You guys shoulds check this thread out...

just goes to show that taking the extra time for what might seem like "the little things" in most cases are what will make or break a deal...good thread thanks for pointing it out!
 
Interesting reading Phillip. Nice to hear what people's tastes are in the knives they purchase or intend to purchase. What is good for some is not for others. Good thing there are so many makers with differing styles to appeal to the differences in taste. I saw listed some common things to avoid such as uneven plunge cuts, etc. That thread will grow and should be even more interesting as more people post. Thanks for sharing. -Matt-
 
rswooding said:
yea and what???
Click to expand...

I brought it up because I know not all the smiths spend a lot of time in the cutsom forum. I think it's important for us makers who depend on knife sales to put food on the table to know what the buyers like or don't like. That is, if we hope to sell knives... With that in mind, even personal tastes become important...

For instance, I didn't know a crooked stamp was enough reason for some to not buy a knife. Now that I do, I'll work on my stamping technique.
There's other valuable things in the thread, too.
 
some of the things said in there just seem like the person was being nitpicky good things to look at though if you are trying to make knives to sell
-matt
 
Just my .02 cents, but after reading all of the posts and seeing where they were going, I think really what it comes down to is that a lot of them are looking at re-sell value for a given blade. You can only own / collect so many knives and some rely upon upon being able to sell some to get more. I do not agree with some of their points, however, as a new maker myself, I can see what they are saying. IMO I like filework. Does that mean that everyone does? No. I like bead blasting. Does that mean that I can grind a blade, bead blast it and sell it for $200 or more? Maybe, but that would depend on the buyer. As makers and in some cases, artists, I think it comes down to what you want to make and what you are comfortable with. Artists throughout the ages have done commissioned work in lieu of following their own passions. Whether it be Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, etc. not everyone liked all of their art. The Sistine Chapel was a commission job and now look how it is viewed. Yet, from what I understand, Michaelangelo didn't even like doing it, but it paid the bills. If you make a blade and Joe Schmo doesn't like it, maybe someone else will. Or someone will see your style and request a commission for something different. Such is the life. I myself will be a long time gaining the confidence to post my first blade for sale. I know I make mistakes and it's a matter of how major it is whether or not I scrap the project or just re-design it. The best thing I got out of the post was that pricing is everything. I won't post a new blade for $200+ just because I think it worth that. Yes I put my blood and sweat into it, but that won't matter to someone who either doesn't like it or relies upon name recognition to pony up the money. I will most likely sell, when I'm ready, for the cost of the materials plus a modest labor markup of 10 - 20% over. I think that's fair. Like I said, just my opinion...
 
A lot of good info (and a lot of opinions) in that thread. The "fit, finish and pricing your work" is good advise but you can't take it all as "the only way to make knives". I feel you should make what you want and if it sells quick and a lot of folks like it, ya done good. If it doesn't sell and nobody likes it, then don't do that again. I do this for a living and will not let a thread like that dictate what I make but I do read, listen, learn and weed out the BS. :)
 
That thread is directed more toward investment/collector grade knives.
Scott
 
Phillip,
Thanks for posting the link over here, although I saw it on my own early yesterday. There were some common themes, but I agree with Teksec about the filework. I think in some circomstanes it is an enhancement. I don't do much of it, but its funny that particular comment came up now. I am worknig on a sgian dubh that I plan to filework, as is traditional. The main point I got form reading all the posts is that sloppy or shoddy workmanship can be a dealbreaker. The knives I have made recently have been simple in design, full tang with no guard or bolster. There was one comment about that very style of knife, that person would not buy a knife with no guard or bolster. That is fine. One comment of that nature(design rather than execution) will not cause me to start making every knife with a guard or bolster. Do the best you can on every knife. make every one a little better than the last. And most important; enjoy yourself while doing it.
Thanks,
Del
 
Gossman Knives said:
That thread is directed more toward investment/collector grade knives.
Scott
Click to expand...

Agreed.
As a new maker I haven't run into any of those concerns from buyers. The reason is that I don't (can't at this point) make art knives. I make users for a few reasons. 1. being that I like to use my knives. 2. that is my market here in Missouri. Lots of hunters/outdoorsmen 3. I'm not good enough yet to make high end collector grade knives.
Out of the eight knives I have sold since I started in November not one customer has expressed discust for: brass furniture, blade to handle ratio or blued blades.
The very first thing that almost everyone of the customers did was (and I know this is kind of silly) to see if the knife would shave hair. After that they were completely satisfied. Once they get to using it I'm sure they'll form more opinions and likes/dislikes but initially they were interested only in the overall appearance and how sharp it was.
I guess what I'm saying is that if you're a new maker like me there is a large market out there of common folks who aren't collectors or even knowledgeable about knives but do want to buy a nice knife. So don't get discouraged reading that thread. The guys commenting are highly expierenced and knowledgeable collectors looking for a specific knife. I respect their opinion highly but they ,imo, are not the normal customer. At least the normal customer for me.
God bless,
Stitch
 
Kevin Davey said:
Its an interesting thread....though suprisingly, no one has yet to mention blade performance.
Click to expand...

HAAA! I was going to say that but refrained in that thread. They are on a different "plane", if you will, so it would go in one eye and out the other. I read all of it and nobody mentioned what should be the ultimate deal breaker for a knife, crappy blade performance

The other stuff on the knife is just there to hold the sharp and pointy parts :D Maybe they should collect Hummel Figurines (JUST KIDDING!):D

Seriously, there are some good points listed there and there are also some narrow opinions as well. It's good for makers to know what people desire in a knife but those are the opinions of a very, very, very outspoken few. Most people wouldn't have a clue what they are talking about. JS/MS ABS guys shouldn't be "worried" with a thread like that. :rolleyes: For the rest of us, it's a commentary on what the upper most discriminating buyer is looking for.

The best advice I got from it is that the knife maker should pay attention to how he prices a knife.
 
I think it was a good idea to bring the link over Phillip. A lot of makers don't spend enough time listening to the people buying what they're making (and probably just as importantly the people NOT buying what they're making).

I couldn't agree more with what Don said... even though I had to go back to the dark side and get a 9-5 (okay, it's actually 6:30-3) ;)

I have made a couple knives that I got ALL KINDS of flack about from a few collectors. Fortunately at that point in my making I was confident enough to say, "I like it, I'm sorry that you don't, but you don't have to buy it, somebody else can." :)

But listening to established smiths and collectors will definitely get you traveling in a positive direction on what to make (but in YOUR own style) that will sell.


-Nick-
 
As a collector (and an aspiring smith), it's good to see the amount of good sense and level headed-ness in this thread from makers. People seem to take that neither defensively nor as a downer. This is a good thing.

WRT blade performance, there are 2 reasons why most of us don't focus on it so much:

1) Most of the time, blade performance can only be accurately assessed by test that are either completely destructive or will at least damage the finish.
2) Most of us buy our knives to collect and not to use.

Does that mean that we don't care about blade performance? No, but it is true that in genneral we don't test it directly. Personally, I know several makers who have made the understanding of heat treatment a very important goal in their craft, and I buy from them without ever wondering about their metallurgy or blade geometry.
 
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