Would you have your name engraved on a custom knife?

I would never under no circumstance engrave my name on a knife unless I made it.

But it's your knife. If it enhances the piece for you, go for it.
 
with all that bein said, I've never had my name graved onto a knife, and most likely never will, unless I made it. It's just not the way I roll.
 
Here is a small folder made for me by Owen Wood and Amayak Stepanyan.
It was a gift, has my initials carved on the carved steel handle as well as
the names of both artists. It will remain in the family and I am very
proud about it.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book "The Great Collections I"
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I have some gun's with initials and my name on some custom recurve and long bows. . Bottum line it is yours do what you like. . If it is a sheath knife you could always have that stamped.
 
I made a knife for my Pastor and engraved his name right on the side of the blade. He took it elk hunting and on the way home his backback with the knife in it blew out of his pickup on the highway. A good samaritan found the backback and called him that evening. It was the only ID in there.

One time I engraved the nickname "Greesy Dick" on an elderly gentlemans knife and he later died. I wonder if the kids inherited it?
 
I am torn here. I have a custom made by my deceased Uncle Glen Hornby. It has his name and makers mark on it (obviously because he made it) That makes it special for our family. I have a .357 S&W I inherited from my grandpa. I am thinking about in the future possibly having his name engraved on it some where. (neither the knife or the gun will ever, ever be sold by me, or the kids). My dad has two 30-30's to pass down to us. One was a gift he gave to his father, and he got it back when grandpa died. I would like that one to have my grandpa's name on it, and my dad's old winchester 30-30 might eventually be considered for his name on it (I know that that would ruin the collectors value, but that is kinda good......keep some future dumb ass great grand kid from being able to sell it in the future). If it really is going to be a user, I say go for it.
 
David, thats a nice little knife. The fact that it was a gift changes the scenario and I would be honored to be presented with that. Great steel!
 
How about just signing the sheath? This is more common i would believe. Such as with theater knives.
David
 
I would get it done to honor yourself and to prevent it from being sold. If it is not a safe queen, and you are not an investor (as opposed to a collector) then why not. It gives a sure link to history as an heirloom, and also personalizes it. If you are going to carry and use it then it forms more of a bond between you and the object. Like others have said it may help to return it to you some day.

But I am not an investor who ever sells a knife.
 
Nyati said:
I'm having a knife made and am debating on whether or not to have my name engraved on it. I don't plan to ever sell it, but can't decide if I should do it or not. Ideas?
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I would also say never.

That said, I am having Marian Sawby engrave some of our family information on one of Scott's knives using chinese calligraphy. (It is intended as an heirloom). However, you would need to know what the symbols are and what they are intended to mean before you would consider it a "personalized" engraving. So if one of my kids wanted to unload it - I don't think they would have a problem.
 
Adding my name to a custom knife would have little significance for me. My collection will go to my son some day. If the knives mean anything to him, he will keep them. If not, he can sell them. I am confident that without my name, he will realize more for the knives than he would if my name was on them. Unless for some reason, you have name recognition, I don't believe putting other than the makers name adds anything to the knife.

Paul
 
I agree with all that's been said but there is an important exception. Knives that will/may become valuable and collectable antiques some day are not less valuable when inscribed with the owner's name - in fact the value can be enhanced by such a link to a place and time in history. Antique Bowie knives of the 1800s, Civil War knives, WW1 and WW2 - even Vietnam knives are good examples. There is a long tradition of parents having a knife made especially for a son who will be going off to war, almost always bearing the young man's name and occasionally some other related information or message. These knives can be more valuable in the future because the bear the mark of authenticity and provenance.

It seems ingrained in humans to individualize their tools, implements and special posessions. For a man who will buy many fine knives in a life time and eventually sell most of them, it seems a pity not to have one or two that bear his name - to bear witness to his existance.

"4 B '93" (Bill)
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"Wild Bill" (Joe Cordova's personal gift to Bill Moran)
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The famous "Kimball/Vicksburg" Bowie - courtesy Bruce Voyles, "The Antique Bowie Knife Book"
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Though not someone's name per se, these were gifts to non-voting Enron board members and other 'special' friends. Certainly the knife is more valuable by virtue of being identified with one of the greatest economic travesties of modern times.
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And one of several excellent old William Scagel custom made fighter knives commissioned as described above - for a son going off to war.
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I have done it, and regretted it later. Sometimes, situations come up, where you have to sell something, and it's a lot harder to sell a knife with your name on it, besides the makers. Just say no.
 
I was one who said "Don't do it!" But....

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This was a gift from Antonio to me for some work I did on his behalf. The knife is a nice production knife from Italy, and he dressed it up well beyond measure.

I rec'd it the day before Thanksgiving Day in the US. I found it suitably appropriate, and it will ALWAYS be a part of mine, and subsequently, my son's collection.

Coop
 
I think there's a huge difference between engraving your own name on one of your knives, and engraving the name of a gift recipient.
 
I had Lonnie Hanson build me a Tomahawk and he engraved the AA symbol and my sobriety date. Hopefully the family will always keep it.
 
If you never plan on selling it and its a nice peice to hand down go for it . On an edc no way plus having your name on it will almost certainly assure you youll never sell it lol. Kinda a guarantee that it will stay in the family

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
 
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