james terrio
Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2010
- Messages
- 22,618
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Got a couple custom Fugitives, as well as a standard, almost ready to go out. Also, some kitchen knives and a few general-purpose blades.
Meanwhile, here's a sneak peek at a brand new model...
![]()
hmmmmm........ indeed.
I wonder what a standard model HT'd blade blank would run?...
or what kind of trades -- birdseye maple? crotch walnut? crotch oak? ray flake figured oak?
Hold up curiosity got me LMAO...
Just the blank? already HT'd? You wanna grind the bevels on 9.5" of .25" thick 3V at 60hrc??
Or you mean just without scales and final edge?
I wonder what a standard model HT'd blade blank would run?...
That's a concept that comes up from time to time... "Hey, JT, what if I really want your design that you've spent a couple decades testing and refining, with the alloys and HT protocols of your choice... but I'm looking for a discount so I can put it together myself. And BTW, I want you to entrust hundreds of hours of blood, sweat and tears and your entire reputation on some anonymous goof slapping a half-vast handle on a genuine Terrio Knife."
I wouldn't bet on that happening. Anyone who wants a Terrio Knife is gonna have to buy a real Terrio Knife.
I sincerely love the fact that regular folks support me. I'm right here with y'all! I make knives because I love knives. I put my name on the knives I make because they're the very best I can make.
But... geez... At best, it's "cute" when y'all offer trades for my work. At worst, it's offensive. I got bills to pay, brothers and sisters. Steel and handle materials and professional HT cost real actual cash money. *shrug*
This ain't a hobby to me; I'm trying to make a living here. Sorry to be a jerk or a greedy bastard, but here's some reality for ya: the bank that holds my mortgage and the utility company that provides my electricity don't give a fat-flyin' leap about a jar of jelly.
That's a valid POV - and I don't fault you for it.
In my mind, you getting 2/3 the price of a complete knife & sheath for 1/2 the cost of time and materials makes for a higher profit margin.
A big part of why I'm growing towards a certain level of success is that my grinds are different from most other makers'. I grind 'em thin and tapered and light so they cut better... that takes more time, more belts, more skill, and requires more care in HT. It also requires better steel and greater attention through the entire process, so my thin high-performance edges don't chip or roll or wobble in use. It ain't magic, and it doesn't "just happen". It's hard, time-consuming, painstaking work. Work that most makers and definitely most manufacturers don't even try to do... because frankly, doing it sucks pretty hard and the additional payoff is very slight.
My other "claim to fame" is that my handles are among the most comfortable in the business. By far, most of my clients gush about my comfy handles before they even cut anything with my knives. I take a great deal of pride in that.
If by some bizarre stroke of luck, a major manufacturing facility wants to build one of my signature designs for mass production, I'd be a fool not to consider it. But I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen, and neither should anyone else.