What goes into a maker's mark?

[sierra11b]

Not sure if I'm spending too much time dwelling on the issue or not? I guess that as a symbol or brand of your product the mark is important. I've studied a lot of marks in trying to come-up with my own. Seen a lot of Name and location marks for the most part, some name with symbol marks, and a few with just symbols (Bailey Bradshaw, Hanson III, etc).

So I'm wondering what goes into a maker's mark? I drew-up one similar to the knife maker I'm apprenticing with but am not sure I like it or not.

Are there services that will design a makers mark or should the knife maker make his or her own? Should a service be used even considering the level of artistry that goes into a custom knife? Would it be like having someone else sign your painting?

 

[sierra11b]

Here's the one somewhat similar to the knifemaker I am apprenticing with: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/sierra11b/makersmarks.jpg

And here's a symbol I drew-up. It's supposed to be my initials "EJS"... the "J" is the blade of the scimitar with the handle guard and the "S" is the curve of the blade and the handle. Not sure if it looks more like an "F", though... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/sierra11b/mark.jpg

 

[Kunklec]

The second design does look like EF. I sent a rough drawing of mine to Tustech.com. They made it look great, sent back some proofs and it works well, very clean mark. I worked with Eric Beach.
I would suggest you make your mark so that anyone can find you. The Handmade is probably not necessary. The USA is not very helpful. I would try to find a way to get Sacramento, CA on there, or at least Sacramento.
Highly stylized marks are interesting, but leave little for anyone to use to find the maker.
CHip Kunkle

 

[sierra11b]

Thanks Chip. Good points all around.

 

[PhilL]

I think it would be a shame not to use part of your name as an element in your logo.

Maybe something like this?

 

[SBuzek]

If it doesn't have your name in it they can't find you. If you design a fancy mark just be sure it includes your last name and at leat a first initial.

 

[george tichbourne]

Logos are very attractive but the reason people mark their work is let others know who made it......Logos don't cut it in this case.

The general public need a name to locate you.

George

 

[Raymond Richard]

I've always gone with my name. Its the simplest way to do it with the least amount of problems. For about 3 years now my name has gone on the spine. Makes it a pretty easy fix if I happen to screw it and need to change it. http://bladegallery.com/shopexd.asp?id=84338&photo=4&size=b

 

[sierra11b]

Thanks for all the info so far. I like the sun idea too. May play around with that one.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Sierra, personally, the scimitar is bugging me a little. I would be scared that my knives were perceived as imports or associated with Islam. If just business wise.

Sorry if this is not PC.

Pad

 

[ryan9977]

ray....what do u do if you make a knife with a forge finish.....u won't see the logo?......ryan

 

[Will Leavitt]

There are few makers that can get away with just a logo or touchmark especially starting out. Everything I've ever read from collectors says they'd much rather see a name.

BTW, how'd the weekend apprenticeship go?

 

[AcridSaint]

Definitely go with a name. I tried to incorporate mine into somewhat of a "symbol" but it has my first and last name. Only way to get known.

 

[Raymond Richard]

ray....what do u do if you make a knife with a forge finish.....u won't see the logo?......ryan

Ryan, 99% of the time on a forge finished blade I'll do some clean up grinding on the spine so the mark will still be visible.

 

[Justin.Mercier]

As Ed Caffery once said to me on another forum (iforgeiron) You can google a name, you cant google a symbol. A name + a symbol is fine then maybe (just maybe) if you ever become famous enough, you might be able to get away with just a symbol.

The majority of people who I'm making knives for right now are people who I know from online gaming / gaming conventions / etc, and they all know me by my online handle / nickname and my webpage. Since I've used the nickname so long that even in person I answer to it without thinking, and since many of those I'm forging things for dont even know my last name, I use that name to mark my blades.

The picture I have of a blade with my mark that shows up best (because it's a big picture) is http://www.tharkis.com/images/knives/5/exchangeknife.jpg

Now the name Tharkis may not immediatly be identifiable as "Justin Mercier from New England" but if you google it, my webpage is the first result, a majority of other links are refrences by/to/about me in one manner or another, and I can be easily found just by a search engine.

So definately think about how 'googleable' you will be with what you mark your blade.

All that being said... i still need to update/ create my blacksmithing and bladesmithing pages =P Right now the rest of the site is done, with the exception of the two which show my own work! The shop tour I didnt actually get up untill Easter sunday.