Why I am proud to call myself a JK Supporter

outdoorsfan

outdoorsfan

Joined
Sep 30, 2009
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There are some of us that have chosen to call ourselves "Supporters of JK Knives" and I thought it might be appropriate to throw out why.....

I am a JK Supporter (on another forum where it may not be so popular or accepted as well as this one) because........

John is, first and foremost, not only a craftsman, but a truly honorable man and artisan who stands behind his products. If you were in any way unhappy with your knife, he would fix it to whatever degree was required to secure your satisfaction.

A JK knife is made FOR YOU, not as a production model that thousands may own. It is a slice of time and place. We may both have a particular model, but yours is yours and mine is mine. This is not to say they are inconsistent in any way, moreso, they are unique and crafted by hand.

If you have some crazy (or truly revolutionary) design, he will make it if it can be made. How cool is that?

After being f'ed over so many times, this man still has a policy and lead time that few other knifemakers would honor. It's still, basically, send me an email and I will make your knife.

And...........

My JK's are, hands down, my favorite and most high performing blades that I have ever owned. I have loved knives since I can remember and my JK's are THE BEST in my collection of over 100, not to mention the those I have sold, lost or broken.

These are some of the reasons that I am a PROUD SUPPORTER OF JK KNIVES!
 
Here, here. I didn't choose the name of the Supporters, but after hanging on the ESEE forum, I decided to come up with something to tie us together, those of us who admire John and his products. Are they the prettiest? The most expensive? The cheapest? None of these matter to me. I like them for their FUNCTIONALITY. I have more JK knives than any other maker, and believe me, I have tried many here on BF. Not to detract from the others, I own some pretty awesome knives. John's stuff, however, gets used a LOT.

I'm proud to rally around John and buy his knives. One day I hope to make it to visit him in person.
 
Rockywolf said:
Here, here. I didn't choose the name of the Supporters, but after hanging on the ESEE forum, I decided to come up with something to tie us together, those of us who admire John and his products. Are they the prettiest? The most expensive? The cheapest? None of these matter to me. I like them for their FUNCTIONALITY. I have more JK knives than any other maker, and believe me, I have tried many here on BF. Not to detract from the others, I own some pretty awesome knives. John's stuff, however, gets used a LOT.

I'm proud to rally around John and buy his knives. One day I hope to make it to visit him in person.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:
 
:thumbup::thumbup:

I'm still really green when it comes to the edged tool world. I hung around BF for a couple months before a friend of mine gifted me a membership. To tell the truth, I can't say how long it would've taken me to buy my own, maybe never(Thanks for the nudge). Back on track, as I perused around, I came across John's posts and saw some of his work, it looked real nice. What cinched it for me all around was being able to meet up with him and some other BF members at a gathering he held at his own home. That's when I decided that at some point in the future I would be looking to purchase something from him.

John, I can say I'm honored to know you. You are a fine human being. The time you take with people, sharing, teaching, bs'ing... you're a genuine person. After taking my time and saving up some $'s, I looked over several models at the website and through postings here. I just couldn't really make up my mind what I wanted. Eventually, after spending time out at John's shop handling a couple knives, I decided, and I love the pieces I have. I wouldn't trade them for anything, but I'll certainly use the heck out of them.

Hats off to you and your beautiful blades John.
 
John is, most definitely, one of the most honorable and true-to-his-word people I've ever had the pleasure of interacting with. I always refer people to him when they ask about a no-nonsense working knife (and the occasional oddball like the sgian dubh request I sent his way :P) and even if they don't end up buying one I feel like John provides them a baseline of how a custom knifemaker should act. I hope that more people start seeing and appreciating John and his work and buying it to support him (although I know that is tough with the economy the way it is).

Thanks, John, for your integrity and for your knives.
 
Hi Sean -

When I first discovered bladeforums, and subsequently re-discovered my affection for edged-tools, I had never owned a truly custom knife.

I got to know John through emails and posting on his forum. I purchased my first custom, hand-made knife from John; my JK Kephart #4:

DSC_8788.JPG


I was struck by how beautiful the knife is when it was delivered to me. John emailed me to let me know the knife was on it's way, and asked me to send the money order "when I had time", as is his way of doing business to this day.

Needless to say, I have gone forward to buy several more JK Knives, and I have been honored to meet his wife (the Boss) and grandchildren while visiting at his home.

I have also met several other fine folks at JK Gatherings over the past year.

JK Knives has brought me together with many people who share the same love of knives, and more specifically JK Handmade Knives.

Here is to a long and successful future for John and JK Knives.

When you join the JK family, you don't just get a quality knife that you will own for the rest of your life, you also gain a friend for life.

best regards -

mqqn
 
Gee guys, make me blush. :o Seriously, when I decided to be a knifemaker, I read a lot on other forums about not delivering when promised, or not being interested in making anything other than standard models, and decided right then that I would not be like that. I wanted to make this forum a fun place to hang out, and really hope to be able to continue doing so. Like has been mentioned, I may not be the best, (and don`t claim to be), but I try to make each knife better than the last, and will always strive to do that.

Thank you to our Proud Supporters,
John & Connie
 
I've never owned a custom knife until this year. And, I'm proud and honored to say it's a JK Knife. I now own 4 JK knives. As for myself, it's very simple....John's business philosphy and craftsmanship are second-to-none. In addition, the knive's themselves are made to be used and will take the abuse!

Money is hard to come by these days for many of us, so if I'm going to spend money, you can bet it's going to a business or individual that I have complete trust. I've never met John, but I hope to meet and shake his hand one day soon.

Lastly, I personally don't believe you can find more quality in a blade for the price than a JK blade. That's why I have 5 more blades on order with him. I am proud to be a JK Supporter:thumbup:!
 
Well said guys. The only thing I can add is how much I appreciate John opening up his home to host our "Gatherings" and what a quality group of guys attend them. I really look forward to these things. Thanks John!

Jeff
 
Well said everyone! John is really a "customer" centric maker, and even though we have lots of great makers here, I think John's attitude is what really set him apart.

Brandon
 
I feel the same way and even though i didnt own a JK myself, his generosity to my son made me proud to be a supporter on the other forum as well. Now that i am able to, i am a proud owner of my own JK. Already thinking up a way to get more. My sig line on the other forum has been JK Supporter For Life since i started posting and participating over there. If that means just sending leads his way, telling the story of my son's knife, etc... I am still a supporter... and always will be. In my opinion John is a truly great man and for his craftsmanship and generosity, he has a loyal life long customer/supporter. Thank you John for everything.

Chad/theedge13/anubis1335
 
Can't really say much more; I agree with all of you, John is a great guy! I realized a few days ago, I haven't bought a production knife(have received them) since before my EWOK(2 years ago). John's knives are responsible for over half of my total knives.
 
Hi Everyone! Yeah, I know I am kind of late getting in on this one but, I don't get to just sit at the computer the way I used too now days! As a matter of fact, I am spending a fair part of my days doing PT right now! I am kind of sore in the body right now!

I second everything that has been said here! I think all of you have said it pretty well!

I have a very lot of knives in my collection too, mostly small folding pocket knives! When I first started collecting knives my favorite was and still is to a certain extent, "The Stockman", and smaller fixed blades! Up until a couple of Christmas' ago I had never owned anything but, production type knives! My first order with John was via his Internet site for two of his Kephard's, one for me and one for a very good friend of mine! In that process, I feel like I made another very good friend! My experience with John from day one was a special one! He treated me like we had known each other all of our lives and that we were best of friends! I don't think you can help but, admire a man that makes two custom made knives for you, without asking you to send him any money up front! His trust in people at that time was exceptional! He made three more knives for me under the same kind of agreement! He and I both come from a time period when a persons handshake was his bond and reputation! Unfortunately, you can't count on a lot of people to be that way now days! Let's face it, it has become a "Me" world! I have been to John's house, where I have always been treated like one of the family!

I've made three "Gatherings" now, and have had a ball at each one of them! I don't think you could meet a better group of guys anywhere than I have had the pleasure to meet at those "Gatherings". The JK Knives group has kind of become like a family relationship!

I feel like John makes one of the finest knives out there, and I really don't think you will meet another knifemakere out there that will make them anyway you want them, and charge you a better price, for the quality that you are getting! My JK Knives are the only ones that I would really rely on to be my choice of survival knives, if I had to hit the woods or any other unforgiving place on this big blue marble, and survive the trip! The only thing that holds me back from owning more of John's knives, is funds! Seems as we get older, funds get shorter and shorter! So even though I think JK's are about the most reasonably priced custom made knives I have ever run into, I have to be careful with my money!

The wife has been off for a two week vacation, which started last week! Before I got hurt, we were planning to drive down to Florida and visit with her family for a few days! I was actually looking forward to stopping and visiting a few brewpubs along the way but, unfortunately that plan kind of went out the window! She went ahead and took the time off anyway because there were so many things that needed to be caught up on! She has gotten so much accomplished over the last week! Things that because of my condition, I have not been able to do but, because of these chores we have spent about $1200.00 so far, putting a new muffler and pipe system on both of our vehicles, and a brand new set of tires on the little truck that we have. This truck we bought second hand and I don't think it has ever had a front end alignment done to it. Now that little truck needs this job done to it, and that is going to cost a couple more hundred dollars. Unfortunately, you can't let those kinds of things go very long, or you'll be looking at no other choice than to buy a new or used vehicle, and those are a lot more money than that! It just makes it hard when you only have one income coming in, so I have to let her kind of manage the money or I would have more JK's than I have now, I guess! Ha! Ha!

Anyway, as far as I am concerned, John is one of the most fine, up standing individuals I have run into in a very long time! I trust him, and I love his craftsmanship! That is why I am a Very Proud JK Knives Supporter, whenever I can be! I've never seen or held a JK Knife that I didn't want to take home with me!

Hope I didn't bore you all too very much! You all take care and stay safe,
Tom

Just Remember: No Matter How Young or Old You Are, Your Life Can Change In An Instant!
 
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