what do you think its worth

M

mike_clark7912

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Jan 7, 2009
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39
I just finished a knife that i used ladder pattern damascus that i got from admiral steel and i used acrylisized maple burl for the handle with mosaic pins and put brass bolsters and end on it the knife cost me about $250 to make and i was wondering if anyone had an idea of what i should sell it for because i've only been making knives for about 4 months now and ive sold a few for $100 each but they only cost me about $20 to make and i used 440c with dymondwood and 1/8 brass pins and none were quiet like this one. http://s448.photobucket.com/albums/qq201/mike_clark7912/
 
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You've still got a sales link, which we don't allow.

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sorry about that i was working on it i just opened a photo bucket and uploaded the pics and put the link to that
 
The design is great, the fit of the handle material to bolster looks good.

Mike, do you want a pat on the back or some advice? If you want a pat on the back don't read any further.

There are a lot of fundementals involved that you still need to work on before I'd recommend going on to expensive materials like damascus. There are some finish issues that I think severly impact your ability to ask for a lot of money. Your leatherwork while it's great for everyday users isn't what someone expects from a $300+ knife.

There's a big difference in the expectations of someone that buys a $100 knife and someone that drops $300 or more.
 
hey im open for all the advice i can get i havent been doing this long enough to know all the tricks and im still working on buying better equipment for sheaths and finishing and yeah i had fun trying toetch the blade
 
im adding more pics of some of the ones ive sold and some of my first knives to give you an idea of where i started
 
I don't understand what better equipment you need for leather work.... an awl, needle and thread, something smooth to slick down the edges. :confused:

Maybe I missed something in the knife pictures.

Those are very nice first knives and I'm glad you're able to sell them. I know I didn't even consider my first knife until I made about 20 or so blades. I probably didn't consider selling a knife until my 40th or so and that was due to the guy hounding me about it. I'm a bit strange about stuff, but the reason I started making knives was because I had a knife break on me and now I KNOW my knives will stand up to whatever you can dish out.

The damascus knife is a huge step forward in your fit and finish but there are still some finish issues you need to address that I would think are unacceptable to someone that purchases an expensive blade. There are scratches on the bolsters, there are scratches in the blade and your grinds are undefined.

I'm not trying to sound harsh but put yourself in your buyer's shoes. You just dropped $300 or more on a Mike Clark damascus blade. You open the package, now look the knife over with the same eyes as someone that just spent a lot of hard earned money. Maybe I'm just a redneck but $100 is a lot of money to me, much less $3-400.
 
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well i dont have an awl and i wanted to get some stamps to to put like basket weave patterns and things like that so i buy a little at a time i was punching out the holes and using leather string to start and now i started using rivets you know just trying to find what works and looks the best
 
Mike, simply put, the knife is worth what you can get someone to pay you for it. Someone may come along and pay you the price you were asking in the craigslist post, but I have grave doubts you will get anywhere near that from someone familiar with the custom knife market.

I know of few knifemakers who can command in excess of $30 per hour for their time, as you are asking, and they are well known and nearly always long-experienced. It is much more common, as Ren told you, for new makers to get little more than the cost of materials for their knives as they attempt to gain a foothold in a competitive environment. It is not at all uncommon to find that experienced makers with a decent presence to get perhaps $10/hour; it is also frequent to hear "newbie wages" in the $4 range.

One point I will make to you about your listing..... You state that 15n20 is a low carbon steel. 15N20 has 0.75% carbon, putting it firmly in the high carbon steels. Anyone who reads your listing who knows custom knives will realize you do not, and will then think you are a novice. That will diminish their interest quickly, I assure you.

I'm not trying to be harsh with assessment, but only directly honest. These are my opinions, though, and others mileage may vary. I hope you are not offended by my directness. I personally think the blunt truth is far more valuable than pleasant deception.
 
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mike_clark7912 said:
well i dont have an awl and i wanted to get some stamps to to put like basket weave patterns and things like that so i buy a little at a time i was punching out the holes and using leather string to start and now i started using rivets you know just trying to find what works and looks the best
Click to expand...

An awl is a sharpened piece of metal, much cheaper than a stamp. Get one of those first.

You're using rivets because it's faster and easier than hand stitching. The sheath is another mark of the quality of the blade. We all hate making sheaths but you'll find that the sheaths of a quality maker are the same quality of the blade.
 
not offended at all this is why i acme here to get straight forward answers from people who know what they are talking about
 
oh and by the way does anyone know anything about admiral steel in illinios because that is where i bought the damascus from
 
Here's a picture of the sheath I make for my "pocket knives" I sell these blades for about $100. An experienced custom knife buyer expects, straight stitching, smooth edges and a good design. Anything beyond that in a leather sheath is a plus, but they expect the basics to be of good quality.

edcsheath.jpg
 
I think I understand where you are at, I have a piece of demascus that was custom made for me over a year ago. I also have a collection of exotic handle materials. The problem is I dont have the experience to put them together to justify the use of the materials. I have been able to sell all the knives I make and make a good profit on them by using materials that I can add value to. Right now that consists of good wood, micarta, A2, O1, 1095 and I just added ATS34.

I think your question has been answered in its worth what someone would pay, the question is what that amount is. I see other makers that are much more experienced and the value collectors and users see in their work and I can only hope to reach a point where my work justifies the collection of materials that I have. Until then I will keep making knives and collecting some fine materials.
 
I use a bone folder but you can use anything that's slick and fairly hard. Piece of metal rod, butter knife handle that's smooth, smooth piece of plastic (that's what my bone folder is made of, smooth plastic).

After you stitch, dampen over the stitches and tap the down with a hammer, then after you dye the edges, use your slicker on the damp edges. You're just burnishing the edge of the leather.
 
yeah every knife i try to correct a mistake or a problem i ran into on the previous knife and this if the first time i tried to do the bolster so im working on it and i think i can figure out a good price for it now
 
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