Serial numbers: useful, or not?

Phillip Patton

Phillip Patton

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jul 25, 2005
Messages
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Mr. Lombardo mentioned in this thread
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=537208

that he thought the serial number on the knife was unnecessary and distracting. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea of not using them; they're a bit of a pain. So I'd like to get more opinions on the subject. What do you all think of serial numbers?

Here's the pro's and con's as I see it:

Pro's:

1. They help me keep track of what steel the blade is, and who ordered it, and so on. I have an Excel spreadsheet that I use for keeping track of all the info. When someone orders a knife, then I write everything down, and that's when it gets its serial #. Now, for this purpose, it would work fine to just stamp the number on the tang...

2. If someone 30 years down the road comes into possession of one of my knives, they can contact me, tell me the serial number, and I can tell them all about the knife. Does this seem like a good reason? Would any of you find this helpful?

3. It looks so pretty. NOT! :D

Con's:

1. I'm using loose stamps, so it's hard to keep the numbers straight and looking nice...

2. Mr. Lombardo says it's distracting to him. It's not distracting to me, but if it is to other people, then that wouldn't be good.

So, what say you all?

Thank you in advance for your input,
Phillip
 
I agree with getting rid of the serial number; but on the other hand if I am going to buy a knife I want to know what steel it is. I would rather have the type of steel etched onto the blade instead of a serial number.
 
raythebigfoot said:
I agree with getting rid of the serial number; but on the other hand if I am going to buy a knife I want to know what steel it is. I would rather have the type of steel etched onto the blade instead of a serial number.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's another option. And etching would probably look better than stamping.
 
Phillip,

First of all I think the knife posted in the other thread is one of your best so far, and each one gets better and better, I like them a lot.

Second, as far as serial numbers are concerned I have to say that in the majority of cases and for the majority of makers they add little interms of monetary value for a collector. They are useful to date and identify and in that sense may be of intrinsic value, but as a consequence, some may argue, they date a makers knives and may damage after market value ...... WHY? Because new makers and established ones grow and develop the more knives they make and the more experience they gain. As you progress you newer work will be the more sort after, the serial number indicates an earlier piece.

Third, and please don't take offence at this, if you are going to do it, do it to the same standard as the rest of your knife, crisp, clean, elegant, symmetrical and square ....... or go to the other extreme, a discreet hand made mark on the under side of the choil. Your serial number on that other knife is uneven in both alignment and depth of indentation, and is more prominent than you makers mark.

Regards,

Stephen
 
I actually love the idea of a serial number, and I've given it some thought. Here's what I think:

1 - It needs to be unobstrusive and clean. Etching (or some clean engraving) seems the only way on a fixed blade, maybe within the thickness of the blade under the ricasso, if you can swing it.

2 - Ideally you should have a scheme a little bit more obscure than the # of knives you've made before. What I came up with was 2 random letters representing the year & month, then a sequential number. This should allow you to keep it at or below 4 characters.
 
Knives should have the fewest possible graphics on them unless it is an integral part of the design. A knifemaker should strive to have their individual character speak for itself.

Serial numbers don't do anything for me. Blade steel ID can be nice, but really, on most collectible knives, who cares? I would just prefer an ID card with a photo of the knife on a birth certificate that lists the creation info.

Again, keep graphics off the blade as much as possible.
 
Edmund Davidson is a very well organized knifemaker. Apart from keeping
log books with details on every knife he ever made (more than 2800 knives!),
he always marks the reverse side of the blade with the steel type.
With his "Loveless-design series" he also marks the running number in the
series. #105 in his Loveless-design series is seen here.

It is a “Loveless-Design Semi-Skinner”, (finished in 8/2006)
It has emerald green canvas micarta handle scales, BG-42 steel, all over
hand-rubbed finish, Rc 61. Blade length 3 1/4” (82 mm), overall length
7 5/8” (194 mm). From the collection of Carter and Suzy Bethel.
Edmond comments on this knife, saying: “At the 2006 Knifemakers Guild
Show, I saw this handle material at the “Sheffield” knifemaker’s supply
table and had to have it. Definitely a vast improvement over the old
green canvas micarta”.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book: "Edmund Davidson the Art of the Integral Knife"
picture.JPG
 
i do not mind a serial number, but on the knife in question it is too prominent and the uneven application is in stark contrast with an otherwise outstanding knife

what about applying it to the tang or the inside of the guard where it would be less visible...and in a smaller font
 
One option is to do like Jay Hendrickson and some of the other Maryland smiths do. (and i"m sure others do this too) Stamp your name, the year the knife was made (or serial number) and steel type on the back of the sheath.
 
Edmund Davideon has also put out 4 commemorative series of knives.
He marks them accordingly (01, 02, etc.) on the bottom of the tang.

In his latest numbered series he made a set of 5 Full Integrals to
commemorate the publishing of his book.

I photographed one of them being made, from beginning to end.
This Full Integral, it is #1 of a series of five where all five knives have
premium desert ironwood handle scales and a special logo etched on the
blade. They also have Edmund’s popular “Deer Head” logo etched on the
reverse side of the blade. The knives are fully engraved by Jere Davidson,
using different styles for each piece. The five knives are made of D-2
steel (Rc 61), blade length is 3 5/8” (92 mm) and their overall length is
8 1/8” (206 mm).

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book: "Edmund Davidson the Art of the Integral Knife"
picture.JPG
 
I like the idea of a way to track the history of a knife but I would have to agree in that the serial number doesn't seem to flow with the rest of your design, which is otherwise flawless. Perhaps putting it elsewhere on the knife or etching somewhere less prominently would be a good compromise. Either way, I am looking forward to getting one of your knives in the near future:D:thumbup:
 
My 1st knife made by Phillip is number 1137. My 2nd knife from him is number 1209. Phillip shipped knife number 1209 on 25th of February and I guess it will be arrived on 3rd of March. I like this numbering system because I know that Phillip made only one knife with number 1137. The same thing apply to knife number 1209. It makes each of those knives unique and one of the kind even though there are other knives with same design and same specs :cool:

Some people do care about number, check it here please :)

In Malaysia when we buy a car we have to apply for a registration number from Road Transport Department. Supposing we want to select a certain registration number for the car then we have to bid in the number.

The minimum booking fee for each registration number is subject to the following categories of number:

* Premier Value Number RM 2,000
* Interesting Number RM 800
* Popular Number RM 200

Booking will be opened for a period of less than three (3) weeks for a series.
Click to expand...
It's not a joke .. you could refer it in this link :p
 
Shadley etches a serial number on the back of his main blade
its is tastefully done allows a collector to put an approximate date on the piece as well Gene has all the information recorded..its very tastefully done..
sorry I dont have a picture
 
I like the idea of a small serial number on the blade, it allows that much more information on the knife made, as well as a sense of what part of the knifemakers journey you are a part of. It also helps with verifying the knife in years to come, as to fakes, reworks....
 
I like the serial numbers and think stamping the steel would detract from the workmanship of the knives (says the guy who's sent you 82,000 PM's on steels....).
 
My opinion: Serial number over date ANY day of the week. Dates will 'date' a piece, and even though it may meet all criteria, a knife that says 1994 on it will simply not appeal as much to me as one that says a random '0231'.

South African maker Rob Brown does this incredibly skillful and tasteful:

orig.jpg


Every knife has a serial number.

Lose the hand stamps....

Coop
 
I have no problem with serial numbers, but they should unobtrusive. They should also be level and at an even depth.

The way Rob Brown does it is very nice.

I don't like the Edmund Davidson, The Art of the Integral Knife, 1 of 5, 2008 mark at all. It takes up way too much of the blade for my taste.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
I have no problem with serial numbers, but they should unobtrusive. They should also be level and at an even depth.

The way Rob Brown does it is very nice.

I don't like the Edmund Davidson, The Art of the Integral Knife, 1 of 5, 2008 mark at all. It takes up way too much of the blade for my taste.
Click to expand...

Same here.
 
Serial numbers, for me, are completely useless. I'd rather makers date their knives (see Tim Hancock, Burt Foster). That way, the knife itself will always be able to communicate two valuable pieces of information that require no interpretation: who made it and when.

Roger
 
I like the way you number your knives, it's quite unique in fact, being out of line a bit shows just how handmade the knife is..... plus after 1234 knives do you really think you ought to change this method just because of a comment on a internet forum... you've been happy with it until now?
 
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