Should I sell??

jaegar

jaegar

Joined
Nov 5, 2004
Messages
280
Before I start, I'm sorry I don't have pics but I dont have a membership, so can't post any. :(
I just finished my 'first' knife, a little boot knife with a 3" blade and cord wrapped handle.. I made a kydex sheath, (also a first) and overall am pretty pleased with it. It is made of unknown steel from a planer blade, already hardened. (Any info on planer blades is appreciated. I thought I heard they are D2??)
now the question:
Is it worth my time to try to sell it?? or is it so poor quality I wouldn't pay for the Kydex?? There are a few obvious mistakes on the blade, like straitness at the ricasso, and the cord wrap doesn't look the greatest. (I can't put G-10 or something cooler because it is hardened steel. No way to drill it.
Thanks for any advice you may have, I know it is hard without pics. Don't be afraid to be tough, I need it ;)

~Brian
 
Bri: I still have my very first knife that I made. I like to compare it to the ones that I make now. Good baseline.
 
I didn't feel I was ready to sell anything for about a year and a half, or after about 20-30 blades. If there are big problems with your blade then you might be able to sell it but don't expect too much. The biggest issue is probably do you feel comfortable selling a knife that has big flaws? If you are willing to and you aren't expecting a lot of money, then go for it. Selling a knife is a great feeling.

- Chris
 
Brian,
You can post photos; you just need to upload them to the web using a free host such as http://tinypic.com/.
TinyPic will even supply the vB code tags you need(
) so you can copy and paste it into your reply or you can use the "insert image" button here and paste the url of the photo after you have uploaded it.
I'd like to see your knife.
Regards,
Greg
 
I couldn't say without seeing it. My guess, from what you said is that you need to work on it a little longer.

Go to a gun/knife show and compare your work to the work of others. Don't get discouraged either. It is a combination of tradsemen skills and art. You can't learn it in one knife.

Good luck!
 
Bruce Bump said:
Keep it until You become famous and then put it up for bid.
Click to expand...

I was kinda thinkin that... :D :D :footinmou

Thanks Ripper, I don't have pics right now because I dont have a digital camera. (I know, I know, I'm so behind the times... :D ) but I'll see a friend tomorrow that does, and I'll take some pictures. I thought you had to have a membership to post pics...aparently not. Look out! You're about to get some pictures... :D :D :cool: :)

The other reason I was thinking about selling is cuz I'm short on cash. (Read broke) Since I don't have much I need to get back out of this then I thought I might be able to sell it.

Have any of you guys sold stuff that is kinda messed up before?? what was the result?? did you have to come way down on the price??

Thanks everybody for the help

~Brian

P.S. I know it's kinda stupid to think of selling something as a beginner, but I'm trying to figure out ways to earn some money, as landscaping isn't real popular in winter! :)
 
Brian,
Most planer blades are D2 but not all. I made some knives from them years ago and they were great knives but a bear to grind. I used carbide drill bits to drill with no problems (1/8''spade bit). I would make a few and get better at it before I started selling any.

Don Hanson lll
 
Have any of you guys sold stuff that is kinda messed up before??

Nope...as a matter of fact, I've never sold anything at all. I'm not going to lecture you about the industry but before you sell one that is less than suitable, think about the effect it has on the makers that make their living this way.

If you do sell it, please tell the buyer your feelings on the knife. There's no problem with him buying it as long as he knows what he's getting.
 
Look at some of the stuff that sells on E bay for big coin...for no aparent reason other than someone liked it. Worst case you put it on E-bay and be honest as long as you are not expecting 10 grand for it you might be surprised and if not who cares you pay for the listing and make a better one and try again. Good Luck !!! Steven
 
Oh yeah,
I'm not gonna hide anything from the buyer. I'll tell them I'm a beginner, etc. In reference to needing more work on it, I'm afraid it's at the dreaded stage of "not enough metal left to fix it". I may be playing it up as more messed up than it is, and it isn't real bad, just not real nice either. Kinda a rough use knife.

So far from what I've heard, I'm leaning away from selling, but I'll wait to give the verdict until I show you guys tomorrow or mon.
 
Here's some recent stuff that I didn't think was worth selling. These were all given as gifts or traded for something:

user-4494-pic-24.jpg

user-4494-pic-27.jpg

user-4494-pic-42.jpg

user-4494-pic-5.jpg

user-4494-pic-67.jpg


That at lleast gives you some benchmark to compare yours to.
 
Jeez.
I think that decided it right there. All your work looks fantastic. :eek: Like I said, I'll post pictures, and looking at it more, I MIGHT be able to fix it , but it would be REALLY hard. :rolleyes: I guess I'll give it a try tomorrow. The cord wrap isn't the greatest, I'll get feedback on that when I post pictures.
 
Don't let me chase you out of knife making. I'm not trying to do that by any means. I just want you to be aware of how demanding customers can be.

You need to set your own standards. My are a little strict but ...that's just me. If you have people who want to buy your knife, know that you are in the early stages of the trade and you're happy with the transaction....go for it.

Most of the established makers I know, are so concerned with their reputation, they will not even give away their rejects.
The bottom line is, in the end, you only have your reputation to sell knives. One bad one can cost you years of PR work.
 
jaegar said:
Jeez.
I think that decided it right there. All your work looks fantastic. :eek: Like I said, I'll post pictures, and looking at it more, I MIGHT be able to fix it , but it would be REALLY hard. :rolleyes: I guess I'll give it a try tomorrow. The cord wrap isn't the greatest, I'll get feedback on that when I post pictures.
Click to expand...
Hey, just make another! :D The next one will be orders of magnitude better and you'll be happier selling one that way. I wish I still had my first knife; it was stolen. I still watch for it at gun shows and in pawn shops... One day you may really wish you had your first knife. Most makers do, I think.
 
Techinically this isn't my first.

Although it is the first I've completed, there is another, much much nicer one I am working on made of ATS and G 10. It was the first I started on, but I've come to a standstill waiting to get it heat treated, etc. I WILL keep that one. You would have to give a pretty high price for it...
I hadn't thought of making another boot knife as I don't have money to pay for the steel, but when you said that it reminded me that I do have another peice of steel exactly the same as what it came from. I might just try and make a better one from the second peice. Don, don't worry about chasing me out of knifemaking. I think I've been bitten by the bug, and from what I hear, there is no cure other than death. oh well. just have to tough it out! :D :p

Thanks for all the comments guys.

~Brian

P.S. Can you put me on your gift list too Don??? ;) :p
 
Brian,I always taught people this rule,"If you aren't proud of it,Don't sell it."
Make a better one and sell it with pride.
Stacy
 
OK, I haven't made too many, but this is my standard: If I would not consider buying it myself, it's probably not worth selling. Then again, sometimes I am my own worst critic.
I feel firsts are really a learning process and unless really good, should not go out into the world unless I can fix them up. I still have mine, except for the minis which I thought were really good. Gave them to a friend, they were stolen in a robbery the same year and haven't been seen since.

Pictures would really be the tell.
 
Jaegar:

I'm kinda at the same point as you. I've made a couple, pretty good, and I've given 'em out to people to use and give me feedback. Some "knife guys", some people who use knives but don't know a lot about them, and a couple in the industry already. They've all given me some pretty good feedback, and all have one or two recommendations for making them better.
Call it market research or whatever, but in my mind these folks are giving me ideas for a more sellable knife, for free.
 
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