The maker and the buyer

quattromori

quattromori

Joined
May 7, 2011
Messages
3,426
Hi everybody,
I was about to start a sharpening session this morning, when I remembered that I wanted to start this thread some time ago...so here it is.
Recently, I've been involved by a friend in contacting two (local) knifemakers. My friend wanted to have a traditional knife made (a gift to a person who loves knives), but he doesn't know much about them so he asked me for help. I helped him get in touch with these two makers, and we had two very different experiences with the two (one good, one bad). Needless to say, the first one "got the job" but the whole thing made me think.
From my point of view, the relationship between a buyer and a maker can be very important, regardless of the quality or price of the knife.
I wish names were left completely off this thread, and instead I'd like you to tell what do you search for in a custom knifemaker in general, what do you like and what do you expect, and what good has come to you from dealing with custom makers (apart from the knife itself). It would also be cool to hear the other side of the matter, and have some makers tell us about what they expect and like in a buyer.
I will begin.
Usually, if I decide to contact a knifemaker to get a knife done, that means I know enough about him, I've seen some of his previous knives and hopefully handled them, and I also have an idea of what I'd like in the new knife.
I like to be involved in a project somehow (or at least to get that feeling), to deal with someone who knows his job and is confident about his skills and knowledge but is also open to discussion. Some makers are more open to continuous change and challenge, others prefer to focus on getting as close as they can to perfection in a few known patterns, but I like people who communicate.
I love a well made knife, but if it's born under these circumstances it gets some "plus" that you can't find in a production knife...and, depending on the knife, that can be just as important to me as the extra quality delivered by the maker.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Interesting topic, Fausto. I have to like the makers "style" of knifemaking. Patterns, blade steel, size, and of course price are all important factors.

I think it is also very important to speak with the maker by telephone at least once but as often as possible. A knife can be worked out between the maker and buyer by email alone but telephone conversations are much more personal and give each person a chance to get to know each another. The phone conversations that I have had with knifemakers have all been very pleasant and they really added to my overall satisfaction.. Of course, visiting the maker in person would be even better but many of us don't have the opportunity.
 
I'm moving this to the Custom & Handmade Knives subforum, and leaving a Redirect for a week. I think this will get more action and is probably more relevant to that subforum.
 
Very interesting topic!

I have one guiding principle in this: I treat my customers the way I'd like to be treated.

If I was commissioning a knife, I'd like:
- Great communication;
- To be involved in design AND some execution decisions - get options from the maker;
- To be kept up to date with the progress, ideally with pictures;
- To pay only at the end, when I'm satisfied with the pictures I see (unless I asked for something very specific on the knife i.e. stamping my initials...then I'd be open to send a non-refundable deposit)

That's what I try to provide to my customers and so far, had great experiences. I truly believe the involvement of the customer makes for a much better product at the end.
 
Gary, thanks for moving this (honestly, I hadn't thought about posting this here...) :rolleyes:
Something that I like in a maker is the fact of learning from him in the process of ordering a knife. I come from a place where most knifemakers only produce knives in 2 or 3 patterns (maybe different sizes), so variety isn't their specialty, but still there are little things that can make a knife "better", and it's nice when a maker points those things out to the buyer; it also helps the buyer value the product he's buying, and understanding where some "maker feelings" come from.
As Rick pointed out, visiting a maker's workplace (when possible) is the best way to establish a good basis for a custom knife. I've visited many, here in Sardinia, and it's a very nice experience, even if you're not going to buy a knife. It helps value the work and art behind a handmade knife.
The negative experience I referred to in my first post was something I didn't expect actually. I emailed the maker, and he got back to me on the phone the next day (he said he wanted more contact with the buyer, which I found very good) but then I felt something was wrong. I asked him some technical questions, not that I'm a knifemaker myself, or a blacksmith or forger, but there were things I was curious to know about the knife my friend would order, and only received elusive answers, and unsatisfactory explanations about the size, steel, heat treatment, and so on. I felt like I wasn't really speaking with a knifemaker, but with his secretary. That gave me a bad feeling and I told my friend (who had seen one knife made by this maker and had liked it), so we called the second one and had a talk with him.
I wasn't biased towards any of them, since I had never dealt with them nor handled their knives...but the second call was way different. He answered all my questions (after the first call, I asked him exactly the same questions) and got direct answers. I had a good feeling about this guy, and suggested that my friend ordered the knife from him...which he did.
I haven't seen the knife yet, so I can't speak about the product, but I know that the whole thing started in the right way, so I'm confident that my friend is buying a good knife and will make a great gift of it.

Fausto
:cool:
 
First and foremost communication- with a phone conversation specs options and just about
anything else can be discussed. If I give a customer a guess of roughly the month or so the
knife will be complete and call or email again before I start to check on "go-no go" I feel I have
done my part. If I don't deliver in a reasonable time frame of when I said I would its like calling
and hearing I've overspent, changed my mind, decided to go with so and so add infinitum.
Ken.
 
I've had a pretty major eye opening experience, and looking back on it, I think the advice that I will give myself in the future is 'trust your instincts' buddy. If I ever have a 'shady' feeling from a knife maker right from the get go, I simply will not go there, even if I think I can make it work because I like their work, and they told me what I wanted to hear.

Ultimately, one or two negative experiences should be enough to teach a guy who to stay away from, if it takes more than that to learn then you're probably not gonna stay in the game for long. Imo.
 
Lorien,
apart from the fact that I love your username :) I did exactly the same. I followed my instincts, even though I was just acting as a "help" for my friend. I sensed that the person I was speaking to was less accurate in his job than what I wanted. I'm not talking of one of the top Sardinian makers, but still he has some kind of reputation here...so his product was supposed to be, somehow, "guaranteed". But when I sensed superficiality on technical aspects, and got a couple of "non answers", I let go, and I'm glad I did.
I was wondering...did any of you makers had the same experience with a buyer? like, talking with someone and realizing the whole thing will create problems, no matter how good a maker you are?

Fausto
:cool:
 
Hey Fausto,

I like good communication from a maker that is confident and knows what they are doing.
 
Getting someone to make a new knife for you is an adventure of sorts, and there is a level of risk that comes with the situation. This is strikingly evident when you try a new, 'green' maker, one that might still be honing his/her skills with the anvil and torch. The established makers charge a huge sum of cabbage for the act of making a custom design from paper concept to finished, gleaming product. Also, the lag time can give one pause to wonder if you made the right decision. The desire for a new knife will cool considerably as the months turn into years. Sometimes the thrill is greater if you stumble on a 'steal' at the local pawn shop or flea market. At that point you marvel at how simple and cheap the smooth sailing was and wonder if the man upstairs had leaned over his celestial balcony with a nod in your favor.

I agree on the communication factor. It is best if you know the maker on a personal level and have spoken via e-mail or telephone. It also helps if you've seen the finished product and held it in your own hand. First hand experience is a winner every time, still, every custom project has that 'unknown' artistic factor that may or may not be a bonus in the end. It is all a game, a process that is fun and chalked full of terror at the same time.
 
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