Why do makers name their knives?

When I make a knife we become friends, I used to name rifles, pistols I carried or shot in competition and even bowling balls. My John deer tractors all have names as do most of my cows and all my horses.

When I spend a lot of time with anything, especially what I make they all have names, generic so folks have some idea of what they are like and personal just because I can name them when the sentiment touches me.

The personal name is just between me and the knife.
 
I think there is alot of sentiment in naming them, I look back through the order books and read what the customer wanted, finish, handle material and it just works well with us. Serial numbers always follow the knife too. Now the shop, however, as far as equipment goes has always had 2 names so we own alot of bastids and M.F.rs and they work well!:D Cavelady
 
I've been known to name a knife or two. :D I think names can really do a lot for you sometimes but it really comes down to if it is something that the customer can remember and can connect with.

I keep lists of them as I come up with different ones...there's post it notes and piles of paper all over the place with names and ideas scrawled on them and corners of the dry erase boards with lists on them. Sometimes I like to take a name and design the knife or tool that fits the name rather than the other way around. The English language is particularly rich and the possibilities for naming objects are truly endless.
 
Cindy Denning said:
I think there is alot of sentiment in naming them, I look back through the order books and read what the customer wanted, finish, handle material and it just works well with us. Serial numbers always follow the knife too. Now the shop, however, as far as equipment goes has always had 2 names so we own alot of bastids and M.F.rs and they work well!:D Cavelady
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Cindy, you got this one nailed. Too bad there are no more chicklets to give.

The ones that make me bleed and/or give me a lot of s**t are the Mfers and they often turn into the best knives.
 
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