What would make you want to be part of the KITH?

Ideally the next Art Knife Invitational will agree to a KITH including my rustic contribution.
 
Getting an accomplished maker interested in a KITH is a problem, they have years of knives under their belt and getting something underwhelming really is not interesting enough to get in exchange what that maker would donate.

Sure, some are excited to get a knife for, but for the old guard it is only exciting if it is on the same level or better then what they can make.

KITH works for makers who actually have time to make a knife to give away
 
I did my first KITH last year as a new maker, it was open to all levels and on another site. I had a blast, learned a lot. I must admit, my KITH draw was very lucky, awesome maker and way past my abilities, made me feel inadequate, lol. The actual knife I got is in a national knife magazine this month, I really won the KITH lotto and still feel bad. The knife will be put in my will, it is beautiful and will either be kept in family or sent back to maker. The guy that got mine was very impressed so it brought my confidence back up.
 
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scherf68 said:
I did my first KITH last year as a new maker, it was open to all levels and on another site. I had a blast, learned a lot. I must admit, my KITH draw was very lucky, awesome maker and way past my abilities, made me feel inadequate, lol. The actual knife I got is in a national knife magazine this month, I really won the KITH lotto and still feel bad. The knife will be put in my will, it is beautiful and will either be kept in family or sent back to maker. The guy that got mine was very impressed so it brought my confidence back up.
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I see no reason for you to feel bad about it. Knifemaker who made that knife got involved in that KITH of his own free will , I believe he enjoyed the time spent making it. Sometimes I fix a car to someone who can't pay for services and I enjoy working on that car more than when I work on a car for money because I MUST do that for living ....
Can we see pictures of both knives ?
 
A KITH is open and mostly new makers and hobby makers participate because they don't sell a lot and just enjoy making.
Accoplished makers more or less run a business and give up part of their business if they join a KITH. I can understand that most are not interested, it would be a bit like gambeling with theire income(/potential income)

I think that if you want to have a high end KITH, you should personaly invite selected makers. Have a small group or have a (blind) one-on-one swap.
But I am sceptical if many are interested.

I enjoy a KITH and have been in a few, but I am also in Europe and shipping costs can take the fun out of it.
 
Natlek said:
I see no reason for you to feel bad about it. Knifemaker who made that knife got involved in that KITH of his own free will , I believe he enjoyed the time spent making it. Sometimes I fix a car to someone who can't pay for services and I enjoy working on that car more than when I work on a car for money because I MUST do that for living ....
Can we see pictures of both knives I see no reason for you to feel bad about it. Knifemaker who made that knife got involved in that KITH of his own free will , I believe he enjoyed the time spent making it. Sometimes I fix a car to someone who can't pay for services and I enjoy working on that car more than when I work on a car for money because I MUST do that for living ....
Can we see pictures of both knives ?
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kith10000.jpgkimmi.jpg


Guess which one I made, lol.
 
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Somewhere in the past there was a thread that might answer why the pro’s/top-tier guys stopped participating, other than the financial aspects previously mentioned. Totally pissed some fine makers off.
 
I’m just a humble Knifemaker. Many of you are better craftsman than I am. But i do it fulltime for a living. I rely on the income. Most of the time I simply can’t afford to have the time for such participation. That’s why I don’t participate

I do trade knives with other makers on occasion. But it’s a maker of my choosing and an agreement we made one on one.
 
Ok, at some risk, I’m going to pull out my past credentials as a group facilitator. I suspect that the kiths have been unrewarding because there is not agreement on just what they are about/what they are for. If you guys will bite, try giving a *short* (5-8 words) statement defining the *purpose* or *objective* of a kith. This should be a pretty abstract statement getting to a true *core* purpose … and might not even include the word “knife”. In my experience, once a group realizes a true objective, how you get there becomes much clearer and more broadly agreed upon… (if you don’t want to go this route, that’s fine…)
 
I am a journeyman electrician, and have my electrical contractor license. I have seen work done by a homeowner's friend that installs car stereos, and they just don't have the knowledge or experience to do a lot of electrical work. In knife my knifemaking journey, I'm the car stereo guy. Totally get that my $100 in materials probably equals a $100 knife, and a $100 in materials in a bunch of guys knives equals a $300 knife. And if some people want to do a kith that I'm not invited to participate in, that's life, and I'm not mad. I'd also like to participate in as many kiths as possible because my friends and family always say the stuff I'm making is nice, I'm doing this to get honest feed back. Thanks to the guys that organize and participate in these. I've enjoyed every knife I've received and they're in my safe that get taken out probably 4 times a year to get "played" with and shown to my buddies.
 
Cushing H. said:
Ok, at some risk, I’m going to pull out my past credentials as a group facilitator. I suspect that the kiths have been unrewarding because there is not agreement on just what they are about/what they are for. If you guys will bite, try giving a *short* (5-8 words) statement defining the *purpose* or *objective* of a kith. This should be a pretty abstract statement getting to a true *core* purpose … and might not even include the word “knife”. In my experience, once a group realizes a true objective, how you get there becomes much clearer and more broadly agreed upon… (if you don’t want to go this route, that’s fine…)
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Make something the recipient will appreciate.
 
It's nice to be nice, enjoy making something that the guy recieving the knife will enjoy.
Maybe go outside the box a bit and do someting that sets you apart from other makers.
For example I could use a local wood that that is uncommon in America. I like fine work like checkering, make a checketed handle.

On the first kith I was in I used local oak and local bog oak comming together in a S shape. That was a lot of work and most guys don't do that, but I did it because I enjoy doing it and it looked good.
 
Hengelo_77 said:
It's nice to be nice, enjoy making something that the guy recieving the knife will enjoy.
Maybe go outside the box a bit and do someting that sets you apart from other makers.
For example I could use a local wood that that is uncommon in America. I like fine work like checkering, make a checketed handle.

On the first kith I was in I used local oak and local bog oak comming together in a S shape. That was a lot of work and most guys don't do that, but I did it because I enjoy doing it and it looked good.
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So … “to produce something nice or unique for a recipient”? Purely altruistic? Does not matter at all what you might receive (if anything at all?) ? Would the group agree on that as a purpose of a kith?
 
Taz said:
it's about getting feedback from another maker
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While this is the primary motivation for most makers, it could be another potential hurdle for more experienced knifemakers. While newer makers might get valuable feedback, what about the experienced makers? The last 2 KITHs I participated in (not here) I got no valuable feedback on my blades.

Is there a way around this without appealing to peoples altruistic natures? I don't know, at least without re-thinking the whole KITH set-up. J Justin W has an interesting idea. Another idea might be to try to incorporate something that is done frequently on Kitchen Knife Forums, which is a pass-around. Everyone gets a week or so to play around with a knife, then send it on to the next. That way one would have a better chance of getting some useable feedback. Perhaps at the end there could be an auction/draw/judging, etc.

It seems to me, through reading this whole thread again, that the main problem pointed out already, is that people aren't participating because they are troubled that they will give more than they will receive. This way of thinking will always lead to disappointment when it comes to material possessions.
 
weo said:
While this is the primary motivation for most makers, it could be another potential hurdle for more experienced knifemakers. While newer makers might get valuable feedback, what about the experienced makers? The last 2 KITHs I participated in (not here) I got no valuable feedback on my blades.

Is there a way around this without appealing to peoples altruistic natures? I don't know, at least without re-thinking the whole KITH set-up. J Justin W has an interesting idea. Another idea might be to try to incorporate something that is done frequently on Kitchen Knife Forums, which is a pass-around. Everyone gets a week or so to play around with a knife, then send it on to the next. That way one would have a better chance of getting some useable feedback. Perhaps at the end there could be an auction/draw/judging, etc.

It seems to me, through reading this whole thread again, that the main problem pointed out already, is that people aren't participating because they are troubled that they will give more than they will receive. This way of thinking will always lead to disappointment when it comes to material possessions.
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William - without giving too much away, I am thinking along the same lines you are .... that maybe the solution is to re-think the set-up (and maybe call it something other than a "kith". For example ... if the objective is to "get feedback on your knifemaking skills" ... then why on earth even have an accomplished maker actually make a knife. Maybe they can participate by receiving only, and just taking the time to assess and supply feedback.....

(I thought about a pass-around idea .... but I have no doubt that someone will either take way too long to forward a knife to another person, or will just hold on to it. I suspect that approach will end up being problematic :-(
 
Honest question, does anyone ever get real feedback on a knife they give away or sell? I know I don’t, even when I have asked.
The only honest review I get comes from my own criticism. And there’s always something. I think most recipients are far too polite to point out issues. Especially when it’s free.
I like giving away knives but I don’t really want one. And you don’t want to waste your effort on someone with that kinda attitude!
 
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Purely theoretical, if everybody is in it like that you should recieve something good. If you like it or not is a matter of taste.

Part of the joy is getting something in return, looking at all the pics and wonder wich one you'll get, hoping for that one you like the most.
But you can also see that as a bonus.

I have recieved a knife once that was not my taste but the maker did his best and was proud of it. An other time I have recieved a knife that I regard a lot higher then my entry in that Kith.
Looking at it like that it is a bit of a gamble.
 
Kevin Kf knives said:
I am a journeyman electrician, and have my electrical contractor license. I have seen work done by a homeowner's friend that installs car stereos, and they just don't have the knowledge or experience to do a lot of electrical work. In knife my knifemaking journey, I'm the car stereo guy. Totally get that my $100 in materials probably equals a $100 knife, and a $100 in materials in a bunch of guys knives equals a $300 knife. And if some people want to do a kith that I'm not invited to participate in, that's life, and I'm not mad. I'd also like to participate in as many kiths as possible because my friends and family always say the stuff I'm making is nice, I'm doing this to get honest feed back. Thanks to the guys that organize and participate in these. I've enjoyed every knife I've received and they're in my safe that get taken out probably 4 times a year to get "played" with and shown to my buddies.
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Your feedback in the 2020 kith was very encouraging and helpful to me. The knife I received is now part of my collection.
 
TheEdge01 said:
Your feedback in the 2020 kith was very encouraging and helpful to me. The knife I received is now part of my
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So I was going to use yours when I Bar-B-Qed, but caught my mother in law trying to open a can that the pull tab broke off of. So I put some ax wax on it and it's in the safe.
 
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