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- Feb 4, 1999
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I'm about 1/2 way done with a knife project and was curious what folks would pay for something like this. Just to let you know, I am NOT going to be selling these knives...they are gifts for groomsmen next summer. I'm simply trying to conduct an experiment...one is to find out what people would pay based on description. When they are done, I intend to take photos and ask the same question again, just to see if the answers change. Plus, I'm just curious what a knife like this can get, maybe for future reference (i.e. when I have skills and equipment to do them all myself!)
Here's the test knife description: 5/32" thick D-2 stock from old planer blades (same stock Madpoet used). The pattern is "tanto" in the traditional Japanese style, with no finger grooves, thumb ramps, etc. OAL will be around 6.5" with 2.75" or so blade. I did the profiling on my bench grinder, and our own Dr. Lathe will be grinding the bevels, which I assume will be a flat grind (NOT a chisel grind). Knives will be wickedly sharp, of course, and Dr. Lathe will produce perfectly symmetrical grinds and will obviously clean-up the work I did.
Blade finish will be the dark patina the planer blade has on the flat sections, and a satin finish on the ground areas. I will probably etch Japanese characters representing each guy's name or initials on his knife. If I do so, it will be placed quite small and on the blade flat on one side only. The handle will be a full tang design with a traditional, simple shape. I will use small prass pins and epoxy to attach thin wood scales of either cocobolo, rosewood, or curly koa. I have some sythetic materials, too, like black paper micarta and green linen micarta that could also be used. Over the scales I would do a traditional Japanese tsuka (handle) wrap ala RJ Martin et al. in black, or maybe red, cord material. The end knot would be tied in the traditional fashion, too, which is quite a challenege. The knife will also be heat treated by Dr. Lathe, who is a machinist and tool/die maker by trade who has something like fifteen years of experience with tool steels. He triple tempers and cryo treats each
blade, I believe, so they will be expertly heat treated. So, what would you pay for this knife, if it existed, and it had this "pedigree"? Would you pay more for the exact same thing if don Foog, RJ Martin, or Scott Slobodian, for example, was the maker? Why or why not? I'm hoping the answers will be interesting!
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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/kydex.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
Here's the test knife description: 5/32" thick D-2 stock from old planer blades (same stock Madpoet used). The pattern is "tanto" in the traditional Japanese style, with no finger grooves, thumb ramps, etc. OAL will be around 6.5" with 2.75" or so blade. I did the profiling on my bench grinder, and our own Dr. Lathe will be grinding the bevels, which I assume will be a flat grind (NOT a chisel grind). Knives will be wickedly sharp, of course, and Dr. Lathe will produce perfectly symmetrical grinds and will obviously clean-up the work I did.
Blade finish will be the dark patina the planer blade has on the flat sections, and a satin finish on the ground areas. I will probably etch Japanese characters representing each guy's name or initials on his knife. If I do so, it will be placed quite small and on the blade flat on one side only. The handle will be a full tang design with a traditional, simple shape. I will use small prass pins and epoxy to attach thin wood scales of either cocobolo, rosewood, or curly koa. I have some sythetic materials, too, like black paper micarta and green linen micarta that could also be used. Over the scales I would do a traditional Japanese tsuka (handle) wrap ala RJ Martin et al. in black, or maybe red, cord material. The end knot would be tied in the traditional fashion, too, which is quite a challenege. The knife will also be heat treated by Dr. Lathe, who is a machinist and tool/die maker by trade who has something like fifteen years of experience with tool steels. He triple tempers and cryo treats each
blade, I believe, so they will be expertly heat treated. So, what would you pay for this knife, if it existed, and it had this "pedigree"? Would you pay more for the exact same thing if don Foog, RJ Martin, or Scott Slobodian, for example, was the maker? Why or why not? I'm hoping the answers will be interesting!
------------------
My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/kydex.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
