Why don't you post in the Custom sub-forum?

Ed Caffrey said:
Hi Nick!

I look at the Custom forum everyday...its part of my morning "check the computer" routine.

My personal opinion is that the Custom Knife Forum, has become the "Custom Collector Forum". Not dogging that change, but along with the change has come a tsunami of influential input, that has curtailed the amount of makers who are willing to post there. I read the recent thread about "Critiques....Is there a problem", and have to agree with Bruce Bump's posts. Many makers are shying away from posting, and for the most part Bladeforums has gained a reputation as being the "Hard Nosed" forum, and I have even heard the terms "rude and obnoxious" used to describe it.

I myself, don't have any issues.....it is what it is. I have heard a few comments.... "I wouldn't post a knife on Bladeforums....unless its perfect....then they would still find something to dog you about."

I think the only times I have ever had issues with any comments posted about a knife is when a negative comment is directed towards a facet of the knife that is construction related, and the comment is made by someone who I know has never created a knife. Some things are done because there is no other practical way to do it. If it doesn't look/feel right, thats one thing, but to have negative comments on a construction aspect, from one who has never experienced what it takes, is uncalled for in my book. But again, it is what it is, and I believe we can give good constructive critiques, without being "over the top."
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That is disturbing Ed as I enjoy maker's interaction and viewing their knives.

I have only been participating on the BF forum about a year and a half, and I can remember maybe several times when there were harsh words between a maker and collector and even then it was nothing serious or even close to the point where a moderator was involved.

You, or Roger usually post your knives before shows and I can't remember anyone making any negative comments regarding your knives or anyone's actually. I'm glad it's out in the open now so we can discuss it and perhaps improve things.
 
NickWheeler said:
Guys don't have to post photos of their knives... just a maker's point of view on various topics would add a lot (I THINK).
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Absolutely! I think the input of makers is of incalculable value to the forums as a whole and to the custom knife forum in particular. I am interested to hear the reasons why some feel unwelcome. That's certainly the last thing I'd want. I am very grateful to the makers that do take the time to participate and contribute - I have learned an awful lot from them. And of course, being able to see a pictorial cross-section of the work being done by the forum membership is a real treat - translation - I love to see pics! Not necessary, as Nick said, but most welcome.

Roger
 
Makers add a completely different perspective to the dialogue. They know what it takes to make knives. Something that not that many collectors understand, and that even fewer have more than a minor understanding of. What they have to offer collectors is an invaluable resource. At the same time, opening up avenues of communication with collectors is valuable to makers as well.

Most of the collectors that post in the custom knife forum are very respectful towards the makers that take part there.Sometimes you get a bonehead, but others tend to put those people in their place. Disrespect, unless earned, is not tolerated well by the regular members of that forum.
 
Went over and looked. Posted they didn't look that unfriendly. They appear to be mean when they get their feathers ruffled. (IMHO Which ain't much) But a good read.
 
I'm neither a collector nor a maker. But I check both sub forums every day. One thing that I notice that any thread that has the trendy knife photos posted will get a lot of responses. So, if you, the maker, would ride the trend, the custom shop forum is the place to be.
 
I post here only cause I am still a beginner, and value other maker's opinions to help me improve my work and techniques because other maker's have the know how about making knives, when I sell though it would make more sense to start posting where selling things and discussing selling things is more prevalent and there are more knowledgeable folks about selling things.
 
I think knife makers like being their own bosses and working on what they want. On the customs forum, I have seen a large number of posts about how the collectors drive the industry, create the trends, determine who makes it, how important it is to put the pieces up for their inspection/approval, etc. Knowing what looks good and making it look good are not quite the same.

Customers are obviously a critically important thing. But the number of guys who can make an expensive art knife, and the number of guys who can cut a check for one, are different totals. Fairly exclusive groups, but not entirely equal.
 
Charles Vestal said:
I have been lurking over at the Custom Forum for a good while, even reply to a post now and then.

Have yet to post a knife picture but maybe I'll post some when I get the next few finished and get the pictures back from Coop.

I hope they will be easy on me:o when I get them posted.

Take Care
Charles
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Charles, I really wish you would post a few photos of those great looking knives of yoursover in the custom knife forum. I think you do a wonderful job on those Loveless style knives.
 
hardheart said:
neither collector nor maker, but I get the sense that if there isn't a glamor shot of a forged bowie, the thread isn't going to go very far over there.
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I know that's the impression people have, and at this time it is the forged knife collectors that do most of the posting. However, the stock removal guys are more than welcome, and do get a good response when they post photos of their knives.
 
It hard to get quality photos of knives if there isnt enough profit margin. Its hard to spend $100 on a picture if the knife retails for $200. Therefore home shots are the only shots and they dont do the knife justice.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
It would really be great if a lot of the stock removal guys started hanging out there. Amongst makers, it appears that the forum is getting a reputation for being only for collectors. Amongst collectors, it is getting a reputation fro being only for those interested in forged knives.
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That is my impression of the Custom forum... and as such i am loath to post
any of my work as it is not forged.

Andre
www.andrevanheerden.com
 
Thanks Nick and Keith for your kind words.

I'll try to take a more active roll in the Custom Forum in the future.

Take Care
Charles
 
I haven't been there for the simple reason , I didn't know such a forum exsisted. I've been a member of BF for several years and I just don't get out and cruise the other forums for lack of time to investigate each of them. I know I need to get my head out of the sand more, I will definitely check it out.

I like the idea of others giving honest responses to knives being posted and not just saying "YOU"VE DONE GOOD" because people don't want to hurt anyones feelings. You can give and receive constructive critizism without being nasty, and good constructive critizism will go a long way when it comes to improving our work quicker. Goes back to the saying "IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHATS WRONG YOU CAN'T FIX IT."

Thanks Nick for the heads up.

Bill
 
I had no idea it exsisted. I'll go looking now. Thanks.
 
I am pretty much a stock removal guy during the week and a blade smith on the weekends. I've posted pictures of both types of knives on the custom knives forum and have always been well received. I will continue to do so. Spending 30 years working with a Telephone company helped me develop a thick skin, as everyone is telling us we now must have, but I haven't seen the need of it yet.

The thing that knife makers need to consider is not how many comments they receive on posted knives or even what those comments are, but how many additional hits the posted picture gets your web site. The posted picture gets the potential customer to your web site, which is half the battle. Charlie and I don’t post pictures of a knife if we aren’t willing to make others like it.

As far as the comments go I don't post for critiques. If I am interested in that, I want the guy to have the knife in his hand, not be looking at a two dimensional picture and I want to know for sure what his experience is (and it has nothing to do with his number of posts on a forum). The critiques and questions will come though, and I read them all. While there are some knowledgeable collectors that frequently comment on knives shown there, you still have to take the comments for what they are worth.

Many times the collectors know who the maker is, but they are "Fred1234". Comments from Fred1234 don't do much for me at all. If collectors want makers to post knives and then want to be able to critique them, then post it with your name. When we have people come up to our table at the Blade or Guild Show and introduce themselves, we have never had them say “I am Fred 1234” and it is impossible to make the connection. There are several posts suggesting that makers are scared, intimidated or whatever of posting. Well what are the “collectors” so afraid of that they won’t use their own name? Steven Garsson and Keith Montgomery are two, just for example, that post regularly, are knowledgeable collectors, make valid comments and use their names every time. Sometimes I agree with their comments, sometimes I don’t. I have never met either of the two men, but if one of them walked up to my table at the Blade show and introduced themselves, I would immediately know who they were and be proud to shake their hand. I know a bunch of Fred’s, which one are you?
 
Don Hanson III said:
It's very hard to believe some of you custom makers didn't know about the 'Custom and Handmade' forum :eek::D
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I gotta admit I've been a member here for a couple of years and I didn't know about the forum either. When I put in bladeforums.com it comes to a page with the most recent post which I don't look at, I look at the top of the page and it says makers so I always click that link. Never thought to go looking around because I was in the knifemakers section. I'm gonna bet thats why most makers didn't know it was there. Ah well something else to check on my "routine" now. :)
 
Sorry Don, I guess I'd rather be fishin, so checkin out the fish'in reports from forum to forum on area lakes takes up most my time. I started out on BF in shop talk and thats what always comes up when I hit the link, unless I'm checking out the exchange, thats about it for BF cruising.
I will definitely check out the custom forum from time to time now though.

Bill
 
Well Bill, Fishing is the only excuse that is OK. I would rather be fishing also :D

But my knife business supports my fishing habit, so I keep a close eye on the market.
 
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