Stainless Steels

JK Knives

JK Knives

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I'm going to be dropping the stainless options. No one seems to want to pay the higher prices for them.
 
keep the option, require materials costs for at least stainless steel knives. You're already set up for heat treat after all
 
KYenglish said:
keep the option, require materials costs for at least stainless steel knives. You're already set up for heat treat after all
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The problem is you can't just order enough for one knife, so the rest of the bar just sits. I've still got some from the first time I ordered it, and it's not cheap.
 
Buying enough for one knife is not cost effective anyway, it makes your shipping costs WAY to high.

Buy some to have on hand, inventory.

Make a knife when someone orders a knife with that material.

Didn't you buy that furnace so you could do the heat treat on the stainless?

My wife likes the stainless better than the 01 -

If you have some one hand, make a stainless knife for a sale. A stainless Toby or something.

Do you have enough for a stainless Kephart?

best

mqqn
 
mqqn said:
Buying enough for one knife is not cost effective anyway, it makes your shipping costs WAY to high.

Buy some to have on hand, inventory.

Make a knife when someone orders a knife with that material.

Didn't you buy that furnace so you could do the heat treat on the stainless?

My wife likes the stainless better than the 01 -

If you have some one hand, make a stainless knife for a sale. A stainless Toby or something.

Do you have enough for a stainless Kephart?

best

mqqn
Click to expand...

Just a few of the problems:

In the five or six months I`ve been offering stainless, I believe I have made six or seven knives for orders. The ones I`ve made for sales have not sold until I offered them in raffles. (some are still here, I just consider them mine after all this time)

It is only offered in three widths, 1", 1 1/2" or 6"

It costs about $18 in wide belts for the flat sander to remove the excess scale on one blade (I can do 5 or 6 O1 blades with one belt)

It is far from precision ground, 1/8" usually runs closer to 5/32" thick.

I am making a Toby right now, for an order, I had to grind it from 1" to 3/4" to start with.

I still have inventory from my first purchase from months ago.
 
JK Knives said:
Just a few of the problems:

In the five or six months I`ve been offering stainless, I believe I have made six or seven knives for orders. The ones I`ve made for sales have not sold until I offered them in raffles. (some are still here, I just consider them mine after all this time)

It is only offered in three widths, 1", 1 1/2" or 6"

It costs about $18 in wide belts for the flat sander to remove the excess scale on one blade (I can do 5 or 6 O1 blades with one belt)

It is far from precision ground, 1/8" usually runs closer to 5/32" thick.

I am making a Toby right now, for an order, I had to grind it from 1" to 3/4" to start with.

I still have inventory from my first purchase from months ago.
Click to expand...

Make a 1" Toby's knife - a larger one with the same design.

You have only been offering stainless for a short time, relative to how long you have had 01. It might take more than a few months for it to catch on and gain a following.

If the stock is a little larger nominal thickness, as long as it is consistent, I don't see the problem - A scandi grind does not care if the spine is 1/32 thicker.

Don't give up on selling knives you have made for sale. You for sure won't sell them if they are in your closet. Keep the for sale thread going, someone will eventually see them and someone will want them. Get on instagram, post them for sale on Facebook. Post them on Iknifecollector. Get more exposure than just here at BF.

Finally, if it costs more to make one in stainless, charge more. If it's not worth your time to make them, then the writing is on the wall.

While there is nothing wrong with the 01 - the proud followers all love it - seems like some people don't care for steel that gets a patina.

My wife said she thinks you need to make knives that the guys wives like. She mentions all the time about the patina. She is probably pretty typical for a woman, and she thinks the patina makes the knife look dirty and old rather than "having character and beautiful patina" like some of us crusty old bastids think. I don't know if she is right, but it's a point.

In the end it's up to you to decide if you have given making and selling stainless knives your best effort.

best

mqqn
 
Darn, I really like your stainless, probably would have ordered my classic Kephart in it, but just didn't seem right for that knife, at least I can enjoy my Element in the S30V. Stainless dropped, orders dropped and sales dropped...I wish I could take advantage of those before their demise, but I've bought three of your knives in approximately four months and have to save back up for a little while. I feel like I got here late for the party and will miss the great options you use to be able to offer, but you got to do what it takes to make your business work, such is life.
 
Karen and I both love the one you made for her in stainless. I hope you keep some around.
 
mqqn said:
Make a 1" Toby's knife - a larger one with the same design.

You have only been offering stainless for a short time, relative to how long you have had 01. It might take more than a few months for it to catch on and gain a following.

If the stock is a little larger nominal thickness, as long as it is consistent, I don't see the problem - A scandi grind does not care if the spine is 1/32 thicker.

Don't give up on selling knives you have made for sale. You for sure won't sell them if they are in your closet. Keep the for sale thread going, someone will eventually see them and someone will want them. Get on instagram, post them for sale on Facebook. Post them on Iknifecollector. Get more exposure than just here at BF.

Finally, if it costs more to make one in stainless, charge more. If it's not worth your time to make them, then the writing is on the wall.

While there is nothing wrong with the 01 - the proud followers all love it - seems like some people don't care for steel that gets a patina.

My wife said she thinks you need to make knives that the guys wives like. She mentions all the time about the patina. She is probably pretty typical for a woman, and she thinks the patina makes the knife look dirty and old rather than "having character and beautiful patina" like some of us crusty old bastids think. I don't know if she is right, but it's a point.

In the end it's up to you to decide if you have given making and selling stainless knives your best effort.

best

mqqn
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Sounds a lot like the Toby Plus. I've made three of th, all for the same customer. If demand for stainless is there, and people are willing to pay the premium, I will offer it for limited models. (For instance 1" tall knives and under). Sound fair?
 
JK Knives said:
Sounds a lot like the Toby Plus. I've made three of th, all for the same customer. If demand for stainless is there, and people are willing to pay the premium, I will offer it for limited models. (For instance 1" tall knives and under). Sound fair?
Click to expand...


Whatever works for you, John .

I just think things need time, and you have been offering this new steel for around 6 months.

I do think using the social media might help - make a JK Knives facebook and keep that one all business - get on Instagram (although I think you really need a smart phone for that one....) - that place allows you to post pictures and I am seeing knives sell there. That site is mostly the younger crowd at present, but us old fogies are getting up to speed there lol.

Let's take it to email - I have a couple of ideas - better ideas than the scanduckie (maybe) - ;^)

best

mqqn
 
Would CPM 154 come in better sizes for you or be more cost effective than the S30V? A lot of custom makers have switched to that because I have heard it is easier to work, finishes better and is easier to sharpen for the end users. It may even heat treat the same as your 154 CM, maybe you could batch them together?? I have some knives in CPM 154 and really like it.
 
The bottom line on offering stainless is this, if people want to pay the price, and not try to argue prices down by telling me it's really no different than O1, I will offer it.
 
Speaking only for myself, I have no real need for a stainless blade other than a kitchen knife or filet knife. For any other application I would choose O1 over stainless if the price was the same.
 
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