Who is your favorite traditional maker?

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You can put me in the camp of "not taking orders" I won't speak for all makers but many of us are part time so if we are constantly trying to fill someone else's desires we aren't progressing creatively most likely. If you seen how much time it simply takes to go through messages and try to answer questions about materials and all the silly things and material combos a lot of people want you to build it would make you puke. Its very daunting and oftentimes off putting. Kudos to the guys who have the patience and time to do it. Most of them are already very well established or are trying to feed their families I'm sure. I think the assumption is that we all as makers are all in this to try and make a pile of money. For some that may be the case but many of us just really enjoy making slip joint knives. In our own vision. The reality is if we make them good enough they will sell and we can make enough dough to keep our shops running and keep building fine knives. We aren't the guys chomping to sell a million. We are the guys striving to make that 1 in a million. Anyway, just my 2 cents coming from a "new guy". I respect every maker who chooses to make a go of it and run their buisness the best way they see fit. Lots of great knives coming out of shops either way and that's good for the collectors. :thumbsup:
 
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Signalprick said:
You can put me in the camp of "not taking orders" I won't speak for all makers but many of us are part time so if we are constantly trying to fill someone else's desires we aren't progressing creatively most likely. If you seen how much time it simply takes to go through messages and try to answer questions about materials and all the silly things and material combos a lot of people want you to build it would make you puke. Its very daunting and oftentimes off putting. Kudos to the guys who have the patience and time to do it. Most of them are already very well established or are trying to feed their families I'm sure. I think the assumption is that we all as makers are all in this to try and make a pile of money. For some that may be the case but many of us just really enjoy making slip joint knives. In our own vision. The reality is if we make them good enough they will sell and we can make enough dough to keep our shops running and keep building fine knives. We aren't the guys chomping to sell a million. We are the guys striving to make that 1 in a million. Anyway, just my 2 cents coming from a "new guy". I respect every maker who chooses to make a go of it and run their buisness the best way they see fit. Lots of great knives coming out of shops either way and that's good for the collectors. :thumbsup:
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I get it and I certainly wasn't trying to disparage those who don't take orders - everyone has their reasons. It is frustrating for those of us who simply want to get a nice knife, yes, but I can only imagine the headaches that makers deal with while contending with the fickle bunch that we end up being. Frankly, I wouldn't want to. I made a custom batch of leather knife slips once for a small group of folks. A few wanted custom options that deviated from my design and approach and I took the trouble to facilitate their requests - when the time came to deliver, they were nowhere to be fond and I was left with a handful of slips that could not be reused/resold due to the personal touches requested. These aren't custom knives, of course, but the poor experience is likely shared by some makers in that regard.

I follow you on Instagram and I enjoy seeing your progress but I also am not glued to my phone so the lotteries never can work out for me. For example, I would have loved a shot at that WT you made - it's exceptional - but when it comes to these sorts of sales, I am 100% a day late (though not necessarily a dollar short - as the saying goes). I respect your approach and I understand why - it just won't net me one of your knives so I will have to find a maker whose approach is compatible with mine as a customer.

At this rate though, I may just simply embark on learning how to make my own knives (seriously, the thought has entered my mind more than once).
 
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Pàdruig said:
I get it and I certainly wasn't trying to disparage those who don't take orders - everyone has their reasons. It is frustrating for those of us who simply want to get a nice knife, yes, but I can only imagine the headaches that makers deal with while contending with the fickle bunch that we end up being. Frankly, I wouldn't want to. I made a custom batch of leather knife slips once for a small group of folks. A few wanted custom options that deviated from my design and approach and I took the trouble to facilitate their requests - when the time came to deliver, they were nowhere to be fond and I was left with a handful of slips that could not be reused/resold due to the personal touches requested. These aren't custom knives, of course, but the poor experience is likely shared by some makers in that regard.

I follow you on Instagram and I enjoy seeing your progress but I also am not glued to my phone so the lotteries never can work out for me. For example, I would have loved a shot at that WT you made - it's exceptional - but when it comes to these sorts of sales, I am 100% a day late (though not necessarily a dollar short - as the saying goes). I respect your approach and I understand why - it just won't net me one of your knives so I will have to find a maker whose approach is compatible with mine as a customer.

At this rate though, I may just simply embark on learning how to make my own knives (seriously, the thought has entered my mind more than once).
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Another valid reason there and totally happens to all knife makers who take orders as well as any maker of fine handmade custom goods. I just want to present it from a makers angle is all. I take no offense and totally realize what I do may not work for everybody and vice versa. I'm not that far removed from simply being a humble collector myself so I can understand the frustration from that angle but now that I've dipped my foot into the pond I totally understand why also. But again, for every guy that don't there's a guy that does. So there is a little something for everybody in this hobby. Thank you for following along. I truly appreciate it. :)
 
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Ivory WTs

ivoryWT1.jpg
 
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Signalprick said:
Another valid reason there and totally happens to all knife makers who take orders as well as any maker of fine handmade custom goods. I just want to present it from a makers angle is all. I take no offense and totally realize what I do may not work for everybody and vice versa. I'm not that far removed from simply being a humble collector myself so I can understand the frustration from that angle but now that I've dipped my foot into the pond I totally understand why also. But again, for every guy that don't there's a guy that does. So there is a little something for everybody in this hobby. Thank you for following along. I truly appreciate it. :)
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I am sorry that I missed seeing you at the Badger Blade Show Jason . Maybe next year Sir .

Harry
 
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Blues said:
Fortunately, I have enough knives from Erickson, Halfrich, Oeser, Dowell, Zscherny, Pena, Ruple, Preston, Chamblin, et al to last a lifetime.

I sold off my Bose knives, as well as Rogers...so others are now feeling that particular joy. Share the wealth.
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Seeing your post reminded me of one I recently read that you wrote in Feb of 2008 referring to a barlow you had received from a Ramond Smith, ABS M.S, The photos were no longer viewable. Any chance you might have a current photo of the barlow Mr. Smith made for you?
 
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I've only owned 4 custom slipjoints, still own 3. All but 1 were ordered bespoke, with me choosing the covers, steel, and style I wanted. I understand that makers are artisans and want to let their creative juices flow, but as the one who is spending his money, if I order a custom knife I want to get a custom knife.

Perhaps I'm taking this too far, but a custom knife without any input from me is not all that far removed from a finely made factory knife, at least on an intellectual level. They are both the sole result of the maker's vision, whether an individual or the factory owner's. There is a difference in craftsmanship of course, but even then things are not always clear cut, as seen with the Case/Bose annual collaboration knives or with Fontenille-Pataud's Laguioles.
 
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Signalprick said:
Absolutely Harry. I'm going to "try" to get a table next year. They said they were all full this year but they didn't look full to me. Lol
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There were 4 of us who had breakfast together before going in at around 11:00 and there was one row towards the back that only had 2 tables occupied .
I was able to find 2 that I was looking for anyhow .
Harry
 
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Fodderwing said:
Seeing your post reminded me of one I recently read that you wrote in Feb of 2008 referring to a barlow you had received from a Ramond Smith, ABS M.S, The photos were no longer viewable. Any chance you might have a current photo of the barlow Mr. Smith made for you?
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I gave that knife away to a member here some years ago, and regrettably, I have no images to share at this time. Sorry.
 
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Pàdruig said:
I made a custom batch of leather knife slips once for a small group of folks. A few wanted custom options that deviated from my design and approach and I took the trouble to facilitate their requests - when the time came to deliver, they were nowhere to be fond and I was left with a handful of slips that could not be reused/resold due to the personal touches requested. These aren't custom knives, of course, but the poor experience is likely shared by some makers in that regard.
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That's despicable behaviour :mad: I had a cutlery business a long time ago, and I reckon every knifemaker has had to deal with some needy, demanding crank. I had a guy who used to ring me at 10 at night, always wanted something 'extra', cheque bounced for the only order he ever placed :mad: I've had bad experiences more recently too - plenty! 🤨 I was talking to Paul Mason a while ago, and he closed his books, just makes what he wants, and then puts it up for sale. Dealing with knife knuts is not good for the health :rolleyes:
 
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