Sorry AG, I can see how my comment about CNC could be misunderstood. I think knifemakers in the Guild should gain membership by producing knives following the three guidlines I set forth above, and I think most (all?) do. I can not think of any good reasons why laser cutting of blade profiles and small parts to create blanks for hand finishing should not be allowed. And I don't think the maker sould have to indicate that when selling his work unless directly asked.
But CNC should not be used to grind blades on Knifemakers Guild member's knives unless clearly indicated. Even if the maker is programming the machine himself, and owns his own mill, such a knife could not really be considered handmade. The machine would remove the small variations that make handmade knives each unique, even if produced from the same pattern.
I was under the impression that bolster and some handle materials can be CNC shaped as well as blades. I personally am probably not a customer for knives made using CNC technology, not because I think it makes an inferior knife, but because I collect handmade knives because I like handmade art.
Laser cutting blade blanks and other parts does not bother me as long as the final shaping, fit, and finish is perfomed by the maker. CNC is not something I want on My knives. But I don't want to ban its use for other folks knives either.
I just think that makers having a significant amount of work done by other peoples hands (except perhaps for heat-treatment), or doing a lot of shaping with computer controlled machines, MUST be forthcoming about this. Not just when asked, but proactively.
I am not talking about having an apprentice, or even a paid helper assist with shop operations. But the Maker should do all of the work I mentioned above himself, particularly hand-grinding all his own blades. If this work is performed by someone else, the maker should indicate that fact, and should perhaps use another mark distinct from his own handmade knives.
I know a maker who is having his blades ground by someone else. They are still very well made knives and are sold at a fair price. And the maker is even forthcoming about how (who) really makes the knives when asked. But it is impossible to distinguish between this Guild members own handmade knives, and those his hired help produced. That is not fair in my book.
CNC technology can be used to create great knives at a considerable labor saving to the maker. But if such knives are then sold to customers by Guild members to customers who think they are buying the work of that makers hands, then a sort of tacit fraud is committed.
I know some makers who are forthright about the methods they use. They make some knives completely by hand, and make other knives with laser cut parts, and may even use CNC to make blades for other knives. And they tell the customer about it. The maker saves time, the customer gets a good knife for what should be a better price than a handmade version would cost.
But Guild members should be required to make some sort of distinction between these differently constructed knives. If you employ folks to grind, assemble, or finish knives, or you use a computer controlled mill, you must point that out to your customers, because these knives are no longer 'handmade', or 'custom' or 'sole-authored'. And even if the Guild has no guidlines for this stuff, it should. Otherwise, a makers membership in the Knifemakers Guild is devoid of any meaning for me as a customer of handmade art.
Paracelsus
