Who would pay royalties on new knife design?

L

Lavan

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Nov 8, 2000
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Any suggestions as to a manufacturer who would consider a new design?

Thanks in advance.

:confused: :)
 
Would be fairly expensive to make........but......... a good "target" market.

Lockback folder, but unique DESIGN.

Any info appreciated.

I would buy one. So would you if you saw it cuz no one else makes anything like it. Not even remotely.

:)
 
I'll guess that unless you are not already a well known design like say Onion or Mayo, then it will be very difficult to get your design made.

Did you contact some knife companies to see what there procedure is?
 
Actually it may not be that expensive. With CAD/CAM and investment castings, and the blades able to "job out" it could be less than I think.

I have not contacted any mfrs but will do so.

I was just seeking opinions of who MIGHT take the flyer.

All they would have to do is ...SEE ... it.

A "no brainer" I think. Of course, that's using MY brain to consider it.

:confused: :D

You have seen ONE knife that is REMOTELY ....similar... but nothing like this one.
 
Good luck with it.

I've had a couple of ideas that I thought where good, but few picked up on.
 
If the design lends itself to the Spyder Hole then you might want to talk to Sal. He is one of the most helpful people in the industry and may be able to suggest other companies that could be interested if he is not.
 
It sounds very difficult, unless you're a well-known maker who's name would add to the manufacturer's sales. But some, Blackie Collins and Daryl Hibben for example, have excelled doing just what you propose.

One idea, design a line of knives, create your own brand, and contract them to be made. Probably need a bunch of capitol to invest though.

Good Luck,
Bob
 
I think if I was going to do something like this, I would probably contact a well known custom maker/designer and try to work with them to build a prototype. If it's a maker who already has some pull with a company, then you might be able to work on a serious deal.

Be careful, you should always copyright your intellectual property and patent any geniune ideas. I am not suggesting a custom designer with a big name would be unscrupulous, but I am simply saying that you must always be careful with your intellectual property.

-Rob
 
Discussions have started with one well known maker.

Will keep you posted. If this comes to anything, you're probably going to want one. There is nothing else like it.

:)
 
The problem you get into is that most knife designs are not obviously novel. If you show a knife manufacturer your design and he says, "No thank you," and then comes out with something strikingly similar six months later, you'll probably have a hard time convincing a court that the manufacturer's new knife truly is a knock-off of your design.

As a result, you've pretty much got to get a signed non-disclosure, non-compete agreement. But most knife companies won't sign one for much the same reason: there's not a good way to differentiate designs. They could decide to pass on your design and then come out with something of their own that they totally developed in-house and you could end up persuing them claiming that their new knife is a knock-off of your design and violates the agreements you signed. Because differentiation in knife designs can be very subtile, you may be very well able to convince a court that their new design is illegally-similar to your design, after all, it has a blade which folds into the handle, just like your design. So, most knife manufacturer's aren't willing to sign these agreements.

Benchmade and Spyderco are both known to be honest companies. You can show either Les or Sal your drawings or prototype trusting that they're not going to rip you off.

My advice would be to book a trip to Atlanta for the Bladeshow. Both Les and Sal will be there you can easily talk to both. Major folks from most other knife companies will be there too. The trip may even be tax-deductible as a business expense since you're legitimately going there to try and sell your knife design.
 
I think CRKT has an affinity for new and exotic locking systems, however they do commission reknown makers..... :(
 
I would agree that no matter who you decide to talk to having a working prototype would be a huge asset. It wouldn't even need to be a perfect type that you would carry and use, just something to give a good idea of what the finished product would be like.

You could then take some sketches, CAD drawings, and the prototype to some respectable makers and try to get them to pick it up. Of course one big part of the equation is if there will be enough demand for the finished knife.
 
See if anyone in your area, a machine shop, has a CNC machine. If you are willing to invest on having someone come out and write a program for you to put onto the CNC, then you could pump out a ton of these, or your design, in no time. When I checked on doing a set of rods for automobiles, it was going to cost me $1000 to have the program written but after that it was mine to use whenever I wanted. In the end I could build my own set of rods that was superior to even some of the most well know manufacturers, like Crower, and I could do it for a quarter of the price. The only reason I haven't done it already is because I lost interest in the project.
 
I'll certainly keep everyone posted. The design is not unique in its action, but more in "appearance." While this may sound minor, I believe it to be a marketable attraction.

Somewhat on the order as if no one had ever made an axe. Can't explain fully, but will pursue it to see what happens. I am confident that it is unique enough that it would be easy to demonstrate an attempt to cover it with "in house" stance. Like giving Mickey Mouse a narrow tie instead of a bowtie and saying it was your idea.

We'll see.

:confused: :)
 
Why don't you post your design? :D

Seriously, I think that you have to become at least a known maker before they will pay you for your designs.
 
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