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Tips on selling knives

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Quickhatch

Quickhatch

Quickhatch Bushcraft Co.
Joined
Feb 1, 2014
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Hey everyone, I'm relatively new here to Blade Forums.
I Paid for a knife makers subscription, and I'm having such a hard time selling my knives or even getting feedback.
Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Take a long hard look at the sensational powder horns made by your grandfather.
If you can make them, make them.
 
I was looking for advice on selling tips on Blade forums here, maybe I'm missing something on my descriptions, or posting in wrong places here.
I appreciate the complement on my grandfathers work, however I make knives, not powder horns.
 
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I suggest in your for sale threads you say comments and feedback are welcome. Personally I don't like lots of jimping on my blades, I've noticed you did that on a lot of your for sale blades

Keep to it and don't give up.
 
I recommend posting a thread in the knifemakers shop talk area, if you want honest feedback about your knives, you will get it. Just don't let your feelings get hurt, and be willing to listen.
 
Absolutely!! I'll try that, There's always things to learn. Thanks for the advice.
 
Quickhatch said:
Absolutely!! I'll try that, There's always things to learn. Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

I was just in Temecula today.

Have to come up there and help a friend some over the next few months, drop me a PM sometime and we can sit and talk about what might help you sell more knives.....since you are located so close, be better to converse rather than have a misunderstanding over intent which is so easy to have happen without the intonations and expressions that face to face interactions bring.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
You'll definitely want to take STeven up on his offer. If you want an honest opinion that's where you'll get it.

My advice is... Just give it time. When people start seeing your blades regularly they'll take notice. If you're consistently doing a good job people will notice and your knives will sell. There's not a lot of one-hit wonders here simply because the buyers want to see consistent quality before they'll buy a knife.
 
Start by adding your name to your sig line.

Takes a little time, but if you make knives people want & the price is right, they will sell fast.
 
I will agree with Jacob, Steven has made a generous offer and one you could most likely benefit from.

A couple quick thoughts:

I see you have only posted 8 knives for sale to date on BF, it takes time.

To gain exposure for you and your knives, post your knives up for observation/feedback on this C&H forum.

Might want to add you name (at least first name) along with Quickhatch in your posts as knife-people often like to associate an
individual as opposed to a company when considering a hand-made or custom item.

Final finish is often an important consideration with custom knife collectors-users.
 
Man it's tough for sure. At times it feels like an endless pit to dump money in. Come up with a responsible budget to spend on supplies until sales pick up. That will take some stress off. Good luck.
 
I would suggest simplifying some of the designs - like, less, or no filework along the spine, and a simpler handle (No burn patterns, or whatever it's called.). I don't think filework is a good fit on a hunting or EDC knife. Maybe also try using some different handle materials, like different color micarta, G-10, etc?

I tend to associate spine filework with the damascus knives on ebay -- I don't know what other people think, though.

Your newest Bushman is a good example of what I'm talking about -- a good, efficient design.
 
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Thanks for the advice, I'm noticing that not very many people are into the file work, which is great for me, less work for me.
 
One thing, and this is a personal issue for me, I like full flat ground, or at least a high saber ground knife.

The 1/2 Saber looks fat to me. I feel it won't be a good slicer.

It is a prejudice I have. But I also feel the same way about scandi gound. Unless the stock is thin. This bias has no basis in reality, or experience....

I also really care about the looks of a handle. More shaping, less blocky is what I prefer.


I would hit Steven Garrison up for a face to face. I chuckle that he mentioned mid understanding, and intent. He takes a lot of flack on here.... a time or two from me even, but if he thinks it, he will say it. Very direct!


For bushcrafter designs, and handle executions I love, take a look a J. Oeser's work. Fiddle back forge. I like Koster's handles too.

One example. Your
"THE SCOUT- Custom Handmade Bushcraft knife and Custom wooden Sheath"

I like the handle. The contrast is nice. The contouring looks good. The blade grind, with the 1/2 Saber seems a bit meaty with that stock thickness. If that was a higher saber, or flat grind it would look better to my eye. I am also a fan of a full convex grind, which don't look as "sharp" to my eye as a neat, clean flat grind or high saber, but I like none the less.....

I have carried and used Manu knives thicker than that, but it's just how I feel.



Good luck!
 
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Going off of what bigfatty said, I would maybe try to post some threads with pics and videos in here. You've made some interesting design choices with the grinds, handle shapes, jimping etc and you have to show people that it was done for a reason and they perform.

Bigfatty isn't going to buy one because he's concerned the grind height will impede cutting. Show us why/how he's wrong.

Oner person asked you about the handle shape and while you told him it was comfortable, it would be better to show you holding the knife.
 
I find it odd in the classifieds here, when knife makers drop their prices and advertise it. I think it makes more sense to gauge the value by response, and if it needs changed, change it stealthily. Advertising price drops only devalues the work, imo.
 
I was looking at the Trapper posted on the website. I see the handle is not flush with the tang everywhere, unless the light in the pics is playing a number on me. The filler used between the components of the compound handle also looks uneven IMHO this can be improved. On the lanyard tube the inside has to be clean and even , I can see spots there, but not sure if that is dirt or it is something on the inside of the tube. IMHO attention to detail in a knife is a big thing, when I look at knives I appreciate flush surfaces and so on.

I guess my point is, with so many knife makers and knives around, top notch F&F helps a lot to stand out from the rest.
 
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