Snark it like you stole it!

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If you could sand all those wavy lines off and put a good mustard patina on it, that would be really cool too.
 
If that was mine I would stipple the grips and add a bunch of jimping
I'd round the choil and grind down that guard a little.
I'd dig out the old woodburner and burn my name in the handle.
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Now y'all are just trying to piss me off :grumpy:


:D

P.S. trade, you have mail.
 
james terrio said:
You are absolutely correct! "Art" is in the eye of the beholder, and I certainly do not begrudge anyone's tastes. It's good for everyone that so many different styles and approaches are embraced.

Yes I agree, I dont personally like damascus, but i can see why others do, I would never spend the money on a damascus knife myself because too me it would be like buying watered down scotch. But they sell, and sell well. Everyone having different likes and dislikes makes this industry go.

My whole approach to knives starts from the edge and works backwards from there... if it doesn't cut worth a hoot, I simply don't care how pretty it is. That's what I mean when I say "knives are tools".

Ah yes my biggest issue as well. A great looking knife that doesnt perform is useless to me, as art or a tool, either way. I have bought some knives to display, but even my display pieces were made to perform, or i wouldnt buy them.

I've seen knives made by ABS mastersmiths and Knifemaker's Guild members that are absolutely useless... really cool-looking, but not useful for a dang thing. There's something inside my brain that just rankles at that. Lots of people love 'em though, and it's no skin off my nose :)

I could not agree more. :thumbup: Plain or fancy, I consider poor craftsmanship and shoddy workmanship to be a personal insult. Doing anything half-vast is like saying "Screw you, I just don't care" to the whole world... and that makes me angry.

Me as well my friend, I take it as a direct screw you. Another thing that bugs the hell out of me and im experiencing a little of right now is when a maker feels they are too good for their own britches, they swear they are doing you a favor, I dont care much for that at all, If im paying a couple hundred bucks or more, nobody is doing me any favors, im paying for that work. give me a price, stick to it, and dont keep telling me it should cost more, or price it higher, if i feel its worth it Ill still buy it. But constant bragging makes me see ever fault possible and turns me off of the sellers work. I can buy a 100 dollar custom knife from a novice maker and love it with all its faults, but If I spend 200+ on a knife and the seller is hassling the price long after it was set, then trying to change the agreed work... well then im just looking for any issues i can find

You mentioned rough-looking tools... I have zero patience for "rough" when it exhibits laziness. I have no problem at all with simple, but well-made knives that some would scoff at for being too unadorned. On the other hand, some folks like Rick Marchand make knives that have a distinct "rough" look to them, but they are exquisitely designed, expertly crafted, and perform very well. I consider that to be artistry.

Some rough looking knives look wonderful to me, some forged knives with the hammer marks all in them with clean lines and a nice grind, made out of good working steel is also art to me, some Fiddlebacks come to mind.

Mr. Fisk is an outstanding example of that. :thumbup:
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I wanted to reply to his post, so i broke it down where i could reply in sections, but i wasnt about to make little quote brackets for each few sentences so i did it that way...
 
Psyop said:
If that was mine I would stipple the grips and add a bunch of jimping
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Yeah that patina is alright but I'd probably just strip it and do my own, maybe drill a lanyard hole too.

Edit: I didn't see Tradwaters post, now I look dumb haha. Oh well
 
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Fair enough. What's happening with everyone else?
 
You are right to mention Andy Roy/FiddleBack Forge. He's putting out a lot of really good stuff, and I admire both his work and his business model, and especially the fact that he's developed a style of his own. I remember when he and Rick and I were just goofballs hanging out in W&SS, and now I've seen them both really grow into in-demand knifemakers. That's awesome!

You are also right to bring up makers who get "too big for their britches". That's BS, and it pisses me off. Makers depend on clients to pay our bills, and we should never forget that. It's great to have an ego and an attitude (let's face it, no one who doesn't have a certain level of confidence in themselves should ever attempt to make a living at something so difficult and fraught with risk as making killer knives). But that doesn't mean you get to be a dick about it.

As a maker, I have a few tips for custom clients...

A) Be as clear as possible about what you want/need. We can't read your mind.
B) If you tell us, "make it your way", you're gonna get it our way. And you're gonna be expected to pay for it.
C) Get it in writing (or at least an email). Hold the maker accountable for his quote. If a maker bids low and raises his price later, there's something fishy going on. Don't walk away, RUN.
D) Avoid deposits or pre-paying whenever possible. I have seen makers get into serious trouble by taking money up-front for knives that only exist on paper. In most cases, that ends up in a ruined career and a seriously besmirched name.

There are exceptions to every rule, of course.
 
DerekH said:
Fair enough. What's happening with everyone else?
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I get to drive a backhoe at work all day. Love driving heavy equipment. When I was a kid I used to dream about running this stuff. Now I'm livin' the dream. Life is pretty good.
 
Then I say that is pretty awesome Eero! Doing what you love, there isn't anything like it.
 
By request, something completely different... a mountain man knife in the strawberry patch...

mm01_zps3ea1c4dc.jpg


There is a water-spot on the sheath because it was drizzling when Miss Angie took the picture and I prefer to let my leather breathe. Deal with it :D
 
Eero said:
I get to drive a backhoe at work all day. Love driving heavy equipment. When I was a kid I used to dream about running this stuff. Now I'm livin' the dream. Life is pretty good.
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When i was a kid I use to dream of operating heavy equipment too, I remember my father bringing a backhoe home from work covered in mud and thinking how exciting his day must be.

Then I started working for him.... And realized how silly i was LMAO
 
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