Author Topic: Knife Making Warning (Read 2883 times)

razmuz · « **on:** May 16, 2003, 03:16:43 PM »

I used to buy knives, trade them and go to all the shows. Then I started making fixed blades and folders. When I found out how easy it was to make a knife I was really pissed after spending all the money over the years. Now I've kind of lost interest and carry nothing but a cheapo that I wouldn't care if I lost it. As far as I'm concerened Commemorative knives have cheapened the art. Race Car driver knives, what B.S. I can
still relate to old pocket knives ( 50 years or more), but none of the new crap. Military, Dragons and John Wayne silliness. Thanks for putting up with me, I feel better now.

Joel · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2003, 03:37:33 AM »

God! Finally someone who exposes all us custom and factory knifemakers for what we really are! Knew it was too good to last. Actually, this is the same post(word for word) that showed up some time ago under the "old" Greybreard format. Same poster too.
Remember it, because I thought it was kind of clever. Denigrating, but with a wide menu selection of exquisite prejudices, each wrapped around a delectable grain of truth. Nice.

JeffG · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2003, 05:44:15 AM »

Yep, we knifemakers are a crafty bunch...

I think every one should make their own knives...then I want to see them, but I want to see the ones that wound up thrown into the river, before the "finished" one was produced.

Sure I think people should have a good "cheapo ". Problem is, they don't exist. They are an elusive animal, kinda like a (cheap) 20 year old car of many colors...mostly primer!

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2003, 11:19:46 AM »

I had read it. Didn't particularly believe it. Wondered what you guys who make them would say.

I've done enough stuff to know I'd not think it easy to make a decent knife. Some kinda tossed together junker from a prefabbed blank maybe but otherwise strikes me as requiring a lot of skill and effort. I'm still buying what others make.

GB

jhm · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2003, 02:23:29 PM »

MAKE A KNIFE well I cant even keep one sharp so you guys just keep making on so I will always have a sharp knife to use. :-D

JIM

razmuz · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2003, 04:34:05 AM »

Folks used to make knives for the love of knife making. Today, most are trying to make a profit. I've made many knives and never sold one. They weren't all that shabby either, one now hangs in the Arkansas State Capitol. I don't like instant commemoratives.

MOGorilla · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2003, 02:15:36 AM »

Never much went for the commeratives. In my opinion they are usually too pretty to use and a knife is the ultimate tool. My dad used to make our fishing knives from old broken 3" band saw blades. He would grind them up and if they got dull, you could swipe them over a stone and in two three passes you could fillet for another 15 minutes. The plant he managed had a never ending supply of broken band saw blades. I still have two of them, ugly things, but wouldn't trade them for Excalibur.

WOLFSLAYER01 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2003, 04:30:31 PM »

ramuzz..
i can follow you about the cheapness that some knives have
brought to the market.. and yet..i dont understand your logic in
associating them with what you did in making a good knife...at taking your word that you made some good ones ..and that one is decorating a
place in the state capitol..surly you wouldnt even begin to associate what you did with that kind of garbage.. now..some of your customers might..
simply because they dont know any better..and probably couldnt afford the price of a good knife.. Im not goin to stick up for the knifemakers who are charging thousands of dollars for their art work knifes either... because truly..most of them are building knifes with cnc programed mills and lathes..having professional designers do the design.. and having other aritsts produce the custom worked materials that may go into it..
so..I guess im kinda stickin up for the little guy.. who takes a piece of
steel..and in whatever manner he uses turns it into a blade ..then takes
raw handle materials and crafts them onto it in a beatifull way..then ends up with at WORKIN MANS KNIFE thats is a quality product and worth a
fair price....nowdays..its hard to sell a handmade knife in some areas and
get a fair price for it..because people are on hard times these last 2 years...when money is low a fine knife is a luxury purchase..not a requirement... take a deep breath..look upon your skill as a special gift..
and give it another try.....i wish you luck.. and that greybeard guy was right..even in a one guy shop..makin a good knife is a lot of work..hard work...and you gotta know what your doin ! ws

long colt lawrence · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2003, 06:08:49 AM »

I know this post is a little late but I couldn't help myself. That's a pretty broad range that's covered in the begining thread. My favorite part is when he found out 'how easy it is to make one". Must be putting a chisel edge on a piece of 1/8 flatstock with glued slabs for a handle. I've forged knives and used the stock removal method and neither "easy", both took the proper tools to do the job and lets not even discuss the amount of time it took to get a quality product in the end. My hat is off to the true knifemakers.

Joel · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2003, 08:21:20 AM »

Lord, I hope you didn't get him riled up again, LC.LOL. No idea what he'll claim next. Was tempted to reply, again, myself but had a sudden surge of Dearly Departed.......come over me.

Double D · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2003, 10:45:32 AM »

Wait a minute here guys, You mean I've been saving all those old worn out files for years for nothing!! I just know there has to be a work of art in one of them. Why they cut, most of the time. Well they ain't as pretty as the stuff you guys make. Okay so they are ugly and I'd rather show around one of your fancy pieces.

What you guys need to do is a get a regular job, you know 9-5, Monday thru Friday, brief case and tie, 2 hour a day commute, 401k, nice office cubicle.....hummmm. Could somebody be missing the point here?

You guys keep right on making those knives, the fellow who started this thread is never gonna buy one of you knives anyway. But the rest of are as soon as we get home from the commute and take the tie off!

TimWieneke · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2003, 12:44:35 PM »

Hmmm.... I thought I posted a reply earlier. Maybe I didn't confirm it or something... I'll try it again. :grin:

I can understand Razmuzz's frustration - to a point, but let's face it - knives are like cars. There's the ones for show and then there's the pickup you have in the back. When it's time to look fancy, you drive the show car - when it's time to get some work done, you grab the pickup.

Tim

P.S. - What's wrong with buying hardworking knives AND show knives?

IMHO a man cannot have too many knives.

pendennis · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2003, 12:23:26 PM »

Having read the replies to Rasmuz' original post, I just had to jump in. Like some of you, I don't care for the commemoratives. I think knives are another invaluable tool belonging in your pocket or in a sheath on your belt. I've examined and handled most all types of knives, and the differences are amazing. I love my Marine Kabar, my Randall #14, as well as my Buck 120. Different tools for different jobs!

I've never been able to be a collector. Things I buy have to work, and sometimes work hard. Whether it's a knife, a good handgun (my 1978-vintage Colt Python has over 4,000 rounds through it), or a fine rifle, I use them because they bring real pleasure in admiring the results of fine workmanship. My 150 fountain pens are all writers, even the 1925-vintage Sheaffer, and the 1928 Parker Duofold.

Knifemakers can be very utilitarian, or very artistic. There is a line there, but very subtle. Just as custom muzzleloading gunsmiths can make wall hangers or great hunting and target rifles, knifemakers can build the one to gut a deer or look fabulous in the display case. As they say, "Vive la difference!".

dread · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2004, 06:23:11 PM »

I made a knife from an old file. It wasn't easy. It looks ugly. It won't get sharp. It won't get used. I put a lot of time into making it. It was a waste of time. I buy my knives now and before. But it did give me a better understanding of how much time and effort goes into making a knife. :oops:

Ken in SENM · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2004, 11:35:37 AM »

Hello Joel,

Long time no see. Yer address quit workin' for me, so I ain't posted you personal in a while!

So we oughta all make our own, eh? That would certainly begin the process of sortin' us out, now wouldn't it ?? When I wuz in the army, I learned to carry at least two knives. One for me to use, and one to loan. Sumbody wuz allus wantin' to borry my knife. They didn't have one theirself, but they sure needed to use mine, and they would use it for about everything you can imagine but what a knife was intended to be used for! So I kept one to loan.

I found out some interesting things about these knives that are so easy made. Some of them are better than others, and some are tougher than others. But you know what? Even a cheap or a sorry one (and those are not necessarily the same knife) is a whole lot better than none at all!!

I am like GB (and I am sure like a lot of you). There is always at least one in anything I wear that has a pocket or a place to hang a clip. It roasts my goat to lose a blade, even a sorry one. And I don't carry one if it can't be used. Ain't nuthin wrong with a good lookin' knife, but the way I see it, purty is as purty does. And I have discovered that it don't take a very big knife to do most things a feller needs a knife to do. Big 'uns is OK if you like 'em, but I don't need 'em myself.

So if it's alright with most of you, especially Joel, I am gonna do what I do and continue to let folks who know what they are doin' make my knives for me. And I don't mind paying for them to be made. I don't spend more money than I think a knife is worth, at least not more than once, but I ain't ever bought a very good knife for little money neither.

Even if I could do it, and I prob'ly could with about 40 years of practice, I ain't got the time. I need a good knife right now, and the ones I have and am using, I got right now by paying what they were worth! So Razmuz, you do whatever works for you, and I will do the same. Next thing we know, you will be tellin' us we oughta be makin' our own reeevolvers, since it is so easy and since ever body that makes 'em is just doing it fer the money. Why else on earth would they be doing it anyhow if they ain't makin' 'em fer theirselves?? :money:

So long ... Pudge
(Otherwise known as Ken in SENM)

Ken in SENM · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2004, 11:58:36 AM »

Hello Joel,

Long time no see. Yer address quit workin' for me, so I ain't posted you personal in a while!

So we oughta all make our own, eh? That would certainly begin the process of sortin' us out, now wouldn't it ?? When I wuz in the army, I learned to carry at least two knives. One for me to use, and one to loan. Sumbody wuz allus wantin' to borry my knife. They didn't have one theirself, but they sure needed to use mine, and they would use it for about everything you can imagine but what a knife was intended to be used for! So I kept one to loan.

I found out some interesting things about these knives that are so easy made. Some of them are better than others, and some are tougher than others. But you know what? Even a cheap or a sorry one (and those are not necessarily the same knife) is a whole lot better than none at all!!

I am like GB (and I am sure like a lot of you). There is always at least one in anything I wear that has a pocket or a place to hang a clip. It roasts my goat to lose a blade, even a sorry one. And I don't carry one if it can't be used. Ain't nuthin wrong with a good lookin' knife, but the way I see it, purty is as purty does. And I have discovered that it don't take a very big knife to do most things a feller needs a knife to do. Big 'uns is OK if you like 'em, but I don't need 'em myself.

So if it's alright with most of you, especially Joel, I am gonna do what I do and continue to let folks who know what they are doin' make my knives for me. And I don't mind paying for them to be made. I don't spend more money than I think a knife is worth, at least not more than once, but I ain't ever bought a very good knife for little money neither.

Even if I could do it, and I prob'ly could with about 40 years of practice, I ain't got the time. I need a good knife right now, and the ones I have and am using, I got right now by paying what they were worth! So Razmuz, you do whatever works for you, and I will do the same. Next thing we know, you will be tellin' us we oughta be makin' our own reeevolvers, since it is so easy and since ever body that makes 'em is just doing it fer the money. Why else on earth would they be doing it anyhow if they ain't makin' 'em fer theirselves?? :money:

So long ... Pudge
(Otherwise known as Ken in SENM)

Joel · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2004, 04:01:18 AM »

Hey Ken, Glad to see you online again here, buddy. Sorry about the e-mail, but I had a major virus that wiped out my whole system, including my Eudora address book(no backkup of course). Was waitin for you to talk here, so I could give you my ISP e-mail(don't trust eudora anymore). joelbolden@yahoo.com. That thang still workin for you, hope so. Let me know how it's doing.

Ken in SENM · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2004, 12:17:05 PM »

Yep, it's a dandy, and still very much appreciated. I like it!! Been away for a while, but nuthin' personal for sure. They cracked down on the net time here at work, and I been sackin' wildcats otherwise. Busy, but so it ever body else, right?

I will be around. Posted you personal. I sure do like the knife. Did I say that already? <BG>

So long ... Pudge

dread · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2004, 05:49:06 AM »

:money: I happened to go into a "dollar" store here in my area. They had the "cheapo" folder knife to one dollar. I figured I'd try it and see if the steel was any good. It was pretty good steel and held an edge ok. For a buck I won't worry about losing it. I still carry my little carbon steel 340T Schrade tho. I worry about losing it. I also would lend the dollar knife but not my Schrade pocketknife. :drink4:

canyonman · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2004, 12:06:18 PM »

I started making knives for the love of it. Then one for my brother, one for my oldest daughter, one for the wife, one for my son, another for my other daughter, then son-in-law, brother-in-law, a friend or two as well as one for each of my Grandsons. As you can see at about 15 to 20 hrs. each that's a lot of my "free" time.
Now finally someone wants them enough to give me money for them, you bet I'm going make money on the deal, at my age my free time is very limited and too valuable to be Free any more!

dread · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2004, 02:23:19 PM »

:grin: I got a Kershaw today. See my post. I replaced the Schrade with a Craftsman and Kershaw and the Dollar store knife. (The Dollar store went out of business forever. That's what the sign on their door says.) Someone is always wanting to borrow my knife too. That's why I carry more than one. I hate losing any knife and I llike all of them including my kitchen knives that are worthless and mostly dull. If I had to make my own knife, I'd never have ever owned a knife.

Or I'd still be working on it and die of old age before I ever got to use it. :-D