Thinking about getting some knives manufactured overseas.

coop7

coop7

Joined
Apr 9, 2012
Messages
318
I love designing knives, but I just don’t have the time or equipment to make them myself anymore. That’s when I had an idea to work with an overseas manufacturer to produce a small run for me. I call this design the Frogbird(name subject to change), it’s a small fixed blade with a 2.36” and an overall length of 6.22”. I’m thinking a .12” blade thickness with S35VN or M390, and 1/8” G10 scales for a low profile. Let me know what you guys think and I’ll keep you updated.
https://imgur.com/a/YnMn1PS
URL][IMG]
 
I would call it a "Toad Load". I would also have them water cut and heat treated in the U.S.A. and finish them by hand.
 
I'd recommend getting your design into AT LEAST a 2d CAD program, if not 3d.
Do you have any sort of a following, or current demand for your designs? There may be a minimum order in the several hundred (or thousand) dollar range. It's not simply a matter of "spend $$ for knives, sell for $$$, profit", or everyone would be doing it.

Not all overseas OEMs are created equal either, and you may be looking at a language barrier as well. Have you ever had a product (or at least a prototype) produced overseas?
 
BellaBlades said:
I would call it a "Toad Load". I would also have them water cut and heat treated in the U.S.A. and finish them by hand.
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Haha I like it! I’m open to options, but I don’t have the capabilities to grind and finish them myself at the moment.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
I'd recommend getting your design into AT LEAST a 2d CAD program, if not 3d.
Do you have any sort of a following, or current demand for your designs? There may be a minimum order in the several hundred (or thousand) dollar range. It's not simply a matter of "spend $$ for knives, sell for $$$, profit", or everyone would be doing it.

Not all overseas OEMs are created equal either, and you may be looking at a language barrier as well. Have you ever had a product (or at least a prototype) produced overseas?
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I’m currently in the 3D design process and working out details with the manufacturer. I might be biased but I think my designs will offer something new to the market, or I wouldn’t be attempting it in the first place. I’m to the point of no return yet, so any criticism is more than welcome. I don’t have a following, but you have to start somewhere right?
 
I think one thing to keep in mind is one big reason people buy custom knives is because thy are not made overseas. Not the only reason but it’s big factor. If your shop is set up and you are skilled you can do small production runs and keep your costs down. I’m doing a production run on a knife design currently and yes I’m getting quite smart lol. Time is money but for me it’s soft money. In that I mean, I have free time I dont have free money.
 
JTknives said:
I think one thing to keep in mind is one big reason people buy custom knives is because thy are not made overseas. Not the only reason but it’s big factor. If your shop is set up and you are skilled you can do small production runs and keep your costs down. I’m doing a production run on a knife design currently and yes I’m getting quite smart lol. Time is money but for me it’s soft money. In that I mean, I have free time I dont have free money.
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There not going to be custom and I’m not going to advertise them as such. If I had the time to make them custom I would. Who knows this whole thing may fall through but I’m going to try and see it through.
 
Do you plan on having the country of manufacture embossed on the knife? If so, you will be really lucky to get 30-40$ per knife no matter what steel is used. Probably closer to the 15-20$ range for a fixed blade that length. If you don't let your customers know, and you get called out on it, your name will be in the toilet for a long time.
 
You might be better of trying to find a knife maker in the USA who would be willing to make you a batch vs going overseas. (Unless you want a huge number of these.)
 
have you tried contacting Kiser? maybe they can assist you.
what I think is the handle looks and measures too short, unless it's a 3 finger grip.
I also think you should consider having someone here make you one as a prototype.
It doesn't even have to be heat treated or blade bevel ground and just a cheap wood handle.
then you can get a feel for it in your hand and tweak the design if necessary.
 
mike-E said:
Do you plan on having the country of manufacture embossed on the knife? If so, you will be really lucky to get 30-40$ per knife no matter what steel is used. Probably closer to the 15-20$ range for a fixed blade that length. If you don't let your customers know, and you get called out on it, your name will be in the toilet for a long time.
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This is a very valid point. When the custom knife market is as booming as it is, with mid teks and so many people doing there own runs of made in america, europe or japan blades, you are going to be hard pressed to market chinese blades.

The only way you could effectively would be a LOT of advertising to change peoples opinion, an amount of adveritsing that would honestly cost BILLIONS and require the chinese manufacturing market to change... so thats out of the running.

And has mike said, you need to be upfront with this really quite major downside for most people, because if anyone finds out, you are DONE.
 
Until you have a working Prototype in hand with all revisions completed everything else is a dream. Just because you think it looks good on paper does not make it a winner in the market place. Thinking you're bringing something new to the market is wishful thinking because it happens everyday with major manufacturers....I can only guess how many project designs they scrap after building a Prototype that looked good on paper but was uncomfortable to use.

In order for this to be profitable materials are going to have to be sourced from the lowest bidder or your retail pricing will be outside perceived market value to the consumer.
 
look at the competition. check out these guys https://premiumknifesupply.com/ some are blades that need handles, some completed knives. there are people adding handles, claiming they are hand made and selling them for $100+. their blades are unmarked, you can for a fee have your own "maker's mark" added to the knife.
 
Busto said:
Until you have a working Prototype in hand with all revisions completed everything else is a dream. Just because you think it looks good on paper does not make it a winner in the market place. Thinking you're bringing something new to the market is wishful thinking because it happens everyday with major manufacturers....I can only guess how many project designs they scrap after building a Prototype that looked good on paper but was uncomfortable to use.

In order for this to be profitable materials are going to have to be sourced from the lowest bidder or your retail pricing will be outside perceived market value to the consumer.
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Way to busto his chops. But he speaks the truth. The other thing we have not touched on is market share. Knives are a huge market and with that comes tons of competition. You could have the best knife design in the world but how will people know about it. That’s what we call market shares, how are you going to get a share of the market.

But I just re read your first post. You said a small run for you. Are you saying you are wanting them
All for yourself? Are thy gifts for friends and family? Or are you wanting to sell them. If it’s the first 2 then morepower to you. But if it’s the third then it’s going to be very rough. Especially if your going to jump into the production side of the pool. Over here in the custom side “deep end” there are fewer of us but lots of us have sank to the bottom. The shallow end of the pool is where the production guys hang out and it’s rather crowded. Not saying it can’t be done but be prepared to fight and claw for a taste of pool time. You have to look at your knives like a customer. Be honest with your self and ask “would I buy this” and “why”. You must be objective and remove all sentimental attachment to the design.

But like I said you could just be wanting them for your self. If that’s the case then your the customer do make what ever you want.
 
Make it fold and people will buy it I bet. I don't understand the design intent. For whatever reason, people will buy just about any design that folds, but fixed blades with ambiguous design intent don't sell nearly as well.

Having subcontracted the manufacture of custom items in China myself, I won't dissuade you (other than maybe try Taiwan first) but just know there is some risk involved when you wire payment up front. There's no PayPal police, no local PD, no one to call if you're scammed. Try to work out a deal where you pay half up front and half on photos and documentation of inspection/completion.

And have a prototype made before placing an order for 100 or 1,000 pieces. I can't tell you how many times I've designed something that looked like I thought I wanted it to on the screen, only to wonder "WTF was I thinking" at the machine producing it.
 
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