The Character Of A company

I would like to throw in another maker that is outstanding and great to deal with farid. farid. I first ran into Farid a few years back when a mini K2 I had picked up secondhand had centering issues. I reached out on here and he was super responsive and send me a bag of replacement washers for a couple dollars in shipping international, with the promise that if that didn't solve it he would take delivery of the knife and fix it in his shop. The washers did the trick. I got in early on a recently completed run of his FMP line and he was fantastic to deal with, answering all my questions, and turning out a work of art that I'm very excited to get in hand once them boys at customs stop fingering her 😁
 
evergreensSequoiaseucalyptusandOaks said:
I make a great knife although, do not sell many on here or rarely get what they're worth or what a good majority say they are worth, have many people send me emails, notes, sharing comments about how much they really love my knives, think the most successful people are the ones that have great marketing strategy, using all the platforms etc. Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, etc. etc. hash tagging everything and anything possible, they go to shows as frequently as possible, have eye to eye and face to face real interactions with each other and the knife community - think character demeanor and kindness can go a long way but even this only attracts like-minded people - you can also lose people of different mind-sets or of a different cloth per-say, so there is a lot of variations in what makes someone successful - the one true thing is "People" and mass communicating get you the sales ~

🔪 The Psychology Behind Knife Collecting and Loyalty to a Maker​

Knife collecting isn’t just about steel and edge retention—it’s about identity, belonging, and the stories we tell ourselves. When people follow and collect knives from a specific maker, they’re often engaging in a complex web of psychological and social motivations that go far beyond utility.

🧠 Psychological Drivers​

1.​

  • People often align themselves with brands or creators that reflect their values, aspirations, or aesthetic preferences.
  • A knife maker with a strong personal brand—whether rugged, tactical, artistic, or heritage-driven—becomes a symbol. Owning their knives is a way for collectors to express who they are or who they want to be.
  • This is especially potent when the maker cultivates a lifestyle around their products (e.g., survivalism, craftsmanship, or exclusivity).

2.​

  • Humans are wired to seek connection. Collecting knives from a popular maker can be a way to gain entry into a community of like-minded enthusiasts.
  • Online forums, social media groups, and fan pages reinforce this behavior. When others praise a maker’s work, it creates a feedback loop that encourages conformity and loyalty.
  • The fear of missing out (FOMO) plays a role too—limited drops or exclusive designs drive urgency and reinforce group norms.

3.​

  • Knife makers who engage personally with their audience—through livestreams, behind-the-scenes content, or direct messaging—create a sense of intimacy.
  • Fans may feel a personal connection, even if it’s one-sided. This parasocial bond can drive loyalty and repeat purchases, as collectors feel they’re supporting a “friend.”

4.​

  • In tight-knit communities, personal relationships can influence collecting behavior. If someone knows the maker—or is friends with someone who does—they may feel a sense of obligation or pride in supporting them.
  • This can also lead to preferential access to rare pieces, further reinforcing loyalty and status within the group.

5.​

  • Some knife makers become cult figures, and owning their work becomes a status symbol.
  • Rare or custom pieces can signal wealth, taste, or insider knowledge. Collectors may chase these items not just for their craftsmanship, but for the social capital they confer.

6.​

  • Every knife tells a story—about the maker, the materials, the design philosophy.
  • Collectors often seek pieces that carry meaning, whether it’s a tribute to a historical blade, a collaboration with a famous figure, or a knife made during a pivotal moment in the maker’s career.
  • This narrative depth adds emotional weight to the collection.

🧩 Why It Matters​

Understanding these motivations helps explain why knife collecting can become deeply personal and even obsessive. It’s not just about the blade—it’s about identity, connection, and meaning. Knife makers who tap into these psychological currents don’t just sell tools; they build tribes.
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Good post.

We had a similar thread recently and ended up with a _long_ list of trusted makers, and a very short list of untrusted ones.

Along the lines of @evergreensSequoiaseucalyptusandOaks’s (what an id!) post, I do have a shorter list of makers I like, mostly because of past experience. If I get a good knife with a personal and good transaction, I do like to repeat that. On the other hand, many makers I won’t buy from for more fuzzy and personal reasons, that might not have to do with product experience, but style, origin (e.g., mainland China), politics, personality, etc. Basically I don’t find their knives attractive subjectively and/or don’t trust them. After all, these are luxury goods, so I can be picky :)

Also note that many of my knives have been bought used, when I bought by brand mostly, and I would not be able to remember all sellers in the exchange here or on eBay.

Great experience by brand, I fully trust them: CPK, Buck, Busse, CRK, Winkler and several custom makers here in the Exchange (unordered: Josh/Rek, Paul, Bart/Whitney, Hunter, Miro, Josh/Navman, Adam, Lorien, Josiah, Daniel, Petr, John Cahoon, Tim Steingass, etc., sorry for the ones I forgot).

We have some great sheath makers too, but maybe that will require another thread :)

Roland.
 
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Danny Linguini said:
I’m gonna throw a little wrinkle in here, if I may. I deeply concur with the praises sung for David Mary and Buck - I have a modest pile of wares from both and can attest to their commitment to excellence and customer service. Not to exclude other artisans, but David is the only custom maker I’ve dealt with, and every time it was a great experience from start to finish. But I’d also like to throw a shoutout to Coleman ( Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery ). I’ve only gotten a few of his pieces, but his work is exemplary, and his desire to give his customers exactly what they need and want is second to none. And he’s just an all around nice guy.
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What a pleasant surprise! Thank you for your kind words. ☺️

JJ_Colt45 said:
I won't try to list all the exemplary companies and makers I've dealth with that belong in this thread. I will list a handful that standout and not only take great pride in their product, but they really make great effort in communication and customer service.

CPK ... Carothers Performance Knives
REK ... Razors Edge Knives
Deer Rock Knives
JJ Smith
Robert Erickson
Jess Hoffman
Stuart Davenport
Dave Ferry ... Horse Wright Knives
Lorien Arnold
David Mary
Spyderco
CRK ... Chris Reeve Knives
Buck

I'll ad a few for sheath work.
Sharp & Fiery
Azwelke
PirtleMade
Joufuu Leather
duramax
Lorien Arnold
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Thank you, JJ! I made your list. 👊🏼

Murphjd25 said:
REK
REK
REK
CPK
CRK
TFK
VKT

S&F for leather.
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Thanks, Murph! 😎
 
I honestly haven't dealt with a lot of brands but over the years Spyderco and Buck have earned my trust and respect. I've had several examples from each company and have treated some pretty badly and they've proved their worth. I've also had occasion to use Customer Service from both companies, both decades ago and recently and they've come through better than expected. I look to them first when looking for something new.
 
I first saw Joe's (Flat Rock Forge) work on arfcom, hit him up about posting on THR. He also posts here, I wasn't a member here when he posted more regular.

He finally did me in with the Combat Woodsman. I now own two of them, we talked about them, came to an agreement and the deal was done.

He also did a special run of Kephart knives, made to the same specs as the original. I've posted pics of all three knives here.

He did a set of Ultem scales and removed the finger choil thingy on my Spyderco Mule Team. Not to mention fixing the tip on my Kershaw Blur... 😬

He's currently working on a 4th knife for me, we bounced ideas back and forth. He's finishing up work on the scales now. I'll post it when he's finished and I have it.

I like that I can talk to him, will make changes to a design or work with you on it. He's always been a class act to work with.

David Mary was super easy, he posted a knife, I made a joke, told me it was available... very cool tanto, in my knife accumulation!
 
Belly said:
Spyderco is amazing. Both Sal and Eric are truly great people and their company follows suit. It’s rare for a company to be so great for so long.
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Agreed. My favorite company for many years, although CRK is big in my eyes.
 
I’ve had good experiences with most of the ones already mentioned.

3 more I would like to add and are our BF custom makers, great guys, super patient, and outstanding creativity with nice blades. They stand behind their products and want customer satisfaction

-CPE knives (Paul)
-Phillip Patton
-McAlevy knives (Matthew)
 
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