Serial Numbered Knives?

Col Defender

Col Defender

Joined
Nov 11, 2011
Messages
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This is an idea I have toyed with for some time - numbering each knife I make. I have kept track and, for example, just finished and sold knife number 67. Usually I will tell the customer what number their knife is and I have been thinking of getting a set of number stamps and marking each knife. Do any of you guys do this? Do your customers like the idea? And if, for example, you are going to make a two digit number, do you have some sort of jig or holder to hold both number stamps that keeps both digits perfectly aligned or do you stamp each digit separately? And if there were a holder involved, and you wanted to stamp "77" or "111" then you'd need 2 or 3 sets of stamps.

Any thoughts? My customers seem to like it when I tell them what number their knife is... one even said I should make up a certificate for each knife with all the pertinent details...anybody do that?

Thanks

Steve
 
I made my first online sale recently.
I made up a couple of cards to send with it, one with the knife info (steel type, handle material, knife model and number). The other card had care instructions, my name, phone number, warranty information and signature.
It was pretty easy to do.
 
I don't do the serial number thing, although I don't think it's a bad idea. I give my business card with every knife, and on the back there is the info on the knife.
DSC_0855_zpszy9k71f5.jpg
 
My knives are serial numbered. I recently spoke with a prominent knife dealer. He advised me to go without the serial numbers, just use my maker's mark.
 
IMHO a serial number makes it look production like, exactly what you don't want with custom work
You want one off not something from the many
You can photograph each knife and keep count for your own record if you like
 
i4Marc said:
My knives are serial numbered. I recently spoke with a prominent knife dealer. He advised me to go without the serial numbers, just use my maker's mark.
Click to expand...
If you can share it, what was his reason to not go with numbers.

Thanks
 
I have a few thoughts on this. When I first started making knives I worked hard at keeping up with everything I produced. I made a spreadsheet and kept a description of every knife and who it went to. The spreadsheet even included links for a photo database. This got old pretty fast; I think I stopped somewhere around number 60. I asked my mentor, Johnny Stout about numbering each knife and he told me he used to do it but stopped years ago. I've not numbered any of my knives and am confident that I probably never will...unless, they are part of a set such as Nick Wheeler's J. Paranee Bowie's. Another thing I have considered doing is adding a two digit year to my maker's mark. I think this is a good idea and all the makers I have asked have agreed. I've not followed through yet. I have recently begun to ship my knives with a nice certificate of authenticity on a quality parchment. It includes a good description of each knife and is signed and dated by me.


These are half-sheet certificates and the cover has a nice gold foil embossing on the front. Cost per unit is about $2.50 which I feel is worth the cost to add value to knives in my price range. I'm also having a custom embossing stamp made to punch the certificates.

2015-12-18_09-43-43 by Bob, on Flickr
 
Col Defender said:
If you can share it, what was his reason to not go with numbers.

Thanks
Click to expand...


He didn't give a specific reason. He asked me why I serial number my knives. I told him that was an accounting thing to keep track of the knives. He said write it in a notebook. It's a cleaner look without it and no real reason for it. As we talked we thought that a reason for additional information on the blade might be to call out the steel type if you are using a higher end steel. Otherwise, it's just a cleaner look without the numbers. That was my take away.
 
i used to number mine. i noticed hardly anyone else did. with stamping by hand i could never get the numbers even, one was always cockeyed and looked unprofessional. i tried the electric vibrating engraving pen like bob loveless used, the numbers always looked funny because my penmanship is horrible. i do like to keep a history of my work. a friend suggested i stamp the number of the knife below my stamped makers mark on the back of each sheath. i think thats a good compromise.
 
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