What do you makers do with "not quite there" knives?

David Schott

David Schott

Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
3,041
Im sure makers have had this situation:
I have a knife that I just am not that happy with. I don't know of any major flaws, but it does have one minor visible glue line thats barly visible on the under side....but overall I just don't think its up to par....its a big 15" knife, with a pretty gorgeous hamon and basically perfect 10" blade but I just cant shake the fact that theres something about it that I dont like and I dont even know exactly what I don't like, which makes it harder. My GF thinks its perfect and that I am crazy.

Its too nice to wreck at this point, and I have a good amount of time into it and I am torn.

My options really are:
1. Scrap it, bend/destruct test it into oblivion
2. Melt off the scales, cut a hidden tang and practice putting a guard on
3. Give it away thru some lame contest on the forum (but not sure I like the idea of letting a knife out of the shop that I am not 100% happy with)
4. Put it on ebay for $.01 and let the masses decide what its worth (see concern from 3.)


What do you guys do with situations like this?
 
If it's the one I'm thinking of from another post I agree with your GF. I think it looks great.

If you're that concerned just add a note in the sale copy that there's a barely visible glue line as a fault when you sell it.

Or give it to me :D :thumbup:
 
Since your Girlfiend thinks it's perfect, give it to her as a present.

You've then killed two birds with one stone, taken care of your "problem" with the knife and made your Girlfriend happy in the bargain.

Don't get much better than that.:D
 
Haha! That last one is classic. "here honey...have a 15" fighting knife...i love you"

The charity thing is a very nice idea, also!

Theres also a newbie KITH going on right now on the "other" site. I am sure someone brand new to everything would enjoy it.

Since it surely will not be sold, here it is right after rough shaping:
newclay.jpg
 
TikTock said:
What do you guys do with situations like this?
Click to expand...

David, if you are serious about making knives and selling them you should always be the hardest critic of your work. If you wouldn't buy it, chances are no one else will. I have a drawer full of knives that just don't cut the mustard.

Cut the mustard... I kill me! :D :D :D
 
It looks good, I'm sure someone will want to buy it.
Maybe you should put a special mark on it, so it won't be identifed as one of yours, or leave it sterile.
BTW, I'd be interested in it, depending on the price. Thanks.
 
I agree with Jeff. I have not been making for years and years, and I have from the get go decided to not sell anything that I cannot stand behind 100%. I think its a good rule to have for myself. 5 years down the line, I might regret putting that knife out there more than I can use the money because its not really about money when you are new.

I'm going to finish it off and see what the final results are. The visual flaw is pretty small. Here is an early one I held onto due to a poor scale/bolster fit...you can see the glue line between scale and bolster, and though most people Ive shown it to didnt find it to be a fatal flaw, its just some part of me that can't let stuff like this go out to the public...its a fine little pocket fixed blade, and I use it every day, but wouldnt let someone pay their hard working money for a fit that could have been perfect.
7.jpg


Time will tell where this one goes. Im leaning towards the charity auction or offering it up in the newbie KITH.
 
my friends and fam love the fact im making knives
or least tring to in my eyes they get my 2nds
they are just happ to have something i made and most of all a knife thats a hell a pile better then what the have now
butch
 
Naw...on the big fighter it actually appears my clamps lifted one scale a tiny bit on the bottom side of the tang. Maybe the width of a human hair, for a small section. Perhaps once the wood gets bufed up it will be invisible, but the ironwood is lighter than normal, so I think it'll always be there. The blade is so nice im still considering pulling the scales off altogether and going for a cord wrap...
 
I think its beautiful. (It does a great job of illustrating just exaxtly how much of a newb I am.) Stick it in your truck and use the hell out of it. Give it to a nephew or something. Put it in a bug out bag. Realize that most people never hold a blade of that quality even with the flaws.

You SUPER talented guys have to realize something. There are knife collectors out there, myself included, who are fans of your work. Picasso sold his seconds to pay for his way and his fans ate them up. Also some of his seconds are worth more than the finished product nowadays. Sometimes the flaws in soemthing and the mistakes you make along the way don't hint at poor craftsmanship, but rather highlight your journey as a craftsman.

I could do with a good user for the new truck. I'll take it, use the snot out of it, and write you a performance review. PM me.
 
I might just do that! Maybe a passaround and everyone can rip on it all they want....

I am not sure that picasso refernece applies to knives, though....reputation seems of utmost importance, especially for a maker with less exposure. Selling seconds just isn't my bag, baby!
 
I've always heard "There ain't no perfect knife". In an earlier post you asked about doing shows. Bring that knife with you and let people look at it. Your girlfriend is looking at it with different eyes.
 
In another thread there is a guy who is giving up knife making because he focuses too much on his mistakes. Listen to his warning. He seems well respected around here (I'm so new its hard to tell), and has a good point about focusing on the negative. There is a romance between men and knives. Who could not respect a tool so beautiful and functional at the same time. Still its good to see someone focus on craftsmanship, and thats what I like about knife making. But it sure is a perty piece of cutlery to be considered trash.
 
hehe! This one I didnt anticipate my grip on the blade, so I couldnt get the ricasso spine under fast enough, so i got a regular quench line on the bottom half....but I have some surprises in the shop that i will post once completed....some are pretty snazzy.
 
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