Strange custom orders

Mecha

Mecha

Titanium Bladesmith
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
10,148
"I need six of them," he said. "Six arrows."

I asked the customer to elaborate on his request: "You'd like six forged titanium arrowheads?"

He produced a drawing of what he wanted.

"Yes, six arrows," he said intently, as if I might decline the job.

rIowoa6.jpg


I stared at the blueprint. Six arrows, like a street sign arrow!?

"Yes, EXACTLY like the drawing," said the customer. As I started to ramble about the penetrating power of arrowhead shapes, he said with a wry smile, "Don't worry, it will all make sense when I show you what they're for! Just don't kick me in the balls on the price."

The customer refused to divulge any more details, and that was all I had to go on. Hey, you have a deal, sir!

hhkf76a.jpg


Six "arrows" later I had no idea what he was going to think about them, but he was very happy! Turns out they're his Apocalypse Arrows. They go into his bugout bag, and he can lash them to a pole to make small spears or fish arrows and whatnot for when 2012 hits.

It made me want to ask, what sort of strange or funny custom jobs have you done for customers? The arrows were pretty funny, and he seemed adamant about the shape! :D
 
Mecha said:
They go into his bugout bag, and he can lash them to a pole to make small spears or fish arrows and whatnot for when 2012 hits.
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I got news for ya... :D

Gigs/arrowheads are cool. I had some scrap from my last batch of blades, so I cut some out too and sent 'em in for HT with the blades. He's gonna have a heckuva time lashing those to anything and getting 'em to stay there, though... they work better with notches or at least a flare at the base, and a hole in the "shaft" couldn't hurt. People all over the world didn't make 'em like this just for giggles:

making%20of%20arrowheads%20.jpg
 
Hah..... I too have an order for 6-8 arrow heads. My client wants "real" arrow head though. He wants to be able to screw them on to his shafts and go after deer with them. I told him I'd try, but it'd be a while (giving me time to figure out how the heck I'm going manage this.:o).

Those look nice Mecha, but I also wonder how he plans to securely attach them to a shaft.

-Peter
 
Well, at the very least, they requested something made of an EXISTING metal - unlike a request I got a couple years ago, from somebody who (I kid you not/ not joking here) wanted a set of "adamantium" throwers. Also, same question as McKinley; did he mention how he plans to secure them to a shaft?
 
Not knives, but I've had some odd requests for sheaths. I think customers sometimes don't know what they want until you tell them. Sounds like your guy knew exactly what he wanted, and you provided it. :thumbup:

2012 though? He's 2000 and late. :D
 
james terrio said:
He's gonna have a heckuva time lashing those to anything and getting 'em to stay there, though... they work better with notches or at least a flare at the base, and a hole in the "shaft" couldn't hurt.
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That was my main concern with the cartoon arrow shape, the lack of any tie-down features, but wouldn't tell me the purpose (I was thinking display) until they were done. When I bring him his next order, an Apocalypse Hatchet-head, I'm going to offer to notch the bases of the arrows for him.
 
I felt like I was being trolled with a knife inquiry once. He kind of wanted an everything-in-one knife.

Digging knife
chisel
wood chopper
gut hook
serrations
thick spine
food processing
 
I actually do often make and hunt deer with my own arrowheads. Have also had a number of people
want me to make them. I simply do not have the time.
Ken.
 
Mecha said:
When I bring him his next order, an Apocalypse Hatchet-head, I'm going to offer to notch the bases of the arrows for him.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: I'd go ahead and whip him up a prototype to show him... I bet he'll go for it once you explain why.

shane_o_ca said:
I felt like I was being trolled with a knife inquiry once. He kind of wanted an everything-in-one knife.
Click to expand...

Those cats tend to go away and not come back once you write up the quote for all those "features", and all the labor it would require to make them half-vast work together. ;)
 
He won't tell you because..... wait for it.... he will be the only one alive after the 2012 Apocalypse
Damn been dead for two yrs 10mths and no one told me
Sorry couldn't resist... Nice Arrow heads
 
james terrio said:
Those cats tend to go away and not come back once you write up the quote for all those "features", and all the labor it would require to make them half-vast work together. ;)
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that... He did go away.

After chatting with him I found it funny that he wasn't a hunter, but still wanted the gut hook.
 
All-purpose seatbelt cutter, guthook and nose-picker, all in one!
 
Nice job on the arrow heads. I thought the same thing as soon as I saw them, "How is he going to secure them properly?" But you did your part, and made what he asked for.

I will add (for laughs, but totally serious) that these are completely tame and mundane compared to some of the requests I've had. I won't bore you with all of them, but the most recent include a ballistic knife with sawback (pssshh, what's a ballistic knife without a sawback?), a hollow handle sword (with a Highlander blade, naturally), and a 7" bladed bowie "boot knife," with a 1.5" wide blade and stag handle. I will add that at least two of these customers, I don't recall which two, had money at the ready and wanted to pay in full immediately. :stupid:
 
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