What is the most inconspicuous way to put a “makers mark” a knife?

Rick Marchand said:
Yes yes yes.... this. I think it was Ed Caffrey that pointed that out to me almost 2 decades ago ..... instant "Doh!😖" moment. Hard to type Kanji characters into the googles.
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You can use tineye.com to search for the origin of an image. It may not work for all maker's marks, but it's worth a try in a pinch.
 
etching my mark is the only part of the process I outsource, and that's because I like the guy whose laser does the work, can get there in 15 minutes on the ebike and then go home in another 15 minutes. The machine I want is a couple thousand, so that's a lot of knives I can pay someone else to do instead of tying up space and $ on the machine I need to do it the way I want.

So...that being said- lasers are extremely flexible. You can size and place your logo anywhere you want, and also determine the kind of look you want depending on how much burning is going on. I plan mine out with a sharpie to exactly where I want it and to what size, and that's where it lands. No muss no fuss

I personally think that it's important to brand my work, but I want my mark to complement the knife and not detract by being too billboardy. So, the flexibility of laser engraving really helps me with that.

And here's the hot take; the potential for quality via a laser is superior to electro etch. Prove me wrong!
 
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I'm sorry I don't get this whole idea. I'm proud of any knife I have made. I hope seriously that anyone that would wish to desire another of my knives could easily find me with a simple FB search. My etch is small but hopefully when I begin to sell knives can be searched by popular social media engines.
 
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Lorien said:
etching my mark is the only part of the process I outsource, and that's because I like the guy whose laser does the work, can get there in 15 minutes on the ebike and then go home in another 15 minutes. The machine I want is a couple thousand, so that's a lot of knives I can pay someone else to do instead of tying up space and $ on the machine I need to do it the way I want.

So...that being said- lasers are extremely flexible. You can size and place your logo anywhere you want, and also determine the kind of look you want depending on how much burning is going on. I plan mine out with a sharpie to exactly where I want it and to what size, and that's where it lands. No muss no fuss

I personally think that it's important to brand my work, but I want my mark to complement the knife and not detract by being too billboardy. So, the flexibility of laser engraving really helps me with that.

And here's the hot take; the potential for quality via a laser is superior to electro etch. Prove me wrong!
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I've been saying that for a long time.
Yellow pages under Engraving or trophy shops.
Not everyone has a laser, not all of them mark steels well, but if you find a good local guy - it's pro results.
If they get the rotary attachment, they can custom laser etch wine bottle for wedding table souvenirs.

If you keep outsourcing the laser work until it's worth having your own, no doubt the tech will have gotten either better or cheaper in the meantime.
 
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12345678910 said:
If you keep outsourcing the laser work until it's worth having your own, no doubt the tech will have gotten either better or cheaper in the meantime.
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that is a solid point
 
I feel similar to OP, i dont like brandnames on things, last thing i want is "tim johnson" on all my knives, that would just be garish lol.
i contacted an artisan whos skills i admired and asked to have a cool image made of my initials. I like it! obscure, cool, mysterious, no one really knows where it came from or where to find me , muhahaha.
 
I appreciate when a craftsman puts enough effort into the project that they deem it worth the effort/pride of marking.
 
navman said:
I finally settled on a makers mark. Ordering stencils now. Pays tribute to my brothers in arms from the Riverine Squadron.
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Idk if it's an optical illusion..... But is the m the same height as the r?
 
Simple is good. My feeling is if your an actual company then it gets a company name. But that name needs to be attached to an actual licensed taxable company. Not just somthing you came up with that sounded cool at 3am. If your a custom blade smith / maker then your name says all that is needed. You need to be proud of your work and mark it accordingly. Think of your customers, thy are not just buying a knife thy are investing in your name. I stamped this one on the copper butt cap and I was proud to have my name on it. 6BEC1CEA-2AAD-4788-A016-2FD278D16B6E.jpeg
 
It seems lots of makers use a name/last name. Unfortunately my name is associated with a city, an older knife maker and fictional family on a popular TV show (Also know for knives "our blades are sharp"). Whatever marking/name I choose will unfortunately not have my name and will need to be something all together different. Any advice on choosing a name for your knife shop/marking..........
Crag the Brewer said:
I was the same way, I really don't like marketing, and flashy stuff.
I think It's gaudy. I like plain.......and boring.

I didn't want my Literal name on my knives. (my name doesn't have a good flow/sound to it)
But I know I Needed something.
20, 30, 50, etc years from now..... somehow your work needs to be identified.

Personally, I feel it's required if you are planning on selling.
if you are just giving away, making for friends, whatever...... My earlier friends blades don't have my Brand on them.
if/when I sharpen them I'll ask them if they would like to be added.


Also look at it as advertising.
Someone here is going to LOVE the knife you made.
They are going to take Tons of photos of them, and post pictures of them all over the forums.........(i know, wishful thinking, Right?) hahah.
Everyone will see them, and wonder how they can get one, too! :D
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steelhog said:
. Any advice on choosing a name for your knife shop/marking..........
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You could use your street name or neighborhood or city or your dogs name...
"Meyers Street Blades"( from my childhood home) or "Bronx Cutlery" or "Spot's Knife Co."

Locations are really good I think, especially if you don't be plan on moving much.
 
steelhog said:
It seems lots of makers use a name/last name. Unfortunately my name is associated with a city, an older knife maker and fictional family on a popular TV show (Also know for knives "our blades are sharp"). Whatever marking/name I choose will unfortunately not have my name and will need to be something all together different. Any advice on choosing a name for your knife shop/marking..........
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My name isn't the most marketable..... it's crass and possibly vulgar, so I know that every venture doesn't need, Shouldn't need a person's name attached to it..... Hopefully.

Does the words "steelhog" have any special meaning for you?
Is it livestock, or Harley related, maybe?

I think Steel Hog, or Iron Pig have a nice ring to them.... they definitely would make cool brewery sounding names.... Haha
I'm seeing a mechanical pig/boar with nuts and bolts like Frankenstein's Monster as your logo :D
 
Crag the Brewer said:
My name isn't the most marketable..... it's crass and possibly vulgar, so I know that every venture doesn't need, Shouldn't need a person's name attached to it..... Hopefully.

Does the words "steelhog" have any special meaning for you?
Is it livestock, or Harley related, maybe?

I think Steel Hog, or Iron Pig have a nice ring to them.... they definitely would make cool brewery sounding names.... Haha
I'm seeing a mechanical pig/boar with nuts and bolts like Frankenstein's Monster as your logo :D
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No specific meaning, but it's been my BFs name for so long I'd thought about it. I like your idea. 😀
 
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