What to do

JK Knives said:
They simply did not care for my knives, I was not one of "the good old boys" over there. In the time I had my forum I only sold one knife. I also had a 6 month knifemaker's membership on USN forums, did not sell a single knife.
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BCUSA is a click like highschool.

Oddly, your knives are what they try to make when modifying the knives they already paid too much for....Or they all buy bushcraft labeled knives that cost twice your knives...I do not get it.
 
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I was a member at BCUSA when it started up and I was wrapped up in the bushcraft/survival/Nessmuk/Kephart/Korchanski thing. I learned a lot and I'm glad I spent the time here and at that site. I did quit going there when I felt like the only guy there without a Skookum (sp?) or other $400 bushcraft knife.

I'm all for staying dry and being comfortable but $150 for a tarp? :eek: Oh, but it's silnylon.

A used nylon tent with a rain fly, a can of Camp-Dry and some creativity you can be dry for ~$30.
 
I found it amazing I couldn't afford to be a good/dedicated bushcrafter.

The tarps and jackets and knives and axes...wow....I have a JK coming, and I modified an old Norlund Camp Axe head and made my own handle. I have a waxed canvas tarp I made myself and a bivi that is canvas/wool/cotton.



BUT BACK TO JK KNIVES...ANOTHER FEW SIGHTS TO BROADEN INTEREST...24hourcampfire forums, accurate reloading forums, etc
 
What I found amazing on BCUSA was that even though I was paying for my own forum (at four times what it cost here), if I posted a picture of one of my knives in any of the discussions about knives, it would get deleted by a moderator and I would get a nasty PM about advertising not being allowed except in my own forum.
 
JK Knives said:
I've been trying to get on Instagram, but I can't seem to do it. I know I've got to do it from my phone, and I did a password, but when I try to log on it does nothing. I'm kind of a dumbass when it comes to this kind of stuff.
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Since I'm a nobody, maybe I can weigh in with a little advice that holds true for me. I'm a kydex bender, knifemaker, and modder of production knives. Part time. Full shop built in my garage over time. My main focus is kydex sheaths and from what my customers tell me, I build some of the best you can buy anywhere, BUT, I don't do this for a living.

Most of you who read this will have no idea who I am and have never seen my work. I'll put my work up against Azwelke, Godpseed, BuyBrown, and the others on here any day, any time, and those guys build some the best kydex in the world. If I ever lost my real career job (the one that pays the bills), and decided to go full time in kydex, I know immediately that I would have to figure out and have almost a daily presence on feebay, FB, Instagram, Pinterest, et al, in order to get exposure, along with every forum that I thought might bring business to my brand. That's the market these days with the exception of a few makers. Yes, I'm older too and have little understanding of these technical sites and online sales, but that IS the market these days. I would need to "figure it out" or pay someone to do it for me.

Secondly, I've been here a while and I'm not sure who, or what JK knives really is. Is it one guy? A group of makers? Is there a retail store? Where can I buy except here. VERY confusing. And I would NEVER post on other forums with other names. Pick one. If it's JK Handmade knives, then be JK Handmade knives EVERYWHERE. Being Bill on one forum and John on the next will not get you noticed. Simple example. the avatar says JK Knives but there is a "K" on the blade. Okay. Last name I guess. But that is a guess. Anyone ever confused about an Emerson or CRK? Advertising, name recognition, and exposure.

Lastly, I do believe there is a market that is getting overlooked. I say that because it happens to me all the time as a customer. The South and the coasts bring with it humidity and salt air. I love the carbons but down here, most will rust if not cared for meticulously on a regular basis. I'm not lazy but work 70-80 hours full time plus my kydex work on weekends. I use and own STAINLESS knives more often than not. I have some 1095 and 5160 but prefer the supersteels like M390, Elmax, CPM-20CV, etc. I just don't want to keep cleaning and oiling knives every time I cut something and worry the oil may be rubbed off and it will be covered in rust the next time I use it. They are tools. I'm busy. Period.
I carry a CPM-20CV necker daily under my shirt and it's 100* and 80% humidity everyday here for 3 months in the summer. No rust. My BK2 (Fathers Day gift) is stripped and has a nice custom patina but it literally lives in an oil bath to keep the rust at bay.

Just my .02 which is worth what you paid for it.

Good luck my friend. You make some awesome blades. I hope things look up for you.
 
I`m going to ask one of my daughters to help with instagram. As for offering stainless, I have offered 154CM and CPMS30V for about a year, bought a fancy furnace and everything. In that time I`ve sold about 10 knives in stainless, nobody wants to pay for the extra costs involved.

JK Knives is a one man shop, just me. Recently I`ve had my brother make some of the leather sheaths. I`ve tried having a webstore on my website, but it did not work out, and I`ve contacted several retailers, who were not interested.
 
I'm pretty new to BF but kind of familiar w Instagram. I'd be willing to speak to you to give you some pointers. Could possibly help.
 
I have a few JKs. Three of which are stainless... two in CPMS30V and one in 154CM. All three are fantastic blades and totally maintenace free for me. They are three of my absolute best and favorite knifes.

I have only been part of the forum since the beginning of this year, but no one I have ever chatted with is ever dissapointed with a JK, in fact when you open a box sent from John, it always exceeds already high expectations.
 
JK Knives said:
What I found amazing on BCUSA was that even though I was paying for my own forum (at four times what it cost here), if I posted a picture of one of my knives in any of the discussions about knives, it would get deleted by a moderator and I would get a nasty PM about advertising not being allowed except in my own forum.
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Just in the little time I have been active there I have seen an extraordinary amount of posts and threads just outright deleted rather than moved?
 
I agree that getting information to a wider group of people is key to increasing sales

I know it's off track but we need to discuss this sacrilegious act that was performed on a classic:confused:
333_okh said:
............and I modified an old Norlund Camp Axe head.......
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JK Knives said:
What I found amazing on BCUSA was that even though I was paying for my own forum (at four times what it cost here), if I posted a picture of one of my knives in any of the discussions about knives, it would get deleted by a moderator and I would get a nasty PM about advertising not being allowed except in my own forum.
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I got that showing off wood even if I didn't post a for sale or a price or even indicating it was for sale.
 
fishiker said:
I agree that getting information to a wider group of people is key to increasing sales

I know it's off track but we need to discuss this sacrilegious act that was performed on a classic:confused:
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It had been pounded hard! And was fund bringing it back...and hell on BCUSA I was told it was undesirable.

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