Went to a gun show this weekend.....

I bought a kit knife from a guy at an art show once. He said it was hand made, with a hollow grind and charcoal dymondwood handle. Later I saw the exact same blade in a Jantz catalog. The story ends well though. It was a 440C blade, held an edge like crazy, and he only charged $20 for it, so I feel even though he wasnt exactly completely forthcoming, he was at least fair in his pricing.

I see a trend in some of the comments from gun show attendees. The problem seems to be a lack of knowledge of manners rather than a lack of knowledge of knives. I takes a lot of cahones to talk down someones work in front of potential customers, especially with little knowledge of what they are doing. I think Ed Fowlers advice is the best I've read. If asked about another maker, point out the good, and keep the bad to yourself, unless the maker in question is asking for an honest critque.

I recently ran across a guy selling knives at the local flea market. Fairly nice, with decent prices, and he even had his heat treating recipe posted for all to read. In my opinion, he was overheating his 1095 by austenizing at 1600 F, but he was completely forthcoming and transparent, and I had the sense not to tell him right there that I thought he was overheating things. For all that, his $35 price might have been a good one; since I didnt buy, I dont know how well they worked. They even came with a leather tooled sheath, which imho, could be worth the price tag by itself.
 
We all have to start somewhere, at one time in the 50's I put custom handles on blades, before that I had forged and cut blades out of 2 man timber saw blades using a blow torch, vice and cold chisel. Hardened them in water and did not know how to temper. I also made some knives out of wood as a little kid. At what point did I become a knife maker? I honestly don't know - I may not be one yet.

In my opinion the most important aspect is to be completely honest with your clients and those who just stop to visit. As a client the most important question you can ask a maker is "How do you test your knives?" This simple questioin puts all the cards on the table face up.
 
Mr Fowler. Not only are you a knifemaker. Websters has your picture next to it definition :) . Your opinions, thoughts and knowledge are sought by most of us that call knives our passion.

I have done three gun shows. I am looking forward to my next one this week. I broke even first two shows. Last one we actually made money and my wife got her 50 cal Muzzle loader. So it was a good show. I do any show as long as I make money.
 
Mr. Fowler died in the Civil War, please call me Ed.
What I wanted to point out is that I feel being a knife maker is a frame of mind, when I made that first wooden knife I figured I was a knife maker, I was maybe 8 years old. I was proud of that knife and knew the joy of achievement.

I just had some new business cards printed up, - several thousand - they accidentally changed "hand made knives" to "home made knives". At first I thought about making them correct their error, I thought about it for a few days and decided there was nothing wrong with "home made". Even growing to like the thought.

Like many I have debated the subject of what constitutes a knife maker and decided it comes from within rather than from others. All art comes from within, what others think should not matter.

You can't predict the success of a show on the basis of your immediate returns, some come years later you never know what folks think at their first visit. Promote your ideas at every opportunity and live every day, every hour, every minute one at a time.

There are some great thougths in this thread.
 
Ed Fowler said:
As a client the most important question you can ask a maker is "How do you test your knives?" This simple questioin puts all the cards on the table face up.
Click to expand...

I think that could stand to be repeated.

And thanks for dropping in Ed.
 
Right on, Nathan. I just decided to start a list of quotes to hang behind my bench... Ed's statement is first on the list. :)

Ed, you'll be happy to know my local library carries two of your books, each time I went to get them someone else had them checked out. So folks are reading 'em.
 
Ed Fowler said:
You can't predict the success of a show on the basis of your immediate returns, some come years later you never know what folks think at their first visit. Promote your ideas at every opportunity and live every day, every hour, every minute one at a time.
Click to expand...
Ed
Very good point. I had a order for four knives today from last weekend show. Ed I got to see one yous knives up close and personal. First one I held that you made. Incredible.
So the lesson I learned to even if I go home with same amount of knives. Have fun and the rest will follow. Thank you Ed.
 
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