Wow! Just Got My First Commission!

[redsquid2]

Just thought I would share my excitement. I don't make knives professionally. I have only made about 20 - 24.

Here are my instructions:

"Doesn't matter what kind. He always carries a knife in his pocket. He would be thrilled to have one you made. Just let me know how much and I'll send it to you. "

Period. Well then. This is going to be fun. Coming down the pike, I have got a 3.5" hunter, and a couple of 3" wharncliffes.

I think it's going to be the hunter, because I really like how it is shaping up:

...and here it is with the wharncliffes:

 

[Grayzer86]

Congrats on the first commission. It's always nice to know people are willing pay for your work.

 

[SSonnentag]

Cool! Congratulations!

 

[Leethal Cutlery]

Yeah the hunter has a really nice profile. Congrats buddy!

 

[AVigil]

Congrats....

The sadness comes when you have to let it go

 

[samuraistuart]

Congratulations!!! That's great! I read the post, and just had to check it out, because I just got my first commission the day before yesterday! A Santoku style kitchen knife for a good friend in the town I grew up in. We must be doing something right, huh? Keep up the good work, Redsquid!!

 

[Overmountain]

Congrats....

The sadness comes when you have to let it go

So very very true. My theory so far has been that 'if I would rather lose the commission and keep the knife' I have done as well as I could possibly do on that one. Then I have to remember that as much as they might be little gremlins my two kids can't eat knives and every dollar counts... so I have to let it go...

Cheers. And congrats. Thats a big step and a sign your work is getting noticed and truly appreciated. Good for you.

 

[Bomp]

Congrats! It's hard to let them go after all the work!

 

[Mudbug007]

Congratulations Bro! But if he uses a knife everyday, are you sure the Hunter won't be too large for an EDC? I'm sure he'll love it either way!

 

[james terrio]

Good stuff, redsquid!

The sadness comes when you have to let it go

I understand what you guys are saying, but I disagree a bit. It makes me happy to find a loving home for a knife. It makes me even happier to hear tales of people using 'em a lot

Congratulations Bro! But if he uses a knife everyday, are you sure the Hunter won't be too large for an EDC? I'm sure he'll love it either way!

I don't think so, I carry a 4" fixed blade all the time, it doesn't get in the way at all. Mine and RS's examples are not much bigger than an open Buck 110, and most likely lighter.

 

[redsquid2]

Congratulations Bro! But if he uses a knife everyday, are you sure the Hunter won't be too large for an EDC? I'm sure he'll love it either way!

Good point, Mudbug. The hunter is too big. I imagine I will make a 2 or 3 finger fixed blade, with a pocket sheath. The sheath will have a clip on it.

His daughter, the one commissioning it, later clarified that it needs to be pocket sized.

Everybody, thanks for the encouragement. Now my expensive hobby will become a less-expensive hobby.

 

[Hengelo_77]

congratulations

 

[fumbler]

Congratulations

I love that profile, especially with the integral "guard." What handle material are you going to use and what kind of steel is it?

Here're a couple of my knives with similar profile:

 

[Keith Willis]

Congrats on your first commission..as other have said,not easy to let them go

God bless

 

[Willie71]

Good point, Mudbug. The hunter is too big. I imagine I will make a 2 or 3 finger fixed blade, with a pocket sheath. The sheath will have a clip on it.

His daughter, the one commissioning it, later clarified that it needs to be pocket sized.

Everybody, thanks for the encouragement. Now my expensive hobby will become a less-expensive hobby.

My experience with these things is that you realize you need better equipment to keep labour time down, resulting is more expense . With any of my hobby businesses, I have lived by the philosophy: " If my sales can't afford "XXXXXXX," then I wont buy it. I have a strict policy that any items specifically for the hobby business must come out of sales generated by the hobby business. It keeps me from getting into money pit too easily.

 

[redsquid2]

I have found that I really like the combination of a reddish wood with an olive drab G10 or micarta. That's what I am thinking for that one. Jatoba and bubinga have nice red color, and then an OD liner.

Nice work on those two, fumbler.

Congratulations

I love that profile, especially with the integral "guard." What handle material are you going to use and what kind of steel is it?

Here're a couple of my knives with similar profile:

 

[redsquid2]

It's A2.

Added note: It is from a batch that I got from Alpha Knife Supply. I just started using A2 a few months ago. I made a hunting knife, and found it relatively easy to get a shaving sharp edge on it. Not just hair popping, but shaving. I am liking the A2, and so I just ordered a few more bars.

Congratulations

I love that profile, especially with the integral "guard." What handle material are you going to use and what kind of steel is it?

Here're a couple of my knives with similar profile:

 

[redsquid2]

Congratulations!!! That's great! I read the post, and just had to check it out, because I just got my first commission the day before yesterday! A Santoku style kitchen knife for a good friend in the town I grew up in. We must be doing something right, huh? Keep up the good work, Redsquid!!

Thanks and congratulations to you too!!

 

[redsquid2]

I like that idea. I'm going to try it, in the hopes of being more sane and serene with knifemaking.

My experience with these things is that you realize you need better equipment to keep labour time down, resulting is more expense . With any of my hobby businesses, I have lived by the philosophy: " If my sales can't afford "XXXXXXX," then I wont buy it. I have a strict policy that any items specifically for the hobby business must come out of sales generated by the hobby business. It keeps me from getting into money pit too easily.

 

[redsquid2]

Going off to heat treat today. The commission is the second one from the right. Tip to scales will measure just about 3". It will have a 1/4" lanyard hole and the other two holes are both for small pins, even though that front hole is large.

Side note: Don't laugh at that one on the far right. That one represents my first experience with the 2X42 grinder.