so lucrative, and I consider myself very fortunate

The best advice you'll get...!