What might happen if?.....

there are a good number of celebrities well known to knife knuts as part of the tribe who could bring interest to something like a documentary.
That's not to say it's good to 'celebretize' something like this, but tastefully incorporating Sly or Jolie's views on collecting through mini interviews speckled throughout a documentary would certainly add interest. It might also put a point on the effect that popular media has on the knife community, ie; Rambo's knives etc.
 
ps. an insightful, informed and respectful approach to both the history and present of knife shows would be required due to those traits inherent within the community itself. The documentary would need to be tailored to the community not to mass media. This would require deep immersion in the community and probably a year or two of data/footage collection.
 
Steven your right LA ink did suck but American Chopper IMO was a good and fun show to watch and I do not think it was just about the bikes it was about Paul JR and the gang there is a big difference between a show and a documentary a doc is one or two episodes but a show about the life's of makers and collectors what makes them tick why they do it. Try to get inside there heads that show could run for years I would watch every episode I find knife folk fascinating what it would do for knife collectors and makers I do not know but I do think some makers would benefit and perhaps some collectors but I am a blacksmith knife maker. what do I know about tv shows some I like some suck. this is a good thread and I apologize if I did not take it seriously enough in my first reply to it.
 
D lisch said:
Steven your right LA ink did suck but American Chopper IMO was a good and fun show to watch and I do not think it was just about the bikes it was about Paul JR and the gang there is a big difference between a show and a documentary a doc is one or two episodes but a show about the life's of makers and collectors what makes them tick why they do it. Try to get inside there heads that show could run for years I would watch every episode I find knife folk fascinating what it would do for knife collectors and makers I do not know but I do think some makers would benefit and perhaps some collectors but I am a blacksmith knife maker. what do I know about tv shows some I like some suck. this is a good thread and I apologize if I did not take it seriously enough in my first reply to it.
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Dave, I wasn't picking on you, and you took it seriously enough.

It's just kind of a sensitive subject for me(documentaries) because I have seen the best of them sensationalize the subject, sort of what they did with the "samurai sword" on Discovery, I think.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I can see a documentary or small series of shows highlighting syles of blades following one from order to delivery or show table. Packages on smithed and stock removal blades, perhaps separate tactical and tradition folders. I wonder if there will be enough action? A lot of the operations are rather tedious and most makers aren't going to be talking while doing them. The best thing is that I know of few processes are secret so there wouldn't be any holding back :D

I feel the nation at large is looking for interesting personalities to fill their spare time. Plenty of knifemakers can fill that good or bad void :D
 
Kohai999 said:
It's just kind of a sensitive subject for me(documentaries) because I have seen the best of them sensationalize the subject, sort of what they did with the "samurai sword" on Discovery, I think.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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therein lies the problem. It would need to come from US, whoever WE are...
The collaborative of collaboratives...
 
I can see it all now, "Ginsu Knives, Part 27, take 6"!

Kinda doubt a knife documentary would be picked up for production given the economic downturn affecting sales of pretty much everything, including knives.

Bob
 
I feel that's why a one off documentary is conceiveable Bob. Kind of like a freelance thing. I'm sure there'd be folks within the knife show community and custom knife community who would be willing to help with production costs.
Not sure how it works, but if it's like a magazine then the channel might buy freelance work.
 
I can see a documentary or small series of shows highlighting styles of blades following one from order to delivery or show table.
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I can too; allow me to pick the maker and it'll be someone with a promise of delivery in 4 months that you can't get a hold of for 2+ years. On the other hand, I've commissioned 30+ knives in the past few years and most have been delivered with no issues. Kudos to all the good guys out there!
 
Really, it doesn't matter what the business is that they're covering, they're more interested in showing people behaving badly than in informing the public what is involved in making a quality custom product.
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Yes, it is the drama they are looking for.

I could see a program that STeven describes working on Versus or OLN networks, but not on Discovery, History or any other mainstream station.
We must remember that not everyone views knives the way we do.
The uninformed demonize things, like knives and guns, while totally discounting the hard work, dedication and art that goes into making them.
I'll go out on a limb and say the majority of them wouldn't want to learn or be informed.
The audience makes or breaks the show.

Scarily, the success of choppers, crab guys, axe men, swampers, springer and doc phil sez much about the times we live in.

Now a documentary might be able to crossover.
That could be a program to inform the people on the fence, the people that we want to bring into the fold.
A documentary would not have the continual reinforcement of values that a regular program would.

To do this you have to know your demographic and keep control of the content.

I could see a regular weekly show, a magazine format, that would go something like this...
•Knifemaker of the week segment.
An interview, maybe shop tour and display of wares.
•What's new segment.
Trends, new products, production oriented happenings, knifemaker/production collaborations.
•Upcoming shows in your area segment
•Various 'corners' Tactical, Cowboy, Hunting/Fishing and maybe collector's corner
•Shop tips segment, where famous knifemakers share tips, tricks and basics to budding knifemakers.
•New knifemaker spotlight segment, showcases up and coming talent who has the right stuff to make it in the custom knife world.

A half hour show is only about 18-20 minutes of content.
That would seem to be manageable...
I'm sure you all could come up with some other 'departments' or 'features'

I'd have to say that it is an admirable idea, and you guys could just pull this off...
 
I think the only ones that would enjoy a show on knives and their makers would be the ones that already have an interest in knives. Sure it might spin off a little more interest but from what I have seen over the years 99.9% of the people just don't give a hoot about knives.
 
The majority of the people who I share custom knives with seem to be sincerely amazed and surprised by them.
Usually, not knowing such knives existed.
 
I think Ebbtide is on to something . With a program like the American Rifle Man only for knives, where certain makers and parts of the industry were highlighted both custom and prouduction sides might work.

But any reality based show like American Chopper or Ace of Cakes would IMHO not work .
 
JParanee said:
I think Ebbtide is on to something . With a program like the American Rifle Man only for knives, where certain makers and parts of the industry were highlighted both custom and prouduction sides might work.

But any reality based show like American Chopper or Ace of Cakes would IMHO not work .
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Absolutely Joe.
 
Raymond Richard said:
I think the only ones that would enjoy a show on knives and their makers would be the ones that already have an interest in knives. Sure it might spin off a little more interest but from what I have seen over the years 99.9% of the people just don't give a hoot about knives.
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I agree with Big Boy on this one. Let us imagine that all the makers, collectors, and serious knife nutz around the world could/would each spend one day talking to 100 people about the differences in custom knives, how they are made, what they are made from, and the benefits of a good custom versus your everyday Wally-World special.

At the end of the day, of the 100 they spoke to, how many would care? What percentage would even bother to do research to find out more information?

Its a sad thing, but most of the world doesn't know, and doesn't want to know about our apparent "secret society".

I am a proud member of our "secret society" and I do all I can to recruit members every day, however, I think that a "Souped-up" series of documentaries would be short lived and offer no long-term benefits.

On the other hand, if we managed to "addict" just one individual, we would be ahead of the game.

Robert
 
Robert Dark said:
I agree with Big Boy on this one. Let us imagine that all the makers, collectors, and serious knife nutz around the world could/would each spend one day talking to 100 people about the differences in custom knives, how they are made, what they are made from, and the benefits of a good custom versus your everyday Wally-World special.

At the end of the day, of the 100 they spoke to, how many would care? What percentage would even bother to do research to find out more information?Its a sad thing, but most of the world doesn't know, and doesn't want to know about our apparent "secret society".

I am a proud member of our "secret society" and I do all I can to recruit members every day, however, I think that a "Souped-up" series of documentaries would be short lived and offer no long-term benefits.

On the other hand, if we managed to "addict" just one individual, we would be ahead of the game.

Robert
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I agree Robert. Most conversation with the masses regarding custom knives will be in one ear and out the other, however show them a fine custom knife and that's where we hit paydirt. :)
 
And unlike American Chopper, perhaps the show would have knifemakers actually CREATING custom knives as opposed to assembling them from parts obtain from elsewhere.:D Another good thing is that with the way that most knifemakers work, there would be no Paulie Jr. or other minions to abuse and it is highly unlikely that any of us would be out cheating on Sandra Bullock.;)
 
jdm61 said:
And unlike American Chopper, perhaps the show would have knifemakers actually CREATING custom knives as opposed to assembling them from parts obtain from elsewhere.:D Another good thing is that with the way that most knifemakers work, there would be no Paulie Jr. or other minions to abuse and it is highly unlikely that any of us would be out cheating on Sandra Bullock.;)
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Joe, I did see them fabricate a battery box. Unfortunately, they made it 1/8" too small and Paulie Jr had to install the battery with a rubber mallet. :rolleyes:

I hope a future episode shows the bike owner trying to replace the battery, now that will be GOOD "Reality TV". :D

And then there was the time they introduced the Air Force Theme Bike (I believe) at Bike Week in Myrtle Beach, and the engine had to be pulled down in the trailer after a horrible noise when they attempted to start it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a BIG FAN of the show as it's entertaining show biz at it's Best, but believe a program on custom knives would have to go in a totally different direction to be beneficial to the knife community.
 
I think a series would be awfully hard to sell, and a single documentary woefully inadequate. I like the idea of a documentary mini-series (like they did on Rome). You could have eposodes highlighting the history of knives, forging vs. stock removal, art knives, production knives, collecting, etc. The idea would be to educate, entertain and show how interesting knives really are. The trick would be finding the right balance of showing the elements that go into making such a simple tool (properties of different metals, heat treat, different grinds and blade shapes, etc.) without getting boring. With the right writers and production it could be wonderful, anything less and it's a snoozefest!
 
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