What to do when....

If you are going true custom, have he maker make a knife of your own design. Of course the maker will put some of his own style to it, but it will be your design!
 
It's fine to get a custom version made of a knife from the 1800s. No foul.

That other maker is just one stop on the path to your knife. Focus less on the details now and more on the bladesmith. When you've got who's making the blade in your price and time frame see what their ideas are vs. yours.

If there's one guy on here who's varied designs are a hit with me it's Daniel Fairly.
 
I wouldn't commission another maker to make an identical copy but I might change the design a bit to suit myself.

It is hard to say that a maker "owns" a certain design. It is hard to find designs that are truly new and unique, most have a blade on one end and a handle on the other end, and I dare say that most have a sharpened edge on the blade. Plus there are a lot of examples of people that make if not outright copies, "homages" to another design. Look at how many people have produced Loveless style hunters, or Loveless chute knives, or Fisk bowies, or knives similar to the Randall model 1. The market doesn't seem to care about that.

But still I would be hesitant to make an exact copy, I would try to find a way to change the design to make it more unique to my personal tastes. I contemplated this question myself years ago when Neil Blackwood stopped making fixed blade hunting knives. I really liked one of his styles and thought about approaching a local maker to duplicate it but I never followed through with the idea. A commercial company did almost exactly copy it and I bought one of those just for grins, but it doesn't completely suit my personal tastes either.
 
Here's my take: Imagine the first knifemaker and the second knifemaker already having produced the knife you want and your choice is simply to decide which knife to take. Same price, similar design, same availability - as in you can pay for it and get it now. The only differences would be the ones inherent in their workmanship, artistry, and manufacturing processes.

Would you be indifferent as to which knife and would you be willing to simply close your eyes and randomly have one of the two placed into your hand and you'll buy it with no hesitation? If you can say yes, then I say it's not an issue. It's like you want a custom suit made and you're willing to pay for it but do not want to deal with the other issues related to the first maker. That's assuming they haven't copyrighted or trademarked a design or feature.

But if you say you would gravitate to the first knifemaker, then you're really not doing yourself any favor with the second knifemaker. Because you'll always think, "Yeah, it's a knife similar to what the first knifemaker would have made but it's not something he actually made for you." If you can't handle the issues related to the first maker, I would simply walk away completely and resign myself that that's a knife I will never own.
 
edited: thank you for the insight.
 
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I'd say move on man. There are too many reputable makers out there with models that you will probably like just as well.

For me, Microtech comes out with something cool every once in a while that I might likely impulse purchase if they were on my do not deal with list, so I look at it, appreciate it and move on. I think you could do the same thing in this situation.

Best of luck in your search.
 
You may as well contact the maker of your choice and discuss it. Maybe use the knife as reference and refine elements, emphasize others, and wind up w something new that you love even more
 
I would not ask another maker to make a duplicate a knife from another maker, that is wrong, but since the pattern is an old one, research the makers, then ask what interpretation of that style can they do, use their ideas and your ideas and make it truly unique. I have been inspired by many knife designs, but have never wanted an exact copy, each maker will interpret that inspiration and add their own touches or recommendations, making it their own work.
 
You did you decide which maker to go with? Just want to hear how it ended up.
 
A lot of pro/con info here, a lot of opinions, but in a nutshell, here's my take.

The Nessmuk design has been around since the 1800's, and was influenced by, and has itself influenced many patterns since.

Solution, look over the knife in question, take the ideas you like from it; handle, materials, etc, and make mental notes, and simply contact a custom maker of your choosing, someone with a solid reputation, and without any actual direct reference to the knife/maker in question, simply commission the maker of your choosing to make you a Nessmuk, and use those mental notes in discussing the design.

This leaves the maker to simply make a 200+ year old pattern, of his own interpretation, nothing wrong with that: with simple design points from you, the customer.
 
This topic remains clear as mud LOL. Many respected and sought after makers have catalogs based on Loveless knives and even use patterns copied in the Loveless shop and that seems acceptable. Others have been clubbed for Randall copies. I really want to understand what is acceptable. Is it ok because Loveless patterns are beyond the 20 year patent limit. It would never be acceptable to use his trademark but I have seen both the football and naked lady from other makers. I know this is a passionate subject for many. Thanks for your thoughts above.
 
marcinek said:
I think its inappropriate, if not theft, and using " that particular maker has a horrible reputation of taking years to fulfill some orders, and taking money only to never deliver others" as an excuse to rip off his design is no excuse. :thumbdn:

You asked.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with what my friend said.
 
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