Some questions on knife design and manufacturing.

Yojimbo

Yojimbo

Joined
Jul 14, 2002
Messages
147
I have been entertaining the idea of designing a knife. I'm just at the early stages of design and I'm still figuring out all the details.

What are the steps necessary for patenting a design and possibly working with an established company to bring out a production or custom run of my knife?

Sorry for this totally newbie question.:)
 
I'd like to encourage you to finish your design and then find a custom maker to make the knife for you. You will end up with a true custom knife. I've had four knives made this way and the process is fun. As far as seeing your design being so unique that it's patentable, that's going to be very difficult and expensive, (lawyers). Without you being a well known maker or designer the odds of you getting a manufacturer to want to produce your design are slim to none. Although we have had a couple of design contests on BFC that did get some knives made. Of course this is all going to depend on how good your design is.
 
PhilL,

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely move in that direction!

I don't know that my design is so unique, I just wasn't sure of the process and whether or not a patent was needed.
 
I don't think you can "patent" a knife per se (as in a generic fixed blade or folder), but you can apply for a patent for a unique feature or mechanism. you should also consider protection as a registered design - check with your attorney.
 
Yojimbo, here's an example of one of mine. I sent drawings of the knife I wanted to Art Washburn, via e-mail. He added his own special magic as well as Devon Thomas "Raindrop" pattern Damascus. He did a beautiful job, far better than I imagined it.

6430562.jpg


Art asked me to show the knife to Rick Dunkerly at one of the New York shows, and he liked it. Rick thought Art should add it to his reguar product line. But Art only made one more of these for one of the BFC guys, after that he didn't want to make any more. I've had this knife for about 2 1/2 years and it's still exactly the knife I wanted.

So, if you have a design you really want, why not have it made? There's sure enough talent right here on BFC to get anything made.
 
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