What makes some knifemakers rise to popularity, while others don't?

[Sonnydaze]

I have worked with several rather new knifemakers. I have helped in basic design and then purchased their products. It's pretty easy to see the knife and to hold it, and to tell whether it has potential. I have quite a few Spyderco models, in the $200 range, that are just as good, or better, than the customs that I ordered. Of course, it's also expected that a new maker will get better with experience...and many of them do.

 

[The cow]

Skill, marketing, customer service, and a good dose of luck
There are plenty of talented makers out there
Marketing, you have to get your name out there. Eventually, some bigger names will catch on and people will flock to you. (probably under luck)
Customer service people expect a quality knife. Something goes wrong, its best to fix it. Happy customers will tell people, Disgruntled customers will wipe their rear on carpet of every forum they're a part of to voice their displeasure.

You also have to have good business-sense. Especially when and what to expand. Or if you want to stay custom, go production, or mix.

Well, it's a proven fact that you can unashamedly and unrepentently lie your ass off about your super secret squirrel warrior knife designing background as a key to success.

I had a chuckle since it seems to be a very common thing nowadays...
Don't forget hawking your $600 folder to the "common" police/soldier

 

[JR88FAN]

Sorry, forgot to add, the word currently, as in the what seems to be the new way...


Instagram.
Everyone is equal, nobody has to prove anything, nobody knows your past or how you got to where you are.
Just follow and like, you get enough 'Hype' built up around you and your 'knives' sell....

I was just checking out a 'guy' on IG today that couldn't hack it on here about a year ago.
He was new, and asking (in my opinion) way too much considering his skill level, and the quality of what he was producing.
Strictly Friction Folders.

He's doing just great on IG now. He's made about 10 folders total, maybe...just started locking knives about 3-4 months ago.
They sell for around $750.00 and his books are closed.

Maybe I am old school, but you need to build your rep, not 'create it' because you have a fresh USN membership and a few tools.
You have to put the time in to the craft.

Anyone can make a folding knife with some basic equipment (send what you can't do out) but it takes someone who has proven their work can stand up for a lot longer then 4 months before I drop $750 on it...

 

[Quiet]

Instagram.
Everyone is equal, nobody has to prove anything, nobody knows your past or how you got to where you are.
Just follow and like, you get enough 'Hype' built up around you and your 'knives' sell....

I was just checking out a 'guy' on IG today that couldn't hack it on here about a year ago.
He was new, and asking (in my opinion) way too much considering his skill level, and the quality of what he was producing.
Strictly Friction Folders.

He's doing just great on IG now. He's made about 10 folders total, maybe...just started locking knives about 3-4 months ago.
They sell for around $750.00 and his books are closed.

Maybe I am old school, but you need to build your rep, not 'create it' because you have a fresh USN membership and a few tools.
You have to put the time in to the craft.

Anyone can make a folding knife with some basic equipment (send what you can't do out) but it takes someone who has proven their work can stand up for a lot longer then 4 months before I drop $750 on it...

Is any of that really surprising, given that we're in the age of the $300 pocket prybar or $400 keychain titanium bottle-opener? It's all to easy to get fans on Instagram, because all you have to do is be able to take really excellent shots of your product, making them look super awesome, and the dollars will flow. And if you get folks you've burned hassling you, you can just ban them from your feed, no worries.

Pretty sad, really.

 

[JR88FAN]

^Agreed.

If we are going to talk about guys that have been around a long time, I think it's the same as any other business:

It starts with a passion to make something the way you think it should be made.

You perfect your craft.

You put it out there and stand behind it.

You continue to make it better, and you put in the hard work.

The money will come, how much is down to luck, but if money is the MAIN reason you started, people will figure you out.
(Most people anyway)

 

[PURPLEDC]

IMHO there is no easy answer. I think its a combination of things that lead to peoples success. From the quality of the knife, to how they interact with their customers. The guys who really get what being a good knifemaker and being a good person is all about. I think the keys to success are always furthering your craft and never saying "good enough". Another thing I notice is that the knifemakers who survive dont have a chip on their shoulder and are very humble. Take RJ martin. The man literally wrote the guide on how to make a killer flipper folder. And even though he has been considere "thee" guy for such a task he is constantly improving his knives and is always trying to make them better. He hasnt got stuck in a rut of refusing to upgrade and update his products. And I have NEVER in my life seen the man lose his cool. He is the full package when it comes to being a knifemaker. But on the flip side of that I have seen some makers who live and breath everything I am saying yet they never really take off. But in those cases I just dont feel they are bringing anything unique or different to the table. My best advice to new knifemakers if they want to make it is to actually learn the craft before deciding to sell knives. To many guys rushing out to buy vibrating tumblers and bottles of acid as crutches for not having to learn the craft. To me a real knifemaker can make anything they want yet sometimes chooses not to do so. A knife builder tosses parts in some ceramic and chooses not to learn finishing techniques and uses excuses of artistic expression.